Transcript
MARILYN BROCKLEHURST:
As an ex-children’s and schools librarian, I’m passionate about school libraries. And I feel that they should be the beating heart of the school, and they should be the place where children really look forward to visit on a regular basis.
The library is the only place where children will have access to a vast range of books that they can choose for themselves. Many children won’t have any books at home, and if they’re on a reading scheme, their excitement about books may be tempered by that.
When they come to the library, they have free choice. They can choose whatever they like from the shelves, they can sit on the settee and browse, they don’t have to take books that they don’t want, and this is what makes them into lifelong readers.
Children need to see teachers behaving like readers. Teachers do need to read the books that children read. It’s so important that they have the knowledge to be able to recommend to children the books that they should read next, so they don’t go back to the same old authors and the same old series.
The library should not be stocked with reading schemes, and dictionaries, and books which should rather be in the classroom. It should be a place where children can discover wonderful fiction, brilliant information books, incredible picture books for all ages, graphic novels, all sorts of things that they won’t see anywhere else.
I’ve seen books on school library shelves which should have gone in the bin 20 years ago. Here’s a Gay Way reading scheme. Here are 30, 40-year-old books on countries with racist views in them. Here’s a fabulous book on audio and radio, which is completely and utterly useless, and should not be on the library shelf, a book I found recently.
Now the reason those books are there, is because the library isn’t being curated properly. Taking out old books and out-of-date books is very, very important, and shouldn’t be left to somebody who hasn’t the confidence to throw books away.
Very often, schools add new books very enthusiastically, but they don’t take away the books that really should no longer be sitting in the school library. The library should be properly financed, and this is a huge issue for schools all over the country.
The School Library Association recommends 10 pounds per child, per annum. The school library should offer relevant and enticing stock so that children are really fascinated by what is on offer on the library shelves.
As far as I’m concerned, I do believe that the library should be welcoming and attractive, but it doesn’t need high-end posh furniture from some expensive manufacturer. A couple of Chesterfields, a rug, cushion, somewhere where they feel that it’s a splendid place to visit, very different from the rest of the school, is just as important.