There have been major changes in thinking and practice about the core educational role of the school library in Australia. After 20 or so years promoting resource-based learning and the information process as the teacher librarians' special domain, there is now a new kid on their patch. Guided inquiry is fast becoming the buzzword of school libraries for the 21st century. A strong indicator of this is that in 2009 the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and the Australian School Library Association (ASLA) have replaced their policy statement on 'resource-based learning and the curriculum' with a new policy entitled 'Statement on guided inquiry and the curriculum' and has as its stated purpose 'to adopt the guided inquiry approach to teaching and learning helps students to construct meaning, think creatively and solve problems'.