Question Prompt: What qualities would you look for in preferred school library suppliers? What challenges may schools who are isolated from major cities and schools with unique needs (specialist curriculum, language/ethnic/religious groups and learning styles) experience when it comes to acquiring resources? Identify and discuss some of these challenges and share ideas for overcoming them.
I would preference suppliers who are based in Australia who have variety and a significant number of the needed resources, ideally at a comparable price point to competitors. Buying most of the resources from a small number of suppliers will make shipping and processing easier. However, as the module notes suggest, I’d keep an eye out for suppliers who endorse exclusivity and prevent you from buying from different suppliers.
Schools who are isolated geographically may have more trouble ordering and receiving resources in a timely manner. Transport costs may also be significantly higher, particularly if you are in remote parts of Australia. To overcome this, ordering in bulk and ahead of time (as much as possible) could help.
Schools who have specific needs (e.g. requiring bilingual resources or resources for students with specific learning needs etc) may not be able to order through bigger suppliers and may have to look at niche or international suppliers. These resources may be more expensive and take longer to arrive. However, it will be worth it if the school then acquires the quality, appropriate resources the community needs!
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