Australian School Library Association > Policy > Policy Statement - Resource Provision

Policy Statement - Resource Provision

The achievement of many of the common and agreed goals of schooling is dependent on the schools' ability to deliver a curriculum supported by a relevant, dynamic and responsive collection of information resources. Resource provision is an integral part of curriculum development. Effective resourcing of the curriculum ensures that:

• every student has access to a variety of quality, relevant, accurate and current information resources;
• students' personal growth is supported by resources which meet their developmental needs and interests;
• teachers' effectiveness is enhanced by access to recent curriculum and professional development material.

The curriculum is resourced through:

• a collection of learning resources and equipment organised, accessed and circulated through a library resource centre;
• resources managed through other areas of the school'
• the provision of access to human and material resources and information is the wider community, e.g. State Library, public libraries, community information agencies and databases.

Within this context, the development of the library resource centre is the responsibility of the teacher librarian working in collaboration with all staff and within a framework of broader school policies. The ultimate responsibility for quality and effectiveness rests with the school executive.

Resource provision requires effective use of funds and avoidance of waste and duplication. It is the result of ongoing appraisal of the school's information needs an the quality and relevance of existing resources.

Effective resourcing of the curriculum requires a collection development policy which is developed collaboratively as part of the school's ongoing planning and review process. This ensures that the collection reflects the school's priorities and considers all information resources available to the school community. Information resources are most effectively identified and used when teachers and students are involved in their selection.

A regular review of the school's information resources needs and how well they are being met provide the data needed to commence the next planning cycle.

(Source: Australian School Library Association and Australian Library and Information Association, Learning for the future: developing information services in Australian schools, Curriculum Corporation, 1993.)

Adopted November 1994