What is a School Library? The school library is a vital instrument is a vital instrument for quality education. It is not just a room full of books or a static inanimate object, but is more akin to a living organism which is full of life activities. On one hand, it deals withal changing forms of recorded knowledge – books, magazines, maps, charts, pictures, and also films, filmstrips, tapes, microforms, teaching machines, radio, television, and so on. On the other hand, it serves a whole range of patrons at varying intellectual and emotional levels with changing and expanding needs. The school library, along with the school librarian, is the key that will open the door to functional, service-oriented program that will enrich, support, vitalize, and implement the educational program as it strives to meet the needs of each student and teacher. The school library is a service agency and an agent for change. It helps students and teachers find information they need to carry out classroom learning activities and to satisfy their own personal interests. Historical development of school library The development of school libraries can be traced to the beginning of the public library movement in the last half of the nineteenth century in the United States. Public libraries served the needs of public schools which were sometimes built in close proximity to a public library. It was in New York where librarians were first recognized as teachers rather than clerks. The period after World War II was an era of growth in the development of school libraries, the development of technology and the application of technology in education. John Newberry is considered the “Father of Children’s Literature.” He was the first to conceive the idea of publishing books for children. The modern concept of a school library was introduced in the Philippines by Lois Osborn. The first school library established in the Philippines is Pampanga High School Library. School library in the Philippines Recent emphasis on reading, mastery of subject matter, individualized instruction, independent learning, and other practices that lead to the development of each student to the maximum of his/her potentials have brought about an increase in awareness of the need for adequate school library services. This is evidenced by the frequency with which the school library has been equated with high pupil performance. These emphases in education have certainly addressed the responsibilities of the school library. The Department of Education for its part has continuously implemented various programs for the establishment and enhancement of school libraries in the government schools. One very important program for the improvement of the school library is the establishment of Learning Resource Centers (LRC’s) in the 70’s. In most cases, they started as a library, where old and new instructional materials were stored. With the introduction of new technologies like slides, film strips, transparencies, and audiovisual materials, the LRD has expanded to include media services. It is very unfortunate that many of the LRC’s established in the 80’s and early 90’s do no longer exist due to lack of funds. With the issuance of Order No. 6, s. 1998 of the Department of Education (Department of Education, Culture, and Sports or DECS at that time) entitled “Policies and Programs for School Library Development”, it is hoped that every school will strive to have a functional school library. 21st Century School Library The school librarian is responsible in working with teachers to enrich the program of instruction through supplementary materials of every description, provide the necessary materials, and organize them for efficient use, teach the students what the materials are and how they are used. Vangelova, L. (2014, June 18). What Does the Next-Generation School Library Look Like? KQED News. Retrieved from https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/36326/what-doesthe-next-generation-school-library-look-like This article explains how school libraries are reconsidering their roles and adding offerings for the young patrons who visit them. The author outlines some of the new skills young people will need in our rapidly-changing world. Administration of School Libraries The school library must employ teacher-librarians and school librarians whose number depends on the school enrollment population. The ideal ratio is one (1) librarian for every 500 students. The teacher-librarian has a teaching load, which makes him/her different from the school librarian. It is advisable to prepare a schedule that will indicate the work assignment of each library staff. The library can organize a Book Lovers’ Club among students. Students who are members of the club can serve as student assistants who will perform library chores that can be assigned to them such as cleaning and shelving of library materials. Typically, the school librarian is expected to perform the following tasks. 1. Organization of materials for library use This will include procurement, processing, classifying, and cataloging of materials. This applies also to non-book materials. 2. Instructing library users An orientation for new students and teachers as to the location of the library, services offered, and library rules and regulations must be conducted. The school librarian must also educate the users on classification of materials, using card catalog, bibliographies, reference books, and library equipments. 3. Provide reading guidance This can be done through book talks, bulletin and book displays, reading lists, discussion groups, conference with teachers and students, assistance in the selection of teaching materials, maintaining a reader interest file and records for library users. 4. Preparation and dissemination of library handbooks to students 5. Organizing library tours The school librarian can organize library tours to other school libraries or public libraries. 6. Encouraging observance of special events The National Book Week and book fair are among special events that the library can spearhead. 7. Consulting other school libraries The school librarian can consult other school libraries on the availability of books. Cooperation between the school library and other libraries can also be considered to maximize library resources. School Library Standards Standards are guidelines or rules for products, processes, test methods, or materials. These are created to produce a level of uniformity, interchangeability, reliability, or means of comparison. Academic Library : Introduction, functions and objectives The academic library is an institution within an academic parent institution - the college or the university. Its primary purpose is to support the teaching, research, and extension services functions of the university. In managing the academic library, the approach is dictated by many factors like: • size of the user population (faculty, students, researchers, administration, and staff) • the thrust of the parent institution (college or university) • funding • presence of a library committee position of the librarian in the organization and the duties and responsibilities given to him/her, and so on The academic library should have a vision, as well as clear and concise objectives that are in line with the mission and vision of the parent institution. It must be customer/client-based. Also, it must have concern for its staff. The academic library must be efficient. The imaginative use of information and communications technology (ICT) must be possessed. The academic library must also have good public relations and should market its services. The academic library must not be hesitant to implement necessary changes. It must be designed for continual flexibility. First class service must be provided by these institutions. Academic Librarian Academic librarians work with students and academics as well as other library staff. Much of the role involves making sure people can access the resources they need for their studies or research. Today’s academic librarians are involved in a variety of challenging activities. They may: • • consult with individuals in analyzing, identifying, and fulfilling their information needs create campus-wide information literacy programs and deliver classroom instruction to strengthen information literacy skills • • • • • • select, organize, and facilitate access to information in a variety of formats keep abreast of technological advancements and develop strategies to take advantage of them plan, implement, and administer computer-based systems, electronic databases design and manage Web sites collaborate with classroom faculty, computer specialists, and instructional developers contribute to effective teamwork among colleagues participate in and lead public relations efforts to promote and raise funds for academic libraries Source: Academic Libraries", American Library Association, July 21, 2016. http://www.ala.org/educationcareers/libcareers/type/academic (Accessed November 20, 2021) Library Development Plan Development planning refers to the strategic measurable goals that a person, organization or community plans to meet within a certain amount of time. Usually the development plan includes time-based benchmarks. It generally also includes the criteria that will be used to evaluate whether or not the goals were actually met