Greetings from Aoraki

What a year! The old Christchurch is disappearing, but also evolving. Containers become school locker shelters, shopping malls, or acquire knitted covers or art works. Cantabrians have adopted some very creative approaches to navigating and living within the city.

Many school librarians have been experiencing closure, relocations and/ or rebuilds, yet throughout they are committed to their libraries and student learning.

Christchurch members: your Slanza committee continues to wish you well in these post earthquake
conditions. If you would like any specific support – or have ideas for others- please email your Aoraki Representative aym@cghs.school.nz

Hmm PD. Haven’t we had some fantastic items? Can we match the quality on offer at the Otago Weekend School? The weekend school was a great idea. It was an inspiring privilege to get to the ‘heart’ of library business and see some of the inner workings from other libraries – and- all the presentations were relevant! I’m already planning how to adapt some ideas. Many thanks to the Otago committee and participants.

And Ross Todd - wasn’t that a great story about the librarian who returned to work at her former school of 2000 pupils and a budget of $4000? Creating student learning experiences and providing 3 monthly reports (evidence based practice) was key to her budget increasing- such a practical tool to use. What am I doing? Lots, but today I just posted some photos of students explaining Maori texts to their peers from the Maori Collection during Maori language week…

Lastly on PD, Aoraki is planning a Term 3 PD experience with something for all, so watch for updates.

Michele Ayres