CHALLENGES FACING LIBRARY EFFECIENCY IN SCHOOLS - UGANDA Objectives 1.Why should a school have a library  A library is a place where everyone in the school environment is welcome.

 A place of relaxation  Stress free environment  It is a center for research in the school  It promotes and facilitates reading in a school.

2. What constitutes a good library  Location  Organisation  Record Keeping  Setting and Internal arrangement  Personality of the librarian

3. How can librarians participate in the promotion of literacy in schools  Team work  Knowledgeable of the school activities  Innovativeness

OVERVIEW Through the discussion of the challenges librarians are facing in schools, we are trying to bridge the gap between them and the rest of the school staff for better literacy results. Categories of school librarians 1.Trained librarians 2.Teacher librarians 3. Non trained librarians

Why do we have such categories 1.Lack of funds 2.A Librarian is not a necessity 3.Anybody can work as a librarian 4.Some trained librarians schools have let down administration

CHALLENGES OF GOOD LIBRARY PRACTISE 1.Few training Institutions 2.Lack of funds to keep afloat. 3.Lack of reading materials. 4.Librarians are not sure of their existence 5. Librarians lack sense of belonging – 6. Minimised by other staff member

7.Libraries are not inclusive on the school budget. 8. Librarians are not on the school list of communication. 9. Some librarians had no choice of another job (lack passion) 10. Innovativeness 11. Bad character of the librarians

WAY FORWARD A:Creativity  advocate for a library lesson  read to the children when in the library.  request for assembly readings  organise a day/book/read reading event

B: Relevancy - ask for time during staff meeting to talk about what is available in the library - Volunteer at school happenings to avail yourself as part of the school - Introduce new activities to promote reading C: Administration -Talk to administration about the need of new and a variety of readers.

D: Term Themes - Find out what themes have been designed for every term or year. E: Visits - Visits other libraries for ideas and new challenges F: Workshops and Seminars - Librarians should always look out for training chances in order to keep informed on what is happening.

G: Membership - Librarians should try and register with clubs organisations that are affiliated to their profession. E.g. RAU H: Outlook - endeavour to have a clean, tidy and well displayed environment. (children’s work will always lure them to come to the library).

Thank you presented by Annette Kiberu Mpuga chairperson Reading Association of Uganda