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

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

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

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. 

Sarah Hucalak

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

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 literacy is recognised.

Committee

Anna Apfelstedt

Anna Apfelstedt

Committee Member

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.

Karen Marston

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.

Catherine Barnes

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.

David Morris

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.

Caroline Docker

Caroline Docker

Committee Member

Caroline is currently the Teacher Librarian and Wenona School in North Sydney.

Anne Plowman

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.

Krystal Gagen-Spriggs

Krystal Gagen-Spriggs

Committee Member

Krystal is a Lecturer in Teacher Librarianship, with a keen interest in the evolving role of school libraries. Prior to working at Charles Sturt University, Krystal was a  teacher librarian with experience in primary and secondary schools.

Ela Sircelj

Ela Sircelj

Committee Member

Ela is a librarian with experience in academic and school libraries. She trained at Warsaw University 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. 

Virginia Hand

Virginia Hand

Committee Member

Virginia worked at the Hong Kong Academy in the IB 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. 

Rachael Usher

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. She is a Teacher Librarian. 

Jacqui Lucas

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.

Lily Young

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. She advocates for the evolving role of school libraries and 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. 50 years of ALIA Schools 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.