13. Joint-use public / school library standards
13.1 Objective
13.2 Definition
13.3 Issue Statements
13.4 Standards
13.5 Performance Indicators
13.1 OBJECTIVE
To provide minimum standards to ensure that public library services are maintained in any co-operative arrangement for joint-use library services between the Education Department and Local Government authorities.
13.2 DEFINITION
Joint-use libraries are defined as Libraries in which two or more distinct groups of users have equal priority in the same premises and which is jointly owned, funded and managed by two or more separate authorities.
13.3 ISSUE STATEMENTS
Local Government with support from the State Government is responsible for the provision and delivery of library services conveniently accessible to all members of the community. Local agreements should ensure convenient access to all groups of users.Size of the community, site location, library size, opening hours, resources, specific community programs, staffing levels, qualifications and staff skill mix are major factors influencing the adequacy and quality of library services to community members.
Joint-Use library services should not be provided on the sole grounds of purported cost savings: the establishment of a joint-use library is only appropriate where such a level of co-operation will enable:
-
substantially better service to both or all groups of users, or
-
at least an equal service with some cost savings.
13.4 STANDARDS
13.4.1 Management
A management committee should be established to oversee the efficient administration of the joint-use library, develop policy for the operation of the library, supervise the implementation of such policy or policies and supervise the financial administration of the library, including the determination of the sharing of the costs of ongoing resources, salaries, cleaning, airconditioning and power between the parties.
This committee should consist of equal representation from Local Government and the Department of Education.
The joint-use library manager should be appointed as a member of the committee without voting rights.
The committee should be responsible for the hiring of the joint-use library manager.
The community should have access to a professionally qualified librarian with over all responsibility for the management of staff, services and resources of the joint-use library.
To ensure efficient and effective management the joint-use library manager should not engage in non-library specific activities.
The joint-use library manager should have reporting responsibilities to the city librarian, the principal, and a joint-use management committee. Lines of reporting, accountability, supervision and the role and responsibility of the principal must be clearly defined.
Although the capacity of individuals with similar qualifications and experience may vary as a result of personal factors, library managers of joint-use libraries should have formal public library training, knowledge of educational procedures and a variety of experience to be best equipped to plan and manage a high quality joint-use service.
13.4.2 Library Staffing
Staffing levels, qualifications and skill mix are major factors influencing the adequacy and quality of a given joint-use library service.
All staff should provide service to both school and community users: public library staff with formal library training and a variety of experience are best equipped to operate the delivery of community services. Teacher-librarians with formal educational and library training are best equipped to operate the delivery of educational library services. Therefore the following staff mix is recommended.
-
Library Manager
-
Librarian
-
Teacher-Librarian
-
Library Technician
-
Teacher Aide
-
Library Assistant
In broad terms the mix should be one-third librarian, one-third library technician, one third teacher aide/library assistant.
13.4.2.1 State School Joint Use Libraries recommended per Capita Staff Level
Library Manager
One full-time professionally qualified library manager should be employed for a population 10,000 and over.
Librarians, Teacher-Librarians
One full-time equivalent librarian should be employed for every 10,000 people or part thereof.
One full-time equivalent teacher librarian should be employed where 300 students or 15 teachers exist.
| Total Teaching Staff (inc. Admin.) 3 5 7 9 10 12 14 15 17 23 29 36 43 50 57 64 72 79 86 94 102 110 118 125 133 |
Teacher-Librarians |
Ancillary staff (hours per week) 7 10 13 16 19 21 25 29 33 38 46 52 59 67 76 84 92 101 109 117 126 134 143 151 159 |
Source: Learning for the future, ASLA, nd
Technicians, Teacher Aides, Library Assistants
Technicians, teachers aides and library assistants staff mix and staffing levels will be influenced by client usage, work levels and per capita staffing levels.
13.4.2.2 State High School joint use libraries recommended per capita staffing levels
Library Manager
One full-time professionally qualified library manager should be employed for a population of 10,000 and over.
Librarians, Teacher-Librarians
One full-time equivalent librarian should be employed for every 10,000 people or part thereof. One full-time equivalent teacher librarian should be employed regardless of student numbers. (Refer to the table at 16.4.2.1)
Technicians, Teacher Aides, Library Assistants
Technicians, teacher aides and library assistants staff mix and staffing levels will be influenced by client usage, work levels and per capita staffing levels.
13.4.3 Joint Use Opening Hours
Given the capital outlay to Local Government in establishing a library service, the following minimum conditions and opening hours are recommended for community access to joint-use facilities.
The joint-use library facility should be freely available to all users during school hours, evenings, weekends and school vacations.
The selection of hours should take into consideration local patterns of usage and community profiles.
The following minimum staffed opening hours for community access are recommended.
Minimum Staffed Opening Hours
|
Population Under 2,000 |
Hours per Week 12 |
13.4.4 Joint Use Library Buildings
In the joint-use planning process, a facilities design team should be established prior to any architect being appointed.
This team should consist of representatives from local government, the chief executive officer, the principal, chief librarian and teacher librarian. Input should be sought from the Public Library Services, State Library of Queensland and the Facilities Development Branch of the Department of Education.
13.4.4.1 Facilities
Main branch, central and support services libraries provide a comprehensive service to all residents in a local government area, and should not be considered for joint-use facilities.
Branch libraries provide services to specific population catchments and may be considered for joint-use projects.
13.4.4.2 Size
The joint-use facility should be at least the sum of the floor areas of the separate facilities less any duplicated facilities as outlined below.
Where planning has commenced before any library is in existence, library building standards for public libraries as laid down in this document should be adopted. The area should be calculated according to the ten year projected population size of the area to be served. The minimum public floor space should not be less than 150m2.
|
Population Up to 15,000 |
M2 Area Size Between 42-38m2 per 1,000 population |
Standards for school libraries should be consulted. These are laid down in PS Education Brief: Library/Resource Facilities and SC-02 School Communities Joint Development of Facilities.
Size deduction should only be made in areas of duplicated facilities.
Where a library is already in existence, (assuming that library is large enough to serve the present and anticipated needs of the community), library size should be estimated by adding on the requirements of the other co-operating partner, less the areas for any of the possible duplicated facilities.
13.4.4.3 Duplicated Facilities
Joint-use facilities provide some opportunity to save duplicating space in the following areas:
-
audio visual equipment room
-
circulation Desk (recommend custom-designed to serve joint function 1)
-
entry/waiting area
-
lunchroom
-
outdoor areas
-
toilets
-
workroom
Consideration should be made for the provision of areas and equipment for different types of usage by various groups.
13.4.4.4 Site
The following points should be taken into account in planning a joint-use library service.
-
The site should be located where it will be most visible and accessible to all members of the community.
-
The site should be close to other community facilities.
-
Joint-use sites in schools should be on the perimeter of the educational institution to be convenient for both the community and the institution.
-
Convenient parking should be available for library users and staff.
-
A central location in the urban area is essential to ensure optimum access for pedestrians, particularly the elderly and for people with disabilities.
13.4.4.5 Building and Furniture Requirements
-
The entrance should be prominent, obvious and face a busy thoroughfare like a main street.
-
The library should have both external and internal signage.
-
It should be possible for delivery vehicles to gain easy access to a loading bay with double doors opening into a storeroom.
-
The building must be carpeted.
-
The building must be air-conditioned.
-
The building should be attractive and inviting to prospective users. Preferably it should be on one level and allow for easy, safe access by all.
-
The library should be on ground level.
-
The library interior should provide a high degree of flexibility, with a minimum of load bearing internal walls and columns.
-
Sufficient power points and computer cabling should be provided at the construction stage. Telephone links should be sufficient to provide an efficient service in the foreseeable future.
-
Lighting should at least conform to Australian Standard 1680, be of an appropriate density and should not cause glare problems. Natural lighting should be at a maximum.
-
An after hours book return shute and dump trolley should be provided.
Shelving should be METAL, coloured (with the exception of black and brown) to conform with a scheme incorporating all furniture, paintwork and carpet. Appropriate bookends are needed for each storage shelf. -
A variety of shelving styles should provide for storage and display of all library materials, including audio visual and magazines. This will require paperback stands and easy reader storage/display bins, as well as bays of shelves.
-
Furniture should be provided for both Adult and Junior library users, and should conform to both Queensland Education Department and Queensland public library building/facilities standards.
13.4.4.6 Library Functional Areas
A new or existing library facility should incorporate functional areas prescribed in this document (Library Building Standards), and in standards for school libraries laid down in PS Education Brief: Library/Resource Facilities and SC-02 School Communities Joint Development of Facilities.
13.4.5 Service Provision
A joint-use library service should provide materials and services appropriate to its school and community profile and incorporating resources and services available from Local Government, the Education Department and other networked organisations.
13.4.5.1 Controversial Materials
ALIA policy statements indicate that the primary purpose of a library service is to provide information through books and other media on all matters. Local Government approved Collection Development Policies should be consulted with reference to the management of controversial library materials.
13.4.5.2 Collection Provision
Provision for books and other library resources should be made jointly by the Local Government and the Education Department. It should be expected that the Local Government would supply this material at a level normally provided for a community of the size the library will serve. The Education Department should be expected to maintain materials at a level commensurate with the size of the library.
Negotiations should be undertaken with all co-operating parties to determine funding for dual collections and future acquisitions.
Collection provision, control, services and policy documentation recommended are those described by Ann Hazell in the publication Access and equity: challenges in public librarianship, 1991.
All library materials (other than general reference and special collections) should be available for loan to an eligible borrower, unless otherwise determined by the library manager.
Collections should include all formats:
-
CD-ROM
-
computer software
-
multimedia
-
periodicals/paperbacks
-
print materials
Information services should include:
-
abstracts
-
access to data bases (online)
-
current awareness services
-
dictionaries
-
encyclopedias
-
indexes
-
multimedia
13.4.5.3 Collection Control
To facilitate access to a joint-use collection, appropriate policies and procedures need to be established for:
- acquisition
- automation
- book and building security
- classification
- controversial materials
- current developments in technology and client access to this technology
- degree of integration
- descriptive cataloguing
- networking
- organisation of materials
- ownership
- preservation
- selection
- sources of data
- subject headings
- weeding
It is recommended that an integrated control system is implemented with collections on one circulation system.
13.4.5.4 Services
A joint-use library service should promote its services, facilities and collections as appropriate to each user group through the provision of access to:
- class activities
- community group and class activities
- inter-library loans
- local history
- special collections and services
- toy libraries
- training courses, seminars workshops
- user education instruction
13.4.5.5 Policy Documentation
A policy and procedures manual should be developed to detail the operation of a joint-use library. This document should cover issues such as:
- access/opening hours
- automation
- borrowing rights
- cataloguing
- circulation systems
- client usage
- collections/resources
- depreciation
- evaluation
- facilities maintenance
- finance
- funding
- management
- marketing
- programs
- purchase of equipment and other assets
- relationships with other libraries/resources centres
- reporting
- review and forward planning
- risk minimisation
- services
- staffing
- valuation of assets
In formulating policies and procedures, the following publications should be considered:
-
Draft guidelines for the development of joint-use school/community libraries, Department of Education, Queensland 1995.
-
School communities SC-02: joint development of facilities, Department of Education, Queensland 1993.
-
Resourcing a great education: resources in learning a focus on school development, Department of Education, Queensland 1992.
-
Resource management for schools with Teacher-Librarians, Department of Education, Queensland 1991.
-
Relevant legislation:
-
-
Equal Opportunity in Public Employment Act, 1992 (Qld)
-
Workplace Health & Safety Act, 1989, (Qld)
-
Copyright Act, 1968
-
Libraries and Archives Act, 1988 (Qld)
-
Local Government Act, 1993 (Qld)
-
Education Act, 1989 (Qld)
-
Education (General Provisions) Act, 1989 (Qld).
-
-
Collection development policies of co-operating organisations.
-
Relevant ALIA statements.
-
Relevant Queensland Local Government Association statements.
(i) Staffing mix as recommended in the standards;
(ii) Community opening hours as recommended in the standards;
(iii) Community user satisfaction with facilities, services and resources.
Last updated: 24th January 2008
Creatively linking Queenslanders to information, knowledge and each other
