Closing school libraries is ‘educational vandalism’.
There is only one thing more shocking and dispiriting than the fact that 25% of Scottish primary school kids don’t have access to an on-site library, and that is that many of those that do exist are under increasing threat of closure. More worryingly still, such bean-counting attitudes towards the school library is a disheartening illustration of a more profound crisis in Scottish education. (Read a tale from a school librarian in Newsletter No9 of the Scottish Union for Education.)
Alex Cameron: It was recently reported that there are plans to remove school librarian posts in East Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire and Inverclyde as councils ‘look to cut costs’. What is going on in Scottish schools?
School Librarian: The problem in Scotland is a failure to understand the value of librarians in schools. Librarians are seen to be an ‘extra’ in state schools, a nice something you tack on and thus the first thing to go. I know of no private school who have gotten rid of their librarian, indeed I know of several who are hiring staff.
Our ‘wired’ world too demands more of school librarians, we are 30% reading for pleasure, reading for knowledge, 30% IT, research strategies, digital and critical literacy and 40% maintaining a library environment.
There is also a broader problem in the exam system in Scotland where you can pass your National 5 and Higher English without ever needing to read a book. Scottish exams are not really marked for grammar, punctuation, or spelling. Further, there is a problem with the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence. Librarians took heart when it was first introduced as it promised that pupils would have to undertake research projects – this is what we do! However, it’s now more a case FOFO (f-off and find out). Pupils are told to just ‘Google it’ – teachers don’t know how to research and don’t have time to work with us. Research is all about the journey – Scottish education is all about the exam results!
Alex Cameron: It is undeniable that funding cuts are putting enormous pressure on schools and staff. But is the crisis in Scottish schools more profound than a simple lack of resources?
School librarian: If Scotland truly wants to be a competitor in the world stage and if it truly has the well-being of its citizens at heart then the answer is 100% yes. If we look at the two nations (Saudi Arabia and South Korea) that are currently in the process of building more and higher specification libraries and creating national networks, some libraries are open 24/7 and free at the point of service. We can see countries who value education and are investing in libraries.
Supporting librarians requires ambition and creative thinking from those in government. It starts with EYS (early years setting) where every nursery should have a librarian and then every primary and secondary school, that work together to forge a fully literate and engaged population which in turn supports a mature democracy. Cutting librarians is a blow to democracy.
Alex Cameron: Why are libraries and librarians in schools so important?
School librarian: Libraries in schools are the only environment where pupils are not judged and can mix with any other year group. There are no exams, and all are welcomed, irrespective of academic ability. The librarian is not a teacher but a trusted adult and to some pupils that makes a huge difference. School libraries support personal, mental and educational growth. Having a well-stocked and integrated library with a professional librarian improves literacy scores and all-round attainment. Every exam is a reading exam before it is a knowledge exam and reading is a skill which needs to be regularly practised and finessed. If we value well rounded happy pupils who are able to leave school and play a positive and active part in society then we need to value libraries and the librarian.
What I do and my job description are two very different beasts. At its core a school librarian maintains and runs the library to a high standard, supports staff and students with research and provide suitable resources. All three strands are full time posts in themselves and how each school librarian chooses to spend their time is often down to their own skill set, passion and the needs and wants of the school.
Unfortunately, I don’t think we value the librarian. It is an isolated post within a school and whilst a professional role, it is very much personality driven and prone to the vicissitudes of the individual school. The soft skills that are learned in a school library plus the way we make our pupils feel about themselves are not valued. My job has been under threat for almost seven years now and not a single local authority councillor has ever come in to see me work, despite invitation. It seems it is easier to cut the nameless and faceless. It is educational vandalism.
Alex Cameron (April 2023)
Originally published on the Scottish Union for Education substack
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