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Setting Up and Running a School Library is a lively and practical guide to running

a school library. It is ideal for both teachers and others who are not trained

librarians and places special emphasis on setting up a library with limited resources.

The book gives simple step-by-step explanations and covers all aspects of setting

up and running a library, including:

• choosing a room and making shelves and other furniture

• choosing books for the library

• how to make a catalogue, classify books and establish simple and effective

library systems

• how to encourage teachers and students to become involved.

The emphasis is firmly on practical advice, clearly distinguishing between essential

and optional tasks. There are plenty of diagrams and practical examples from the

experiences of teachers around the world.

Foreword

Setting up and running a school library is one of the most satisfying jobs a teacher can perform. As a teacher-librarian

you will be able to develop children’s love of books and encourage them to read. This in turn will improve their literacy

skills, which they will enjoy, remember and share long after their school days are over. You can also show students how

to find out information from the books in the library, and this too is a skill for life. People need information to educate

themselves and develop their true potential, and for this they need literacy skills and access to books. The library

provides access to books; it is a place where information is shared.

Setting up a library is also a great challenge. It can be hard work, so it is recommended that you work closely with

many other people at your school. In this way the library will belong to everyone at the school and can be made to

benefit many generations of students.

This book has been written to help you to set up and run the type of library that best suits your school. The guidelines

are based on the many years’ experience of VSO teachers and librarians working with local colleagues in...