1. Information Literacy, one of the Critical Outcomes contained in the outcomes-based Revised National Curriculum Statement and in the revised FET curriculum requires learners to “collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information”.
2. It is therefore essential that a wide range of library resource material, in addition to textbooks and readers, should be available to enable learners to

  • interpret information in order to create new, individualised knowledge

  • detect bias, inaccurate and insufficient information

  • make considered decisions based on analysis and evaluation of relevant information

  • think in a multifaceted way.
3. Library resource material includes

  • reference works (encyclopaedias, atlases, dictionaries, etc.)

  • non-fiction works (books containing information or facts)

  • fiction works (novels, short stories, fables, legends, picture books, etc.)

  • posters and pamphlets

  • magazines and newspapers

  • pre-recorded videos, audiocassettes and CD-ROMS

  • multimedia packages.
4. The Norms and Standards Allocation for schools makes provision for library resource material (as well as for textbooks and readers). The following information in Circular 41/2004 has a bearing on this:
4.1 Library resource material is included in the term "other books" (paragraph 4 of Annexure A).
4.2 All schools must use 71% of the bridging allocation for requisitioning "textbooks and other books" (paragraph 1.1.5 of the circular).
4.3 Form WCED-034 must be used for requisitioning "textbooks and other books". This includes library resource material (paragraph 3.2 of Annexure A).
4.5 Although the deadline for requisitions of "textbooks and other books" for non-Section 21 schools is given as 27 August 2004 (paragraph 3.5.2), the ordering of library resource material may require more time and therefore the deadline date for these schools to submit requisitions for library resource material is 15 December 2004.
5. For further information and guidance in the above regard, please contact Ms Colleen Meinert at EDULIS (WCED Education Library and Information Service), Tel. (021) 957 9638, e-mail Colleen Meinert (cmeinert@pgwc.gov.za)


SIGNED: M.J. CHILES
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2004:09:17