Identifying Potential Roles for a School Library in the Achievement of School Education Goals An Analysis of National Curriculum Framework 2005

Abstract

 The paper presents the hypothesis that the potential of a school library to become a true partner in education has not been duly recognised in the Indian scenario. It analyses the educational guidelines propagated by NCERT’s National Curriculum Framework 2005 (NCF) to identify areas where the school library can make substantial contribution to achieve school education goals. The paper recommends a fresh appraisal of the role of the school library in India in light of the global recognition of its importance in education. It suggests supplementary and complementary informational and educational roles for the school library, including contribution towards information literacy, value and peace education, development of reading habit among children, fostering art education, and imbibing socio-cultural awareness in school children. For effective functioning of the school library as a partner in education, the paper advocates introduction of the Teacher Librarian concept in the Indian school scenario, and the creation of a national workforce of such Teacher Librarians through the introduction of specific school librarianship courses / optional papers in the curriculae of University Departments of Library & Information Science.