News

The value of school libraries

by Emily Nancarrow, teacher librarian

Last week The Age newspaper questioned the value of school libraries with an article titled ‘School library shelf life under threat in cyber era’. The antiquated perspective that school libraries exist for the sole purpose of loaning books has tarnished the image of the library for too long. Libraries everywhere are constantly evolving to remain relevant and respond to the needs of their communities in the wake of rapid technological development. They bring far more to educational institutions than just books. 

We’re lucky at Preshil that we have two incredible library spaces that are heavily utilised by staff and students. Both spaces are bright and versatile and invite students to engage with them on a multitude of levels. Whether undertaking personal study, working collaboratively, researching, perusing a beloved series of books, chatting to the friendly librarian or resting weary legs from the long walk to school, the School library provides a comfortable and inviting space promoting creative thinking, innovation and reflection.

School libraries, however, are more than just the space they provide. They also play a vital role in providing teachers and students with valuable resources that support curriculum and learning. Yes this includes books, but it also includes e-resources and research databases and online collaborative platforms. Similarly, school libraries are staffed with librarians who harbour an innate desire to help those around them. Need some help? Ask a librarian!

While many digital natives (those familiar with computers and the Internet from an early age) are capable of undertaking basic online research, they still need expertise and guidance to navigate the vast online landscape. A 2016 study from Stanford University suggested that secondary school students, despite being digital natives, lack the skills to evaluate online information and differentiate between authentic and fake news. School libraries can offer expertise to equip students with sophisticated evaluation skills allowing them to identify quality, unbiased sources of accurate information amongst the sheer quantity of information available online.

A particularly fun (or possibly terrifying) website I invite you to visit is willrobotstakemyjob.com.  The authors of the website estimate the probability that your job will become automated in the shift towards computerisation. Librarians are warned that “robots are watching” but we are not yet at risk losing our jobs, despite our rapidly evolving digitised world.

The true value of school libraries, though, lies with the staff and students they exist to support. In response to the article in The Age, I called an impromptu action and invited staff and students to participate in a library appreciation photo to advocate for the importance of school libraries. Through this action it was clear that, despite the ongoing technological advancement, the school library remains a valuable and appreciated resource.

If the only role school libraries played was one that involved lending books, then yes, they would potentially be at risk of obsolescence. But school libraries do so much more than that and they are deeply valued by the staff and students they endeavor to support.