Research project
Books, bags and boxes: a study of the role and impact of the Leeds School Library Service
- Start date: 1 January 2023
- End date: 31 December 2023
- Funding: United Kingdom Literacy Association
- Value: £3000
- Partners and collaborators: Leeds School Library Service
- Primary investigator: Dr Lucy Taylor
- Co-investigators: Dr Paula Clarke - University of Leeds
- External co-investigators: Kirsty Fenn and Michelle Ackroyd (Leeds School Library Service)
The project ‘Books, bags and boxes: A study of the role and impact of the Leeds School Library Service’ was funded by a research grant from the UK Literacy Association (UKLA). The study sought to investigate the role and impact of the Leeds School Library Service and to identify future directions for the service.
Once offered by all local authorities as a support service to schools, School Library Services (SLS) have been much reduced since the Education Reform Act of 1988 and the Academies Act of 2010. There is currently no reliable information about the number of SLS in England, or the service they offer. The Leeds SLS currently serves 180 primary schools and delivered 9514 boxes of resources in the academic year 2022–23.
The project used a mixed methods approach and data was collected through an online survey and interviews.
The Leeds School Library Service is very highly regarded by the users. The resources form an essential part of the ways that primary schools in Leeds resource their curriculum, enabling them to offer children up to date, varied and engaging texts across a variety of curriculum areas. The SLS plays a core role in supporting reading for pleasure aims in most of the schools surveyed, as well as contributing to literacy skills. Most of the services offered are well used by the schools who are entitled to them, but some are less well known. The current service is perceived as good value by users, and they would like to be able to access more of the services on offer.
Conferences
UKLA International Conference 2023