Material for the BSLA Learning Materials for Workshop is now available at:

Module 5a: School Libraries on the agenda 

‘This sub-module is a part of the IFLA Building Strong Libraries Associations (BSLA) Programme. The sub-module focuses on the role of School Libraries and their associations with particular reference to functions in communicating, marketing, and advocacy for the increased importance of school libraries. The sub-module draws on several communication tools by library associations. School library relationships and communications exist within varierty of context, which then impact library initiatives’.

Nota Bene: To have access to the material you’ll have to subscribe to the IFLA Learning site. When clicking on Module 5a: School Libraries on the agenda you’ll be directed to the inlog page.

Extracted from The state of libraries in South Africa. (2015). Pretoria, South Africa: Arts and Culture Department.

 

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) held their Congress August 13-19 in Cape Town, South Africa. Besides enjoying the wonderful scenery and graciousness of the local population, librarians from around the world shared their professional situations. Part of that experience was learning about libraries in South Africa.

School libraries have witnessed great fluctuations over the past twenty years. With the overhaul of government in 1994 all teacher librarian post were abolished, with private funds being one of the few ways to ensure professional school librarian staffing.

Government priorities have changed since then, largely due to grassroots efforts and the involvement of NGOs. Organizations have donated books and provided training, as well as converted spaces into school libraries.

As this point about two-thirds of schools have some kind of library: 14% have a central library with resources, another 9% have a library without resources, a third have a classroom collection of library resources, and 4% have mobile/bookmobile library service. About a fifth of schools are located near public libraries, so the need is great. Particularly as the poor reading level of learners has been documented, government is seeing the importance of student access to rich library collections.

School libraries tend for focus on providing appropriate circulating collections: print books, periodical, and some CD/DVDs and imagers. Highly supported libraries provide Internet access. Most materials are in English, and some libraries provide books in Afrikaans or other local languages. Nevertheless, budgets are problematic and uneven throughout the country. The biggest challenge remains the lack of staffing. School librarians are often part-time or temporary.

In the face of these challenges, school librarians continue to work hard to promote quality school library programs of resources and services.

Submitted by Lesley Farmer

Here are links to resources for book donations and best practices:

1. The San Juan del Sur Biblioteca Movil and the Hester J. Hodgdon Libraries for All Program have a page about book donations to their project but the mailing instructions and other recommendations are useful for other projects at: http://www.sjdsbiblioteca.org/donations/how-to-send-books/ .

2. This is a Peace Corps resources with great suggestions for sources and best practices at: Sources of Donated Books for Schools and Libraries – http://collection.peacecorps.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15105coll3/id/154

3. The Lubuto Library project book donation suggestions are at: http://www.lubuto.org/bookguidelines.html However, the guidelines are copyrighted and intended for the Lubuto library.  However, there is a notice “To request permission for other uses, contact [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. Use of the “Guidelines for Donating Books for Lubuto Library Collections” will be granted only with express acknowledgement that they were developed by and for the Lubuto Library Project®.

New competition: the CILIP Blogger Challenge

 Our new competition is looking for interesting writing and ideas about important library, information and knowledge issues.

The winner will receive a tablet. It’s open to everyone – you don’t need to be a CILIP member and you don’t have to live in the UK.

As we need to judge entries we can only accept submissions in English. Entries close at 5pm (GMT) on Friday 7 November.

Competition details

Who can enter? Anyone can enter who works or studies in the library, knowledge or information sector or has an interest in this or related areas. You don’t have to be a CILIP member to enter and you don’t have to live in the UK. You could, for example, be:

·         A librarian, archivist or information scientist

·         A student studying an information science module

·         A researcher, lecturer or teacher

·         Someone with a professional interest in library and information issues

·

What sort of topics could I write about?  You could, for instance, provide a new perspective on a library, information and knowledge related topic such as:

·         Everyday life e.g. Why supermarket shelves should be arranged by Dewey Decimal…

·         Copyright and the law e.g. How does current UK copyright law serve people with disabilities?

·         Data, information and knowledge e.g. Why don’t people care about their own data?

·         Education e.g. How to teach information literacy in the classroom

·         Publishing e.g. 6 reasons a paper book is the perfect technology

·         Research e.g. 5 thoughts on the future of open access journals

·         Technology e.g. How do you archive a video game?

·         The economy and business e.g. 5 ways libraries are supporting new businesses

·

Judging criteria and guidelines. Each submission will be judged on the quality of the writing and the criteria below:

1. Be short and focussed on one issue:    The word limit is 500-1500 words

2. Have a short, meaningful and descriptive title: Less than 70 characters (including spaces)

3. Be relevant:  It should focus on important issues relating to libraries, knowledge and information and the relevance of these issue to wider

4. Be bold and encourage debates: It should be bold; making a clear argument backed up by facts, stats and sources, and it should encourage comments and debate

5. Be original: It should provide a new and original perspective. It should not have been published anywhere else previously, including on your own blog.

6. Make complex concepts and ideas accessible to non-experts: Use simple, everyday language. Try to explain all acronyms and technical language. We would also ask all entrants to try and write for screen reading, bearing in mind that people read differently on a screen compared to reading on paper. For instance: use sub-headings to break the blog into meaningful chunks of information. Try the inverted pyramid structure – start with the conclusion, cover the most important and interesting information first and provide more detail later in the piece. Find out more about how users read on the web.

How do I submit a blog? Please email your submission to [email protected] with a few lines about yourself and your interest in library and information related topics. The submission should be a Word document or in the body of the email.

When is the deadline? Your submissions should be sent to [email protected] by 5pm (GMT) on Friday 7 November.  The winning blog post and highly commended blog posts will be chosen by 27 November.

What happens after I submit? Our judging panel, chaired by CILIP Vice President Jan Parry, will review your submission. After the deadline has passed we will be in touch to let you know whether your blog post has been highly commended or not. The winning blog post and highly commended blog posts will be published on the website at the end of November and start of December 2014.

What can I win? The writer of the winning submission will win an iPad mini or Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 (depending on the winner’s preference).  A group of highly commended submissions will also be selected. Each “highly commended” entrant will receive one Facet Book of their choice up to a value of £60.

 See terms and conditions.

 Why is CILIP running this competition? We want to promote:

·         Lively and thought-provoking discussion about issues relevant to the library, information and knowledge sectors

·         The value of the skills, expertise and knowledge of library, information and knowledge professionals to issues that impact on our day to day lives

·

Who can I contact for more information? If you have any questions about the competition please email  [email protected].

Link here: www.cilip.org.uk/cilip/enter-cilip-blogger-challenge