Schools celebrate their libraries – ‘at heart of learning’

Schools this week have the opportunity to celebrate Queensland School Library Week (February 14-18). Education Minister Grace Grace said libraries in schools are ‘At the Heart of Learning’ – the theme for School Library Week 2022. “The library helps instill in students a lifelong love of learning and reading, and has a direct influence on positive learning outcomes,” Ms Grace said. “A great school library plays a central role in helping children and young people gain the knowledge, skills and attributes required for learning, life and work. “Skills honed in the library will stay with pupils throughout life – equipping them with the skills needed to translate information into knowledge.” Ms Grace said this week is an opportunity to showcase the excellent work of staff in schools right around Queensland who play a crucial role in supporting learners. “Qualified library staff not only curate collections of both print and digital resources, but lead learning programs which support information and digital literacy,” she said. “School libraries have come a long way from the book and card index-filled rooms familiar to older generations, and is now often referred to as a ‘resource centre’. “That’s because in many cases the library has evolved to encompass an information technology centre, information management hub and teaching space for multiple literacies. “But whatever you call it, the school library still has books – and it is still ‘At the Heart of Learning’. “The Palaszczuk Government’s $1.9 billion infrastructure investment includes state-of-the-art resource centres right across the state because we know how much value these spaces add to our schools.” Queensland School Library Week is organised by the Queensland School Library Association and has been held since 2018. This year schools can enter competitions challenging primary and secondary students to capture the importance of their school library in an artwork or photograph, with entries closing on 4 March. The winners will receive book vouchers.