It's time for the last SLANZA Google+ discussion of the year.
We will be looking at and sharing our ideas of fun library activities, great library displays and hopefully delve in to using escape room activities in the library.
Join us and share and find out what others have been up to.
You must be a member of SLANZA to take part in this discussion as well as belonging to SLANZA’s Google+ Community.

The National Executive met after the Otago Regional Conference in Dunedin. Below is a summary of some of the discussions covered at the meeting. This communique is to keep members up-to-date with the work being done on their behalf by the National Executive.

 
National Executive team
National Executive would like to welcome two new members to our team. Long-standing Representative, Auckland’s Trish Webster has made way for Sharon Jackson and Central’s Steph Gibbons has been replaced by Sasha Eastwood-Bennitt. The fluidity of movement into and out of the NE is a natural response to member needs. On one hand, we are saddened by the loss of the knowledge and skills leaving our team, yet, we feel empowered by the views and energy that new representatives bring in. We are fortunate to harness knowledge and experience from a wide range of members, and we would like to acknowledge and thank Bridget Schaumann and Rosalba Finnerty in particular for their continuing guidance and support.
 
Statements and Policies
As a National Executive, we are always working on improving our systems and practices. We greatly appreciate your input in forming our updated Vision and Mission Statements - the biggest change we made from your feedback was a change from ‘school librarians’ to ‘school library staff’ which we agree, is a more inclusive term. These are the new statements:
 
Vision Statement
SLANZA will empower and support school library staff, and strengthen and promote school libraries in Aotearoa New Zealand.
 
Mission Statement
SLANZA provides community, guidance and professional development on library practice and programmes for school library staff in Aotearoa New Zealand while reflecting the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
 
Further to these statements, we have also been developing policies relating to Te Tiriti o Waitangi - The Treaty of Waitangi as well as one on Equity.
 
Membership
Total membership for 2018 is 592 members, down 5% from 2017.
 
Website Update
If you haven’t visited the SLANZA website recently, do have a look. We’ve been quietly working away at refreshing the look and content.
 
Conference
We would like to acknowledge the phenomenal effort that went into organising and running the SLANZA Otago Regional Conference. The Conference Committee ensured that, even though it was a regional conference, the calibre of professional development on offer was exceptional while the fellowship was marvellous. Our sincere gratitude goes to the Otago team who made this event possible.
 
It was announced at the conference that, next year, we will hold another regional conference, this time organised by the Waikato / Bay of Plenty region and based in Cambridge. Add the event to your budget and note it on your calendar, Friday 27 September to Sunday 29 September 2019.
 
Collected Magazine
Thank you to all the members who have submitted articles for Collected magazine. The theme is ‘Encouraging Readers’, although we will be treated to other articles of interest as well as book reviews and business member submissions. Currently in the editing stage, the twenty-third issue of Collected will be out soon.
 
This will be the last issue by our editor Greig Daniels who has stepped down after four years as editor. With Greig’s skilful editing and writing,Collected has developed into a quality publication and we thank him sincerely for his tireless work and dedication. We are excited to announce that Melanie McVeigh, our administration officer, has worked alongside Greig with this issue and will take over the role next year.
 
Connected Librarians
Congratulations to all those members who completed the Term 3 Connected online learning module. The topic was Student Care and the Role of Librarians and proved to be a popular choice for learning new techniques and support practices for our students. Connected online courses are free for SLANZA members and are another option for school library staff to extend our learning. Watch out for the next module in Term 1.
 
Google+ Community
The discussion topic, Fun Library Activities, is due to start next week. We will be looking at stimulating activities we do in our libraries to have fun with our students and staff. Don’t forget you need to be a SLANZA member to participate.

Open Polytechnic Courses
The Open Polytechnic are undergoing a transformational change with a strong learner-centred focus. Their new courses in Library and Information Studies are really enticing with updated, relevant content and flexible, collaborative learning. SLANZA is strongly committed to raising the professional standing of school library staff, and we are grateful to Open Polytechnic for continuing to offer SLANZA members fee free study opportunities on two Level 6 papers.
We encourage members to take advantage of this amazing study opportunity.
 
NZEI Pay Equity Claim
We are supporting NZEI with their pay equity claim for school librarians and library assistants. Achieving pay equity with similar non-female dominant professions will not be a quick or simple task, however, the information gained from the Google+ Community Pay Equity PD, earlier this year, where members collaborated to create a comprehensive database of skills, roles and responsibilities, will assist our cause.
 
SLANZA National Executive would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing commitment to SLANZA and wish you all a great term 4. We will continue to work on your behalf and ensure that the voice of school libraries from all over the country are heard.
 
Julia Smith
Communications team

All Books NZ
All Books New Zealand specialises in the supply of books, magazines, educational and reference publications, DVDs and CDs to libraries, school libraries and into tertiary and specialist institutions throughout New Zealand. Protect your collection with All Books range of industry tested covering products and solutions, or let us assist you by accessing our shelf ready services. With our competitive discounts on local and imported titles you have access to purchase our products and services all on account.

For further information please free to call us on 0800 255 257, visit our website, www.allbooks.nz  and to register simply email us at orders@allbooks.nz 

Library Tech NZ
Established in 2016, LibraryTech NZ formed to provide not only exceptional library products, but also a high level of local customer service.

In addition to library self-service systems (self-check-out/in, book return/sorting and RFID systems) which are designed and assembled in New Zealand. We also offer professional library products from strong international partners, such as library furniture from BCI Denmark, book security systems from Dialoc ID Netherlands and book protection film from Pelloplast Finland etc.

LibraryTech NZ is proud to be involved in the library market and aiming to be the leading technology supplier to libraries in New Zealand. For more information, please email info@librarytech.co.nz or call on 0800 556 255, (+64) 07 949 4110. We are located at 60 Ulster Street, Hamilton 3200, New Zealand or online at www.librarytech.co.nz

Otago Regional Conference
September 28 - 30, 2018
Dunedin
 
Announcing Kyle Mewburn as our Friday evening guest speaker
 
We are delighted to announce that beloved New Zealand children’s book author Kyle Mewburn will be the guest speaker at the conference’s Friday night event (kindly sponsored by the New Zealand Book Council).  Kyle is joining us for a relaxed chat about all things children's books. Kyle is fun and chatty and a great friend to the school library community and we expect a great deal of laughing and chortling - a great start to what we hope will be a weekend full of this, along with some great professional learning.
 
Attendance at the Friday night session is included in your conference registration.  To register, please visit the conference websiteand complete the online registration form.  Registrations and fees are due before 10th September, but your early registration and payment would be much appreciated.
 
You will also find details of keynote speakers, our lovely venue, and the weekend’s programme on the website.  Please be aware that while some changes to the programme may still occur between now and September, the start and finish times for each day will remain as they are now.
 
We are still finalising details of workshop presentations and these will be added to the website in due course.  Once these are all confirmed, everyone who has registered will be contacted to make their workshop selections.  Every effort will be made to ensure that all delegates are entered into the workshops of their choice but in the case of workshop sessions being full, preference will be given to those who have already paid their registration fee.
 
We have a specialist travel broker, Adam Pope, working with us for this conference. He can help you with accommodation and flight bookings for a good price. Please click here to enquire or make a booking through him, if you have not already made your travel arrangements.
 
We are still accepting conference sponsors and trade exhibitors. If you would be interested in either of these options, please contact the co-conveners Bridget Schaumann (sc@kingshigh.school.nz) or Carole Gardiner (caroleg@queens.school.nz).
 
We look forward to seeing you in Dunedin in September.
 
The SLANZA Otago Regional Conference Committee would like to thank the following for their sponsorship and support of this conference:
Accessit (Major Sponsor)
Library Tech NZ
SCIS
Hydestor
The New Zealand Book Council
Adam Pope (The Travel Brokers)
University Book Shop
 
SLANZA Otago Regional Conference Committee
Slanzaotago-conference2018.weebly.com

 





​Hi everyone,
 
FYI, the conference committee has just updated our cancellation policy.  We sincerely hope that no one has to cancel their registration, but we understand that things can happen that are outside our control.  Should that be the case, please refer to our cancellation policy below (and maybe file this away for future reference, just in case).
 
Kind regards,
Carole
(on behalf of the SLANZA Otago Regional Conference Committee)
 
 
SLANZA Otago Regional Conference 2018 Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations must be received at least 3 clear working days prior to the event, due to catering and other bookings.
Cancellations after this time will not be refunded.
Someone else may attend in your place if you are no longer able to be at the conference, but you must notify the conference committee of the change as soon as possible.

'The latest issue of Collected is now available to all  members and non members. It's a great issue focusing on Collaboration and can be found under the Collected Tab of the SLANZA  web page. We hope you enjoy the latest issue
​Greig Daniels, Editor

Otago Regional Conference
September 28 - 30, 2018
Dunedin
 
Registrations are now open
 
We are pleased to announce that we are now taking registrations for the SLANZA Otago Regional Conference to be held in Dunedin this September.
 
To register, please visit the conference website and complete the online registration form.  Registrations and fees are due before 21st September, but your early registration and payment would be much appreciated.
 
You will also find details of keynote speakers, our lovely venue, and the weekend’s programme on the website.  Please be aware that while some changes to the programme may still occur between now and September, the start and finish times for each day will remain as they are now.
 
We are still finalising details of workshop presentations and these will be added to the website in due course.  Once these are all confirmed, everyone who has registered will be contacted to make their workshop selections.  Every effort will be made to ensure that all delegates are entered into the workshops of their choice but in the case of workshop sessions being full, preference will be given to those who have already paid their registration fee.
 
We have a specialist travel broker, Adam Pope, working with us for this conference. He can help you with accommodation and flight bookings for a good price. Please click here to enquire or make a booking through him, if you have not already made your travel arrangements.
 
We are still accepting conference sponsors and trade exhibitors. If you would be interested in either of these options, please contact the co-conveners Bridget Schaumann (sc@kingshigh.school.nz) or Carole Gardiner (caroleg@queens.school.nz).
 
We look forward to seeing you in Dunedin in September.
 
The SLANZA Otago Regional Conference Committee would like to thank the following for their sponsorship and support of this conference:
Accessit (Major Sponsor)
Library Tech NZ
SCIS
Hydestor
The New Zealand Book Council
Adam Pope (The Travel Brokers)
 
 
SLANZA Otago Regional Conference Committee
slanzaotago-conference2018.weebly.com

SLANZA is delighted to have taken the opportunity to be regional cup sponsors of Annie White’s Readers Cup, a Year 9 inter-school reading competition. After all, encouraging and promoting reading is very much at the heart of our existence.
 
We will supply one cup to each SLANZA region. However, in acknowledging equitable access across our regions, we see it as important to ensure that areas who are keen to run with this event are not disadvantaged, and we will consider supplying more than one cup per region. Requests for SLANZA regional Readers Cup cups will be forwarded through regional National Executive representatives. 
 
Providing the regional cups will be a one-off expense as each regional or area winner will hold the cup until the following year’s event where the expectation is that it will be returned and re-awarded.
 
Please contact Annie White for information on the Readers Cup competition, and your SLANZA regional NE Representative regarding the cups.
 
SLANZA would like to thank Annie for this opportunity to be part of her inspirational reading challenge.
 
Regards
Julia