Today and Tomorrow• The Swedish school libraries in a national

perspective and context

Anette Holmqvist

Burgårdens Conference Center, Gothenburg, 9th of August 2010

OH-mallen

The Swedish education system I.

• 10 638 schools (including pre-schools)• 1 433 310 pupils (21 % of population) • 4 000 school librarieshttp://www.skolverket.se/sb/d/2649

The Swedish education system II

• is decentralized since 1991• includes independent, but public financed

schools since 1992 (9/17)• is steered and supported by curricula, syllabis

and inspections• is undergoing the biggest school reform since

1842

The New Education Act

• Government proposition June 2010

• New Education Act valid from 2011- • Valid even for independent schools• Compulsary access to school libraries • The school libraries will be included in the inspection of

schools (The Schools Inspectorate)• The municipalities receive 3,7 millons euro

The National Agency of Education

The National Agency and school libraries

• head of national school library projects 2000-2007• publisher of school library research• school library articles on the web• discussion list and wiki• reference group for school libraries 2009-• printed/digital supporting material 2011- (?)

National Library of Sweden (KB)

KB as national library authority by• giving national overview (statistics)• facilitating cooperation between libraries• promoting library development?*• following up the work of the libraries

*But needs extra fundings if school library development included in this

The National School Library group

The National School Library group• 17 organizations and authorities• Lobbying activities • School Library of the Year• Publicationshttp://www.skolbiblioteksgruppen.se/

The Swedish School Library Association

The Swedish School Library Association• 5 regional networks• Lobbying activities• Seminars (including this) and social activities • The School Librarian of the Year

http://ww.skolbibliotek.se

Challenges - Governmental level

• Improve school quality and results

• Ensure equality between schools

• Diminish the digital divide (2 millions)

• Define the school library concept

• Compile reliable statistics

• Follow up the school legislation

• Stimulate school and school library development

• Improve / Reniew education for librarians?

Challenges - Municipal level

• Follow the steering documents for schools

• Improve school quality and results• Allocate financial resources• Include school libraries in the planning of school

activities• Employ teachers and librarians with adequate education• Give time and space for inservice training and

competence development

Challenges – Individual level

• Part of the school context– Read and follow the steering documents– Cooperate with school head and teachers

• Part of the digitial society– Give yourself and the pupils reading, digital and

information literacy