learning, lending, liberty? can school libraries be engines for youth citizenship?

Learning, Lending, Liberty?

Can school libraries be engines for

youth citizenship?

Lauren Smith, Research Associate, University of Strathclyde

@LearnLendLib

learninglendingliberty@gmail.com

Context

Cuts to library budgets in the UK

School libraries losing qualified staff

Lack of acknowledgement of impact of school libraries

Discussion around democratic role of libraries and

information literacy

Curriculum for Excellence

Curriculum for Excellence aims to achieve a transformation in education

in Scotland by providing a coherent, more flexible and enriched

curriculum from 3 to 18.

The curriculum includes the totality of experiences which are planned for

children and young people through their education, wherever they are

being educated.

The Four Capacities

Responsible Citizens

Attributes:

Respect for others

Commitment to participate responsibly in political, economic and cultural life

Capabilities:

Develop knowledge and understanding of the world and Scotland’s place in it

Understand different beliefs and cultures

Make informed choices and decisions

Evaluate environmental, scientific and technological issues

Develop informed, ethical views of complex issues

Social Studies Principles and Practice

“The promotion of active citizenship is a central feature of learning in social

studies as children and young people develop skills and knowledge to

enable and encourage participation.”

Children and young people will “develop an understanding of the principles

of democracy and citizenship through experience of critical and

independent thinking.”

Values of Librarianship

“A fundamental aspect of libraries is

strengthening democracy.”

(Gorman 2000)

“Library and information services contribute to the development and

maintenance of intellectual freedom and help safeguard basic democratic

values and universal civil rights.”

(IFLA FAIFE Statement on Libraries and Sustainable Development 2014)

Information literacy

“Beyond information literacy for greater work effectiveness and

efficiency, information literacy is needed to guarantee the

survival of democratic institutions. All men are created equal but

voters with information resources are in a position to make more

intelligent decisions than citizens who are information illiterates.”

Owens, M. R. (1976). State, government and libraries. Library Journal, 101(1), 27.

CILIP Information Literacy Group Bursary

This project will provide school librarians with resources

to advocate for the value of school library services not

only for the educational attainment of pupils, but also

for the development of responsible citizens who are

able to meaningfully participate in political processes.

Objectives

Identify how school libraries (within the wider school environment)

supported the provision of information and information literacy in

the run up to the Scottish Independence Referendum and the

General Election;

Identify the barriers library services faced when providing

information and information literacy relating to these events;

Identify the information needs of young people in relation to

political participation.

Methods

Survey (174 participants with 83 completed surveys)

Follow-up interviews (7 participants)

Case studies (tbc)

Participant Roles

Librarian

Library Resource Centre Co-ordinator

Network Librarian

School Librarian

Learning Community Librarian

Learning Resource Centre Co-ordinator

Library Resource Centre Manager

Resource Centre Co-Ordinator

Creative Learning Assistant

Head Librarian

Learning Resource Centre Manager

Learning Resource Coordinator

Learning Resource Manager

Library Assistant

Library Supervisor

Principal Teacher Humanities

School Learning Resources Centre Co-ordinator

Secondary School Librarian

Senior LRC Assistant

Teaching about political participation

Modern Studies (at National 4, 5 and Higher Levels)

Citizenship

PSHE

Social and Media Studies

Social Education

Politics

Higher Politics for S6 pupils

Other political education

Mock elections

Election debates

Model UN / Debate club

Debating competitions

Home School Partnership Officer - involvement in the Scottish Youth Parliament Elections

School Amnesty Group

Pupil Council

Guest visits from MSPs

Organising hustings for Parliamentary candidates

Lunchtime meetings with persons of note in the Scottish Parliament

Library workers’ involvement

Answer Response %

Yes 46 58%

No 31 39%

Other 3 4%

Are you involved in supporting any of these activities?

Do you provide information literacy instruction?

Yes (n=82)

No (n=7)

Other (n=7)

Types of information literacy provision

“IL sessions delivered in the library and also embedded in S1&2 literacy classes delivered

by class teachers as part of a programme developed by the PT English and Librarian”

“Provide RISK programme (Research and Information Skills) course to all S1 pupils and then

a more advanced course to all S3 pupils. We also provide/accompany S6 students to

[redacted] library for training as well as providing training on S6 PSE induction day and ad

hoc workshops for Advanced Higher students.”

“S1, S2-S4 in Tutor time, S6 in depth induction internal and external resources.”

Availability of political resources

Answer Response %

Computers with internet access 93 97%

Books about social and political issues 91 95%

Books about the political system 85 89%

Newspapers and magazines 67 70%

Citizenship lessons 47 49%

Politics lessons 32 33%

Displays about politics 27 28%

Other (please specify) 16 17%

Other:

• News cuttings files• Topical displays

• Local government information leaflets

• Author and speaker visits

• Reading and writing competitions• Displays of pupil work

• Prison visits

How can school libraries contribute to

developing “responsible citizens” who

can participate meaningfully in

political processes?

Provision of a range of information

“Have a collection of books on the topic…and have daily papers and

magazines. Providing resources for classes doing work on global

issues.”

Variety of activities

“Provision was good at the time of the Scottish referendum - debates,

visiting speakers, trips to organised events really sparked an interest in

politics around the school with several senior pupils now about to start

politics courses at university in September.”

Mock elections

“We hold our authentic schools elections mirroring exactly the process

for the general election, Scottish Independence referendum etc. (poll

cards, voting slips, same election furniture used in adult elections, full

signage, training for pupil election officials) and all taking place in the

library (used as a polling station for the day).”

Debate visits

“During the build-up to the recent referendum on Scottish

independence a group was taken to the Hydro to participate in the

schools' debate there.”

What are the main barriers?

Perception that political education is not the remit of

libraries – either the schools, departments or individual

staff members

Difficulty in working out how to become involved in

supporting what work is taking place

Limitations placed on schools relating to political

partisanship

Political “neutrality” of schools

“They will be taught about politics and about voting etc.

but we are not allowed to promote any political parties.”

“Any kind of political campaigning is not allowed in

[redacted] schools at all.”

Political “neutrality” of schools

“I feel that the school is concerned with keeping the tone so neutral

that they are frightened to engage at all - we are regularly sent

Scottish Independent newspapers but I am not supposed to put them

out for pupils to view as we do not have the opposing viewpoint also

available. It is political correctness to the point of censorship.”

Lack of resources

“There is little demand and limited budget so we don't have

as much as I would like.”

Preliminary conclusions

A range of provision is made in schools to help pupils understand and participate

in political processes – libraries are involved in some of this work but there is scope

for more collaboration

Lots of the activities that take place are linked to information provision but not

necessarily information literacy

Provision of information literacy and library support relating to political information

is not consistent across schools in Scotland, but there are pockets of good

practice which could be shared

Political information

Resources

Displays

Classroom support

Political Education

Citizenship and politics lessons

Activities, visits and trips

Information about political processes

IL Provision

Evaluation of information

Research and information skills

Embedded in literacy classes

Preliminary Recommendations

Explore where the boundaries are with reference to how ‘political’ it is

possible to get in school context

Identify activities taking place in school that library workers can support

Share best practice for examples of information literacy activities that

may be replicated

Record impact where possible as evidence of library value