Figure 1.--New Zealand elementary, intermediate, and secondary schools almost always have excellent libraries. Some students delight in the opportunity to spend time in a libraray surronded by books of all kinds.
|
Figure 1.--New Zealand elementary, intermediate, and secondary schools almost always have excellent libraries. Some students delight in the opportunity to spend time in a libraray surronded by books of all kinds. |
New Zealand schools, like American schools, usually have well stocked libraries, in contrast to the lack of attention often given to libraries in British schools. Elementary, intermediate, and secondary schools almost always have excellent libraries. Many secondary schools may have libraries with 10,000 books. The library at Cashmere has 12,500 volumes. The libraries are no longer mere repositories for books, but many are multimedia centers and often have changed their name to reflect their expanded role. Libraries are now often called information centers. The greatest change that the librarians have faced is the increasing role of the computer.
There have been mang changes in laibraries over the years, but the heart and soul of any library remains the book collection. New Zealand schools, like American schools, usually have well stocked libraries, in contrast to the lack of attention often given to libraries in British schools. Elementary, intermediate, and secondary schools almost always have excellent libraries. Many secondary schools may have libraries with 10,000 books. The library at Cashmere has 12,500 volumes. Some students delight in the chance to spend time in a well stocked library. They are also important to help students develop their resarch skills.
The libraries are no longer mere repositories for books, but many are multimedia centers and often have changed their name to reflect their expanded role. Libraries are now often called information centers. Libraries now have more than just books. Changes in techhnology have made it possible for even small schools to have collections of exciting new media at reasonable cost. At first it was videos, but increasingly CDs are becoming important to the library collections.
The greatest change that the librarians have faced is the increasing role of the computer. Most schools we visited during the mid-1990s were in the process of computerizing their holdings as the venerable card index is being replaced with computer files. Avonside Girls' High School (Christchurch) was one of the first New Zealand libraries to computerize. A bar coding system is being used to better manage and keep track of the collection. The computerized INNZ system provides students access to a comprehensive index of New Zealand periodicals. Many schools are experimenting with the National Library's Open Access Computer (OPAC). Many schools have hooked up with New Zealand On Line facilitating computerized communication throughout New Zealand and overseas.
Manu schools have gone on line and given their students access to the Internet. The computer is becoming an increasingly important element in the library as a CD ROM-equipped computer with a encyclopedia database can now be brought for about the same amount as a good encyclopedia. Several schools have begun to build small libraries of CD-ROM data bases: including health/PE, zoology, encyclopedias, and other data bases. Younger students now would be mystified as to how libraries could operate without computers.
The libraries often have interesting displays of art and class student work as well as book displays. The school art program is a constant source of creative, colorful pieces for the library. Of course pintings are the most common pieces, but they are not the only items. Some school libraries had major art works that the children had created, including some elaborate scultures. You are not always sure just what you may encounter in the library. Of cour animals sculptures are often found in the libraries for the younger childre, but there are many other surpries. In one school we found a coloful totem pole. And of course the librarians also added decorative pieces from other sources as well.
School Librarians have added a range of ammenities designed to provide suitable study areas including standards desks and chairs. Some libraries have special stufy desks for the older students. Libraries for younger children tend to give more attention to creating an inviting, comfortable atmosphere with nooks and cranies and pillows and rugs where they can get settled with a good book.
Student assistant librarians play a key role in running the libraries at most schools. Often these are some of the academically oriented children. They tend to be children who enjoy books and spending some of their time in the library. Many take their jobs quite seriously.
The libraries of course are quite different in the various academic levels.
Primary:
Intermediate:
Secondary:
