State of Asian School Libraries: Present & future

1. State ofAsian School Libraries:Present & future John Hickok, M.L.I.S., M.A. Librarian/Instructor Coordinator of Library Instruction California State University, Fullerton, USA

2. About me • Faculty member - Coordinator of Library & Information Literacy Instruction, and instructor, in the largest university network of the world

3. Research: California state research grant on cross-cultural comparison of libraries throughout Asia

4. Introduction School libraries in Southeast Asia are in need of development. This refers to: • Physical facilities & technology • Collections • Staffing

5. Let’s start with some positives… In my year-long documentation, I saw many examples of successful school libraries • Dedicated physical facilities • A dedicated librarian presence • Support from higher up (the principal, the MOE, outside NGO’s, etc.)

6. But there are also serious challenges In my year-long documentation, I saw severe challenges to school libraries • Extremely limited budgets (in many cases, zero). • Limited facilities, limited equip/tech • Lack of staff (often no librarian, only a volunteer teacher-librarian) • Lack of priority to libraries from authorities (principals, MOE)

7. But there are also serious challenges • The nature of education: little emphasis on independent reading or research outside of formal lessons (comparison with U.S. education: libraries as partners in the curriculum. My own childhood = a testament)

8. Some photo documentation • Disclaimer: examples from countries are not implying that county alone struggles with challenges. ALL countries, I found, share these common challenges

9. So… how to address these challenges?

10. So… how to address these challenges? • Partnerships with NGOs for training and human capital development (i.e., training of teachers and teacher-librarians). But coordinating all NGOs through an umbrella organization. (Example, ALA and sister libraries)

11. So… how to address these challenges? • Partnerships with NGOs for training and human capital development (i.e., training of teachers and teacher-librarians). But coordinating all NGOs through an umbrella organization. (Example, ALA and sister libraries) • Corporate partnerships and sponsorships, promoting library development (i.e., partnerships with booksellers)

12. So… how to address these challenges? • Partnerships with universities, particularly those with LIS degree programs, on “adopt a school” student teacher-librarian interns, and material donations

13. So… how to address these challenges? • Partnerships with universities, particularly those with LIS degree programs, on “adopt a school” student teacher-librarian interns, and material donations • Flagship library endeavors, garnishing MOE publicity, to foster further MOE support

14. Thank you