Julia Gillard has requested an Inquiry into school libraries and teacher librarians in Australian schools.

 I have posted this really important update from Georgia with Barbara's encouragement.

From Georgia Phillips on behalf of The Hub, Campaign for Quality School Libraries in Australia http://hubinfo.wordpress.com/

"I am pleased to announce that your efforts have been successful!!

Julia Gillard has requested an Inquiry into school libraries and teacher librarians in Australian schools.  See http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/edt/schoollibraries/index.htm

In this election year, the timeframe is all too short. One month!!  SUBMISSIONS MUST BE IN BY APRIL 16.  Nevertheless this is our opportunity for the federal government to look at possible recommendations on school library funding and staffing, the first review since the 1970s.

Terms of Reference

To inquire into and report on the role, adequacy and resourcing of school libraries and teacher librarians in Australia’s public and private schools.

Specifically, the committee should focus on:

·         the impact of recent policies and investments on school libraries and their activities;

·         the future potential of school libraries and librarians to contribute to improved educational and community outcomes, especially literacy;

·         the factors influencing recruitment and development of school librarians;

·         the role of different levels of government and local communities and other institutions in partnering with and supporting school librarians; and

·         the impact and potential of digital technologies to enhance and support the roles of school libraries and librarians.

As a result of submissions, the committee can recommend those things stated in the petition that so many of you signed

These are ... that the government:

·         collect national data on school library staffing, funding, and scheduling;

·         tie funding so that states can and must adequately staff and fund school library programs and services;

·         require that literacy programs and other national curricula should explicitly recognize the central role school libraries have in student achievement, literacy attainment, and preparation for post-secondary success;

·         develop national school library standards;

·         increase teacher librarian training positions in university programs.

The brief is quite broad and can accommodate these issues and more, such as special grants for

·         Improving Literacy through School Libraries,

·         collection of information on TL training programs and numbers enrolled,

·          make recommendations on inclusions in pre-service teacher training on IL and TL collaboration

·         development of a national IL curriculum

·         nominating a National School Library Day, and much more.

We hope that you will assist the associations you belong to to make considered submissions within this short timeframe. Guidelines for submissions can be found at http://www.aph.gov.au/House/committee/documnts/howsub.htm#inquiry

Individual submissions will also help the House Education and Training Committee members understand our dreams and the reality.

This is an valuable first step in improving school library funding and staffing in Australia for the 21st century.

Thank you for your time and support and congratulations on all your efforts so far"

Georgia Phillips  posted by Barbara Braxton, Teacher Librarian (with permission)

ASLA received a disappointing response from Julia

“A strong library program that is adequately staffed, resourced and funded can lead to higher student achievement regardless of the socioeconomic or educational levels of the adults in the community” (Lonsdale, ACER, 2003).

"How is it that the Federal government can commit billions of dollars to the building of new primary school libraries across all states, yet seems unconcerned who (if anyone) will be managing those brand new libraries – let alone if anyone is also qualified to teach within them?"  The Hub

Request for a national school library review was made by Australian School Library Association.

Letter to the Rudd Government (24 November 2009) | Response from the Chief of Staff, Office of the Hon Julia Gillard MP (17 December 2009)

If you would like to do something to change this situation please go to Sign Our Petition

"Dewey Does Decimals" from David Strempel

 David has kindly allowed me to share this work with you: Enjoy.!!

A student once asked me to write a poem on the Dewey System 

for the School magazine:

Dewey Does Decimals

Image via Wikipedia

"When Melvil Dewey was a lad,
  Books in libraries were so bad,
  They were piled up in ugly stacks,
  By which were lies and which were facts
  And which were red and which were white
  And which were large and which were slight.

  “This has got to stop,” said Mel,
  “These libraries are a living hell,
  I just can’t get no satisfaction.”
  And then he had an inspiration.
  “There’s got to be a better system.
  I’ll think it through, and then I’ll list ‘em.”

  It took him days and weeks and years,
  He went through paper, ink and beers.
  It took long walks with his dog Bluey,
  And then it came to Melvil Dewey –
  A way of finding books so fast
  “This is the way, hooray, at last!”

  “I’ll put all books in ten main classes,
  I’ll write that down, now where’s my glasses?
  Then each class into fields I shall divide ‘em,
  And then each field and subfield and so on ad infinitum
  For more specific things, I’ll use some decimal places,”
  Whispered Mr. Dewey, hitching up his braces.

  Mel used the lowest numbers for generalities,
  Like mysteries, computers, journalism, bibliographies.
  The 100s were for noble ideas and thoughts of philosophy,
  And thoughts of thoughts and logic and psychology.
  He set aside 200 to two hundred ‘n’ ninety nine
  For ideas of the supernatural and of the divine.

  300s were for social sciences – law and education,
Civics, sociology, customs and vocation
  400s got the Language stuff – dictionaries ‘n’ grammar as well,
  “This ain’t so hard after all,” mumbled a smug Mel.
  500s he gave to Sciences – maths chem and zoology,
  Botony, palaeontology, biol and geology.

  600s for Technology, medicine and invention,
  TV, engineering ‘n’ agriculture got a mention.
  700s – the Arts – architecture and for painting,
  And music and sculpture, photography, recreating.
  800s for Literature – poetry, and plays (like Mystery),
  900s for Geography, cities, countries and for History.

  “Well that’s it then,” said Dewey to his Great Unca Scrooge,
  If this thing catches on it really will be HUGE,
  And if it don’t, why then, I’ll use my imagination,
  I’ll do a Mao, leave libraries and go and lead a nation.”
  Fortunately it worked for him, Mel Dewey and his dogue,
  But next he had to invent the old card catalogue.

  I’m not too sure I told it all the way it really went,
  But next time to a library you go or you are sent,
  Remember Melvil Dewey, the librarian and his pup,
Who gave us all good libraries, neatly divided up.
  And spare a thought for librarians with strange looks on their faces,
  Sitting in their back rooms trying to work out decimal places."

Image by Klara Kim via Flickr

  David Strempel   Teacher Librarian