Ask Alex! SLG Scotland’s resident Agony Aunt to the rescue
Category: Blog, Branches and Groups, SLG Scotland
Welcome to our Agony Aunt page – Ask Alex!
Do you work in a school library in Scotland? Do you have a problem or need advice?
Get in touch with Alex so she can offer her words of wisdom.
(All submissions are anonymous unless you wish a personal reply)
Dear Alex,
I’ve recently been downsized into a smaller library space. Intervals and lunchtimes are proving to be a bit of a problem – the reduced capacity means that pupils are frequently being turned away. What’s the fairest way to limit numbers, but ensure that everyone who wants to have some chance to use the library?
Yours,
Tight Squeeze
Dear Tight Squeeze,
It’s always great to be in demand, but managing numbers can be tricky, especially when school librarians are often the only adult in a room during busy times. There are several approaches you might like to try.
Weekly timetable
You could allocate year groups their own specific library day. As well as helping to limit numbers, this could allow any activities you plan to be targeted at a particular age group. Depending on demand in your school, younger years could be allocated a couple of days in the week and senior students allowed access to study during any lunchtime.
Strict rules
We all know that there are many reasons why pupils choose to use the library outwith classtime – sometimes including inclement weather! It can be tricky to do, but it might be worth becoming stricter about what pupils are using the library for. Could pupils take their phones and socialising elsewhere to free up space for readers and researchers? It can feel wrong to turn people away, but there are other social areas for those who just want to stare at a device or chat to friends, there is only one library.
Passes
Some schools successfully operate a pass system. Having to seek out a pass in advance may help to focus pupils on the purpose of their visit and help them develop those vital organisational skills! For those who are particularly vulnerable, a long-term pass could be issued, perhaps in consultation with pastoral support staff. If space allows, those who are just wanting to pop in to borrow or return a book could be granted access without a pass.
Clubs
Setting up clubs and limiting library access to members only is another way that you can manage numbers. Librarians are great at tapping into pupils’ interests – book groups, manga clubs, writing groups, crafts…the list is endless. Even better if you can help pupils to develop their leadership skills by volunteering to manage a club under your supervision!
I hope one of these suggestions will help but often it is trial and error to find what works best for you and your school, good luck.