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Talk of many things....yes, that is right, it's coming up to the period of time when School Libraries really shine!
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CELEBRATING SCHOOL LIBRARIES
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The costumes are planned, the hot glue gun has been located and the schedule is packed. It can only mean one thing ... CBCA Book Week is upon us!
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Enjoy the festivities, the costumes and the delight on student faces when they are engaged with literature, authors and creativity. Also, if you are in Melbourne, don your costume and celebrate in style with ALIAVic's Book Week Soirée.
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To add to the festivities, Australian School Library Day is being celebrated next Wednesday. I encourage all readers to let their Principal, School Executive, and Communications teams know. Some small things you might like to do to help acknowledge the day:
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- invite students, staff or parents to write a letter to the library or the library staff.
- encourage students to write a reading/library focused poem.
- write personal cards to library staff within your team (if you are more than a one person band!).
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
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ALIA Schools passion for curating quality, engaging continuous professional development continues. It is our goal to provide opportunities for professional development that meet the needs of school information professionals, knowing that many of us are time poor. So...
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PODCAST
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Do you only have 30mins of time in your day to engage in professional learning?
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We have a brand new episode out now, where we speak about the evolving relationship between the State Library of NSW and schools . Take a listen!
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Our recent webinar Dynamic Partnerships: Citizen Science and the School Library was truly fabulous and as one participant said, "the opportunity to hear from passionate, inquisitive and knowledgeable presenters is so valued".
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The presentation from Dr Helen Weston and Simon Matheson from Rockhampton Grammar School highlighted the value of pushing the library beyond its four walls, creating opportunities for our students to be inquisitive and provides space for new friendships and leadership . The biggest takeaway for many was how successful cross department initiatives can be in raising the profile of the library!
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If you did miss out on the presentation, you are able to access the recording here (free for members, $55 for non-members). Dr Helen Weston also created a wonderful 'Citizen Science Starter Kit' of resources for those who are exploring the idea of Citizen Science in their organisation.
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UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
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There is so much chatter about AI and the role/impact is has within the school setting for students and sometimes it feels a little overwhelming.
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To help us navigate this tricky environment, our last webinar for 2026 is titled When the internet eats itself: Teaching truth in the age of AI slop.
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Keep an eye our for registration details.
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Having your say and supporting those undertaking academic research is an excellent way to shape our industry.
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A current PhD candidate at Charles Sturt University is looking for participants Teacher Librarians in NSW and VIC for their study of the overlap and potential for Teacher Librarians to contribute to teaching and learning in Mathematics.
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Register your interest here.
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SPOTLIGHT ON: Author Caz Goodwin
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Tell us a little bit about yourself.
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I’m an internationally published children’s author, passionate about inspiring young readers through storytelling. My books have won or been shortlisted for awards including the CBCA Book of the Year, the Speech Pathology Book of the Year and Singapore’s National Arts Council Beyond Words Award.
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As the head of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) in Victoria I am dedicated to championing children’s literature and supporting children’s book creators. I have spoken at numerous local and international festivals, conferences, community events, libraries and schools.
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What was your journey to becoming an author?
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I have always loved writing, particularly rhyming poems. I studied psychology at university, then did post graduate studies in marketing, and worked in financial services for many years. When I moved overseas, I decided to change careers and follow my passion for children’s literature.
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Winning a prize for unpublished writers helped kickstart my writing journey and I’ve been writing ever since. Behind the scenes I also worked hard to study the craft of writing for children and understand the publishing industry. I had no idea how much there was to learn, and I’m still learning.
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What is your favourite part of being a storyteller?
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My aim is to spark a lifelong love of reading in children through my books and school and library visits. I hope my stories help children recognise their own feelings and realise that their imaginations and emotions matter.
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Books can comfort, encourage, entertain and help children feel connected and less alone. I love it when children come to me after a presentation and tell me that they want to write books too.
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Assuming you were a big reader as a child, what was your favourite book as a child?
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AA Milne’s Now We Are Six and the Dr Suess books were my favourites as a child. And yes, I was an avid reader.
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Can you walk us through what one of your author visits would look like?
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I enjoy entertaining children with my picture books, puppets and jokes. I include the following topics:
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- Inspiration and ideas - where to get them
- Fun facts about koalas, wombats and other animals that feature in my books
- How to plan a story
- The secrets of great writing and Caz's writing tips
- Daisy the giant koala, Matilda the kitten or Dora the Snorer (puppet) join the fun
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How do school libraries fit into your world and what value do you place on them for students?
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School libraries are marvellous places. Good librarians help children find the books they need, which can foster a love of reading and learning, resulting in significant life-long benefits. I believe every school should have a library and with literacy and reading rates falling, libraries and librarians are more important than ever. Being a picture book author, I try to ensure that my school visits with children are fun and engaging. The books, characters, props, jokes, videos, rhyming games and a giant koala help ensure the kids leave having enjoyed their time and hopefully recognise the wonderful, diverse worlds that can be found in the pages of books.
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Finally, what’s coming down the pipeline for you?
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I have two more picture books in the pipeline. One is a book about an echidna, illustrated by Zoe Bennett. It will have the same look and feel as Wombat Dreaming, also illustrated by Zoe, which was launched in 2025. The other is a companion book to A Wish for Baby, and will be illustrated by Sara Acton. And there are plenty of others bubbling deep down in the pipe.
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