The MHF Library Info Hub provides access to everything in our specialised library, plus electronic documents, academic literature, videos and websites, all with a focus on mental health, wellbeing and inclusion. 

We would love to hear feedback from school librarians and teachers, as schools are one of the settings MHF focus on.  A lot of school libraries also use the same Access It library software,  so will be familiar with the look and feel. 

In response to feedback from last year’s survey we have developed a range of tools that help direct you to topic areas and keep you updated!

• A video that shows you how to search for research material within the hub
• Customised dashboards to direct users to subject areas of interest
• Refreshed URL libraryhub.mentalhealth.org.nz – update your bookmark
• A quarterly update to be alerted to new resources added and recent developments

It’s time again for us to hear from you as to how we can further improve this resource.  If you haven't checked it out yet, have a look around and then fill out the survey to let us know what your first impressions are, or if you have visited before if you found it helpful.

As a thank you, we have a $50 Countdown gift card to give away to a random survey participant.
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Nāku iti nei,
Kim Higginson
Information Management Specialist
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
www.mentalhealth.org.nz

The organisers of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are inviting expressions of interest from members and followers of the children’s literature community who would like to be considered as judges of the 2022 awards.

The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are made in six categories: Picture Book, Junior Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Non-Fiction, Illustration and te reo Māori (Te Kura Pounamu Award). A total of five judges will be appointed for the English language categories. Te Kura Pounamu Award is judged by a separate panel appointed by Te Rōpū Whakahau, the national body representing Māori within the Library and Information profession in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Applications to judge are now open to all those with suitable qualifications and experience, and will close on 29 October. Entries for the 2022 awards will open on 17 November and the judges will begin their reading in mid-December.

Anne Morgan of the New Zealand Book Awards Trust, which governs the awards, says applications are welcomed from both the children’s literature community and members of the public with relevant experience. The organisers particularly welcome expressions of interest from applicants with a deep knowledge of te ao Māori and te reo Māori.

“Our past panels have included librarians, teachers, authors, publishers, academics, reviewers and bloggers. There’s no denying the magnitude of the commitment, but the reward outweighs it – what could be more satisfying than immersing yourself in assessing the best New Zealand books of the year for young readers and celebrating the importance of books and reading?” she says.
Convenor of the 2021 judges, school librarian Alan Dingley, says it was an amazing experience. “Being able to spend a year involved in reading, judging, and collaborating with some of the sharpest minds connected to children’s literature refreshed my passion for books, and honed my radar for what I want to share with young readers. This was no quiet amble across the New Zealand literacy field, it was a joyous gallop through the pages of over 150 books, leaving me looking at the landscape of books for children and young people in Aotearoa with new eyes … and gosh it's looking good.”

The English language judges will deliberate over what is expected to be at least 150 entries in five categories. They will select up to five finalists in each, and also up to five Best First Book finalists, then a winner in each category.

The call for entries in the 2022 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults will go out to publishers on 17 November 2021. Finalists will be announced in early June 2022, and the awards ceremony is planned for early to mid-August in Wellington.

Expressions of interest forms and background information on the judging process and judges’ responsibilities can be downloaded from the New Zealand Book Awards Trust website or supplied on request by emailing childrensawards@nzbookawards.org.nz. Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Friday 29 October, and should include a brief resume demonstrating the applicant’s experience for the judging role.

The judging panel will be selected by the New Zealand Book Awards Trust, which includes representatives from the Publishers Association of New Zealand; the New Zealand Society of Authors;  LIANZA, the association for library and information professionals in New Zealand; and Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand.

The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are made possible through the generosity, commitment and vision of funders and sponsors Creative New Zealand, HELL Pizza, Wright Family Foundation, LIANZA, Wellington City Council and Nielsen Book.

Link to more information on NZ Book Awards Trust website:
http://www.nzbookawards.nz/new-zealand-book-awards-for-children-and-young-adults/news/

New schools’ campaign ‘A Bit Sus’ launching in association with Tohatoha NZ 

29 September 2021 - The School Library Association of NZ Aotearoa is seeking librarians to train in best practice for supporting youth in countering misinformation and preventing its spread, as part of a new project launching this week in partnership with Tohatoha NZ.  

The initiative, called ‘A Bit Sus’, is funded in part by a NZ Libraries Partnership Programme grant and will be delivered to New Zealand schools in the coming year. It will offer a high-quality visual exhibit alongside workshops, parents’ nights, and educational materials on misinformation.  

SLANZA wants 15 school librarians from a diverse range of Aotearoa New Zealand schools – intermediate and secondary, city and rural, big and small, low and high decile – to participate in a 10-week professional development programme to support the initiative.  

As part of the programme, school librarians and Tohatoha staff will work together to develop and test out evidence-based interventions and resources in New Zealand school libraries.  

Each participating school library will then be invited to independently host the localised travelling exhibit, including a teacher professional development session and a community night. 

“SLANZA is very excited to be partnering with Tohatoha to deliver this counter-misinformation programme, which will focus on young people and school librarians,” says Sasha Eastwood-Bennitt, the ‘A Bit Sus’ SLANZA project lead. 

“If you are an intermediate or secondary school librarian who is passionate about developing resources to focus on understanding online misinformation, hate-driven narratives and effective counter responses, then please do apply.”  

“This programme will be a relatively in-depth resource development opportunity that will require you to interact with staff and students, so we suggest you notify your Senior Leadership Team in the first instance before applying,” says Eastwood-Bennitt.  

The criteria for selection are as follows: 

• At least five of the 15 schools should be intermediate level schools, with the remaining ten made up of secondary schools. 
• The final 15 to include a range of deciles, role sizes, urban vs. rural, and diverse school communities. 
• The school librarians selected must show a passion for developing resources focusing on understanding and preventing the spread of online misinformation that would benefit their students, school and wider community. 

Applications close at 5.00pm on 12th November 2021. Successful applicants will be notified in early December. To submit your application, please forward the following information to Sasha Eastwood-Bennitt at central@slanza.org.nz.  

• Name of the school librarian 
• School name  
• Contact email address 
• Contact phone number 
• School type - intermediate, secondary, etc 
• School roll 
• Rural or urban 
• Decile 
• Private or state 
• Single sex or co-ed 
• Other relevant information about your school community to support your application 
• A brief summary why you are interested in this programme and why it would benefit your school and wider school community.  
  
  

NOTE: Please include confirmation you have sought approval to participate in this programme from senior management. 
 
For more information on SLANZA, visit http://www.slanza.org.nz/ 

For more information on Tohatoha and its work in New Zealand, visit https://tohatoha.nz   

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Mental Health Awareness Week (27 September - 3 October) materials are now available to order or download.

This year's theme is take time to kōrero/mā te kōrero, ka ora - a little chat can go a long way.

This MHAW is all about connecting with the people in our lives and creating space for conversations about mental health and wellbeing. Whether it’s checking in with a mate, having a kōrero over some kai or saying hello to a stranger, a little chat can go a long way.
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The MHF Resource and Information Service has loaded a new Good Reads page with books that focus on, the importance of listening, communication in the workplace, talking to children about emotions, connecting to culture, and lived experience. The books have been reviewed by MHF staff, teachers, counsellors, mental health professionals, and individuals interested in mental health and wellbeing.
 

• Good Reads Māori: https://mhaw.nz/explore/good-reads-maori
• Good Reads General: https://mhaw.nz/explore/good-reads-general
• Good Reads Children / Youth: https://mhaw.nz/explore/good-reads-children-and-youth

 
Website https://www.mhaw.nz/

We understand that while the current situation is challenging, Accessit Library is here to help you to continue to provide library services uninterrupted while students are at home.

As always, our customers and those looking to switch to Accessit, can still call our friendly support team on 0800 542 727 – we’re always happy to hear from you.

If you are already an Accessit Library user, you can use working from home as an opportunity for professional development. You could explore the Accessit Library eLearning Centre (ALeC) to run through free training courses at your own pace, or use the wealth of information in the Accessit Library customer portal to further develop your skills.

If you need any guidance on using Accessit Library to support lessons and provide access to resources from home, all the information necessary is in the Accessit Library customer portal.

You may choose to catch up on a webinar that you were unable to attend by viewing them via our customer portal webinar library. These cover key library tasks and topics, helping you to elevate learning and raise the profile of your library.

You could also take this opportunity to review the “New Features Release Notes” in the customer portal and see how these exciting new features will make managing your library even easier.

We would love to offer this level of support and 24/7 accessibility to all school libraries throughout NZ.

If you are not using Accessit Library and would like a quick taste of all that it offers, give us a call on 0800 542 727 or visit our website for more information.

If you book a demonstration of Accessit Library in Term 3 you’ll also go into the draw to win a stocktake scanner valued at $365.
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Stay safe everyone.

The 2021 School Library Survey is now open for submissions.
 
We are excited to announce that, after a fantastic response in 2020, this year we have decided to conduct the New Zealand survey separately.
 
The information received will help us to form an accurate and current representation of school libraries in New Zealand.
 
As in previous years, we will openly share the results in a range of reports, whitepapers and supporting resources that can assist school libraries in their advocacy.
 
For more information or to participate in this years survey, follow this link: https://www.softlinkint.com/blog/2021-school-library-survey-APAC/
Survey closes 8 September 2021

A disabled Māori boy who meets a mermaid on the beach won over the hearts of the judges at this year’s New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
Charlie Tangaroa and the Creature from the Sea by Christchurch author T K Roxborogh was awarded the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year, the highest accolade in children’s publishing, at a ceremony held at The National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa this evening.
Māori mythology is woven into the story as Charlie draws on the pūrākau and waiata his Grandad taught him, as well as the down-to-earth lessons from family life, to mediate between battling, sibling gods.
The book also took out the Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Award for Junior Fiction, and impressed the judges with its diversity of characters and their authenticity, and the inclusion of a main protagonist with a disability.
“We felt that this added depth to the story while not being the focal point, as did the underlying issue of humans disturbing the natural environment,” says convenor of judges Alan Dingley, who praised the book’s uniquely New Zealand story.
The awards night recognised new talent, with half the category winners also being finalists in the Best First Book Award category.
“Having so many first-time winners shows that as New Zealand evolves, authors and publishers are evolving too, with new ideas, new concepts and a lot of bravery represented in these titles,” says Dingley.
One of those talented first-timers was Kate Parker, author and illustrator of Kōwhai and the Giants. As well as winning the Best First Book Award, the book — described as a classic in the making — also scooped the Picture Book Award. The judges were enamoured with both the message and the original illustrations of this gentle environmental story.
The Young Adult Fiction Award was won by another debut author. Shilo Kino’s The Pōrangi Boy was praised for delivering big themes of environmental damage, neocolonialism, bullying and poverty, but never slipping into didacticism or preachiness. The judges commented on Kino’s “uncontestable genius” for crafting believable, authentic voices thoroughly rooted in this place and these times.
A fresh talent also won the Russell Clark Award for Illustration, presented to Laura Shallcrass for Hare and Ruru: A Quiet Moment. The book’s beautifully delivered world and message made it stand out for the judges.
A visually delicious, tasty treat won the Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction. Egg and Spoon: An Illustrated Cookbook, written by Alexandra Tylee and illustrated by Giselle Clarkson, impressed the judges with its varied and thoughtful recipes accompanied by luscious and often humorous illustrations.
The Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award for te reo Māori went to Ngake me Whātaitai, written by Ben Ngaia and illustrated by Laya Mutton-Rogers, a pukapuka that takes the reader on a wonderful journey into the formation of Te Whanganui a Tara (Wellington). Through storytelling, children learn about the pūtaiao (science) of the hidden movements within Papatūānuku, and how these beautiful Māori placenames were given.
Inspiring a love of reading in New Zealand children is a big part of the Awards’ remit. Many of this year’s finalists had the opportunity to present their work to thousands of children around the country in a programme of Books Alive online events and virtual story times, co-ordinated through public and school libraries by LIANZA, the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa.
The finalists also entertained over 600 Wellington school children during the day prior to the ceremony. The hard-working team at Wellington City Library organised a varied programme that included story times, behind-the-book talks, workshops on writing and illustration, lively panel discussions, and live drawing sessions.
The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are made possible through the generosity and vision of a group of committed funders and sponsors: Creative New Zealand, HELL Pizza, the Wright Family Foundation, LIANZA, Wellington City Council, Nielsen Book and 2021 venue partner, The National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa. The Awards are administered by the New Zealand Book Awards Trust.
The full list of winners for the 2021 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults:
 
Margaret Mahy Book of the Year Award $7500
Charlie Tangaroa and the Creature from the Sea, written by T K Roxborogh (Huia Publishers)
 
 
Picture Book Award $7500
Kōwhai and the Giants, written and illustrated by Kate Parker (Little Love, Mary Egan Publishing)
 
Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Award for Junior Fiction $7500
Charlie Tangaroa and the Creature from the Sea, written by T K Roxborogh (Huia Publishers)
 
Young Adult Fiction Award $7500
The Pōrangi Boy, written by Shilo Kino (Huia Publishers)
 
Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction $7500
Egg and Spoon: An Illustrated Cookbook, written by Alexandra Tylee and illustrated by Giselle Clarkson (Gecko Press)
 
Russell Clark Award for Illustration $7500
Hare and Ruru: A Quiet Moment, written and illustrated by Laura Shallcrass (Beatnik Publishing)
 
Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award for te reo Māori $7500
Ngake me Whātaitai, written by Ben Ngaia and illustrated by Laya Mutton-Rogers (Huia Publishers)
 
Best First Book Award $2000
Kōwhai and the Giants, written and illustrated by Kate Parker (Little Love, Mary Egan Publishing)

REGISTER HERE
This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the latest ideas, evaluate current practices, network with colleagues, meet with library suppliers and providers of library software, and develop knowledge and understanding of Te Ao Māori.

There will be giveaways and prizes and the opportunity to buy books and resources. Make sure you don't miss out!

Any queries please email Conference Convenor Clare Forrest c.forrest@raroa.school.nz