School libraries in the Netherlands

Abstract

Recent developments in education in the Netherlands have emphasized the role of school libraries in the learning process. In order to assist secondary schools in updating their school libraries and preparing them for a new role in learning, research was conducted on the position of school libraries in the schools. An input-output research design was used to provide an analysis of the distinct elements that constituted the system (input) in relation to the products of the system (output). The input factors included organizational structure, library staff, financing, technical infrastructure, collection, and collaboration both in the school and with other organizations. The output included access to the collection, facilities, and instruction. The main finding was that school libraries differed greatly one from the other and that the person of the school librarian seemed to be the most important factor in the success of a school library.