5. BORROWING
5.1 This represents an average of approximately 8.5 books
per pupil per year with a median value of 5.0. As with the other per capita calculations
the effect of some school libraries pulls up the average figure. No statistically
significant differences are seen in terms of books borrowed across the four countries.
Figure 17 Percentage of school libraries with
number of books borrowed per year
5.2 It would appear that there is more borrowing in 11-18
schools than in 11-16 schools but this may be due to size. With the 'Other' schools
comprised of smaller special and independent schools this is an explanation, here.
Table 5.2 Comparing books borrowed by type of
school
Books
borrowed |
11-16 |
12-17 |
11-18 |
Other |
All |
less than 1000 |
19.6 |
7.1 |
10.3 |
32.9 |
15.8 |
1000 up to
2000 |
12.6 |
21.4 |
11.9 |
12.9 |
12.4 |
2000 up to
5000 |
33.6 |
28.6 |
39.5 |
24.3 |
35.6 |
5000 up to
10000 |
18.2 |
28.6 |
25.1 |
18.6 |
22.4 |
10000 up to
20000 |
11.9 |
7.1 |
10.0 |
10.0 |
10.4 |
20000 plus |
4.2 |
7.1 |
3.2 |
1.4 |
3.3 |
Sample size |
143 |
14 |
311 |
70 |
539 |
5.3 The main differences between special school
libraries and the rest to some extent reflect size of establishment; this is also seen to
a lesser extent with the independent schools. There is a very strong relationship between
borrowing and size of school, as would be expected. The size effect is removed by
considering books borrowed per pupil.
Table 5.3 Comparing books borrowed by sector
Books
borrowed |
LEA |
Special |
Grant |
CTC |
Independent |
Other |
less than 1000 |
11.2 |
70.8 |
11.1 |
0 |
22.4 |
21.4 |
1000 up to
2000 |
12.4 |
12.5 |
11.1 |
0 |
17.2 |
10.7 |
2000 up to
5000 |
35.4 |
12.5 |
37.4 |
66.7 |
43.1 |
28.6 |
5000 up to
10000 |
24.5 |
4.2 |
26.3 |
0 |
12.1 |
28.6 |
10000 up to
20000 |
12.1 |
0 |
11.1 |
33.3 |
5.2 |
7.1 |
20000 plus |
4.3 |
0 |
3.0 |
0 |
0 |
3.6 |
Sample size |
322 |
24 |
99 |
3 |
58 |
28 |
Books borrowed per pupil during the year
5.4 There is a tendency for lower borrowing in Welsh
schools and to a lesser extent the Northern Ireland schools. There are no statistically
significant differences between types of school; this might appear surprising, given the
nature of the 'Other' group; it is possible that item non response has had an effect here.
Table 5.4 Comparing books borrowed per pupil per year by
country
Items
borrowed |
Wales |
England |
N. Ireland |
Scotland |
All |
less than 1 |
20.5 |
5.9 |
15.6 |
6.3 |
8.1 |
1 up to 2 |
15.9 |
8.9 |
8.9 |
8.8 |
9.5 |
2 up to 3 |
9.1 |
8.9 |
11.1 |
12.5 |
9.2 |
3 up to 5 |
25.0 |
25.5 |
15.6 |
13.8 |
22.7 |
5 up to 10 |
20.5 |
30.3 |
28.9 |
33.8 |
29.8 |
10 plus |
9.1 |
20.5 |
20.0 |
25.0 |
20.2 |
Sample size |
44 |
337 |
45 |
80 |
506 |
5.5 There were also no observed statistically significant
differences between sectors, although for the independent schools there was less low usage
and also less high usage, with the 3 -5 rate being most common.
5.6 Differences between sizes of school were not strong,
although just statistically significant. The usage of the dominant class of school with
respect to size (i.e. 500-1000) set the norm with the small schools showing some tendency
for very high usage (10 plus items) and the very large schools (with 2000 plus pupils)
high usage (5 - 10) but not very high usage.
Comparison of the other resources borrowed is shown in
figure 18 below.
Figure 18 Other resource borrowing (number of items)
per year
5.7 This represents an average of approximately one other
resource per pupil with a median value of much less than 1. As with the other per capita
calculations the effect of some school libraries pulls up the average figure.
Distribution of borrowing of other resources per pupil:
Figure 19 Other resource borrowing (per year) per
pupil
5.8 There were no significant differences
between country, types of school, sector or size of school with respect to the borrowing
of other resources per pupil.
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