Page 129 - DLIS001_FOUNDATION_OF_LIBRARY_AND_INFORMATION_SCIENCE

Foundation of Library and Information Science

Notes It is a fundamental resource for supporting students’ learning, and a key support for
teaching staff. The school library reflects and encourages collaborative learning and sharing
of ideas.
School libraries are places for learning and thinking, and play a key role in supporting
and developing enjoyment of reading and multiple literacies.
School library can also play a key role in building a learning community. A school library
reflects students’ identities through ensuring that the languages and cultures of the school
community are an integral part of the library’s collection, services, and environment.

School libraries are unique but they are also part of a much wider information landscape.
The school library is an ideal place to learn about the way that libraries work and how to
use libraries. For some students their school library will be their first experience of a
library.

The school library can connect with other libraries, including public libraries, for a diverse
range of information resources.

7.2.2 Functions of School Libraries

The school authorities do build a variety of facilities to operate different functions of the school
in order to meet the requirements of its students. One of the most important facilities is the
provision of a modern library and its expanded services. In recent decades, libraries have been
considered not merely a facility but as the chief instrument of learning in all its dimensions.
Libraries could help students both in their academic and non-academic pursuits.
Use of a library by a pupil must start from the primary school. The school libraries at Primary,
Middle, Secondary, etc. levels should have the following functions:
acquiring, maintaining, lending and keeping track of books and other documents relevant
to the needs and interests of teachers and students;
generating curiosity and interest; among teachers and students about the material available
in the library, and heaping them in every way to identify and obtain what they want;
creating in the mind of a reader a value for books, and cultivating learning and reading
skills so a student becomes a discriminate: user of learning resources;
engendering strong self-learning ability and skills for life-long learning;

enabling the teachers to use learning resources to support various programmes of the
school and for their own educational development; and

to generate confidence interest in libraries for getting information.
In order to achieve these broad ideals, appropriate courses of study for different stages of the
school programme are designed. Methods of imparting instructions and teaching are also
developed with the aids of audio-visual kits. Other extra-curricular activities and programmes
are planned for the different age groups to involve them in group activities, giving scope to
develop leadership qualities, organisational skills, and to participate in school functions and
other social work activities. Students with special talents such as in sports, games, painting,
music, drama etc., are also provided opportunities to display their talents on appropriate
occasions. In all these endeavours the school library becomes the resource centre.

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