SCHOOL LIBRARY MANAGEMENT AND UTILIZATION

1. Introduction

A school library is a learning resource center that supports teaching, learning, and research. Effective management and utilization of the school library ensures that learners and teachers have access to relevant, organized, and up-to-date information materials that enhance academic achievement.

2. Objectives of a School Library

  • To support the curriculum by providing relevant learning materials.

  • To promote reading culture and information literacy.

  • To encourage independent learning and research skills.

  • To provide a conducive environment for study and creativity.

  • To bridge information gaps among learners with diverse needs.

3. Components of a School Library

  1. Physical facilities – shelving, reading space, ICT equipment, circulation desk, catalogues, lockers.

  2. Library collection – textbooks, reference materials, fiction, non-fiction, magazines, newspapers, digital resources.

  3. Library staff – teacher-librarian, library assistants, student helpers.

  4. Information systems – catalogues (OPAC or card catalogue), classification systems, databases.

4. Library Management

4.1 Collection Development

  • Selection: Choosing relevant materials based on curriculum, learners’ needs, and teacher recommendations.

  • Acquisition: Procurement through purchase, donations, or exchange.

  • Weeding: Regular removal of outdated or damaged materials (MUSTY method: Misleading, Ugly, Superseded, Trivial, Your collection has no use for it).

  • Organization: Classification (using DDC), cataloguing, labelling, and shelving.

4.2 Library Policies

A good school library should have clear policies on:

  • Borrowing and loan periods

  • Use of digital resources

  • Behavior and discipline

  • Opening and closing hours

  • Collection development and weeding

  • Security and care of materials

4.3 Library Staffing

  • Ensuring the library has trained personnel.

  • Staff duties: circulation, reference services, cataloguing, guiding users, training students on library use, maintaining records.

4.4 Library Budgeting

  • Allocation of funds for acquisition of new materials, ICT, furniture, repairs, and staff development.

  • Keeping accurate financial records for accountability.

4.5 Record Keeping

Essential library records include:

  • Accession register

  • Catalogue records

  • Borrower’s register

  • Inventory list

  • Fines record (if applicable)

  • Statistics on usage

5. Library Services

5.1 Circulation Services

  • Borrowing and returning materials

  • Renewals

  • Reservations

  • Issuing overdue notices

5.2 Reference Services

  • Assisting users to locate information

  • Answering queries

  • Providing reference materials: dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, yearbooks.

5.3 Information Literacy Training

  • Teaching learners how to locate, evaluate, and use information.

  • Training on use of catalogues, indexes, and digital databases.

5.4 Reading Promotion Activities

  • Book clubs

  • Reading competitions

  • Author visits

  • Book exhibitions

  • “Drop Everything and Read” programs (DEAR)

6. Utilization of the School Library

6.1 By Learners

  • Research for assignments and homework

  • Reading for pleasure

  • Studying in a quiet environment

  • Accessing ICT resources (computers, internet)

  • Group discussions (in designated areas)

6.2 By Teachers

  • Preparing lesson notes and schemes of work

  • Accessing teaching aids and reference books

  • Recommending materials for curriculum support

  • Conducting library periods with learners

6.3 By Administrators

  • Curriculum planning

  • Supporting professional development

  • Making decisions on library improvements

7. Importance of Library Utilization

  • Enhances academic performance

  • Builds critical thinking and research skills

  • Promotes lifelong reading culture

  • Provides equal access to learning resources

  • Encourages independent learning

  • Supports competency-based curriculum by enabling inquiry-based learning

8. Challenges in School Library Management

  • Inadequate funding

  • Shortage of trained librarians

  • Outdated materials

  • Poor infrastructure

  • Limited ICT resources

  • Low reading culture

  • Lack of clear library policies

9. Strategies for Improving Library Management and Utilization

  • Adequate budget allocation

  • Training and capacity building for library staff

  • Regular updating of resources

  • Implementing ICT-based library systems (OPAC, digital libraries)

  • Strengthening reading programs

  • Involving stakeholders—teachers, BoM, parents

  • Establishing clear and updated library policies

  • Collaboration with public and academic libraries

10. Conclusion

Effective management and utilization of a school library transforms it into the heart of teaching and learning. A well-organized, adequately funded, and user-centered library promotes academic success, information literacy, and lifelong learning.

 
 
Last modified: Saturday, 29 November 2025, 8:05 PM