The National Library's Services to Schools has been supporting school libraries and supplementing classroom resources in New Zealand since 1942. The service has continued to evolve to meet schools' needs within an ever-changing education landscape and the fast-moving world of information and knowledge creation.
Today, the focus of our services is on the priority areas of school library development, reading engagement and digital literacy.
How we support schools
We support schools by:
- helping them strengthen their libraries and create innovative library services by providing schools with online resources, and professional development and support
- providing access to quality reading resources and supporting education communities to engage their students with reading
- providing access to a wide range of resources, both print and digital, to support inquiry and strengthen the capability of educators to create digitally literate learners
- fostering national collaboration between wider education, literacy and library stakeholders to strengthen impact in the areas of reading engagement, digital literacy, and school libraries.
Our services both model and support the development of highly effective library practice in schools. They have been shaped to provide multiple access points across a range of channels to ensure equity for all.
Our products and services
Lending service
Our whole-school and secondary author/title loans provide fiction, non-fiction and audiovisual resources to support children with inquiry, and to encourage and develop a love of reading.
Topic Explorer
The Topic Explorer helps you find quality, curated resources on a range of topics that inspire and support inquiry.
Topic Explorer guide
Professional learning and support
Our professional learning and support service aims to strengthen the knowledge and skills of school library staff and educators.
Record Manager
National Library provides registered New Zealand schools with Record Manager, a free online cataloguing tool.
AnyQuestions
AnyQuestions offers free online schoolwork help to New Zealand school students. Students can log on to the website from 1pm to 6pm weekdays during the school year.
AnyQuestions guide
EPIC
EPIC provides access to thousands of electronic resources covering all curriculum learning areas. Included are magazines, newspapers, encyclopedia, and much more.
EPIC guide
Contents
Our vision
The vision of the National Library's Services to Schools is that young people have access to effective and connected libraries and learning environments that support their development as readers and digitally literate learners.
Latest updates from Services to Schools
From 27 February, schools and home educators can request a term 2 and 3 reading engagement loan. This loan includes a range of fiction and non-fiction resources to encourage students to develop a love of reading.
Newsletters
Read past Services to Schools newsletters or subscribe to the list.
Contact Services to Schools
Find contact details for our National Library Services to Schools centres in Auckland or Christchurch, or get professional advice and support.
