Teacher resources

I am having a difference of opinion with my principal about teacher resources.  At the moment faculties can buy any books they like ( not textbook sets, just resource books ),  any DVD’s and any magazine subscriptions from their budgets, and none of it is processed through the library and all of it is kept in staff rooms.  I have argued that there is no accountability this way and we are probably losing a lot of resources ( who knows? ), not to mention duplicating resources.  My principal says that only primary schools process these things through the library and high schools always let faculties buy and retain resources without going through the library.  Is this so?  Please, could some high school T/L’s let me know what they do on their school.  All the head teachers , of course, want to keep their vast collections in their staffrooms where nobody else can see them, or indeed, has any idea what they have.

I am with your principal on this one. You are not responsible for resources in the school you are responsible for library resources. He is responsible for the whole lot and if that is what he prefers why would you try and control faculty resources which are none of your business? If you are concerned about duplication then I would use it as a clarification of what types of teacher resources the library collects, and reflect this in your collection development policy. I only buy general resources which could apply across faculties such as using ICT. Subject specific resources are purchased and stored by faculties which THEY are reponsible just the way they are responsible for their textbooks. If they do a bad job of looking after their resources it is an issue between the HT and the Principal and nothing whatsoever to do with you.