Supporting documents - excerpts
updated 9 July, 2001
AASL (American Association of School librarians) Position statement on flexible scheduling  1991
Schools must adopt the educational philosophy that the library media program is fully integrated into the educational program. This integration strengthens the teaching/learning process. The library program is an extension of the classroom. Information skills are taught and learned within the context of the classroom curriculum. The integrated library program philosophy requires an open schedule. Classes cannot be scheduled to provide teacher release or preparation time.
 
AASL (American Association of School librarians) Position statement on reading development  1993/99
The following elements are integral to a reading program: 1. The library is flexibly scheduled so that students and teachers have unlimited physical and intellectual access to a wide range of materials.
 
ALA / AAECT American Library Association & Association for Educational Communications and Technology Information power; Building relationships for learning  1998
The cardinal premises on which learning and teaching within the effective school library program is based, include:
  • The library program is essential to learning and teaching and must be fully integrated into the curriculum.
  • The library program models and promotes collaborative planning, curriculum development, and teaching
  • Access to the full range of resources and services is fundamental to learning
ASLA & ALIA Learning for the future; developing information sevices in schools. 2nd ed. 2001
Students have opportunities to work with teachers, identified experts and information services staff as individuals, in small [groups] and class groups at the point of learning need.
 
Calgary Board of Education, Canada  School libraries supporting quality learning  1999
Imagine... A resource centre where interactive learning takes place... Collaborative learning communities working together ... Libraries that pervade the school environment as flexibly scheduled learning centres... Teacher-librarians as partners in creating learning environments.
 
CSLA (Canadian School Library Association) Guidelines for effective school library programs 1998
The school library program is most effective when it is an integral part of the instructional program of the school and when information skills are developed in a developmental and sequential way with subject-specific skills and content. The program is developed jointly by teachers and teacher-librarians who work cooperatively to plan, implement and evaluate.
 
CSLA (Canadian School Library Association) Summary statement of the National Symposium on information, literacy and the school library in Canada  1997
The school library is ... a critical resource for literacy and curriculum support; supporting both instruction in the use of the new information tools, and in the critical use of information skills across the curriculum. School libraries have been on the forefront in their recognition of the electronic realities of our new society. Educational leaders have embraced the necessity of providing access to the new technologies and they must now recognise the fact that these technologies enhance and confirm the essential values provided by the school library.
 
IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions): Section of School libraries and resource Centres. The school library in teaching and learning for all; IFLA/UNESCO School Library manifesto.
It has been demonstrated that, when librarians and teachers work together, students achieve higher levels of literacy, reading, learning, problem-solving and technology skills.
 
NSW Department of Education  Information skills in the school. 1988
To create a learning environment which fosters the development of information skills, schools should provide a program which allows for teacher and student flexibility in exploring curriculum tasks and problems. p. 9
 
NSW Department of  Education  Libraries in New South Wales government schools. 1987
The purpose of the school library is to enhance teaching and learning within the total program of the school. The provision of library services must be flexible and encompass the full range of resources available in and through the library. p.2,3
 
NSW IEU Independent Education Union Draft position paper 1998
Flexible timetabling and collaborative planning is the preferred model for teacher-librarians. 
Where classes are timetabled, they should not exceed 50% of the working week.
 
NSWPPA (NSW Primary Principals Association)  Position paper: Teacher Librarian 2001
The NSW Primary Principals Association recommends that all RFF activities be provided by an allocation to the school of two hours per week per teacher, thus allowing teacher librarians to implement CPT.
 
NSW Teachers Federation Teacher-librarians' campaign kit 1998
  • Campaign priorities: Full reinstatement of RFF teacher provision through the staffing formula so that no TL need provide RFF.
  • Know your rights: TLs cannot be required to provide any additional release including 'executive release' for which there is no Departmental provision.

RFF Position paper   | nswtl