Section 4

4.1 Developing Information Services

Once the planning process has been carried out and the characteristics of the school and groups within the school have been established, information services can be developed to address these.

There is no set list of services that a school library must offer. The school library should always be aware of the changing needs of staff and students and constantly strive to provide services to address those needs. Keep up to date with what is happening in the school and make it part of school library staff routine to read the daily/weekly/monthly school newsletter and any other material sent out to parents.

The following list is a suggestion of services that may be offered in your school and can be a starting point in developing a range and mix of services.

Possible information services include:

• School library catalogue
• Teaching of information literacy
• Cooperative planning and teaching
• Support for teacher and/or library professional development
• Promotion of literature
• Literature circles, literature talks, book raps, reader's cup
• Author visits
• Book Week activities, displays, information
• Copyright advice and guidance
• Video recording
• Audio recording
• Loan of audio-visual equipment, laptops, digital cameras
• Access to the Internet
• Access to quiet reading areas, study areas
• CD-Rom databases, indexes and encyclopaedias
• Online reference service
• Online bibliographic and full-text databases and indexes
• Local, national, international newspapers and periodicals
• Suggestion book for possible purchases
• Interactive multimedia applications
• In-house production of databases and curriculum indexes
• Recreational games/reading/listening
• Promote recent acquisitions
• Regular circulation to staff of the tables of contents for newly arrived teacher reference journals
• Assistance in planning resource-based assignments for students
• Developing information packages and kits
• Preparation of bibliographies, book lists, suggested readings, library pathfinders
• Provide and maintain school intranet
• Provide and maintain school library website
• Educational displays
• Student volunteers program

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