Assessing the role the library plays in the overall school community determines the library's importance and funding. A quality school library program is an essential and integral tool for all educators to use to promote learning. The school library must be open to collaborative teaching and learning using print, media and information technology for curriculum enhancement and support.
A school library requires adequate staffing to ensure that learning resources are acquired, organized, kept current and shared equitably throughout the school. Students and teachers need access to the library throughout the school day as well as before and after school. Planning sessions between teachers and library staff must be easy to schedule and of value to all concerned. Library staff need to be available for consultation and team-teaching using library equipment and resources.
The school library houses not only print material but is also the go-to area for audiovisual hardware and software; computer access in a wireless, multimonitor lab setting; and the ordering location for inter-library loans from other schools, a school board media center or from the local public library. Information databases, purchased for a number of schools through a centralized budget, are available for teachers and students to use in the library or remotely from home.
To keep a quality school library program running smoothly, a certain level of expertise is required. Parent and student volunteers can assist with shelving and circulation duties, but online cataloging, resource assessment and acquisition and library instruction require an information specialist with a postgraduate degree in information technology. Ideally, the librarian is a full-time member of the school staff with time to organize and coordinate all of the activities occurring within a vibrant library learning center.