Service costs and specifications
Primary and Special Maintained schools
Under ‘Fair Funding’ regulations, SLSS money devolved to primary and special schools is ring-fenced and must be used on the purchase of school library services (ie. not on the purchase of books or other resources). Schools will be notified of the monetary value of their share of the SLSS budget, but providing they choose a simple buy-back arrangement with Walsall SLSS, no actual transfer of money is required.
Resources Loans (formerly the Schools Museum Service) remains centrally funded and can be used by all Walsall maintained schoofree of charge. (Delivery and collection to your school is charged at £30 p.a. or school staff can arrange their own collection without charge.)
All the other activities listed in the Package are available to schools on a charged basis.
To simplify allocations, schools are grouped into bands by pupil numbers - ‘A’ under 200 pupils, ‘B’ 200-299 pupils, ‘C’ 300-399 pupils, ‘D’ 400 pupils and over.
| Services | Allocation by band |
| In-school support work by a School Library Adviser, including reading promotion, information skills work in the classroom, INSET, stock advice or assessment, advice on furniture, equipment and procedures, support for computerisation or any combination of these | A 6 hrs per yr B 9 hrs C12 hrs D 15 hrs |
| A stock maintenance visit every four years to audit condition of library with a follow-up programme involving weeding, re-numbering and re-organising stock (can be linked to OFSTED inspections) | A up to 12hrs B up to 18hrs C up to 24 hrs D up to 30 hrs |
| Loan of fiction books to supplement classroom or library collections, to be exchanged each term, selected by either school staff or SLSS staff to the school’s requirements and delivered to/collected from the school by SLSS transport | A 150 per term B 200 C 250 D 300 |
| Loan of Author Boxes for reading promotion and literacy development | All Bands 4 per year |
| Use of Bibliographical Enquiry Service and phone Help-line | Unlimited |
| Use of the Exhibition Collection and Book Purchase Scheme (including 14% discount on most titles from suppliers) | Unlimited |
| Consultation visit by a School Library Adviser, to discuss the school’s library needs and ways in which the SLSS can offer support to the school | One per year |
| Access to emergency assistance, regardless of services already received, in the event of fire, flood, or other disasters | As required |
Schools can, by arrangement with their SLA, adjust the components of the package, or may wish to buy in extra services or hours eg.
| additional work by a Schools Library Adviser | £30 per hour (£150 per whole day) |
| additional stock maintenance by SLSS support staff compiling computer catalogue | £20 per hour (£100 per whole day 25p – 40p per book |
| additional Fiction Loans | £60 per term per 50 books |
| additional Author Boxes | £36 per half term |
| subscription to “Books for Keeps” at 50% discount | £10.50 per year |
Secondary Maintained Schools in Walsall
Resources Loans (formerly the Schools Museum Service) remains centrally funded and can be used by all Walsall maintained schools free of charge. SLSS funding for other services to secondary schools has been fully delegated and schools may buy in at a cost for the basic subscription of £250, plus any additional services required.
This basic subscription provides:
- telephone help line and bibliographical enquiry service
- loans from professional collection (up to 20 per year)
- termly meetings of secondary library staff and the ALICE user group
- use of Book Purchase Scheme (14% discount on most titles ordered)
- a pack of vouchers (total value £200) to be used against the cost of any SLSS charged service
Examples of services for which vouchers may be used:
| Service | Typical cost | Max value redeemable by voucher |
| Subscription to “Books for Keeps” | £21 | £10 |
| Carnegie/Greenaway Award shadowing package – consisting of a planning session, introductory and plenary sessions with children, Carnegie shortlist titles to keep, Greenaway titles to borrow, plus photocopiable resources | £300 | £200 |
| On-site professional support/advice/training from a Schools Library Adviser | £40 per hour or £200 per whole day (6 hrs) | £200 |
| Planning and delivering induction sessions for Y7 or Y12, or information skills programme (e.g. 10 hours work in total) | £400 | £200 |
| Library maintenance (practical assistance in organisation and care of library stock) | £30 per person per hour or £150 per whole day (6 hrs) | £200 |
| Loan of Author Boxes (for use in Library or English Department) | £50 per half term | £200 |
| Pupil Librarian accreditation scheme | £60 per pupil | £30 per pupil |
| SLSS Training courses | £60 per place | £30 per place |
The voucher system makes it possible to tailor services to meet individual schools’ requirements. Each subscribing school will receive services or work to the value of £200 and these can be used to support the school librarian in areas where they feel in need of additional time e.g. for reader development or teaching/learning programmes.
Other Education Walsall units and support services
The loan of books from Fiction Loan or the Professional Collection is charged at a rate of £120 per 100 books. Other services can be provided by arrangement.
Other schools
Services can be provided to independent schools and to schools outside Walsall, subject to availability.
Contact
Walsall Schools Library Support Service (SLSS)
Manor Farm Centre
King George Crescent
Rushall
Walsall WS4 1EG
Telephone 01922 724995
Fax 01922 659559
Email slss@walsall.gov.uk