Teacher-librarians log of claims prepared

By Sally Edsall

Federation has written to the Director-General of the Department of Education and Training seeking a meeting to present a log of claims relating to teacher-librarians in primary, central and high schools.

These claims have been developed after consultation with teacher-librarians in each sector, including the Special Interest Group and teacher-librarians on Federation Council.

The issues covered include long-standing policies of the Federation, and matters that have been raised in lobbying by teacher-librarians for many years, including:

• staffing of primary school libraries to take into account support classes and pre-school classes
• that primary and central schools library staffing be reviewed with a view to addressing the inequity of provision with secondary and that this not compromise secondary provision
• that all libraries be staffed by fully trained teacher-librarians, and that there be continuing education provision and no disadvantage for those currently in positions
• betterments in school assistant staffing, including a 1:1 allocation of teacher-librarian to school assistant in primary schools and confirmation of minimum allocations in secondary
• that all central school libraries be staffed as secondary schools
• appointment of trained technology assistants
• mandated administration (30 per cent) and teaching preparation time
• recognition that supervision of students without timetabled lessons, at lunchtimes and breaks is a whole school responsibility, not solely that of the teacher-librarian
• adequate staffing to ensure stocktaking/auditing requirements can be carried out
• a designated proportion of the global budget to guarantee a minimum funding base
• that teacher-librarians no longer be responsible for provision of up to 1 hour RFF per teacher.

The log of claims has been referred to Federation Executive for endorsement. Once that has been finalised, they will be available on the Federation website.

In the meantime, members are reminded that there is much information of interest to teacher-librarians on the website already. It can be found at www.nswtf.org.au/TeacherLibrarians/index1.html.

Sally Edsall is a Research Officer.

For further information

November 2003 contents