The focus of this survey is to investigate the status of secondary school libraries in Bangladesh. From the online survey, 91 responses were received. In general, the survey revealed that a significant number of secondary schools have a school library but lack of reading materials and inadequate funding are common. Most of the school libraries provide traditional services such as book lending, in-house book and newspaper reading and only a few have ICT facilities and services, for example, computer, internet and online catalogue search. The finding of this survey has original value and suggestions may help to resolve issues that may adversely impact school library development in Bangladesh.

1. Zakir Hossain
Teacher-Librarian, ICS Zurich
IASL Regional Director for Int’l Schools
www.theresearchtl.net
Status of Non-Government
Secondary School Libraries
in Bangladesh: A Survey
The IASL 48th Annual Conference, Oct. 21-25, 2019
Dubrovnik, Croatia
1

2. IASL Diljit Singh Leadership Development
Grant 2017
International Advisor of School Library
Association of Bangladesh (SLABD)
Status of Secondary School Libraries and
Librarians in Bangladesh: Opportunities
and Challenges@2017-2019
Background of the study
2

3. Research Methods
Qualitative Quantitative
Interview (5)
/Lit. Rev.
Online
Survey (91)
Data Analysis
&
Follow-up
questions
Exploratory
Mixed Method
3

4. Findings:
Existing facilities & services in BD School
Libraries
• School Library /Reading Rooms
• Library hours@On-site reading (books, newspapers & magazines, check-in/out etc.)
• National Library Day
• Reading promotion through SL
• School librarian
• ICT facilities
4

5. Number of School
Librarians
Source: BANBEIS –Educational Database http://data.banbeis.gov.bd/ (adapted from Hossain, 2019)
5

6. Existing School library
services & facilities (n=86)
96.5
46
23.3
17.4
8.1
8.1
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Reading Room
Newspaper/ Magazine
Internet
Print
Photocopy
Online Catalog Search
6

7. ICT facilities and Usage (n=86)
Source: ICT Facilities and Literacy in Rural Non-Government Secondary School Libraries of
Bangladesh. School Libraries Worldwide, 25 (2). 66-80. doi: 10.14265.25.2.005. 7

8. School library collection (non-
textbook) & library users per day
(n=87)
19%
30%
13%
38%
Less than 20 Between 30 to 50
Between 60 to 80 More than 100
34%
25%
24%
17%
More than 2000 Between 1500 to 2000
Between 500 to 1000 Less than 500
8

9. Findings:
Challenges for BD School Libraries
► National Legislation
► Budget
► Existence of libraries/ librarians(professional status)
► Teachers & Principals are reluctant to cooperate (SLP5)
► Less priority for school libraries (SLP4)
► Lack of research
► Disintegration of various
ministries/departments/policymakers
9

10. Budget Scenario
Less than 10000 Taka
($150)
Between 20000 to
30000 Taka ($250 to
380)
Between 40000 to
50000 Taka ($500 to
600)
More than 50000 Taka
($600)
No Budget
% 16.5 4.7 0 9.4 69.4
16.5
4.7
0
9.4
69.4
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
10

11. National SL
Legislation
Budget Allocation
CPD for School
Librarians e.g.
School Library
Specialized program
/Training/workshops
Make ICT
Available e.g.
internet/library
websites/ebooks etc.
Build strong
connection with
related
stakeholders
@School Librarian
Association of
Bangladesh (SLABD)
More Research
& Dialogue
Proposals
IASL
ICS,
Zurich
SLABD
11

12. Source: World Literacy Center, Bangladesh http://bskbd.org/home 12

13. Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS) (2017b)
Educational Database (Cumulative data from 2010–2016). Available at http://data.
banbeis.gov.bd/ (accessed 12 February 2019)
Bishwo Shahitto Kendro (World Literacy Center). (n.d.). পাঠাভ্যাস উন্নয়ন কর্মসূচি [Reader Habits
Development Program]. Retrieved from http://bskbd.org/home.
Hossain, Z. (2019). Status of secondary school libraries and librarians in Bangladesh. IFLA
Journal, 45(2), 157-167.
Hossain, Z., Hashmi, Y., & Mezbah-ul-Islam, M. (2019). ICT Facilities and Literacy in Rural
Non-Government Secondary School Libraries of Bangladesh. School Libraries
Worldwide, 25(2), 66.
Hossain, Z. (2019). Status of Non-Government Secondary School Libraries in Bangladesh:
A Survey. In IASL 2019 Conference Proceedings (Dubrovnik, Croatia): Convergence -
Empowering - Transformation: School Libraries. doi: https://doi.org/10.29173/iasl7437
Hossain, Z. (2018, May). The current situation of secondary school librarians in
Bangladesh: A study. In IASL Annual Conference Proceedings.
References
IASL
ICS,
Zurich
SLABD
13

14. Zakir Hossain
Teacher-Librarian, ICS Zurich
IASL Regional Director for Int’l School
www.theresearchtl.net
Status of Non-Government Secondary
School Libraries in Bangladesh: A
Survey
The IASL 48th Annual Conference, Oct. 21-25, 2019
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Source: http://www.insideebiz.com/contact/
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