​The 2017 SLANZA AGM will be held in Auckland at Kings College on Tuesday 18th July at 12.30 – 1pm, as part of the SLANZA Conference 2017.
 
While it is expected that most people wanting to attend the AGM would also be registering for Conference, it is not essential and you are welcome to attend just the AGM if that is your preference.
 
Please send any apologies for the AGM to admin@slanza.org.nz before Friday 14th July.
 
A further message will be sent closer to the time with the agenda and any other required documentation.

​The SLANZA PD team is excited to announce our second G+ discussion topic for the year. It will begin on Tuesday 6 June.

The Ministry of Education is committed to providing innovative learning environments where everyone can work together to support the best learning for everyone. What does this mean for school libraries and the way we practice?
 
Our G+ discussions are designed to be slow, to allow time for deep thought and to reflect on our practices. Over four weeks there will be four readings followed by reflective questions. You can dip in and out of the discussion as time allows you, and participate as much or as little as you wish.
 
You must be a member of SLANZA to take part in this discussion (and it’s a great year to join with conference coming up), as well as belonging to SLANZA’s Google+ Community.
 
We look forward to “seeing” you and hearing your thoughts – either for this discussion or one of our other professional development events planned for later this year.​

Life membership is SLANZA’s ultimate award and honour, recognising a SLANZA member whose contribution to school librarianship is so outstanding that it is of lasting importance to the advancement of the whole field of school library service.
 
SLANZA National Executive would like to call for nominations for our Life Membership Award. Information and criteria for the award can be found on the Award Page on the SLANZA website.
 
As always, the awards are presented at the discretion of the Awards Committee. If a recipient is selected, the Life Membership Award will be presented at SLANZA’s National Conference in Auckland this July.
 
Please send nominations with all the required documentation to admin@slanza.org.nz by Friday 23 June 2017

Barbara Murison, editor of Around the Bookshops as well many other contributions to the library and publishing world, died peacefully on Wednesday. 
Barbara will be sorely missed in our school library community. We know those in Wellington particularly, will be deeply saddened by her loss. 
She was made a Life Member of SLANZA for her contribution to school libraries across the nation but also the contributions she has made in her own city, going well above and beyond for the school communities she helped out with books and sage advice. 

Hello members
This is a timely reminder that the Deadline for Collected 20 approaches. Submissions close on 15th May,2017.
Our theme for the issue is  “Conferences and Professional Development”. We will be  promoting SLANZA Conference 2017 Fiery Futures. The theme is SLANZA and non Slanza conferences people may  have attended. Stories about special or uplifting experiences, speakers, workshops etc. and tips to navigating conferences, making the most of the opportunities, professional development and the collegiality of professional development would all be welcome. We also welcome articles of interest, reviews from members and accounts of local SLANZA or library related activities.
If you wish to submit something and have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at collected@slanza.org.nz or greig@tokohigh.school.nz
Guidelines for submissions can be found at slanza.org.nz under the Resources tab. Our deadline for this issue is May 15  2017
Please feel free to contact me at the above address if you have any questions or concerns
 
Greig Daniels
Editor, Collected
 

Once again SLANZA is calling for submissions for the latest issue of Collected.
Our theme for the issue is  “Conferences and Professional Development”. We will be  promoting Conference 2017 Fiery Futures. I would  like to encourage submissions from members about SLANZA and non Slanza conferences they have attended. Stories about special or uplifting experiences, speakers, workshops etc. and tips to navigating conferences, making the most of the opportunities, professional development and the collegiality of professional development would all be welcome. We also welcome articles of interest, reviews from members and accounts of local SLANZA or library related activities.
SLANZA members, Collected is your magazine and we want to hear your voice. If you wish to submit something and have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at collected@slanza.org.nz or greig@tokohigh.school.nz
Guidelines for submissions can be found at slanza.org.nz under the Resources tab. Our deadline for this issue is May 15  2017
Please feel free to contact me at the above address if you have any questions or concerns
Regards
Greig Daniels
Editor, Collected

The National Executive met last weekend, 8-9 April 2017, in Wellington at Raroa Intermediate School. Below is Part 1 of a two part summary of some of the discussions held at the meeting, Part 2 will follow in the next couple of days.

National Executive Personnel Changes
With no nominations for President Elect received  from members National Executive have nominated Kirsty Adam and Julia Smith to be co-Presidents-Elect.

Current President, Sandi Faulconbridge, has accepted a new job opportunity with the National Library. Due to the conflict of interest, Sandi is unable to hold any office-bearing role within SLANZA and has stood down. Sandi has been president for seven months, taking on the role in difficult circumstances. Yet her outstanding organisational skills, quick thinking and equally quick wit has helped steady the SLANZA organisation and reset forward momentum. We sincerely wish Sandi all the best in her new role.

As a result of these exceptional circumstances, co-Presidents Elect Kirsty and Julia, with the full support of the NE, move into the role of interim co-Presidents until their positions can be ratified at the AGM in July.

Kirsty Adam represents the Southland region and is the Library Manager at James Hargest College in Invercargill. She has a degree in psychology and education, is a trained teacher and worked at the Invercargill Public Library before moving to her current position five years ago. Kirsty took on the role of  NE rep for Southland in 2014 and has done an incredible job of rebuilding SLANZA Southland. Her enthusiasm and drive, coupled with a strong can-do attitude has certainly benefited both her region and National Executive. Kirsty has recently completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Practice through Mindlab.

At the other end of the country, Julia Smith, represents the Te Tai Tokerau region. Julia joined SLANZA fifteen years ago, completed her BAppSci in Information and Library Studies through the Open Polytechnic in 2010, and about the same time secured a full-time job at Kerikeri High School. She has been involved with SLANZA for many years, stepping up to Chairperson in 2013, then the following year became the SLANZA Te Tai Tokerau National Executive Representative; she still holds both of these positions. Julia’s main role within NE has been Communications, though she has enjoyed moderating the Google+ community discussions and facilitating the Connected online learning modules.
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​Kirsty Adam and Julia Smith

The National Executive welcomed four new members at this meeting. Greater regional representation provides a stronger voice for members, encourages robust discussion and helps to share the workload. Our new NE members are:

• Stephanie Gibbons, library manager at New Plymouth Boys High School who takes over the role of NE rep for Central region.
• Glenys Bichan is the new representative for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty region, Library Manager at Cambridge High School, and current Chairperson for her region.
• Ngaio Blackwood is our new Administration Officer, the only paid position within SLANZA. Ngaio is a librarian at Tamatea Intermediate in Napier and has spent the last thirteen years in school, tertiary and public libraries. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) and a postgraduate Certificate in Information Studies (library). Ngaio can be contacted at admin@slanza.org.nz
• Bridget Schaumann representing the Otago region, was warmly welcomed back. Bridget, as a past President and with many, many years experience on NE, offers a vast knowledge repository that is truly remarkable and invaluable.

The fact that two of our SLANZA presidents have so recently been employed by National Library is well worth noting. National Library has obviously recognised the work, responsibilities and leadership potential that SLANZA provides and nourishes. Although we may begrudge National Library harvesting our best people, it is with pride that we acknowledge the role that SLANZA has played in furthering both Miriam and Sandi’s careers.

The second part of our meeting summary will be shared in the next couple of days.

  ____________________________________________________________________________________

Media Statement from the School Library Association of New Zealand in response to TVNZ report: Overcrowding Forces 178 NZ Schools To Go Without A Library
  ____________________________________________________________________________________
​ 
“Figures released under the Official Information Act show more than a hundred schools in New Zealand don't even have a library.”  
(TVNZ, 2017)
 
The School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa, SLANZA, are seriously concerned at the announcement of closures of school libraries to accommodate the growing rolls within schools in New Zealand.
 
We believe the school library is a fundamental resource for students and staff and we strongly believe all schools should not only have a library, but that it be staffed by a specialist librarian.
 
Research in New Zealand and in over sixty overseas studies, show that having a school library staffed by a qualified professional librarian increases student achievement. (I Love Libraries, 2015), (National Library of New Zealand, 2010).
 
“There are 178 New Zealand schools that don't have a dedicated library, while 330 schools have less library space than they're entitled to.”
(TVNZ, 2017)
 
The Ministry of Education is required to provide enough classrooms for schools who have increasing rolls; it is a dire predicament when schools are forced to use other facilities such as their libraries to cope with the demand for space. SLANZA questions the Ministry’s attitude to these space issues and indeed their attitude to school libraries.
 
School libraries and librarians have a huge impact on the educational quality of a school. SLANZA presumes that principals, teachers and parents are voicing their outrage that government policy is not responding to the growing school rolls and supplying adequate building funds. SLANZA stands alongside parents, teachers and principals to promote the positive educational outcomes that a school library and a suitably qualified school librarian make in every school. We support the right for every student in New Zealand to have access to a school library and school librarian.
 
REFERENCES
 
I Love Libraries. (2015). Student Success. Retrieved from http://www.ilovelibraries.org/school-libraries/school-libraries-and-student-success
 
National Library of New Zealand. (2010). School Libraries and learning. Retrieved from http://schools.natlib.govt.nz/school-libraries/effective-practice/school-libraries-and-learning-research

TVNZ. (2017). Overcrowding forces 178 NZ schools to go without a library. Retrieved from https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/overcrowding-forces-178-nz-schools-go-without-library
 

Sandi Faulconbridge Dip ILS
Library Manager | Taradale Primary School
SLANZA President | PD Team Leader

Registrations for the Digital Literacy - Fake News module of the Connected Librarians course open on Friday 3 March.  

Being digitally literate is an increasingly important part of allowing people to participate as informed citizens in today’s society. It encompasses a variety of knowledge, skills and behaviours, some of which need to be explicitly taught.
As digital literacy is such a large area to cover, this module will focus on just one key aspect - the ability to identify, mitigate and deal with “fake news”.

Applications close on Friday 17 March and the course will be starting on Monday 27 March. 

This course is designed by New Zealand school librarians, for school librarians - those just starting out with online tools, who are ready and willing to try new things. 

The course is free for SLANZA members. 

Please visit the Online PD page on our SLANZA website for further information and to register.

​Clare Forrest
SLANZA National Executive​ & PD Team