Improving School Library Inspections

1. Improving School Library Inspections Rhona Arthur, Assistant Director, Scottish Library & Information Council

2. Background • Professional staff • Geographic coverage • Variety of provision • Concerns about quality

3. Changing the landscape • COSLA School Library Standards • Taking a closer look at the school library resource centre • Lobbying for review of statutory provision under Education Bill • Quantitative indicators…. • Inspection procedures

4. 1999 procedures • Were descriptive in nature, needed a more evaluative approach • Failed to expose weaknesses , e.g. no fiction • Failed to highlight good practice and demonstrate contribution to learning and teaching

5. New Guidelines • Met with Inspectors to discuss issues • Introduced use of Taking a closer look.. • Reviewed impact • Use was inconsistent • Dependent on each Inspector • Introduction of the use of Profile

6. Profile • Treats library/resource centres in same way as departments • Does not add to burden of Inspectors • Provides a structure for the interview • Helps librarian review contribution, builds partnerships and improves status • Impact already clearly evident

7. 1. Staffing • 1.1 Please indicate the days and times when staff are in school. • Check that job descriptions for LRC staff have been included in the whole school return. • 1.2 Please arrange to complete the Staff Development pro-forma for library/ resources centre staff and forward it to the head teacher with this profile.

8. 2. Organisation • 2.1 Please complete the attached Courses Offered pro-forma in respect of any classes or groups taught by LRC staff, including any groups timetabled for extraction from subject classes. • Please ensure that every class which will be taught during the second phase of the inspection is included. • 2.2 Please outline links between LRC and departments in the school.

9. 2. Organisation • 2.3 Please describe briefly the key features of the contribution of the LRC to the work of the school. (Include, as appropriate, the following: ways in which the LRC contributes to raising attainment; any re-allocation of resources to help raise attainment; specific issues relating to the level of resources; use of ICT. Include any contribution to after-­school activities.)

10. 3. Management and Quality Assurance • 3.1 Please outline the school's arrangements for managing the LRC. • (Include information about finance: e.g. how decisions are made about resourcing, trends in resourcing, etc..) • 3.2 Please outline arrangements for quality assurance of LRC provision. • Please ensure that a copy of the LRC development plan is included in papers available to HMI.

11. 4 Strengths of LRC • 4 Strengths of LRC provision within the school • 4.1 Please indicate here any key strengths of LRC provision. • 4.2 Please identify any other points which you wish to draw to our attention.

12. Support • Developing a school library profile • School Library Association training day • More questions/model answers added by HMIE • Monitor feedback • Regular meetings

13. Evidence of Impact at local level • “Completing departmental profiles led Principal teachers to consider the Library/Resources Centre support in teaching and learning for the first time.” • “Above all it made me audit the Library/Resources Centre facilities and services, and examine areas for improvement or expansion.” • “It was an excellent time to bid for extra funds or resources to support the Library/Resources Centre and school development plans.”

14. Evidence of Impact in HMIE Reports • Reports from Librarians and contact for support • Reporting still an issue • It has raised the profile of services and the status of librarians by validating their role in supporting L&T • HMIE colleagues phone with comments about best practice • One school library resource service was reported as very good and another as one of the strengths of the school