National Surveys of UK School Libraries

Primary School Libraries

Start of the Survey

We are conducting a national survey to find out how well pupils in the UK are being provided with school libraries.

If you have a school library or classroom book collections, please help us to build up a full UK picture of primary school libraries by completing this short, three step questionnaire.

If you DO NOT have a school library or classroom book collections please email us instead at IMA@mail2world.com and tell us whether this is from choice or necessity.

This work was instigated by the School Libraries Group of CILIP (the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals) and supported by School Library Association, CILIP in Scotland and ASCEL (the Association of Senior Children's and Education Librarians), with funds provided by the Wendy Drewett Bequest. The survey is being managed by Information Management Associates.

Please contact David Streatfield of IMA at streatfield@blueyonder.co.uk if you have any questions about this survey.

Please go to Step 1

Step 1: The Library

Thank you for agreeing to reply to this questionnaire. Your replies will be treated as confidential and used only to produce a report on the state of UK school libraries.

Name of School:

Local Authority Area in which the school is located:

 

1. Do you have:
a) One or more designated school library rooms/spaces
b) Classroom ‘book corners’?
1.1 If “b”, is this through:
i) choice
ii) necessity?
2. Who supervises the school library when it is open?
Teacher(s)
Volunteer(s)
School Librarian
School Administrator
Nobody
Other (please specify):
3. Do you currently have access to professional librarian support?
No
Yes
If yes, Is this through:
Schools Library Service
Public Library Children’s Librarian
Professionally-qualified parent/friend/volunteer
Full or part-time professional librarian
Other (please specify):
4. On average, how many hours per week is the library accessible to children in term-time?
Up to 10
11-20
21-35
More than 35

Please go to Step 2

Step 2: Library Stock and its Management

5.1 We know that the library is not just about books, but roughly how large is the bookstock?
Up to 500 items
501 - 1,000
1,001 - 2,000
2,001 - 3,500
3,501 - 5,000
More than 5,000
5.2 Approximately how many children attend your school?
Up to 100
101 - 250
251 - 500
501 - 1,000
1,001 - 1,250
More than 1,251
5.3 In general, is the condition of the library stock (currency and physical state of books and other materials):
Good
Adequate
Patchy
Poor
5.4 How well is the stock differentiated to meet the full range of pupil needs (including language needs)?
Well
Adequately
Patchily
Poorly
6. Do you use an electronic library management system?
Yes
No

Please go to Step 3

Step 3: School Library Budget

7. What is the current annual library budget for purchase of stock and services (all sources)?
Up to £500
£501 - £1,000
£1,001 - £2,000
£2,001 - £3,000
More than £3,000
No specific allocation
Cannot divulge this information
7.1 Has this budget changed since last year?
Increased
Decreased
No change

Please go to the finish screen

Finish

8. Is there anything else that you would like to say about your library?

Thank you very much for completing this survey of the library.