Teacher-librarians log of claims

Employment and Staffing

• All schools be staffed by permanent full time and part time trained teacher-librarians.
• DET to conduct an audit of schools to determine:

  i) that permanent staff is employed;
  ii) the training and qualifications held by teacher-librarians.

• A "sunset" clause confirming as permanent in their current positions teacher-librarians holding on-going temporary positions for longer than two years.
• Principals to be reminded that the staffing unit must be notified of all vacant positions, as for all positions.
• All classes to be included in the staffing formula for teacher-librarian allocation. That is, in primary, support classes and pre-school classes must be counted as classes, not on student numbers alone.
• That a review of the primary and central school staffing formula with respect to libraries be undertaken, with a view to addressing the inequity of provision between secondary, primary and central school libraries. This is not to compromise secondary provision.
• That central school teacher-librarians be classified as secondary for the purposes of staffing and working conditions. All central schools to have a full time teacher-librarian for five days a week, and a full time SASS staff person.

Qualifications

Every school library to be staffed by a fully trained teacher-librarian, which means:

• initial employment of people with qualifications in both teaching and teacher-librarianship;
• continuing education provision for teacher-librarians currently in positions.

  In recognition of peoples various life circumstances, such training should be delivered in as many modes as possible. (A sunset clause would ensure no one currently in the system would be disadvantaged.)

School assistants

• That there be a minimum of two full time school assistants where the school population is 800 or more.
• That there be a minimum one full time school assistant where the school population is fewer than 800.

That school assistants be employed to match teacher-librarian allocation on a 1:1 basis, that is 4 hours teacher-librarian = 4 hours school assistant; 6 days teacher-librarian = 6 days clerical.

Central schools

• That Central School libraries be staffed as secondary libraries.

All Schools

That DET provide initial training and on-going inservice training for school assistants working in school libraries

Technology assistants

That trained technology assistants be appointed to all schools. Their responsibilities would include support to the school library, including audio-visual and information and communications technology.

Teaching allocation

Secondary

That a secondary teacher-librarian's load comprise:

• A maximum of 25 x 40 minute periods (or equivalent) teaching (22 where required to take sport). These include: *any timetabled lessons including co-operative teaching and learning
  *before and after school periods
  *working with students in lunch times and recesses (lunch = 1 teaching period, recess = 0.5 teaching period)
  *assisting research groups in co-operation with teachers
  *assisting individuals and small groups undertaking research
  *assisting individuals and small groups undertaking research
  
• A minimum of 3 x 40 minute periods (or equivalent) teaching preparation and planning time.
• A minimum of 12 x 40 minute periods (or equivalent) library administration time (30%).
• That the library program be devised on the professional advice of the teacher-librarians in consultation with staff. As a school is staffed to provide teaching without the necessity of timetabling the teacher-librarians, the teacher-librarian will not be required to teach lessons in subject areas. Any timetabled library lessons must be undertaken only with the agreement of the teacher-librarian.

Primary

• That teacher-librarians no longer be responsible for provision of up to one hour relief from face-to-face per teacher.
• That DET issue advice to primary principals: i) That until such time as special education classes are counted towards teacher-librarian allocation, teacher-librarians not be required to provide class time for special education. ii) That each primary teacher-librarian have an entitlement to a minimum of 30 per cent of their time for library administration (equivalent to secondary schools). iii) The 30 per cent administration time is in addition to their personal entitlement to relief from face-to-face which relates to their own role as a teacher.

Supervision of students, including untimetabled senior students

Supervision of students without timetabled lessons, and at lunch times and other breaks, is a whole school responsibility.

That DET issue a memorandum to principals stating that:

• It is inappropriate to use the school library as a catch-all facility for untimetabled students.
• That supervision in the library during lunch, recess and other designated breaks is a whole-school responsibility.
• That the staffing formula provide for supervision of senior students at all times.

Stocktaking

It is an auditing requirement that a stocktaking of library resources be undertaken every two years. Staffing must be adequate to ensure this can take place in a timely fashion. The library may need to be closed to users at that time.

Funding

That a proportion of the global budget be designated for the school library, in order to guarantee a minimum funding base.

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005