It's the Same the Whole World Over: Bridging the Gap in New Zealand

Abstract

Since 1990, education in New Zealand has undergone dramatic changes. A new K-12 framework has been put in place with the curriculum divided into Essential Learning Areas and Essential Skills Areas. For the first time all students are required to develop information skills yet New Zealand has never had a tradition of full time teacher-librarians. There is now a diploma course for teacher-librarianship but most high school teacher-librarians have only five hours per week in the library. Primary teachers usually have no release time. This paper aims to show how New Zealand teachers and school libraries are facing the challenge and attempting to “Bridge the Gap.”