THE IMPACT OF THE SCHOOL LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTRE ON LEARNING

Abstract

This report describes research into the impact of the school library resource centre (SLRC) on learning, funded by Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. The study was conducted in Scottish secondary schools between August 1999 and February 2001. The research was undertaken at a time of increasing presssure to measure performance in all educational establishments, including libraries and information services (ILS) and to ensure the service is not only efficient but also effective. The study looked at learning in its broadest sense, including motivation, progression, independence, and interaction. The first phase of the study used focus group discussions with teachers and pupils and interviews with librarians to identify their perceptions of how the SLRC can contribute to learning. The second phase used case studies of specific examples of SLRC activity to establish whether this perceived impact on learning was indeed taking place; to identify indicators which might be used as evidence of learning; and to examine the process of assessing the impact of the SLRC on learning. The report identifies: • stakeholder groups’ perceptions of the wide range of possible learning experiences which might be affected by the SLRC; • the broad range of potential impacts on the learning experience which were observed in practice; • examples of indicators of learning which can provide a starting point for individual teachers and librarians to examine the relationship between their own SLRC and learning; • examples of techniques used to monitor the impact on learning; • a range of factors which influence the effectiveness of learning in the SLRC, and which will help practitioners make decisions about aims, objectives and activities to optimise the learning potential.