Why Libraries are so Important to Schools

The preamble to the IFLA/UNESCO manifesto for school libraries says:

“The school library provides information and ideas that are fundamental to functioning successfully in today's information and knowledge-based society. The school library equips students with life-long learning skills and develops the imagination, enabling them to live as responsible citizens.”

The mission that this manifesto advocates then is that school libraries offer “… learning services, books and resources that enable all members of the school community to become critical thinkers and effective users of information in all formats and media. School Libraries link to the wider library and information network in accord with the principles in the UNESCO Public Library Manifesto.

The library staff support the use of books and other information sources, ranging from the fictional to the documentary, from print to electronic, both on-site and remote. The materials complement and enrich textbooks, teaching materials and methodologies.”

A high-performance school will have a supportive library service at its heart to provide resources that support learning and encourage engagement with the written word through the curation of resources that nurture enthusiasm and well-being.

More than that, a school library can provide a ‘safe judgment-free space’ where students can come together for support and entertainment.

Dr. Margaret K. Merga is a keen advocate of the importance of libraries as part of the education infrastructure. Her articles and books are excellent reading.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367250290_Creating_an_Australian_School_Literacy_Policy 

Further reading: Report: School libraries: The heart of 21st century learning
https://www.education.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1435435/School-Libraries-The-Heart-of-21st-Century-Learning.pdf