The Northeast Academy Arts Magnet School Media Center serves around 420 students and 40 teachers. It has a collection of print and digital materials, as well as technology available for students and teachers to use. Requirements to be a school librarian vary by state and district, but generally require a teaching certificate and a Master's degree in library science. Students visit the library once a week for instruction from the librarian. The librarian works with teachers to plan literacy events and programs that incorporate literature, research, information literacy, and digital citizenship standards.

1. A Window of School Libraries
A look inside school libraries in Indonesia and the United States
The Northeast Academy Arts Magnet
School Media Center serves a suburban
community of approximately 420
students in grades K-5 and 40
teachers/support staff. It houses a
collection of print, eBooks, as well as
technology available to students and
teachers. We also offer inter-library
loans within the district. The
technology available include IPads,
Chromebooks, and Chrome Tablets.
There is also a Promethean Board
available for instruction. We utilize
Google for Education G-Suite Tools for
instruction.
Requirements for school librarians
vary, depending on the state and the
school district. The role requires a
Teaching Certificate with an
endorsement (#062) for Library Media
and a Master’s Degree in Library and
Information Science (MLIS).
Students visit the library once a week
as a “Special”, similar to Art, Music
and Physical Education.
Our curriculum is based upon the
AASL standards and incorporate four
primary units: Literature
Appreciation, Research & Inquiry,
Information Literacy, and Digital
Citizenship.
Librarians also help plan literacy-
based events throughout the school
year.
Contacts:
Michele Manning
Library Media Specialist
Northeast Academy Arts Magnet School
Mystic, CT USA
michelemanning2@gmail.com
What we learned:
Northeast Academy
Final takeaways:
BPK Penabur is one of the private
schools in Indonesia. The Penabur
Christian Agency (BPK) foundation is an
educational foundation under the
Indonesian Christian Church. It has
libraries for kindergarten, primary and
middle schools’ level.
School SMAN 1 Trenggalek is a public
high school located in East Java
Province. It is the highest accredited
school library in Indonesia.
In Indonesia, most of school librarians
are teachers. Based on library law
no.43 of 2007, school librarians should
have a formal education background in
library science or professional
education in library science.
In Indonesia, there are three
services or programs that should be
managed within school libraries -
book circulation, references and
information literacy. However,
some schools also implement
interlibrary loan with other school
libraries or public libraries within
their districts, library visit, literacy
programs, book corners, users’
education, etc Some other school
libraries set up a corporation with
publishers, other schools and
organization, and some local
companies to use their CSR fund to
support library development.
BPK Penabur & SMAN 1
Trenggalek
Our response to the pandemic was
similar. We both utilized digital
libraries and partnerships with public
libraries to support the needs of
students. While the library was closed
to visitors, we both offered limited
circulation of books to those who
lacked technology.
The requirements to be a school
librarian are also similar. Librarians are
teachers with specialized knowledge in
library science.
We come from different countries and
cultures, but we have more similarities
than differences.
We share the same vision for the
school library: a welcoming place,
physical and non-physical, where
students, teachers, and non-academic
staff can utilize the resources,
collaborate and support the teaching
and learning process. There would be a
designated budget amount and the
librarian would be viewed as equal to
teachers and recognized as a valuable
member of the school community.
Rina Wayuni
Education and Training Centre
National Library of Indonesia
Jakarta, Indonesia
rina.w.librarian@gmail.com