School library

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A school library is a library that serves the students, faculty, staff and parents of a public or private school. These libraries are sometimes referred to as library media centers.

School libraries are similar to public libraries in that they contain books, films, recorded sound, periodicals, and other media. These items are not only for the enjoyment and entertainment of the patrons, but to enhance and expand the school's curriculum. In addition, in school libraries, students receive explicit instruction on library and research skills.

Media centers are usually staffed by librarians, who hold a Master of Library and Information Studies degree, or "media specialists" or teacher-librarians; public school librarians are also required to have state certification. Many also have a teaching certificate.

The librarian, sometimes assisted by aides, volunteers, or other teachers, is in charge of the school library. These include, but are not limited to: collaborating with classroom teachers in student instruction, purchasing books and material, maintaining the collection, circulating materials, cataloging new materials, facilitating interlibrary loans, and dealing with banned books. Librarians are often responsible for audio-visual equipment and are sometimes in charge of school computers as well.

At the elementary level, teacher-librarians read to children, assist them in selecting books, develop information literacy, and assist with schoolwork. The ideal schedule for this level is called a flexible schedule. A flexible schedule means that rather than having students come to the library for instruction at a fixed time every week, the classroom teacher schedules library time when library skills or materials are needed as part of the classroom learning experience. This ensures that students are learning research skills when they will be utilized most rather than in isolation of the classroom learning experience.

At the secondary level, teacher-librarians may assist students with research, collaborating with teachers to create independent learners.

The majority of school libraries have grown from an initial funding that was included in the first budget of the school. The funding of an older school may have only been enough to fill a small room with print encyclopedias, some literature, "appropriate" fiction, biographies of those considered worthy at the time the library opened, plus a minimum amount of science and technology works.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] See also

School Library Association

At the secondary level, teacher-librarians collaborate with teachers to assist students with research and advance the students' information literacy and technology skills. Teacher-librarians build the library collection by purchasing resources based on the curricular needs of students and teachers. They choose fiction which would be of interest to their teenage patrons and encourage reading.