New Zealand school libraries in crisis as funding cuts leave thousands of students without proper services
Less than half of New Zealand students have access to properly staffed school libraries, with under-investment and budget cuts leaving many with only rooms full of outdated books.
School librarians across Aotearoa are warning that sustained under-investment in libraries is harming student literacy and wellbeing. The School Library Association estimates that less than half of students have access to libraries actively managed by trained staff, as schools prioritise other spending when budgets tighten. Many librarians work just a handful of hours per week, unable to curate collections, promote reading, or provide the support that creates a culture of reading. The Ministry of Education's recent response citing high library space availability misses the key problem: having a library space without dedicated staffing leaves students with outdated, uncurated collections that fail to engage them or support their learning.
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‘Sustained under-investment’: the dire state of school libraries and the years-long cry for help
There’s a big difference between a serviced library and a ‘room full of books’. Claire Mabey speaks to school librarians about their endangered status. You’re eight years old. It’s book week at school. Your school librarian has transformed the library…