Speaker
Mrs
CAROLINE NDIVHUHO MADZHIE
(LIASA)
Description
This paper looks at how school libraries may enhance quality teaching and learning in schools. This critical literature review examines research findings which link quality teaching and school library use, and school library provision. The paper reveals that dependence on textbooks, teachers and after-schools additional classes may improvement pass rates especially in grade 12, but if school teachers and their learners are encouraged to get additional information through research in the libraries, this will inculcate the spirit of life-long learning. The paper also looks at the conscious decision governments should take in providing library buildings and librarians or teacher librarians for every school. It also looks at the need of a sound relationship between school librarians, teachers and learners. To achieve this, there should a conscious effort from school managers and governments to support establishment of school libraries, especially in rural areas. Higher Education institutions must through their community engagement offices support establishment of libraries in schools and in communities.
The aim of the literature review is to examine evidence from research conducted which link learning in its widest sense, encompassing processes and attitudes, with library provision, including the type of resources, nature of access and staffing.
Literature reviewed show that there is a link between quality teaching and learning and the availability of libraries in schools. It also reveals that learners who are not exposed to library provisioning in their school career usually have problems when they go to tertiary institutions. Literature has also revealed that school that are without libraries are those in rural and in townships or squatters.
It is revealed that school libraries can have a positive impact on academic achievement particularly when accompanied by appropriate action to ensure that service delivery is efficient and effective. This is only possible if schools have school librarians who will service library users.
This paper lifts training of teachers and librarians very high in order to raise mutual understanding of each other’s contribution and roles within the school library setting. Training should include information skills development, collection mapping, planning and evaluation.
Succinctly, this paper addresses the importance of libraries in schools to support quality teaching and learning. Quality teaching is also possible in a conducive learning environment. The paper exposes that there should be a sound relationship between teacher librarians and educators in a school in order to achieve the aspect of quality teaching and learning
Primary author
Mrs
CAROLINE NDIVHUHO MADZHIE
(LIASA)
