The Library is an information centre, therefore it should be organized and managed to provide a good source of information for students and teachers. At primary level, library instruction should not be formal but should be integrated into the regular visits by students who go to the library to do research or get a book to read. The Librarian should take advantage of working with each student to solve an information based problem and in doing so to help the student learn library skills. Students entering high schools should have already acquired the research and study skills they need and should only require an orientation or refresher programme at the beginning of the year in order to acquaint themselves with the school library and its operation. It is desirable for the school library to be available to students and staff before and after school, during break periods, and at lunch times. To facilitate this, staff must be able to take their break and lunch periods, either before or after the regular times - this usually translates into limited time-tabling of the library just before or just after lunch. Clerical Library Staff are expected to observe the same hours as other administrative personnel, so most libraries should be open until 4:00 p.m. The Teacher Librarian may be a professional librarian or a Trained Teacher with additional qualifications or expertise in Library Science.
Duties and responsibilities include:
Organizing and managing the school Library. Keeping the shelves in order.
Creating and updating the Display board. Organizing the work spaces to attract
and support students who want to work there.
Working with teachers in order to support their information needs in support
of the curriculum.
Preparing an orientation programme that shows students how the library
functions. This should be very brief.
In concert with teachers, gathering of materials that support projects or assignments.
Supervising the clerical and sub-clerical staff in their work in the library.
Providing support for students as they search for materials needed to do the assignments given by teachers. In doing so, informally teach them to use the
library properly.
Providing interesting leisure reading materials for students.
Promote leisure reading in the school.
Attending staff meetings and planning sessions so as to be conversant with
staff and students' needs and to be able to advise on library resources/services available.
Cataloging and classifying collections in accordance with Ministry of
Education policies.
Maintaining a card catalogue of holdings.
Selecting a loan system to meet unique needs of the school as well as Ministry
of Education requirements.
Selecting and acquiring materials to meet needs of students and staff
(educational, informational, recreational).
Promoting library through such vehicles as displays, book fairs, select bibliographies, brochures, orientation for target groups.
Producing materials to augment library use.
Preparing and submitting end of term statistics and annual reports on library activities (or as required by Ministry regulations).
Performing other duties that may be assigned.
Lillian G. Weir-Coakley Library - The Southern Public Library
The Library is an information centre, therefore it should be organized and managed to provide a good source of information for students and teachers. At primary level, library instruction should not be formal but should be integrated into the regular visits by students who go to the library to do research or get a book to read. The Librarian should take advantage of working with each student to solve an information based problem and in doing so to help the student learn library skills. Students entering high schools should have already acquired the research and study skills they need and should only require an orientation or refresher programme at the beginning of the year in order to acquaint themselves with the school library and its operation. It is desirable for the school library to be available to students and staff before and after school, during break periods, and at lunch times. To facilitate this, staff must be able to take their break and lunch periods, either before or after the regular times - this usually translates into limited time-tabling of the library just before or just after lunch. Clerical Library Staff are expected to observe the same hours as other administrative personnel, so most libraries should be open until 4:00 p.m. The Teacher Librarian may be a professional librarian or a Trained Teacher with additional qualifications or expertise in Library Science.