Norwegian Policy for Empowering School Libraries

Abstract

The first part of this paper presents a general picture of school libraries in Norway, reviewing statistics, outlining legislation on schools and libraries and highlighting aspects of the national curriculum for primary and secondary schools. It illustrates the complex and integrated systems in which school libraries are to be found and looks at obstacles to successfully maintaining and developing school libraries in Norway, bridges to cross and measures to be taken. The second part uses the plan Make Space for Reading! Norwegian Strategy for Stimulating a Love of Reading and Reading Skills, 2003-2007 (2003, 2005) to illustrate how the political, educational and library systems can join forces to empower school libraries and stimulate reading skills and interest in reading. It examines some of the projects and appraises the input from different parties, the project process and the preliminary results. Finally, it draws attention to future challenges for school libraries in Norway.