Advocating for better library budgets

Back in 2020, Jan Sheridan's research paper School Library Funding, Staffing and Resourcing - A 10 Year Review was published in ACCESS (Australian School Library Association). It encompasses three areas relating to school libraries:

• Funding
• Staffing
• Resourcing

This entry focuses on the funding of school libraries.

Over the years, working in various schools before gaining permanency has provided me with valuable insight into how different schools approach funding of school libraries, the processes involved and even how different teacher librarians approach their budget submissions. This, combined with the processes involved in my permanent role, has provided me with a what-to-do-and-what-not-to-do list.

It feels like I am preaching to the converted, but there is a need for a reminder, and also in a manner that keeps it simple. This blog is not just a place to reflect or share what I put into it, but to simplify what is out there in terms of research.

I read the reasons why school library budgets were increased, e.g. new principals, new resources to accommodate new curriculum and one-off grants.

But I felt one reason was missing for increased budgets - advocacy

Why?

I have found that advocacy can be used to secure increased funding for a library. Consider the data that is taken to a budget meeting - loan records, resource acquisitions, quotes for equipment and much more. Surveys and feedback have their place as well. 

Even if you are not asked to justify why you want xxx for your library, make sure you do. Take the initiative to do so. For those in systematic schools, especially public schools, make sure your supervisor or Head Teacher is briefed before any meeting to discuss funding. If they know what you want, they are more likely to be able to press your argument forward. It will likely pay off for you.

Whereas if you request a figure and provide no justification, the answer is likely to shift to "no," even if the requested figure is low or conservative. 

Connect it to school initiatives and strategic plans. Does your school have a wide reading program? Establish connections. Relate it to school outcomes—how does the funding help the school achieve the outcome? Consider the connections to curriculum outcomes? How will they be met?

I know of one (now retired) teacher librarian who took the initiative to itemise every item that they needed for the library, especially with stationery. I would also suggest that, as purchases are made for items such as stationery, you keep a record of what you do use and refer to invoices to help you estimate how much they would cost if purchased. You may keep this in a procedures or processes guide or create a system that works best for you. 

Decline in Reading ("Good Weekend" Magazine Article - 5 July 2025)

An article was published recently in Good Weekend Magazine (The Sydney Morning Herald/The Age) on July 5 that raised concerns about the decline in reading amongst Australians, particularly school students. 

A number of issues associated with reading and literacy were raised, which included the following:

• 29% of secondary school students no longer read for pleasure.
• Year 9 writing standards have slipped to the standard of a primary schooler.
• As many as one in three students in a typical classroom struggle with reading.
• Debates over how reading should be taught.
• Under-resourcing of school libraries and, in some schools, the removal of their libraries altogether.
• Decline in reading for leisure has resulted in poorer writing skills.
• Less critical engagement with texts in the classroom as a result of less reading.
• Difficulty in publishing successful titles. Fewer and fewer titles are being released each year that become "best sellers"

The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Social Media was also explored, and the impact it has on reading and writing, e.g. ChatGPT can produce essays that cannot be detected as being AI-generated. 

A warning is given: if we as a nation fail to address the decline in reading and literacy skills, there will be significant social and economic consequences in the years ahead. 

I have always believed that reading underpins success in life.  I believe that reading is an essential skill that one should possess, as it forms a foundation for success in learning and active participation in society. 

This article will assist in library advocacy, particularly in highlighting the importance of reading to ones broader development, but also to boost reading and writing skills.

Reference:

Callaghan, G., 2025, ‘A ticking time bomb’: How Australia’s reading slump is making us stupid, The Sydney Morning Herald, viewed 1 August 2025, <https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-ticking-time-bomb-how-australia-s-reading-slump-is-making-us-stupid-20250501-p5lvoe.html>.

School Libraries: Improving the Literacy and Wellbeing Outcomes for Young People

I am currently undertaking the Flexible Blended Learning Course provided by the School Library Association of NSW (SLANSW) focusing on the book publishing by Margaret Merga - School Libraries Supporting Literacy and Wellbeing.

So far, I have worked through two modules, both of which have required me to reflect on my role but also my role as a literacy educator.

Sometimes, I feel that I may not be fulfilling all aspects of the role of the teacher librarian, but having to review tables published in the book, I found that I was fulfilling my role, even if I did not notice it. It gave me assurance that I am doing my job, but also the depth at which I am doing it. 

It has also given me an opportunity to reflect on my professional growth in recent times and should I wish to seek employment elsewhere in the future, I will have a guide to help me reflect on the skills, experience, qualities and attributes that I can use to explain to employers why I am the most suited person for the role. 

Book Week Parades - For and Against

I am doing a blog entry for the School Library Association of NSW (SLANSW) on Book Week Parades following an article published by Antoniette Latouff in The Sydney Morning Herald on 25 August 2022 in which she was critical of decisions by schools to hold them because of the frustrations raised by parents, and questions how it relates to improving literacy.

Click here to read that article.

I would also recommend an article written the following day by Caitlin Fitzsimmons in the same publication putting in a case for book week parades. She highlights that it has become an annual tradition in our schools but also promotes literature. In addition, she rebuts arguments about some of the "hassles" in organising costumes and highlights that not much effort is needed for a good costume

I will update you when the article appears on their blog, but note that it will not be available publically as it will be for SLANSW members only. 

Responses to OZTL_NET Messages on Recess and Lunch Supervisions

I would like to express my thanks to those who responded to a request for information relating to recess and lunch supervisions in the school library.

I would like to keep the comments as anonymous but also present a summary of points that may need to be considered based on how schools manage it or individual perspectives.

• Check your award to see what breaks you are entitled to - It is likely you have the same expectations as a regular teacher relating to break times and duty expectations unless explicitly stated otherwise. 
• There are federal laws that mandate the length of breaks for an employee that they are entitled to. 
• If you have problems with securing breaks for lunch etc, consult your union if you are a member and speak to your school leadership.
• I know this from experience myself, but was reminded that in some schools, regular teachers provide the recess and lunch supervision either to give the teacher librarian an opportunity to have a break OR to supplement existing supervision to comply with supervision requirements. This can be seen as a workaround for a teacher librarian who is placed on a full teaching load, but there is a risk, would regular teachers be willing to undertake the supervisions if asked to do so and if complies with the conditions of the award in relation to playground supervision. 
• Every school will have its expectations. Some schools will be happy if the library has to close during recess or lunchtime to allow for breaks e.g short, staffing

Midterm Action

It feels hard at the moment to sit and write about what I have been up to, read or reflected on.

It is an interesting time for me as I work out of a temporary library office as the library itself undergoes some building works for the rest of the term.

But the show goes on. We may not be able to lend books, but we can extend the loans or encourage students to borrow eBooks.

We have been processing new books which will head straight to our new books shelves when we reopen.

Also, I thought I'd share an article from The Sunday Telegraph (p. 19, 14 August 2022) with Dr Helen Adam from Edith Cowan University mentioning that there is ""really strong evidence" that schools with well-resourced libraries and a qualified teacher librarian got better NAPLAN and other test results". This was in response to research by Consumer Data Company Fonto revealing that 68% of parents think that their children read at least as much if not more than when they were youngsters.

Source: Cogdon, K. 2022. "Lockdown silver lining: our kids are reading more than we did". The Sunday Telegraph: 19.

What wsa encouraging too was that in the past two years more than 30 million childrens books were being sold on an annual basis in Australia.

School Libraries and Pre-Service Teachers

I have done some reading on this topic lately and have been encouraged by some of the readings that I have read in recent times because it gives school libraries a great opportunity to begin engaging with our future teachers and help them appreciate and value the role that school libraries and teacher librarians have in supporting student learning. 

But the big challenge arises from the universities themselves as they coordinate the professional experience programs that education students undertake at either a undergraduate or postgraduate level. I reflect on my practicums and it was left to us, the pre-service teacher to engage with the library. We were not educated on their role nor the role or importance and staff that manage school libraries. 

Marlene Asselin, Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia has provided a number of papers on school libraries and their roles in supporting pre-service teachers but has also engaged in pre-service teacher programs through introducing inquiry-based intergrated unit planning and information literacy pedagogy. 

As part of their practicum they had to engage in collaborative experiences with teacher librarians including the planning of and delivery of lessons to develop information literacy skills. 

On the Advocacy Committee of the School Library Association of NSW (SLANSW), my fellow member Vicki Bennett and I have been collaborating with a lecturer at the University of Wollongong to provide presentations focusing on the role of the teacher librarian and their importance as educators. At the moment, Vicki has engaged in online presentations but is envisioned that it would be delivered face to face We also envision embedding a requirement for pre-service teachers at the University of Wollongong to engage with the library and even deliver one lesson in collaboration with the teacher librarian. 

After the holidays, I shall answer the question of what we can do right now to support our pre-service teachers.

 

Students Need School Libraries (Campaign)

This week, state and national school library associations along with the Australian Library & Information Association teamed up to launch the Students Need School Libraries campaign.

The aims are simple:

• Every school should provide access to high-quality library resources and services.
• That school libraries are staffed by qualified professionals, led by a teacher librarian.

It also advocates that each school should appoint a teacher librarian as equip students with skills essential for lifelong learning including:

• Research Skills 
• Cybersafety
• Information Literacy Skills
• Instilling a love of reading

The campaign has resulted from Australia's ranking falling in educational standards against OECD nations. Some schools have neglected the role of libraries as part of the learning process, questioning their relevance. Concerns have also been raised over staffing of school libraries i.e. unqualified staff or not appointing teacher librarians, which has meant that students are missing out on opportunities to develop skills required for lifelong learning.

The website for the Students Need School Libraries campaign can be accessed here.