Joint statement on school library inclusion in the National School Reform Agreement

Canberra, 28 March 2023

“The evidence is clear that access to a school library run by qualified staff improves student outcomes, and yet across the country that access is not guaranteed, with students in regional and low-socio economic areas least likely to have access to a well-resourced and staffed school library. 

The statement calls for clear and achievable action to arrest this decline and set our children up for success.” https://www.alia.org.au/Web/News/Articles/2023/3March/National_School_Reform_Agreement.aspx

Read the full statement here.

Teacher librarians linked to improved student literacy

New research by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) reveals schools with a qualified teacher librarian are more likely to have improved student literacy outcomes. See the full article. 7 September 2020.

2016 Survey of TLs in Schools

What the Staff in Australia’s Schools surveys tell us about teachers working in school libraries authored by Paul R Weldon, Australian Council for Educational Research.

Students Need School Libraries

See this South Australian site for excellent information and research

ACT to fund T/L training

https://canberraweekly.com.au/act-government-to-fund-training-for-50-teacher-librarians/

ACT Liberals promise to fund a T/L for every public school

The upcoming ACT elections could be a game-changer for public school students and their literacy and information literacy skills. Canberra Liberals have promised funds for qualified TLs in every public school.

“ACER REPORT REVEALS DATA ABOUT STAFFING IN SA SCHOOL LIBRARIES”

“The School Library Association of South Australia (SLASA) commissioned the Australian Council for Educational Research to survey school libraries across all South Australian schools. The census collected data on school library staffing, facilities, funding, and support. The results reveal that schools with a qualified teacher librarian are more likely to have improved student literacy outcomes.” Read more here, with access to the full report.

Australia’s new Children’s Laureate speaks up for teacher librarians and school libraries

Ursula Dubosarsky on the importance of school libraries and teacher librarians.

NSW Teachers Federation takes up call for qualified teacher librarians in every school

“Consistent with the 2019 Annual Conference decision, Guaranteeing the teacher-librarian role in schools, a Special Interest Group has been reestablished for Federation members who are teacher-librarians and a survey of teacher-librarians is being developed to further inform Federation about the extent to which the Department’s library policy and school librarian staffing entitlements are being applied.” See full article at :
New chapter for NSW Teachers Federation TL Special Interest Group

NSW Parliament passes motion in support of TL staffing

The NSW Parliament has *unanimously* passed an Upper House motion from the Greens. It calls for quality school libraries and teacher librarians in EVERY public school. With the proposed demise of Local Schools Local Decisions, a policy which gave principals responsibility for staffing (with reducing budgets), there is the possibility that the long downhill road since 2011 could be reversed. Watch the literacy rates skyrocket! Congratulations to David Shoebridge and the NSW Greens. May other states follow suit.

David Shoebridge, NSW MLC, followed up with questions to the Education Minister in Education Budget Estimates hearing.