IN DEPTH
Creativity and innovation for times of change and opportunity
Alison Tarrant looks at how school library staff have been able to support students and teachers throughout lockdown, and how things are likely to change as schools look to welcome back all children for a new year.
DURING this time, work for many school library staff has continued, but with a shifted focus. With the daily routines and focus on the physical space and practicalities of running a library (fixing the photocopier, emptying the returns bin, sorting out the pupil library helpers) all being removed, school library staff have shifted their focus to promoting read- ing and delivering all kinds of activi- ties online. There have been Extended Project Qualification lessons delivered to entire year groups, mindfulness groups on Zoom and book groups via Google Hangouts. School library staff have focused on encouraging children to continue to read, knowing that it is one of the most powerful things they can do, for both educational benefit, and to help with their wellbeing. Many companies both in the educational sector and beyond have been generous with providing access for free for a limited time to many resources, which has been appreciated by school staff as well as parents!
General problems/solutions in returning services
l School libraries face similar problems to other sectors – a main concern is the returning of resources; with one idea being a returns box for each day, which is then left for 72 hours before being dealt with by staff.
l The loaning of books also presents a prob- lem, specifically in schools where some users may be in school, and some may be at home, and many schools are looking at a variation of click and collect, where pupils can choose books and either pick them up at a designat- ed point or they are delivered to them.
34 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
Alison Tarrant (@fictious_cat) is Chief Executive of the School Library Association
www.sla.org.uk
l The issues with soft furnishings is also a concern with many school libraries having sofas, cushions, toys, storysacks and beanbags, all of which present a risk of contamination for much longer than hard surfaces.
School specific problem/solutions
l Many school libraries will also face specific issues presented by the guidance given by the DfE, which indicates that class sizes should be minimised, which will create issues both with having sufficient class spaces to teach in, and having enough staff to oversee the classes.
l The offset start/finish times – brought in to ensure not all pupils (and parents) arrive at school at once – also mean that lunch and breaktimes are offset. In some schools this will create a scenario where most of the day is free-time which may pose a question for school libraries as to whether they focus on classes, or provision for free time.
l Any attempt to limit the number of users (as most will have to in order to observe social distancing) also has additional com- plications if you are a lone member of library
June-July 2020
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