Library Cafe

Over 30 school, national and public librarians met at Dilworth school library in Newmarket on a lovely Saturday morning to share and network together.  The format of the day included taking a stand on two diverse topics, “all libraries should be device free to encourage reading” and “every school library should offer stories in all formats”.  Both topics resulted in a lively discussion and it was interesting to hear the reasons why people chose their position.
The sharing of wisdom and ‘tips and tricks’ in the Smackdown (shared slides that the authors presented for discussion) lead to a wide variety of topics including:

• Promoting readaxation to staff and students
• A reading bingo challenge
• Using WorldCat to help with cataloguing of resources
• How to successfully hold a ‘blind date a book’ event
• How to introduce yourself at a new school (with a very clever box)
• Promoting reading to staff to raise the profile of the library
• Library finding aids on a budget
• Using Goodreads for reader advisory
• Digital book display a la Netflix (Bookflix)
• Reviews in loos – book reviews in the staff toilets to raise the profile of the library and reading
• A book for our time was shared ‘Room on our rock’ by Kate and Jol Temple – can be used across the curriculum
• The effectiveness of White on Black signage
• Organising a library week with student input – the positives and the pitfalls
• Favourite book for PD ‘Transforming libraries : a toolkit for innovators, makers, and shakers’ by Ron Starker

​The third part of the morning involved in depth group discussions on five topics facilitated by members of the Auckland SLANZA committee – each group ran twice so participants were able to choose two of the five topics.

1. Reading on-screen vs reading in print : what’s the difference for learning (Lisa Allcott, National Library)
2. Library budgets (Karen Leahy, Kelston Boys High)
3. Student librarians (Elizabeth Atkinson, Avondale College)
4. Our digital super powers and transferable strengths (Michele Coombridge, Pinehurst School)
5. Library advocacy (Trish Webster, Rangitoto College)​

In keeping with the LibCafe theme, fabulous coffee, tempting cakes and cookies were provided. The opportunity to meet, share and discuss all things school libraries was extremely valuable and we have been asked to repeat this very successful format again next year by some of the attendees.  A very special thanks goes to Annie White for hosting us in her library.

Trish Webster, Rangitoto College.

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