As the Department of Education releases its guidelines for the new Free School Books Scheme for primary and special schools, Bookselling Ireland welcomes their publication, and bookshops throughout the country are already working with local schools to in assisting them with the purchasing of schoolbooks for their pupils.
Working in partnership with schools
The bookshop sector has voiced its concerns over the potential risks inherent in the new system which could disrupt the smooth delivery of schoolbooks in readiness for the new school year in September. To help manage these risks, booksellers across Ireland are already working with local schools to offer advice, support, and assistance with this new responsibility to make the process as straight forward as possible.
Supporting local communities
Ongoing support for school leaders and their teams will be vital over the coming months to ensure that all pupils have their books in time for the start of the new school year. Bookselling Ireland members have a presence in every county in Ireland and possess extensive knowledge and experience of school book supply, they can therefore provide a highly reliable and expert service to schools. From offering advice on compiling booklists, helping with streamlining ordering and invoicing, to readily supporting additional stock orders throughout the year, local bookshops are ready to help school staff in every way possible.
Therefore, Bookselling Ireland encourages schools to liaise directly with their local bookshop for their orders, to ensure that all pupils will have all their book requirements for the first day of the new school term in September.
“Bookselling Ireland members have an enduring commitment as booksellers to supporting educators in securing the joys of reading for children across Ireland. Bookshops provide enduring social and cultural value to local communities, and we hope that this will be a meaningful factor as decisions are made on school book supply. Our members look forward to working with local schools to ensure that the new system works well and doesn’t create too much of a burden for school staff," Dawn Behan, Chair of Bookselling Ireland, commented.
