Mwale, Oscar2025-08-072023https://research.unilus.ac.zm/handle/123456789/451Master of Arts in Education Administration and Management - DissertationA library is central to learning and plays a key role in encouraging innovation, curiosity, and problem solving as it provides support for teaching and learning throughout the school. This calls for effective management of the school libraries in order for them to be able to provide necessary services to the school community. The study presents the problem in that provision of school library services is poor and uncoordinated, most of the libraries in government schools are in warn out buildings, their collections are irrelevant and outdated, lacking electronic facilities and services. These limitations exist amidst the school management which proves that there is poor management of school libraries. The study sought to evaluate the management of school libraries in selected private and government secondary schools comparing the two in order to establish the best methods to manage school libraries. The study employed a qualitative approach, and the sample was purposively selected from 6 secondary schools. 3 private schools; Lake Road School, international School of Lusaka and Rhodes Park School, and 3 government schools; Munali Boys School, Matero Girls School and Kabulonga Girls School located in different areas within Lusaka. In the study, critical purposive sampling was used and a sample of 168 research respondents comprising pupils, teachers, school librarians, and headteachers were selected from the mentioned schools. Primary data were collected using interview guides, focus group discussion and observation while secondary data was collected from various publications such as books, articles, journals and reports. Primary data was analyzed using thematic analysis, data was first transcribed from audio to text, then categories into major these. The findings of the study reveal that school libraries especially government school libraries have challenges in their management. These range from, poor funding, lack of current and relevant books, expensive books on the market, no library computers, lack of trained librarian and poor library security. The study also found that the school head-teachers do not take a leading role in the management of the school libraries instead they leave them in the hands of the teacher librarians who are not given the much need support from the school management. The study also revealed that for school libraries to be effective and provide quality library services they need to be managed by trained personnel in librarianship. The study concludes that a library is not just providing books and study space, it goes beyond to teach research skills, academic writing, corresponding assessments given to the materials available and computer skills. The study recommends that; Ministry of General Education employ trained librarians to manage the school libraries, increase funding for library operations, schools to seek alternative sources of funding the libraries and to acquire more relevant books that are current and in line with the schools‟ curriculums. Keywords: School Libraries, Public Schools, Private Schools, School Managers, ManagementenThesis