Desirable qualities of school library suppliers:
- A wide range of resources; including, fiction and non-fiction
- Resources that meet a range of curriculum needs and reading levels
- Good communication
- Quick turn-around
- Express service if necessary
- Competitive prices
- Amenable returns and cancellation policies
- Available samples/previews
- Effective delivery procedures; including, price and tracking
Challenges for isolated schools and schools with unique needs:
| Challenge | Strategy |
| Inability to handle books prior to purchase | Request hard copy samples or digital samples where possible. |
| Difficulty in obtaining visits from vendors | Use vendor catalogues and reviewing journals such as Magpies. |
| High delivery cost | Bundle resources for purchase to reduce number of orders. |
| Niche clientèle with very specific information and literacy needs; including, EAL/D students |
Liaise with publishers who produce texts to support various language needs; for example, Pearson’s EAL/D activity books. Consult journals such as PETAA Papers to review resource recommendations; for example, PETAA Paper 210 Using children’s picture books to support the English language learning of students for whom English is an additional language or dialect. Network with associations such as the Australian Council of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages Associations. |
[Forum Reflection: Module 3.2]