Quality in Libraries Award

What we do

Work with Libraries

The Quality in Libraries Award was based on the two Quality Marks developed by the Basic Skills Agency, which provided a framework for raising standards of literacy and numeracy in schools and in adult basic skills programmes.

The Quality in Libraries Award set out a framework, focusing on effectiveness and entitlement. It had 10 elements, and an individual library had to meet all of the elements to gain the Quality in Libraries Award. The assessment process required the library to produce a portfolio of evidence which could include, for example, publicity, photographs, staff development records, policies and notes of meetings.

The first and most important element was the first - "A strategy, including an action plan, to improve standards of literacy, language and numeracy." This provided the evidence for a number of the elements within the Quality in Libraries Award.

In August 2003 Sandiacre Library, in South Derbyshire, became the first library to gain the Quality in Libraries Award, following a commitment in May. Since then then all 45 static libraries in Derbyshire and all libraries in Leicester City have gained the QLA.

The Award was also adapted for use in other library settings:

In September 2006 the first Prison Library in the country - Sudbury - achieved the QLA in record time - 3 weeks. staff were presented with their certificate at the National Annual Prison Library Group Conference in Cheltenham. The ROWA! assessors were 'wowed' by the efforts and motivation of the library staff and the input, involvement and enthusiasm of the library orderlies.
The first secondary school library at Brookfield Community School, Chesterfield, became the first school library to achieve the QLA in October 2007.

More secondary schools followed suit:

Sinfin Community School - a specialist engineering college near Derby started working in partnership on QLA with the librarian and library assistant 18 months ago. They undertook Skills for Life Awareness Raising training followed by Skills for Life Stock, Resources and Customer Care training. A portfolio of evidence was also completed to demonstrate their commitment and methods in raising the standard of literacy both within the school and also for the wider community. In September 2008 the school moved into new purpose built premises - an environment designed for the 21st century - and as the end of September the staff were independently assessed for the Quality in Libraries Award. They were successful in achieving this with the assessor making the following comments: "Sinfin Community School is a complete new build for the start of the 2008/09 academic year following a serious fire two years ago. Staff and pupils started lessons in the new building just two weeks ago. Rosemary and her assistant, Nic, have worked very hard to get books on shelves and all other resources in place so quickly so that the routine of class, group and individual use seems already very well established. The new library is bright and welcoming and on the day of my visit the atmosphere was busy and purposeful with pupils and staff making good use of all it has to offer.
"Sinfin Community School has successfully achieved the Quality in Libraries Award and Rosemary and Nic are both to be congratulated on their hard work in achieving this. The service they offer is excellent and appears very well established in spite of the difficulties of having had such a tight timescale to be up and running for the opening of the new building in September."
Wycombe High School, Buckinghamshire: The first school in the south of England to take part in QLA, successfully achieved in a very short space of time - having received Skills for Life Awareness training followed by Skills for Life Stock, Resources and Customer Care training in mid November 2008. They completed a portfolio of evidence demonstrating their commitment and methods in raising the standard of literacy in readiness for independent assessment in early December.
Their assessor noted: "Three weeks from start to finish - illustrating the high level of interest, motivation and enthusiasm shown by this team to positively participate in and contribute to this training programme."