APRIL 2021
International Association of
School Librarianship
CONTENTS
PRESIDENTIAL POINTS
PAGE 2
Meet Dr. Meghan Harper
I
n February, Texas was
blanketed with deep snow and
temperatures stayed below
freezing for days and days – a
‘once in a century’ storm unlike
our usual mild winters. The bitter
cold made evergreen plants and
trees turn brown, and by March
we worried about what might
have survived. “Wait and see,” said
gardening experts.
Now it’s April, and spring growth is
a bit later than normal. We pruned
branches that didn’t grow new
leaves, but some varieties of bushes
died completely, and the experts
tell us to dig them up and replace
with completely different types of
plants.
The past year has done the same
to our schools and libraries
and classes, hasn’t it? A few of
our library activities changed a
little due to the pandemic, some
adjustments were major, and other
events are not happening at all
now.
Maybe it’s time to trim back some
programs that require lots of work
by you with little benefit to your
students and school. Should you
discard an old favorite activity
that no longer aligns with the
curriculum or meets students’
interests?
The experts here are you and your
teaching team! Y’all work to decide
how your library should grow and
bloom as a garden of reading for
your students.
IASL NEWSLETTER
PAGE 3
2021 ALMA Laureate Announced
PAGE 4
IASL 2021 Annual Conference Broadcasting Virtually
PAGE 5
School Library Education after the
Pandemic
2022 Conference Bids
Katy Manck "Selfie"
Mark your calendar for your
personal growth and development,
too – I will see you online at the
12-16 July 2021 IASL Annual
Conference, live from Denton,
Texas, USA! https://iasl2020.unt.
edu/home
Registration rates are zone-based
and also include your access to
archived presentations after the
Conference: https://iasl2021.unt.
edu/registration.
Whether you’re pruning back
outdated library programs or
planting the seeds for future
collaborative projects with your
teachers, I hope that your plans
bear lots of fruit! Be sure to share
with your IASL colleagues through
the listserv or the Newsletter.
Yours in school librarianship,
***Katy Manck
President, IASL
Katy.Manck@gmail.com
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PAGE 6
Global Literature in Libraries:
SDGs & School Libraries
PAGE 7
Conference Proceedings & SLW
Archives
Member News & Notes
IASL Profile Updates
PAGE 8
Fun with Learning Languages
50 More Campaign Continued
PAGE 9
Why School Libraries are
Neglected in Pakistan
PAGE 10
Nepalese Association March 2021
Activities
Where in the World is IASL?
VOLUME 50, ISSUE 2
Why School Libraries are Neglected in Pakistan
BY ABID HUSSAIN, LIBRARY OFFICER, INSTITUTE OF STRATEGIC STUDIES ISLAMABAD
The purpose of school libraries is to
intensify quality education in schools
through the provision of adequate
facilities like chairs, tables, textbooks
and qualified library staff for better
performance and quality education.
Unfortunately, 80% of schools in
Pakistan do not have library buildings.
Why are School libraries in Pakistan
neglected compared to other developing
countries? Here are some common
problems :
Source: https://blueskyconsultancy.com.pk/problems-of-education-in-pakistan-solution/
A
school library is one of
the libraries that has been
established for the children of
Primary and Secondary Education.
In other words, a school library is a
part of a school where a collection
of books, magazines, newspapers
and other printed and non-printed
material are kept for the use of
students and teachers.Each library
has its fundamental principles,
but common goals for all libraries
are acquiring, organizing, and
disseminating information for easy
access. Libraries are proved to be the
repository of knowledge and cultural
heritage; they are helpful elements
in disseminating information to the
clients on the effective utilization
of libraries for better academic
performance. School libraries are
excellent sources for the intellectual
growth of the students.
School Library activities in Pakistan
As per the mandatory rules of
educational institutions in Pakistan at
the public or private level, there should
be a building for library purposes in
school premises that should serve the
school's students and teachers. Federal
Board of Intermediate and Secondary
education act of 1975 says that there
should be accommodation for a library
in school buildings. All schools should
have a well-stocked library, some rules
have also been formulated that with
the establishment of the first year of
school, a sum of Rs.25000 should be
spent on library collection and it should
be increased up to Rs.5000 each year
with an Adequate number of stock like
books, newspapers and periodicals.
There will be a library assistant to look
after the libraries, and he/she must
have a diploma or certificates in library
sciences.
Problems of Education in Pakistan &
Solution
The establishment of libraries at the
school level has been badly neglected
in developing countries, including
Pakistan. Education is the fundamental
right of all citizens safeguarded in the
constitution of the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan. Still, the literacy rate at the
school level in Pakistan is in mourning
condition compared to other countries
of South Asia. School education covers
pre-school, primary, middle, secondary
and higher secondary schools.
IASL NEWSLETTER
No proper attention from the
government side. Teachers are not
taking an interest in encouraging
students to use libraries for intellectual
growth. Mostly, schools in Pakistan
rely more on textbooks and memorybased learning that do not require
libraries. Teachers are spending library
budgets on other items. School libraries
are the last option for teachers in
Pakistan. Purchasing the concept of
books for school libraries is regarded
as a contingency. Books found in the
libraries are in terrible conditions and
do not fulfill student needs as per the
syllabus. Books are kept in locked
cupboards, and access has not been
granted to students. Teachers are not
reluctant to accept responsibilities in
case of loss books. School libraries
are an essential segment in students'
intellectual growth, and it is perceived
"at the heart of the school's resources
for learning." The education ministry,
Intermediate boards, School
administrations and Stakeholders,
should come forward to envisage school
libraries as a hub of actual knowledge.
Source:https://iclnpakistan.v.com/2018/09/school-library-activity-in-government.html
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VOLUME 50, ISSUE 2