SOS school libraries

One of the most interesting meetings I had during the last couple of weeks was that with the Malta School Library Association, whose existence I must admit I was not aware of until recently.

Founded in 2000, the association represents librarians of state, Church and private schools. I had a very interesting meeting with the committee members, all of whom come across as very committed persons who want to transmit to students a love for reading. This can only be done if a library is well-equipped and if students actually conceive it as a tool in helping them carry out their assignments in a better way. To do so, one must have funds. Unfortunately, these seem to be limited, especially in state schools. In fact, in the meeting I felt I was being sent a distress signal.

From what I could gather, the average difference in the library budget between a state and a non-state school is about 100 per cent. This means that for each Lm1 that one particular state school spends on its library, a Church or a private school tends to spend about Lm2.

It was explained to me that, until a few years ago, the Schools Library Service used to be in charge of the purchase of books for state school libraries. The budget to do so was allocated centrally to this unit. A decision was then taken to decentralise power to school heads, giving them responsibility for their own school budget. This was a positive step in many aspects. On the other hand, it seems that a number of state school heads do not allocate adequate resources for the stocking up of their libraries. Some budgets run only into a couple of hundreds of liri. I was told that the heads of girls' schools tend to give relatively more importance to libraries than do those in charge of boys' schools - an interesting observation which demands further investigation.

One has to see the wider context with the increasing financial constraints and the demands of particular schools. Nevertheless, one would expect the purchase of books and the upkeep of the school library to be high up in one's agenda. This need is much more urgent given that the Malta School Library Association estimates that about 70 per cent of library book stock in state schools is obsolete.

There is also another problem. Nobody knows exactly what books are available in school libraries since most school libraries, mainly state ones, do not have a catalogue. In 2003, each school library was given a computer which, among others, had to be used for this catalogue. The librarians are still awaiting the software to carry out this cataloguing! Librarians want such a system to be developed to involve also non-state schools in an inter-library roaming facility, with books being remotely located and made available for both state and non-state school students.

This project costs money, that is for sure. Nevertheless, it costs much less than Lm9 million being spent elsewhere.

I was also informed of other problems which at the end of the day will be faced by students in our schools. There is only one person assigned to the Schools Library Service, even though there is a need for another four. This service provides courses for teacher librarians and is in charge of coordinating the school libraries. The person in charge of the service will retire in a few months' time and nobody has yet been earmarked for takeover. The authorities have as yet to state what they intend to do with the service, whether they will upgrade it or discontinue it.

All governments, irrespective of their political affiliation, have helped our education system move forward. Let us continue to give it the necessary importance.

Joseph Muscat is a Labour Member of the European Parliament.

www.josephmuscat.com