Maltese school libraries for the 21st century: proposals for their set-up within the new college system

Abstract

This essay investigates the innovative set-up indispensable for Maltese state school libraries, predominantly due to the recent introduction of the college system. The current educational reform has generated a milieu where children will take advantage from "the on-going support they need to acquire to further their knowledge" (For All children to succeed, 2005). In the new and optimistic scenery produced, the role of the librarian needs to be adequately defined. Running a school library is more than a day to day professional exercise: time and support are required for management and strategic growth. Today's school librarians are important instructional partners in supporting and expanding existing curriculum, working with teachers to change what is possible in the classroom and support exciting learning opportunities with books, computer resources and more (US National Commission on Libraries and Information science, 2008, p.4). The essay focuses mainly on local and foreign proposals which jointly can lead to better conditions in Maltese school libraries within the colleges for the 21n century. The finest proposals I availed myself of come from The chartered Institute of Librarians and Information Professionals (CILIP), while from the local scene there are the well-founded arguments of MSLA and MaLIA. Other organizations' valid opinions have also been explored.