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This policy is current as at 04/03/2021 05:46am, AEDT. Please refer to policy library website (https://education.nsw.gov.au/policy-library) for an updated version.

Library Policy - Schools

This policy sets out the requirements for school libraries and the responsibilities of principals, teacher-librarians and other staff in relation to the programs of the library.

1. Policy statement

1.1 Libraries are an essential resource within NSW public schools to support teaching and learning in the context of syllabus and curriculum requirements.

1.2 Libraries provide teachers and teacher-librarians with resources to teach the curriculum, and students with resources for individual learning and recreational reading.

1.3 Principals and teacher-librarians are responsible for the development of an educational program and a detailed description of the support each library provides to meet the particular needs of the students of the school.

2. Audience and applicability

2.1 This policy applies to all principals, teachers, teacher-librarians and administrative staff.

3. Context

3.1 The purpose of the school library is to support teaching and learning within the total program of the school. Teacher-librarians collaborate with teachers in planning, implementing and evaluating teaching and learning programs, including integrating Information Communications Technology and literacy.

3.2 Teacher-librarians provide students with opportunities to develop information skills and to use these skills competently and with confidence for lifelong learning.

4. Responsibilities and delegations

4.1 The teacher-librarian is:

  • a member of the school's total teaching staff and as such is actively involved in collaborative teaching and learning, school curriculum planning and in program development
  • involved in the provision of the information-related resources integral to the planning, implementation and evaluation of the curriculum of the school
  • a specialist teacher who develops, manages and evaluates, on behalf of the principal, systems and procedures that include:
    • library budgeting
    • selection and culling
    • ordering and acquisitions
    • cataloguing and classification using the Schools Catalogue Information Service
    • processing materials
    • circulation
    • stock control.

4.2 The principal and teacher-librarian together are responsible for implementing the school's library policy.

5. Monitoring and review

5.1 The Libraries Coordinator, who is responsible for curriculum and policy support for school libraries, will monitor the implementation of this policy and will report as required to the Director, Learning Systems.

6. Contact

Libraries Coordinator (02) 7814 2568.

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This information is current as at 04/03/2021 05:46am, AEDT. For the most up-to-date information, go to https://policies.education.nsw.gov.au/policy-library/policies/library-policy-schools.

© State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2019. For more information go to https://education.nsw.gov.au/about-us/copyright.

NSW Department of Education

This information is current as at 04/03/2021 05:36am, AEDT. For the most up-to-date information, go to https://policies.education.nsw.gov.au/policy-library/policies/joint-use-of-school-facilities-and-land-policy.

© State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2019. For more information go to https://education.nsw.gov.au/about-us/copyright.