The School Library Association believes that:

• secondary school libraries should be open and staffed for as much of the school week as possible, including lunchtimes and before and after school
• this staffing should come from a Chartered professional librarian or a dually qualified teacher/librarian with appropriate support from a library assistant or classroom assistant
• staff who are not professionally qualified should be provided with every opportunity to pursue relevant training and acquire the specialist knowledge required by the role of School Librarian
• the Librarian should be employed for 52 weeks of the year
• the Librarian should report to a member of the Senior Management Team with curriculum responsibility
• the Librarian should have status equivalent to Head of Department
• the Librarian should be included in the school's formal performance and appraisal process.

January 2006