News

Fight over school libraries will continue, says Gibbons

25.01.10 | Benedicte Page

Children's author and library campaigner Alan Gibbons has told Ed Balls, secretary of state for children, schools and families, that he will continue his fight to make school libraries statutory despite government's rejection of a recent petition to that effect.

The petition, organised by Gibbons, attracted over 5,700 signatures and the support of bodies including CILIP, ASCEL and The National Literacy Trust.

In an open letter to Balls, Gibbons wrote: "As you will know, HMG rejected the petition, restating its position that it gives money to schools to support reading and permits them to decide how to do it. I think this position is wrong. Without a librarian to coordinate reading for pleasure and information retrieval, schools will fail to promote literacy at the highest level."

He added: "Oftsed has recently concluded that not enough children, especially boys, read for pleasure and it is affecting their life chances. Making school libraries statutory is essential to changing that picture."

Gibbons said he would be discussing with friends and colleagues in the professional association and public sector trade unions how the campaign would be strengthened to persuade government to change its mind.

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By Jan

School libraries are vital! How can students develop a love of books if they don't have access to a good selection? As a retired teacher I always encouraged pupils to go to libraries and arranged many visits to local libraries. My daughter was a librarian at both primary & secondary schools, a wonderful way to engage pupils - she's now a university librarian! KEEP SCHOOL LIBRARIES

Sat, 30/01/2010 - 17:02
By Susan

It is hard enough now to get children to even pick up a book, let alone read one and this is largely due to a bias on the part of teachers towards the internet. The internet has its place for information retreival, but not at the expense of the book. A school library is vital for children to choose a book to read for pleasure, not because they have been told they have to read, but because they want to. School librarians can give advice as to different reading matter through recommendations. Children can be involved in the selection of books which will give them a sense of ownership. This affects their motivation to read, and learn. Libraries are not just about books, though, they are also a place of learning through a variety of sources. I could go on but I won't. I'll just finish with every school needs a library and a librarian!

Thu, 04/02/2010 - 19:19
By Jan

School libraries are vital! How can students develop a love of books if they don't have access to a good selection? As a retired teacher I always encouraged pupils to go to libraries and arranged many visits to local libraries. My daughter was a librarian at both primary & secondary schools, a wonderful way to engage pupils - she's now a university librarian! KEEP SCHOOL LIBRARIES

Sat, 30/01/2010 - 17:02
By Susan

It is hard enough now to get children to even pick up a book, let alone read one and this is largely due to a bias on the part of teachers towards the internet. The internet has its place for information retreival, but not at the expense of the book. A school library is vital for children to choose a book to read for pleasure, not because they have been told they have to read, but because they want to. School librarians can give advice as to different reading matter through recommendations. Children can be involved in the selection of books which will give them a sense of ownership. This affects their motivation to read, and learn. Libraries are not just about books, though, they are also a place of learning through a variety of sources. I could go on but I won't. I'll just finish with every school needs a library and a librarian!

Thu, 04/02/2010 - 19:19

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