The Role of the School Librarian

The School Library Association believes that the School Librarian has an essential and unique specialist role to play in supporting pupils’ learning and their development into effective, independent learners and readers.

The School Librarian should be:

• a partner with teaching staff in the education process
• a partner in supporting individual learning styles
• an acknowledged expert in resource and information provision and management
• a leader and partner with teaching staff in the collaborative design and implementation of information literacy programmes throughout the school
• a leader in creating and developing a climate to promote and support reading for pleasure across the school
• an acknowledged partner with all departments to effectively support and resource each key stage
• a partner in out of hours learning

The School Librarian should have the same entitlement to continuing professional development as teaching staff and paid holiday as required by the Working Time Regulations.

January 2006

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