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Look at that, we are already at the end of May! ALIA Schools has been super busy, so we thought we'd offer you a bumper newsletter, so sit back and get inspired!
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NATIONAL CULTURAL POLICY SUBMISSION
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Libraries are an invaluable part of society and to this end, ALIA Schools has submitted a two page document outlining how we believe (and know) how libraries contribute to a cultural framework which supports a vibrant and sustainable future for Australia. ALIA Schools is "calling for a clear national commitment for every Australian student to have access to a well-resourced school library, staffed by qualified library professional."
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
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Professional development is a key pillar of ALIA Schools and our focus is providing high quality training that support the value and development of School Libraries and school library professionals through a national lens.
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In March, we held an amazing webinar titled Promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Voice Through Diverse Collections with Dr Lily Brown, the CEO of Magabala Books and Rachael Cosentino, Teacher Librarian at St Andrew's Cathedral School / Gawura School exploring best practice in developing collections that genuinely reflect the diverse knowledges, cultures, and perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
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This webinar is for anyone who really wants to build and strengthen their understanding of the importance of capturing and celebrating the wealth of knowledge and stories of First Nations authors, and to be inspired with new ways of promoting and integrating Indigenous cultural identity into everyday library practice.
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Both Dr Lily and Rachael brought their passion and extensive knowledge to this webinar. If you missed out, you can watch here (free for ALIA Members, $55 for non-members).
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Our second webinar of the year, held at the beginning of May, was an absolute delight, with Australian author Tristan Bancks providing insight into his writing process to ensure readers are engaged. As this was a one off webinar, a recording is unable to be purchased, however we hope to work with Tristan again in the future.
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UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
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Early last year, ALIA Schools launched the ALIA Code of Ethics School Libraries edition. A code of ethics is a vital advocacy tool that can help make your work visible and support you in clearly communicating the importance of the school library.
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However... as many of us know, sometimes it's hard to put the time aside and get all the great things your library does onto paper. We know it's good for us, but it's hard to start...a bit like exercise really.
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So, to help you out, the Ethics team will be your personal trainers!
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Over three sessions (Saturday, 25 July, Saturday, 8 August and Saturday, 22 August), the Ethics team will walk you through the development of creating a strong Code of Ethics tailor made to your specific context.
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You will come away with renewed confidence to articulate your school library's value so register now to confirm your place. These sessions are not being recorded and a commitment to attend all three sessions is preferred.
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Free for ALIA Members and $60 for Non-Members *.
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*(Free for non-member CSU, University of Adelaide, and Curtin University students - please email groups@alia.org.au to register.)
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Our podcast For the Love of Libraries is going from strength to strength, with some cracking episodes available and more in the pipeline.
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Podcasts are a wonderful platform to up your professional development on your terms - in the car, whilst gardening, at the gym or as you do the supermarket shop.
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If there is a topic you feel the podcast team should tackle, or you know of someone doing out of the box things for school libraries, let us know, we'd love to interview them.
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LEADERSHIP: ALIA National Conference and beyond
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This year, several of the ALIA Schools committee members met in person for the first time at the ALIA National Conference. It was a little like meeting long lost family members.
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The conference was an opportunity to hear from library professionals in all sectors, gain insight, develop knowledge and forge new connections.
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Presenting at conferences is an excellent way to share your professional interests and knowledge, but is also an opportunity to challenge yourself. Over the past couple of weeks, several of our committee members have presented at both the ALIA National Conference and the National Education Summit in Brisbane, discussing a range of topics pertinent to libraries and their specific roles.
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Catherine Barnes (Research team):
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Building Autonomy and Professional Identity through Project Placements. The presentation explored how project-based placements in libraries move students from observation to meaningful professional contribution. Through the projects students build autonomy, confidence and professional identity while also delivering practical value for host organisations.
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Ela Sircelj (Podcast team):
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Reigniting Passion, Renewing Purpose: The Power of Personal Inspiration in Building Stronger School Libraries. An opportunity not only to share professional practice, but also to reflect on what it means to remain passionate, relevant, and hopeful in school libraries after many years in the profession. Presentation explored professional renewal, advocacy, and the evolving role of non-teaching library staff within contemporary education settings.
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Lily Young (Podcast team):
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For the Love of Libraries: ALIA Schools podcast. 7 Takeaways in 7 Minutes
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Bringing together library professionals from all walks of life, For the Love of Libraries podcast will create a space for sharing knowledge, discussing current trends, and exploring how we can all continue to make a positive impact on the educational experience of students and teachers.
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Virginia Hand (Guidelines and Policies team):
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Reigniting Reading Through Student Choice and Teacher–Librarian Collaboration: Literature Circles and Socratic Seminars in a Global Issues Unit.
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How do we reignite a genuine love of reading in adolescents while deepening their capacity for critical analysis and purposeful language use? This presentation explored the transformative power of literature circles and Socratic seminars in creating rich, student-centred reading experiences that foster curiosity, critical thinking, and authentic engagement.
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Krystal Gagen-Spriggs (Ethics team):
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Influencer or Catalyst? Librarians for Community Reading Culture
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This presentation explores how all librarians can strategically adopt “influencer” principles to elevate their professional roles, advocate for their libraries, and affect community reading culture.
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RESEARCH
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Do you ever sometimes feel overwhelmed by research, but know it's an important part of keeping up to date with current library practices and trends?
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Thankfully, our research team is here to help, finding newly published (mainly free access) articles right here!
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Remember, professional reading, webinar viewing and podcast listening all contribute to continuing professional development hours. Make sure you log your hours with the ALIA CPD Scheme.
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