MA Centre (Aust) Foundation (MAC)/Amrita Academy of Arts and Spirituality (AAAS) Library Policy.
The MAC/AAAS public library is managed within a clearly structured policy framework. The library policy is devised bearing in mind the overarching policies and needs of the AAAS school and reflects its ethos, aims and objectives as well as its reality.
The policy takes into account:
- the AAAS school curriculum
- learning methods in the school
- satisfying national and local standards and criteria
- students’ learning and personal development needs
- staff’s teaching needs
- raising levels of achievement.
Public Library Purposes
A. Public Identification and access
1) The public are invited to contribute to the MAC/AAAS Public Library.
2) The public are permitted access to the MAC/AAAS Public Library between 11am to 4pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 2pm Sunday.
3) The library is:
a. Currently located in the building described on the MA Centre Plan Nov ’21 in the small Satsang room.
b. The library is clearly identified by signage both externally and internally.
c. Upon completion of the ashram development the library will be centrally located in the main hall building within the area described as the proposed school building.
d. Accessible and proximate to all teaching areas and in some part free from external noise with appropriate and sufficient light, both through windows and artificial light.
B. Ownership and control – Collection Management, Acquisition. Borrowing, Preservation and Maintenance
1) The library provides access to a wide range of resources that meet the needs of the school users regarding education, information and personal development.
2) The primary focus of the AAAS library collection is on the works of Sanatana Dharma, Hindu Vedic scriptures and the theory and practice of spiritual traditions such as Vedic Chanting, Devotional Singing, basic Sanskrit language, and virtue-based living
3) Collections will continue to be developed on an ongoing basis to ensure that the users have constant choice of new materials.
4) The library staff will cooperate with administrators and teachers in order to develop a common collection management policy, based upon AAAS school
curriculum, particular needs and interests of the school community, and reflect the diversity of society outside the school.
5) Materials Collection. A reasonable collection of book resources should comprise ten books per student, be regularly updated to ensure a wide balanced book stock for all ages, abilities and backgrounds
6) The range of services includes access to electronic information resources which reflect the curriculum as well as the users’ interests and culture. The electronic resources include access to Internet, special reference and full-text databases, as well as instruction- related computer software packages. These may be available in CD-ROM and DVD.
7) The library catalogue system undertakes to classify and catalogue the resources according to accepted international or national bibliographic standards and further will:
I. Ensure preservation through appropriate room temperature (e.g., air-conditioning, heating) to ensure good working conditions all year round as well as the preservation of the collections II. Be appropriately designed to meet the special needs of disabled library users
III. Be of adequate size to give space for the collection of books, fiction, non-fiction, hardback and paperback, newspapers and magazines, non-print resources and storage, study spaces, reading areas, computer workstations, display areas, staff work areas and a library desk
IV. Allow multiplicity of activities and future changes in curriculum and technology as required from time to time.
C. Collection Use and Display
The Library:
1) Provides study and research area space for information desk, catalogues, on-line stations, study and research tables, reference materials and basic collections
2) Provides informal reading area space for books and periodicals that encourage literacy, lifelong learning, and reading for pleasure
3) Includes where practical instructional area space with seats catering for small group, large groups and whole classroom formal instruction, with appropriate instructional technology and display space
4) Includes production and group project area space for functional work and meetings of individuals, teams and classes, as well as facilities for media production and administrative area space for circulation desk, office area, space for processing of library media materials, audiovisual equipment storage, and storage space for supplies and materials
For more information about the Amrita Academy of Arts & Spirituality click here >
The MA Centre (Aust) Foundation adopts the IFLA/UNESCO School Library Manifesto published in 2000.
Policy last updated as at 21 March 2022.