S COTLAND : S CHOOL L IBRARIES S NAPSHOT A UTUMN 2013

The FOISA Request : 31 May 2013 ‘1. What form of Centralised Schools’ Library Service if any does your authority provide, please outline the various services offered such as Continuing Professional Development, Inter Library lending, Project kits etc. 2. If your authority provides a Centralised School Library Service please provide the annual budget figures for the past 5 years showing expenditure on Salaries, Staff development, Resource acquisition etc. 3. Please provide me with a list of your School Libraries with details of staffing in each. 4. Please state the minimum requirements to become a School Librarian in your authority 5. Please supply the pay grade scale for professional Library staff in your authority. 6. Please provide the average Book/Resources fund allocation per School again for the past 5 years 7. Please supply me with copies of all internal reports on the future of School Library provision in your authority.’

Responses 21 authorities responded Two authorities failed to respond at all: this will be taken further. Wide variation in quality of responses and the comprehensivenesss of the answers Apples & Plums !!

H IGHLIGHTS FROM R ESPONSES

Question 1 School Library Service 9 Independently funded School Library Services – 1 was established as late as April 2012 with a £400k injection of Pump priming finance 12 Authorities provided some degree of support through the Public Library Service; – CPD, ILLs, Staff development collection etc.

Question 2 : School Library Service Average budget of £300 K per annum 12 Authorities provided some level of support through their Public Library Service.

Question 3: School Library Staffing All but 1 of the 21 Authorities employs Professional Librarians in their School Libraries 3 Authorities run joint Public / School services with the Librarian managing this facility.

Question 4 : Qualifications required 10 Specified Chartered Status or intention of achieving MCLIP within 1 year. 19 Authorities specified a Degree in Information and Library Studies or Degree plus Postgraduate qualification in ILS 1 stated that an HNC or Certificate in a relevant area of study was required e.g. LIS, Business Studies or Business Administration 1 specified possession of SVQ level 4 / HND or Degree in LIS.

Question 5 : Remuneration Professional Library staff. Difficult to give definitive or average figures as wide variation across Scotland – Dependant on hours worked 35 & 37 hours – 52 week contract or Term time only – Pay Scales used – Also nature of role – e.g. Line Management responsibility; Promoted Post etc.

Question 6 : School Library Resources/ Funds 18 Authorities provided figures for Average spend Average spend per School Library £2400 Highest £5820 Lowest £1133

Question 7 : Internal reports 17 Authorities gave a refusal notice under s.17 of the Act; ‘Information not held’ 4 Authorities provided review documentation Aberdeen City Edinburgh City City of Glasgow Highland Council

Summary Variation of Service provision across Scotland Overall demise of centralised School Library Service. Majority of School Libraries staffed by Qualified / Chartered Staff with one exception Variety of Employment contracts; most Full time 52 weeks a year. Book / Resources funds seem to be holding up pretty well. Will follow up no shows English Scene to be analysed for comparative purposes