Having a core reference collection in the library is a great idea! Lederer (2016) provides interesting reasoning why this is the case for an academic library. Is it for the primary setting though? I will address some of the reasons and evaluate if it is the case for a primary library.

Convenience: Students are often looking for an easy way to find the information they need. Having a reference book relevant to them can be a quick way of finding a key fact they are looking for.

Jump-off point: Students might need a starting point to actually kick off their search. If there is a reference book they can actually find their topic in, it will give them something to start from.

Serendipity and discovery: I love the fact students are finding information on the way to what they actually are looking for! Some might get sidetracked but the expansion of interest and knowledge is so valuable.

Cost: Although the cost of reference materials can be steep, the cost of ebooks can be too. Most schools do not have the budget for an ongoing subscription or the digital framework is not sufficient for their use.

Availability: Most books reference books for primary schools are still in print format. Open access reference material is difficult to find and students are lacking the skills to find the right information.