System to provide 'life-changing' benefits of libraries to pupils has 'collapsed', organisation says

Mason Savage from second class in Scoil Íosagáin, Farranree, picks out a book in the school's new library recently. Almost 600 of those primary schools told Children’s Books Ireland they rely on donations from parents, guardians and the wider school community to keep their bookshelves stocked. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Children are missing out on the “life-changing” benefits of reading due to a systematic and consistent deficit of sustainable funding for school libraries, Children’s Books Ireland has warned.

Following the withdrawal of school library funding in 2008, the system whereby public libraries provided guidance and support to school has “collapsed”, according to the non-profit organisation.

It is calling for an annual Budget commitment of €68m for primary and secondary school libraries, to fund the purchase of five books per pupil next year, increasing to 10 books per year by 2030.

In light of funding challenges, since 2023, Children’s Books Ireland has received applications for its book-giving initiative from two-thirds of all primary schools, and almost half of all post-primary schools. The initiative is funded by corporate donations. 

Almost 600 of those primary schools told the organisations they rely on donations from parents, guardians and the wider school community to keep their bookshelves stocked. Just one of the 100 post-primary schools applying to the initiative this year had enough books on its shelves to meet the School Library Association’s recommended 13 books per pupil. 

“Books are an affordable and effective tool currently underutilised by Government,” said Elaina Ryan, chief executive of Children’s Books Ireland.

“Extensive research evidences the hugely positive impact that reading for pleasure has on children’s learning outcomes, their future success and their wellbeing, including increasing academic engagement and achievement.” 

However, many children in Ireland do not have access to a family culture of reading at home, she added.

“The school library can unlock equitable access to a wide range of relevant, quality books for every child, but the reality is that an overwhelming majority of schools across the country, DEIS and non-DEIS alike, simply do not have the resources to create and sustain functioning libraries.

“That the majority of schools in Ireland have to rely on donations of books in one of the wealthiest countries in Europe, one with a world-renowned literary heritage, is nothing short of scandalous.”

Gillian Corrigan, deputy principal of Our Lady Immaculate Junior School in Darndale, said: “Reading and access to books is an issue of social justice.

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"Pupils must be afforded the opportunity to read quality children's literature, on fun and relatable themes, and we have a duty to provide them with the knowledge of authors and books that their peers in more affluent areas often share naturally amongst themselves." 

Children's Books Ireland is calling for an expansion of the Junior Certificate school library project to every secondary school in the country, including an immediate widening of access to the SORA digital library system for every secondary school pupil. 

It has also called for funding for a new primary school library system, staffed by professional librarians, as well as the establishment of a national advisory group on school library provision. 

The organisation is expected to brief TDs and senators today. 

• Jess Casey is education correspondent for the Irish Examiner