Who has the responsibility of submitting a budget proposal in the school community? Is it the teacher librarian or the school library committee?
Debowski, S. (2001) states that the teacher librarian has the responsibility for the collection management decisions in most schools. (p.128) TLs know their library collection better than any other member of the staff in their school, so they are able to decide which resources are to be purchased. I think it is preferable for the TL to submit a budget proposal to fund the library collection to the school’s senior management and/or the community.
“Budgeting can be said to consist of four phases : budgetary needs analysis and planning; development of the budget submission; allocation of the budget funds; and finally, expenditure of the budget.” (Debowski, S., 2001, p.304) When TLs are aware of the four phases of budgeting suggested by Debowski, s. (20010), they are able to submit sound budget proposals and use the allocated budgets well.
Debowski (2001) points out that “every teacher librarian needs to address :
- how to obtain an adequate budget. 2. how to ensure those funds are appropriately spent. 3. how to publicize the good work that has been accomplished. 4. the increasing need to lobby for additional funds.” (p.309)
As TLs are able to hanle the addreesed issues by Debowski wisely, the budget proposal will meet the user needs in the learning community.
Reference
Debowski, S. (2001). Collection management policies. In K. Dillon, J. Henri & J. McGregor (Eds.), Providing more with less : collection management for school libraries (2nd ed.) (pp. 126-136). Wagga Wagga, NSW : Centre for Information Studies, Charles Sturt University.
Debowski, S. (2001). Collection program funding management. In K. Dillon, J. Henri & J. McGregor (Eds.), Providing more with less : collection management for school libraries (2nd ed.) (pp. 299-326). Wagga Wagga, NSW : Centre for Information Studies, Charles Sturt University