Funding Module 3

 What are the key issues in funding a school library that you are familiar with?

What factors would you include in calculating the cost per student of this library's collection?

Funding is an area of greatest challenge for me and I am finding my way through experience and education from this subject and other participants  ideas on the forum.

I am currently fairly new at my school and finding my feet with the management side of library. I have had experience teaching in the library but not with the administration side.
My principal has basically told me to spend until he says to stop! This makes it difficult for careful consideration and forward planning. I think it is his way of easing me into it  maybe. I will try and manage a budget submission in preparation for next year using some of the strategies I have learnt from the subject and assignment.

 The library budget for my school library I am told is normally about $8000 pa. This year due to underspending by the  previous TL and having targets of literacy and numeracy for this year, the allocation is large,  (yet exact figure still unknown to me.)

If I use the formula of budget divided by number of students: 
$8000 divided by 220 students equals approximately 36 dollars.

 Consideration of the changing  needs of the students and staff is essential  and supplementing and supporting   the implementation of the new national curriculum are essential. Technology  and consideration for inclusion of e - resources will need to be factored in to the budget over the next two years.

Providing an annual report can be an effective way of maintaing or obtaining improved funding for the library. I found this website to be helpful:
National Library of New Zealand:  http://schools.natlib.govt.nz/developing-your-library/tools-and-guides/annual-report

"Your annual report to the Board of Trustees enables you to show evidence demonstrating the impact your library has had on student learning. Here are some tips on creating a succinct, engaging report that is likely to be read."

More useful weblinks on creating accountability through annual reports.
http://www.sldirectory.com/libsf/resf/studies.html#annual