We watched a rich conversation about school libraries unfold in the House of Lords on Monday 30th June, which included recognition for the advice and support that the School Library Association provides to schools across the country.
The conversation was prompted by an oral question from Lord Watson of Invergowrie, referencing the Index on Censorship survey into censorship in school libraries, but soon widened to encompass the importance of building reading enjoyment in all our children and young people, as well as the various challenges faced by schools, including managing collections that serve multiple age groups, ensuring proper safeguarding, and teaching critical thinking skills.
These are all areas that school librarians contribute to significantly, providing essential guidance to the whole school, building and maintaining inclusive reading communities, and helping to ensure that our children and young people have the support needed to thrive as inclusive, empathetic citizens.
We were pleased to hear the government affirm its commitment to fostering a broader love of books and reading in schools, and there is no better place for this to happen than in school libraries, supported by knowledgeable school librarians.