The school library : the present situation in secondary schools

Abstract

The presence of the library in a school cannot rest on the assumption that it is a 'good thing'. It has a very important role to play when it functions as an integral part of the total educational programme. A small study was carried out in four girls' secondary schools to investigate the present situation of the library. Questionnaires were administered to a sample of 491 girls, by taking a class from each Form (Forms 1 to 5) in the four schools visited. Data was also collected through teacher questionnaires, and interviews with the teacher-librarians and Heads of schools. 59% of the girls said that they make use of the library and they ranked reading for pleasure and looking up information the highest reasons for going. Their use of information and library skills was rather limited and incomplete. Each school library reflected its specific difficulties. The major constraints were related to staffing, accessibility, lack of adequate space and availability of funds. Resources include books, magazines and journals, but no audiovisual material. 福利在线免费 Technology is still to be implemented and only one school library has had its holdings processed for the eventual networking with the central database at the Public Library. Nearly all students, and all teaching staff and senior management felt strongly about the importance of the library, yet it is still peripheral to much of the life and work that takes place at school. Some uncertainties have arisen as to the availability of funds. More cooperation between teachers and librarians is necessary if the library is to develop into an effective curriculum support agency. It is also time to draw up a clearly defined policy on the role school libraries should play in the whole teaching and learning programme if they are to become truly the centre of information and the hub of life in the school.