About
The ALIA Schools Special Interest Group (SIG) represents, advocates for, and promotes awareness of the vital role of school libraries and the value of school library staff in education across Australia.
ALIA Schools provides a national forum for networking, collaboration, and ongoing professional learning, while promoting access to resources and facilitating the exchange of ideas among school library staff and other interested professionals.
Executive Committee
Dr Helen Weston
Convenor
Helen is based in Rockhampton and has worked overseas and throughout QLD in primary, secondary and tertiary education libraries. Her research is grounded in how students use information to learn and she champions Citizen Science Corners in school libraries.
Rosie Maher
Secretary
Based in Sydney, Rosie has 20 years experience working across school, public and university libraries across Australia and Internationally. She is currently managing a K-12 school Library.
Susanne Graetsch
Treasurer
Based in Melbourne, Victoria, Susanne is a Teacher Librarian with over 20 years experience working in secondary schools in both government and catholic sector. She is currently the Head of Library and a Humanities teacher in a secondary catholic school.
Anna Apfelstedt
Professional Development Coordinator
Based in Melbourne, Victoria, Anna is a Teacher Librarian with experience in both school and public libraries. She is currently the Head of Library and an English teacher at a secondary school in Melbourne.
Sarah Hucalak
Social Media Coordinator
With twelve years of experience working in schools as both a classroom teacher and a qualified teacher librarian, Sarah is the manager of a P-12 school library in Melbourne’s west. Her current focus is on revitalising a neglected library and improving student interest in reading.
Petrina Osborne
Website Manager
Petrina is a librarian based in Hobart, Tasmania. She leads Libraries Tasmania’s School Libraries Team and School Libraries Improvement Project. It is an exciting time for Tasmanian school libraries because their contribution to lifting literacy and recreational reading is recognised and valued.
Committee
Catherine Barnes
Committee Member
Based in Adelaide, Catherine is a Teacher Librarian and University Lecturer in Information Management. She is currently managing a Discovery Centre at a secondary independent school and lecturing in library management and metadata.
Caroline Docker
Committee Member
Caroline is currently the Teacher Librarian and Wenona School in North Sydney.
Linda Guthrie
Committee Member
Local History Officer, Teacher Librarian and classroom teacher. Actively involved in national and state Teacher Librarian and Librarian professional associations and has had a long involvement with The Children’s Book Council of Australia (South Australia).
Virginia Hand
Committee Member
Virginia has worked at the Hong Kong Academy working in the International Baccalaureate environment. Back in Australia as a Teacher Librarian and History and Geography teacher. She is delivering personalised, student-centered learning underpinned by a strong academic approach. She intetrates pastoral care with the development of “learning how to learn” skills, empowering students with the tools needed for lifelong success. Her focus is on creating a balanced environment where academic growth and personal well-being coexist, helping students achieve their full potential while developing the critical skills necessary for an ever-evolving world.
Jacqui Lucas
Committee Member
Jacqui is currently Learning Services Coordinator for ALIA and is responsible for ALIA’s ongoing CPD scheme . Prior to this, she worked as a Teacher Librarian and is an accredited Lead Teacher.
Karen Marston
Minute Secretary
Based in Melbourne, Victoria, Karen is School Librarian at a large P-12 Government School. She has been an active member of ALIA Schools for several years; and enjoys working with a diverse range of school library professionals.
David Morris
Committee Member
Based in Launceston, Tasmania, David is a Teacher Librarian in a Year 6-12 school. Background in primary, secondary, and tertiary teaching, higher education librarianship and public librarianship.
Anne Plowman
Committee Member
Experienced Teacher with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Skilled in Educational Technology, English, Professional Learning Communities, Cataloging, and Information Literacy. Strong community and social services professional with a Diploma of Education focused in Secondary Education and Teaching from University of Sydney.
Ela Sircelj
Committee Member
Ela Sircelj is a librarian with experience in both academic and school library settings. She trained at Warsaw University in Poland where she graduated with a Masters in Information and Book Science, and a teaching diploma. She moved to Australia in 2006 and is the Library Manager of a 7-12 School library.
Rachael Usher
Committee Member
Rachael’s passion lies in creating opportunities that inspire students through inquiry learning. She is engaged in innovation, refining and sharing technological teaching skills. Her current role, in Kurrajong Hills NSW, involves digital learning.
She is a Teacher and emerging Teacher Librarian. In addition to her leading in the area of learning technologies, she has held various leadership roles in Mathematics, HSIE, and Religion.
Lily Young
Committee Member
Lily is a passionate library leader with two decades of experience as an English teacher and Teacher Librarian who champions the vital role of school libraries in education. She not only advocates for the evolving role of school libraries in education but actively contributes to professional networks that support library professionals and school library leadership.
History of ALIA Schools
In 2016 ALIA Schools celebrated the history of School Libraries, which became a separate section of the Library Association of Australia, now ALIA, in 1967. The 50 years of ALIA Schools document highlights significant milestones in the education and government sectors.
Data from many of the reports commissioned by ALIA was used to lobby federal government bodies, which resulted in funding for school library buildings and resources. This funding, together with an emphasis on positive learning outcomes for students, has ensured that school libraries are influential within the education and library communities. ALIA Schools continues to support its members to make a positive difference.