Earlier in 2010, the Children’s Book Council of Australia undertook a survey of 624 schools. Here are some results.
BER LIBRARIES
127 schools indicated that they had received $500,000 or more in BER funding for their library; 85 of those received over $1,000,000.
Staffing:
Of these 127 schools, almost one in five (18%) do not have a qualified teacher-librarian in their library. In fact, the figures may be worse than that, as some libraries may be ‘out of contact’.
Budgets:
The average library budget of these BER libraries was $16,895.
Over 65% of BER school library budgets were $10,000 or less.
30% of BER school library budgets were $5,000 or less.
COMPARISON OF EDUCATIONAL SECTOR SCHOOL LIBRARY BUDGETS IN SURVEY (not just BER)
Anglican Schools:
Average Library Budget: $44,762.
80% of Anglican school library budgets are greater or equal to $20,000.
5 stated that their budgets are unknown. One commented: “We do not have a budget. We spend until told to stop.”
Independent Schools:
Average Library Budget: $37,220.
74% of Independent school budgets are greater or equal to $20,000.
6% of those schools had library budgets of over $100,000.
Catholic Schools:
Average Library Budget: $20,732.
39% of Catholic school library budgets were greater or equal to $20,000.
Less than 1% were $50,000 or greater.
43% were $10,000 or less. 22% were $5,000 or less.
Government Schools:
Average Library Budget: $10,606.
13% of government school library budgets were greater or equal to $20,000.
Only 2 (.5%) of the 375 schools had a budget exceeding $50,000.
66% had a library budget of $10,000 or below. 36% were $5,000 or less. 3% were $1,000 or less.
Marj Kirkland
National President
The Children’s Book Council of Australia
Further information in CBCA Inquiry Submission 296.
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