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January/February 2026
Welcome to the first newsletter from ALIA Schools for 2026!

Already we are moving through the school year and on all the network pages we come across, there are so many brilliant ideas floating around how to promote school libraries, create cultures of reading and engage with our communities!

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

We are kicking off our professional development webinar series with a focus on promoting First Nation voice within our collections.

Join us for this insightful and practical session where we will hear from Dr Lilly Brown, a proud Gumbaynggirr woman and CEO of Magabala Books, and Rachael Cosentino, Teacher Librarian at St Andrew’s Cathedral School / Gawura School, will explore best practice in developing collections that genuinely reflect the diverse knowledges, cultures, and perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
We have no doubt that this professional development will be rich and engaging with participants walking away with a strong understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander literature. Register for the webinar here. (Free for ALIA members, $55 for non-members)
If you missed any of our four 2025 webinars you can always catch up here (free for ALIA members, $55 for non-members)

BENEFITS OF JOINING ALIA

As you look towards your professional development needs in 2026, consider becoming an ALIA member. Membership offers access to a wealth of information and resources to enable you to be the best information professional you can be. Resources include -
  • Free CPD (including the previous ALIA Schools webinars!).
  • Access to the CPD scheme which is a great way to track and reflect on your professional practice.
  • Access to academic journals and ebooks.
  • Discounts for conferences and training.
  • INCITE magazine
  • Join ALIA Regional Groups, Special Interest Groups and some Sector Committees - like ALIA Schools!

CONNECTING AND SHARING
One of the most positive moments to come from our Maximising your school library budget: doing more with less webinar was that participant Leanna reached out to see if we could connect her with a school Library that would benefit from a couple of boxes of good condition middle/high school fiction titles for their collection. Leanna is hoping to gift these in early Term 1. If you feel that your collection could be of benefit, please contact Leanna direct.

GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING
Australia Reads has launched as an independent not-for-profit and selected as one of Writing Australia’s delivery partners, with a three-year commitment to delivering programs, research and campaigns to increase reading rates in Australia. This is such great news and whilst we know how important literacy and reading is, it's amazing to have backing at a national level.

HAVE YOUR SAY

The importance of contributing to surveys and having your say cannot be underestimated. Without data, research can happen! Make sure you complete the following:

SPOTLIGHT ON: Brianna Metagesha

Once again, we are showcasing information professionals who work within school libraries. There is such joy in reading about what another professional is doing in a space we all hold so dear. If you would like to be showcased throughout the year, please complete this form!
Tell us about yourself. How did you end up becoming a librarian in a school?
I’ve been working at my current school since 2014, primarily as a primary homeroom teacher and art specialist. I was always drawn to the library space and interested in the programs being run there. When I began studying for my Master of Education (Teacher Librarianship) through Charles Sturt University, I was fortunate that an opportunity arose to step into a library role. It was the perfect chance to combine my love of teaching and literature to supporting students and staff in a new way.
What does your role look like on a day-to-day basis?
Each day in our school library is wonderfully varied. A big part of my role is teaching lessons to students in Prep to Year 3, fostering early literacy skills and helping them develop a love of reading through storytime, inquiry-based learning, and library skills. I also spend time with colleagues sourcing new books to keep our collection fresh, engaging, and reflective of our school community’s needs and interests.
Supporting classroom teachers is another key part of my work. I help find quality resources that align with the curriculum and enhance student learning. And, of course, I provide readers advisory for students across the primary and senior school, helping them discover books that excite, challenge, and inspire them. It’s a dynamic and rewarding role that supports both literacy and learning across the school.
What is one of the most successful programs/events you run in the Library?
One of our most successful programs is the term we dedicate to exploring the CBCA shortlisted books. Students respond creatively through art, writing, performance, and discussion, which helps them engage with the texts on a deeper level. We also run literature units focused on themes like Indigenous culture and sustainability to align with the Australian Curriculum’s cross-curriculum priorities. These units not only support important learning areas but also encourage students to see how stories can shape their understanding of the world.
Author studies have also been particularly impactful. There’s something really satisfying about seeing the shelves emptied of books by our focus authors because students have borrowed every copy. When that happens, you know the interest is genuine and that the program is working. It’s those moments, when students are hooked and excited to read more, that make the effort worthwhile.
Of course, the Book Week parade, National Simultaneous Storytime displays and cross-campus Premiers Reading Challenge competitions are always very popular with students.
What is a challenge you face in the library world and how are you navigating it?
An ongoing challenge in a Prep–Year 12 school library is meeting the needs of such a wide range of students. The collection has to support early readers as well as senior students, and finding the right balance between engaging, age-appropriate, and curriculum-linked texts takes ongoing work. My colleagues and I manage this by keeping track of borrowing trends, listening to student and teacher feedback, and gradually shaping the collection to reflect what’s needed and what’s being read.
Another part of this is supporting students to develop a balanced reading habit, encouraging their love for graphic novels and popular series, while also introducing them to quality literature that broadens their reading experience. It’s not about pushing one over the other, but offering choice and variety.
There’s also the broader challenge of making the library’s role more visible. I try to stay connected with staff across year levels, offer useful resources, and provide support with digital and information literacy. The role keeps evolving, and staying flexible is key.
How do you promote the love of reading in your library?
I promote a love of reading by first modelling it myself, sharing what I’m reading, talking about books I love, and making reading visible as something enjoyable and valuable. Read-alouds are a key part of my program, especially with younger students. I carefully select engaging and high-quality texts to spark curiosity and conversations, and to show that reading is fun and meaningful.
I also run author studies to help students connect with great writers ,many of them Australian, and to encourage them to explore more books by authors they enjoy. These studies often lead to deeper engagement and help students build confidence in choosing what to read next.
I love libraries because…
They’re amazing! They have the ability to meet all needs - tech support, reading, puzzles, social interactions, comfort from weather, games, learning support, the list goes on the only limit is the space and energy / imagination / skills of the staff.
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