School Library: Infrastructure, Standards, Policies & Practices PDF

UNIT-3 School Library: Infrastructure, Standards, Policies and Practices Outline: 3.0 Learning Objectives 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Layout of library 3.3 Furniture 3.4 Equipment 3.5 School Library Layout, Furniture, and Equipment in the Light of NEP 2020 and NCFSE 2023 Summary...

UNIT-3 School Library: Infrastructure, Standards, Policies and Practices Outline: 3.0 Learning Objectives 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Layout of library 3.3 Furniture 3.4 Equipment 3.5 School Library Layout, Furniture, and Equipment in the Light of NEP 2020 and NCFSE 2023 Summary 3.0 Learning Objectives After reading this unit, one can: attain basic knowledge essential for establishing, managing, and designing the layout of a school library. realise the interrelationship of school library sections. realise the principles of selection and organisation of school library furniture. develop abilities for critical thinking in viewing significant issues and problems of concern to the school library infrastructure School Library Layout, Furniture, and Equipment in Light of NEP 2020 and NCFSE 2023. 3.1 Introduction The school library building, aesthetically designed with an excellent interior, attracts the users to spend more time there. To stimulate and foster interest in reading, viewing, and using the library, the furniture should be functional, comfortable, and attractive and meet the requirements of space, library activities, and users. Hence, the layout of the school library, furniture, and equipment must reflect the educational role of the school library. The school library's primary mission must be considered while planning new school buildings or reorganizing existing ones, especially the library layout, furniture, and equipment. 3.2 Layout of the library Planning for optimum utilisation of space in a school library is an outstanding job that implies the development of a functionally active layout of the library. In this context, Ranganathan's Five Laws of Library Science must be adopted as fundamental principles in planning library buildings. Following are the principles enunciated by different specialists: School library building should be functional and adaptable. Physical design should consider the functions of the library; Interior details should be planned prior to the exterior; The building should provide economy in administration and operation; Main study areas should be close to the bookshelves and stacks; The building should represent simplicity in character; Consider expansion and anticipated development in the future; Physical conveniences should be in proportion to the number and nature of clientele and library staff; Details of the library should be worked out, based on the existing data and the proportional future growth; and The building plan should be adaptable to the future growth and development. Layout of the library IFLA School Library Guidelines: According to the (IFLA/UNESCO, 2015) school library guidelines, the following need to be considered in the planning process: Central location on the ground floor, if possible. Accessibility and proximity of the library to the teaching areas. The library free from external noise. Adequate lighting, both natural and artificial. Proper room temperature, proper working conditions and the preservation of the collections. Appropriate library design to meet the unique user needs. Adequate size to accommodate the collection of books, fiction, non-fiction, hardback and paperback, newspapers and magazines, non-print resources and storage, study spaces, reading areas, computer workstations, display areas, and work areas for library staff. Flexibility allows for the diversity of activities and future changes in curriculum and technology. Layout of the library Bureau of Indian Standards: Bureau of Indian Standards appointed Dr. S. R. Ranganathan as the Chairman of its first Documentation Sectional Committee, which fixed (accorded) priority to the areas of library buildings, furniture, and fittings. The committee finalized its draft for Standards regarding Buildings, Furniture, and Fittings, and, as a result, the IS: 1553 – 1960 Code of Practice relating to primary elements in the design of library buildings came into existence that gives information on the following things: - The average size of different types of libraries regarding the number of books bound volumes of periodicals, the number of current journals for display, and the number of seats for readers and staff; The different kinds of rooms required for various libraries and The basis and method of estimating the dimension of each type of room. The Indian Standards Institution (ISI) developed the following standards relevant to school libraries in India. IS: 2672 - 1966 Code of Practice for Library Lighting. IS: 1892 (Part I) - 1978 Specifications for Library Furniture's and Fittings, Part I: Timber (1st Revision). IS: 1892 (Part II) – 1977 Specifications for Library Furniture's and Fittings, Part II: Steel. IS: 1233 – 1969 Recommendations for Modular Coordination of Dimensions in the Building Industry (1st Revision). IS: 1172 – 1971 Code of Basic Requirements for Water Supply, Drainage, and Sanitation (2nd Revision). IS: 1883 – 1975 Metal Shelving Racks (Adjustable Type) (2nd Revision). IS: 8338 – 1976 Recommendations relating to Primary Elements in Design of School Library Buildings. IS: 3312 – 1974 Steel Shelving Cabinets (Adjustable Type) (1st Revision). IS: 4116 – 1976 Wooden Shelving Cabinets (Adjustable Type) (1st Revision) These standards only lay out the essential dimensions of properly functioning fittings and furniture. The following figure shows a model relation between various parts of a school library. SHOWING RELATION BETWEEN VARIOUS PARTS OF SCHOOL LIBRARY Layout of the library CBSE School Library Guidelines: As per the guidelines of CBSE, 2006, the secondary and senior secondary school library building should have a Stack Room, a Librarian’s Room and a Reading Room has a capacity of seating 40 to 120 students at a time. The stack room should be big enough to accommodate between 10000 to 15000 volumes. However, an estimate of a built-in space required for a library (Singh, n.d.) is as shown below Sl.No SPACE FOR BASIS AREA in Sq. Meters 1. Stack Room for 10,000 volumes 100 Volumes Per Sq. Meter 100 2. Reading Room for 50 readers 3.3 Sq. Meters Per Reader 165 3. Head and two Senior Professionals 15 Sq. Meters Per Person 45 4. Other Professional Staff (27) 9 Sq. Meters Per Person 243 5. Office:#Administrative Officer#Other Staff (22) 15 Sq. Meters Per Person9 Sq. Meters Per Person 15198 6. Library Counter 30 7. At Service Point (15) 5 Sq. Meters Per Person 75 8. Seminar Room 20 9. Committee Room 20 10. Visitors Room 15 Total : 926 11. Additional Space for Passage, (Approximately 40% of Space estimated) 370 Total Space Required: 1296 Layout of the libraryModel floor plan of a school library: The floor plan in Figure 2 gives some ideas for the layout of the school library. School librarian can prepare floor plans by cutting out paper furniture shapes similar to the ones below and arranging them inside an outline of the library building. The floor plan allows for double-sided shelves to maximize book space. The windows were located near the study areas where people needed light and away from the bookshelves. There is only one door near the librarian's desk, making it easier for the librarian to see who is coming and going and for library users to see and approach the librarian. SAMPLE FLOOR PLAN 3.3 Furniture After planning space and building, we have to take care of another important thing in the library: planning furniture and equipment. It has been said that a library building is incomplete without the proper furniture, fittings, and furnishings. According to the IFLA/UNESCO School Library Guidelines (IFLA, 2015), an appropriately equipped school library should have the following characteristics: safety good lighting designed to accommodate furniture that is sturdy, durable, and functional, as well as meeting the specific space, activity, and user requirements of the library intended to accommodate the particular needs of the school population in the least restrictive manner designed to accommodate changes in library programs, the school's instructional program, as well as emerging audio, video, and data technology designed to enable proper use, care, and security of furnishing, equipment, supplies, and materials arranged and managed to provide equitable and timely access to an organized and diverse collection of resources arranged and managed so that it is aesthetically appealing to the user and conducive to leisure and learning, with bright, attractive guiding and signposting The school librarian must select furniture according to its intended function and location within the library. According to Thomson (2008), the librarian should choose shelving, catalogs, and technical equipment, while the architect should choose chairs and tables because these have been his concerns throughout his professional life. Perhaps it would be ideal if they consulted each other when selecting furniture Suppose one wants to fabricate the furniture locally. In that case, it is necessary to prepare detailed furniture drawings giving all the specifications required. In this context, the standard developed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), National Institute of Standards and Technology, United States (GCR 12-957: A Guide to the United States Furniture Compliance Requirements) and International Standard Organization (ISO: 5970: 1979. Furniture, chairs, and tables for educational institutions, including libraries) can be helpfully utilize. The library should build up the nucleus collection of documents within a few years of its inception. The estimate of furniture and equipment should be based on a document collection, some readers, and some professional/not-professional. The recommendations of Indian Standards may be followed. IS 1829 (Part – 1) – 1961. Specifications for library furniture and fittings. Part-1: Timber; and IS 1553 – 1960—code of practice relating to primary elements in the design of library buildings. Furniture-Basic furniture for a school library The basic furniture required in a school library is: Bookshelves Book supporters Catalogue cabinet Library chairs Library tables Circulation counter Periodical Display racks Book display case Book Trolley New arrival display stand Newspaper stand Property counter Suggestion box Furniture-Model of Open Access System The library should follow an open access system to promote students' reading habit. Library B has twice the shelf space as Library A because it uses double-sided shelves. School librarians can make more space for books by using rows of double-sided shelves instead of single-sided shelves against the wall. Rearranging or buying new furniture to fit the library can also save space. SAVING SPACE WITH DOUBLE-SIDED SHELVES In our Indian context, many librarians are reluctant to opt for open shelving, often leading to losing books from the library. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent book theft completely. The surest way to avoid theft is also the most drastic - keep all the books under lock and key and only let users read them under supervision in the library. Since storing books in locked cabinets and only allowing the librarian to retrieve them is neither practical nor desirable for many libraries, try using some of the methods below to limit theft (Wendell, 1998) Educate people about the library's value to the community. Explain how removing books from the library hurts everyone and ask people to be on the lookout for missing books. People are less likely to try to sell books with the library's name stamped or written. Be sure to stamp them in multiple places using ink that does not rub off. To overcome this problem, the school library should display posters showing the book's value. Installation of closed-circuit cameras can also avoid the loss of books. MODEL POSTERS Equipment The school library serves as a gateway to our information-based present-day society. For this reason, it must provide access to all necessary electronic, computer, and audiovisual equipment. This equipment can be used by users or for library purposes. These include the following: User purpose: Computer workstations with Internet access Public access catalogs adjusted to the different ages and levels of students CD/DVD/Blue Ray readers and writers Audio/video players Display/Bulletin Board E-Readers Computer equipment, specially adjusted to the visually or otherwise children with special needs. Computer furniture has to meet the height and individual requirement of the school population, including differently-abled children. Library purpose: Scanning equipment Laser printer Photocopier CCTV Barcode scanners Barcode printer Fire Alarm Ceasefire systems LCD Projector with Interactive board/ LCD Monitor (for demonstrations based on the Information Literacy Curriculum). Drinking water dispenser/water purifier School Library Layout, Furniture, and Equipment in the Light of NEP 2020 and NCFSE 2023: The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023 emphasize the importance of libraries in promoting critical thinking, creativity, and digital literacy. A well-designed school library layout, furniture, and equipment are crucial in achieving these goals. Layout: Open and flexible spaces for collaboration and quiet reading (NEP, 2020) Zones for different activities, such as reading, research, and digital learning (NCFSE, 2023) Accessibility and inclusivity features, like ramps and adaptive furniture (NEP, 2020) Furniture: Ergonomic and comfortable seating for students and staff (NCFSE, 2023) Flexible and movable furniture for collaboration and group work (NEP, 2020) Adaptive furniture for students with disabilities (NEP, 2020) Equipment: Digital resources, such as e-books, online databases, and educational software (NCFSE, 2023) Technology infrastructure, including computers, tablets, and internet connectivity (NEP, 2020) Assistive technology for students with disabilities (NEP, 2020) Summary This unit presented a perspective on designing, managing and working in the current school library. It introduces the theory and practice concerning the library layout, furniture and equipment in school library building design, furniture building relations and standards. It also highlights the School Library Layout, Furniture, and Equipment in the Light of NEP 2020 and NCFSE 2023. Unit 3 : Review Questions 1. Explain the general principle while designing the school library plan? 2. What are the steps to be considered while planning the school library as per IFLA/UNESCO guideline? 3. Explain the dimensions of different areas required for the school library? 4. Discuss the floor plan and seating area of ideal school library setup. 5. Discuss the furniture and its characteristics of various types of equipment in a library. 6. Discuss advantages of having double sided books shelves in the Library 7. What are essential equipments required for a library to meet the present requirement of modern technology?