The SLA's newest publication is now available. Going Digital: Developing ICT in the Primary School Library by Sarah Pavey is a comprehensive guideline and a must-read for anyone who is to keen to develop a meaningful digital presence in their library.

Get a taster of Going Digital with these sample sections from the book:

Why is ICT important? 

When you have little time, little expertise in libraries and may only be in charge of a small collection of aging books in a corner of a hall or school corridor, it is easy to assume that there is no urgent need for your school library to have a digital presence. This is a mistaken assumption. The ubiquitous computer is everywhere so learning to make ICT ‘work for you’ is an essential life skill for every one of our pupils. Trained librarians in all walks of life have had access to electronic resources for far longer than those in many other work sectors and even Bill Gates himself honed his skills as a helper in his school library. The primary library co-ordinator or member of the senior staff with a library management overview, by virtue of their position, their expertise and enthusiasm is in a prime position to put library use centre stage thereby making a significant impact on the school community and helping to raising aspiration attainment.

ICT can play an important part in raising the library’s profile for reading and information handling with pupils, adults across the school and parents/carers thereby helping with its development.           

ICT is important not only in primary school libraries for its essential life skills impact and its role in raising the library’s profile and helping in efficient delivery of library services but also of course because it is a statutory National Curriculum subject that all children are required to be taught.

Using ICT effectively in the library can therefore not only support independent learning, and help to deliver efficient library services across the school but its use can also tick many of the ICT ‘curriculum boxes’ too.

Digital beginnings

The ICT element of your library job needs to be manageable, flexible and easy to use, certainly not daunting and confusing! The technology must work for you and support pupil learning, helping to make them more independent.

Before investing in any major new library technology and getting yourself a serious digital presence you may well have some important advocacy work to do. Your vision and enthusiasm for bringing your library into the 21st century may well be important. Taking your senior leadership team and school colleagues with you will be important. They may all be sympathetic but have little understanding of the potential of library ICT – arguments of cost and time may be used. Setting up a small and enthusiastic working group in school, perhaps using a sympathetic Governor, some parents and some older pupils will help.

Your agenda could usefully include some or all of the following:
• Will it raise the profile of the library and raise attainment?
• Does it support teaching and learning?
• Will it support your role as PLC?
• Can it be used to help find information more effectively than other methods?
• Does it promote reader development?
• Can it be used by all age groups?
• Timescale.
Also:
• Will there be sufficient technical support?
• Will there be funding for training?
• Will it be compatible with your existing hardware?
• Will there be on going costs such as an annual maintenance fee or license to pay?
You may be one of those primary library co-ordinators who want to develop their ICT expertise seriously so that you can provide informed advice on ICT products not only on library resources but for others in the school too. If you are one of these you are like gold dust!
If you lack confidence and knowledge with ICT, organise some general digital training, perhaps from your school technical support team or from your Schools Library Service.

Ordering

Order Going Digital online or via the SLA Publications Catalogue or telephone 01793 792052.