National surveys of Primary and of Secondary/Middle/Special/ Independent School Libraries

Help is being asked to build up a full UK picture of school libraries by completing a questionnaire.

The work instigated by the School Libraries Group of CILIP (the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals) and supported by the School Library Association and CILIP Scotland, with funds provided by the Wendy Drewett Bequest.

The survey is being managed by Information Management Associates. If you have any questions about this survey please contact David Streatfield at Streatfield@blueyonder.co.uk  The surveys can be found at:

• Primary School Libraries


• Secondary, Special, Middle, Independent school Libraries 

An Information Literacy Strategy for Wales

A couple of weeks ago (November 30^th- 1st December) I attended an invitation only conference in Wales on the theme of ‘An Information Literacy Strategy for Wales?’  which was held at the attractively situated if geographically inconvenient University of Wales conference centre at Gregynog House.

All LIS sectors and Welsh education were represented and I was particularly impressed by the willingness of all sectors to work together and learn from each other.

The initial presentations were devoted to reviewing the various sectors and the familiar theme emerged of pockets of excellent good practice which were not being supported by an overarching strategy. I spoke about the work of the Scottish Information Literacy Project and the lessons which Wales can learn from it. After dinner there were sectoral discussion groups and I joined the public librarians and was impressed by their grasp of the role which public libraries can play in informal learning and the good work they are already doing.

The following morning Gareth Evans from Caerphilly Public Library spoke about the work he has been doing with the Open College network which could well be replicated elsewhere.

The conference concluded with a list of action points which included:

• The production of an overview/vision statement (urgent)


• The development of a strategy and Framework


• Making cross sectoral/partnership contacts including outside the LIS sector


• Developing a National Forum for Information Literacy in Wales


• Appointing an Information Literacy Development Officer for Wales


• Accrediting library staff information literacy training skills


• Include IL concepts in teacher training


• School librarian posts should be a statutory responsibility


• Pursue media literacy issues through Ofcom

However if these objectives are to be achieved funding will be a key requirement

Survey of Scottish school librarians and their knowledge and use of Curriculum for Excellence

Thank you to everyone who completed the survey. There were a total of 74 responses of which 72 were from the secondary sector - a response rate of 20%.

The survey suggests that the school librarians are tending to concentrate primarily on the Learning Experiences and Outcomes and not the Principle Papers which are said to be “essential reading for staff” and “a range of practitioners” including themselves as the following quote demonstrates.

It is expected that the literacy experiences and outcomes and this accompanying paper [principles and practice], will be read by a range of practitioners, including those who work in school library resource centres, who make an enormous contribution to the literacy skills of children and young people. 

33 respondents (75%) indicated that they had identified ways in which information literacy can be used to achieve or assist achievement of the experiences and outcomes.

26 respondents (53%) replied that they are or have been involved in any piloting activities, created any new activities or updated existing activities based upon the experiences and outcomes.

28 responses were generated to the question of  'How can school librarians optimise their efforts to support information literacy and the Curriculum for excellence Experiences and Outcomes locally and nationally?'  The main points which were frequently repeated were: 

• becoming involved in school activities through school committees such as literacy teams,


• getting the support of the head teacher,


• demonstrating an understanding of the aims of CfE,


• supporting cross curricular activities, 


• developing links with primary schools,


• being involved in all discussions and training and in-service opportunities,


• liaising closely with subject departments,


• working with other school library colleagues,


• working with teachers to standardise terminology, 


• promoting a whole school approach


• involving Learning and Teaching Scotland.  

The full results and findings are to be written up for publication including articles for

The School Librarian - The Curriculum for Excellence: knowledge, engagement and contribution by Scottish school librarians, Chrisitne Irving to be published in 2010.

Aslib Proceedings - The Scottish Information Literacy Project and school libraries, John Crawford and Christine Irving to be published in 2010.

Other publications being looked at are education publications.

 

Information Literacy, the profession and CILIP

I recently participated in a Round Table discussion on

the growing importance of information literacy to the profession generally and CILIP’s policy and advocacy activities in particular.

The session was very ablly chaired by Biddy Fisher, Vice-President of CILIP and Chair of the Policy Forum.

This was

primarily a scoping exercise to identify the place of information literacy within professional practice and the body of professional knowledge, its potential to be a defining characteristic of the work of the profession and its contribution to society, the implications for the policy development and advocacy activities of CILIP and also to determine recommendations for a future strategy for the profession.

Taking part were representatives from different sectors and CILIP's Information Literacy Group (they organise LILAC - the Librarians’ Information Literacy Annual Conference). The project work is well known thus the invitation to attend and I (unfortunately John was not able to make it) shared our experiences of the work in Scotland - what has worked for us and the importance of advocacy, using your professional and personal contacts (they are after all invaluable sources of information), cross sector working plus working in collaboration with partners. 

The session was recorded and I'm looking forward to seeing the outcomes of the discussion and will share any news with you.

A Vision for Scotland

Thanks to Carol Stewart for highlighting an article in TESS -  Zero tolerance on illiteracy  which is about about a new report  - A Vision for Scotland

The new report lays out recommendations on how to become 'world's first fully-literate nation'

Scotland can become the world's first fully-literate nation by declaring zero tolerance on illiteracy according to a "visionary" plan published today.

I've still to read the report but if anyone else has read it let me know what you think.