Whangaparaoa School library.

School libraries

School libraries play a vital role in supporting teaching and learning. We offer advice and support for leading and developing your school library collections, services, and environment.

Contents

Student librarians issuing books.

Understanding school libraries

Find out what makes an effective school library, and why it matters. Discover the latest thinking and research about the role of the library in teaching and learning.
Library team leadership.

Leading and managing

Leadership of your school library involves strategic management and planning for its development. Get advice and guidance about aspects of managing your library, including financial management, reporting and staffing your library.
Sophisticated picture books display.

Collections and resources

Building an inclusive and balanced school library collection requires good planning. The cycle of tasks, including selecting, buying and removing resources, can involve your whole school community including library staff, teachers and students.
Issuing books.

Library systems and operations

To ensure ongoing access to your library’s resources and services, you need to manage functions such as cataloguing and stocktaking efficiently. It’s easier to manage emergencies and other changes if you have plans in place.
Boy on beanbags

Place and environment

Creating a library space that enables innovation, and is inclusive and inviting for all, needs to involve the whole school community. These pages offer guidance and resources to stimulate thinking and inspiration for designing your library.
The school library is a key learning hub.

Library services for teaching and learning

Find ideas and advice for developing library services and programmes to support teaching and learning. When you develop or change your library services, involve your community and gather evidence to guide your changes.
Red and white video play icon superimposed over a laptop keyboard and screen.

Videos

Watch videos about successful strategies and approaches for school libraries, reading engagement, digital literacy, and for using teaching and learning resources.

Stories

These stories showcase innovative and successful initiatives that New Zealand school librarians and teachers have implemented to inspire and engage students with reading and learning.
Laptop open outside on grass with research-related terms showing on screen

Research

This research is a curated collection of important and thought-provoking recent publications. It highlights national and international research in the areas of school libraries, digital literacy, and reading engagement.

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