Keynote presentation from CILIP CEO Nick Poole announcing the joint CILIP SLG/SLA 'Great School Libraries' campaign

1. Every child deserves a
Great School Library
CILIP SLG Conference Keynote
April 2018

2. A new 3-year evidence-based campaign to ensure
that every child in the UK has access to a Great
School Library supported by professional librarians,
building on & learning from success in Scotland

3. When you have the law, argue the law
When you don’t have the law argue the facts
When you have neither the law nor the facts, argue the emotions

4. “I acknowledge and strongly support the
provision of school libraries. Its an
important part of the work we undertake
to encourage appreciation of literacy and
literature among young people.
I don’t think there’s unanimity on this
[strategy]. However, I think the petitioner
makes a fair point of the importance of
having such an approach and it would be
my intention to formulate such a
strategy.”
Deputy First Minister John Swinney
20th April 2017

5. Lessons learned in Scotland
 Clarity on objectives
 Began as a campaign, developed into a Government-backed initiative
 The National Strategy for School Libraries due for implementation in August 2018;
(The strategy covers state-funded pre-school provision, primary, secondary and special
educational needs provision. Independent and private schools are out of scope)
 How good is our school library? (HGIOSL) – the self -evaluative quality framework for
professional library service delivery within the context of Scotland’s Curriculum for
Excellence;
 The School Library Improvement Fund encouraging innovative projects which enhance
the library offer;
 The Annual Survey (benchmarking exercise for primary and secondary school)
 Focus, consistency, determination

6. Learning from other Library
Associations & campaigns
 ALIA Great School Libraries
Campaign (in partnership with
Softlink)
 Ontario Libraries Association
My School Library Rocks
because… campaign
 American Association of School
Librarians (AASL) Transforming
Learning
 EveryLibrary

7. Objectives
Hard objectives by 2021:
 Recognition of School Libraries/Librarians in Ofsted Inspection Framework
 Creation of a School Library Strategy for England
 Specific investment into School Library development
Ongoing/soft objectives:
 Positive and proactive support from Head Teachers and SLT
 School Library profession united around a common cause and messages
 Equality of access to school library/SLS provision for every child
 A chance to celebrate success and highlight great examples from the profession
 All Four Nations achieve the level of recognition & engagement in Scotland
 A ‘futureproof’ plan for School Library improvement (plus a line of defence)

8. Understand the value of Great School
Libraries & professional librarians
Champion the value of a Great School
Library for their school
Celebrate the value of working with a great
school librarian for the curriculum
Commit to ensuring their learners have
access to a Great School Library
Include Great School Libraries model in
inspection framework
Encourage Ofsted to embed Great School
Libraries in inspection
Demonstrate public support for Great
School Libraries & create new funding
Every child
deserves a
Great School
Library
Politicians
DfE
Ofsted
SLT
Teachers
Governors
Media
School Librarians
CILIP SLG
SLA
CILIP
Understand the value and how to
recruit/pay School LibrariansFinance/HR
Demand that their children’s school has a
Great School LibraryParents
Champions
Allies
Campaign Plan
CILIP Scotland

9. ACTIVITIES INPUTS OUTPUTS OUTCOMES
For schools:
Curriculum support
Student experience
Learning outcomes
Pastoral care
For society:
Social mobility
Economic growth
Social integration
Information resilience
For the sector:
Engagement from SLT
Embedded in
teaching/learning
Pay, status & recognition
For learners:
Literacy, information
literacy & skills
Unlocking potential
Building citizenship

10. ACTIVITIES INPUTS OUTPUTS
Better Policy
National School Libraries
Strategy for England
Better Regulation
Recognition by
regulatory authorities
Better engagement
Engagement from Head
Teachers/SLT
Better investment
Targeted development
funding for school
libraries
OUTCOMES
For schools:
Curriculum support
Student experience
Learning outcomes
Pastoral care
For society:
Social mobility
Economic growth
Social integration
Information resilience
For the sector:
Engagement from SLT
Embedded in
teaching/learning
Pay, status & recognition
For learners:
Literacy, information
literacy & skills
Unlocking potential
Building citizenship

11. ACTIVITIES INPUTS
Influence
Champions, advocates,
allies, policymakers
Relationships
Access to SLT & senior
decision-makers
Definition
Standards (viz. CILIP
‘Quality Mark’ inquiry)
Evidence
Qualitative
Quantitative
Impact metrics
‘Killer facts’
Stories/case studies
OUTPUTS
Better Policy
National School Libraries
Strategy for England
Better Regulation
Recognition by
regulatory authorities
Better engagement
Engagement from Head
Teachers/SLT
Better investment
Targeted development
funding for school
libraries
OUTCOMES
For schools:
Curriculum support
Student experience
Learning outcomes
Pastoral care
For society:
Social mobility
Economic growth
Social integration
Information resilience
For the sector:
Engagement from SLT
Embedded in
teaching/learning
Pay, status & recognition
For learners:
Literacy, information
literacy & skills
Unlocking potential
Building citizenship

12. ACTIVITIES
Influence
Political engagement,
building links to
Regulatory Authorities,
collaboration
Relationships
Building national & local
connections, finding
champions, being visible
Definition
Create simple messages
about excellence,
celebrate exemplars
Evidence
Comprehensive &
credible UK/England
evidence to underpin
advocacy
INPUTS
Influence
Champions, advocates,
allies, policymakers
Relationships
Access to SLT & senior
decision-makers
Definition
Standards (viz. CILIP
‘Quality Mark’ inquiry)
Evidence
Qualitative
Quantitative
Impact metrics
‘Killer facts’
Stories/case studies
OUTPUTS
Better Policy
National School Libraries
Strategy for England
Better Regulation
Recognition by
regulatory authorities
Better engagement
Engagement from Head
Teachers/SLT
Better investment
Targeted development
funding for school
libraries
OUTCOMES
For schools:
Curriculum support
Student experience
Learning outcomes
Pastoral care
For society:
Social mobility
Economic growth
Social integration
Information resilience
For the sector:
Engagement from SLT
Embedded in
teaching/learning
Pay, status & recognition
For learners:
Literacy, information
literacy & skills
Unlocking potential
Building citizenship

13. Leadership Champions
Allies Supporters

14. Great
School
Libraries
Evidence
Qualitative &
quantitative
evidence of
impact
Definition
“A Great School
Library is…”
National PR
Media and
political
relations
Grassroots
support
Individual
engagement w
SLT/parents
Resources
Downloads, case
studies & other
material via
online hub
Evaluation
Metrics and
milestones to
allow us to track
progress
Relationships
Key stakeholders
incl. Head
Teachers &
Ofsted

15. School Libraries Data Group:
Working together to map
School Library provision and
impact across the UK
• Mapping locations and services,
including SLS provision
• Quantitative data about provision
• Qualitative data about impact
• Illustrative stories and Case Studies
• Currently seeking sponsorship

16. Developing evidence-based
Cases for Support
• A Case for Support to secure policy,
investment and engagement from
National Government (Politicians, DfE,
funders)
• A Case for Support to secure
recognition by Ofsted of the value and
impact of School Libraries and
Librarians for Curriculum-based
teaching and learning
• A Case for Support to secure
engagement from Head Teachers,
Governors and SLT

17. Clarity and definition about what
makes a Great School Library…
• Learning from How good is our school library?
• Drawing on SLA and CILIP SLG Guidance and
materials
• CILIP feasibility study for a School Libraries
Quality Mark
• Clarity about the role, status and pay
expectations of professional school librarians

18. Political and media advocacy
• Securing Parliamentary engagement via
individual relationships, Parliamentary
Questions, seeking a Lords or Commons Debate
and making effective use of the Libraries All-
Party Parliamentary Group and Select
Committees
• Inclusion of School Libraries and Librarians in
key policy lines for Party Policy development
• Representation in Wales and Northern Ireland
as well as ongoing engagement in Scotland
• Working with sector and trade press to
challenge misrepresentation of School Libraries
and promote more positive/up-to-date
messaging

19. Making friends and influencing
people
• Building national relationships with
key influencers including the Unions,
National Association of Head Teachers
(NAHT), Chartered College of Teaching
and other stakeholders
• Building up momentum with our
registered supporters, including
authors and ‘famous faces’
• Working with individual School
Librarians to build on their
relationships with Head Teachers,
Governors and the SLT

20. Resources
• A central hub for downloads and resources
• A ‘campaign identity’ based on ‘Great
School Libraries’
• A reusable logo/ident allowing School
Librarians to brand their Great School
Library
• Posters/materials explaining what makes a
Great School Library and the difference
they make
• Supporting activity via CILIP, CILIP SLG and
SLA including Information Professional and
social media

21. Possible joint programmes
• CILIP Information Literacy Group has
launched their new definition of
Information Literacy
• Strong interest from Government in
initiatives which improve children’s
resilience to fake news and
misinformation
• Proposal from several interested parties
for a funded project for School Librarians
to deliver IL training to teaching staff and
pupils

22. We need you
• The Great School Libraries campaign launches on the 6th June
• Visit http://www.cilip.org.uk/greatschoollibraries and sign up as a supporter
• Share your stories about the difference your Great School Library makes
• Use the hashtag #GreatSchoolLibraries
• Phase 1 of the School Library Data Group is already underway
• Political engagement will take place during the Conference Parliament (15/09 – 10/10)
• Campaigning will be ongoing through to 2021
• Share your thoughts and idea on where we go next

23. The bigger we are, the more of the
profession we represent, the more
we can do and the more influence
we can have.
CILIP membership is now cheaper,
better-value and more inclusive than
it has ever been.
If you have a friend or colleague who
works in the profession, whatever
their qualifications or experience,
tell them to get involved!
www.cilip.org.uk/join

24. Every child deserves a
#GreatSchoolLibrary
www.cilip.org.uk/greatschoollibraries