SLANZA is pleased to announce that this Term's issue of Collected 'Out with the old, in with the new' is now out and can be viewed here. You may want to download and print out a copy to share with your colleagues and we encourage you to forward this announcement to all your teaching and library friends. We are particularly proud of this issue with a feature article from "Library Girl" aka Jennifer LaGarde. Many of us follow her blog, and twitter feed and find her reflections refreshing and energising. We hope you enjoy her advice in this issue along with the contributions of school librarians like yourselves, making little changes along the way, which are helping to change the face of librarianship in challenging times. So sit back and prepare to be challenged, informed and entertained. From all of us in the SLANZA National Executive we wish you all a safe and happy summer break. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the health of our organisation this year especially the Wellington Conference Committee, our new administration professional Carole Gardiner and our 'Pool of Talent' volunteers who among other things have proofread this edition for you. Happy holidays! Lisa Salter RLIANZA l SLANZA Communications Leader
0 Comments
I am absolutely delighted to announce the recipients of SLANZA’s Study Grants for 2014. Our warmest congratulations go out to these successful applicants:
We all understand that working and studying takes quite some commitment. So it is especially gratifying to know that many SLANZA members are continuing their learning in the field of Information and Library Studies. SLANZA is committed to helping make this undertaking easier where we can, as we believe that it will benefit not just our members as their library careers unfold, but that the students and staff in their schools will benefit too, from working alongside a librarian with a deep understanding of their field, and a personal commitment to life-long learning, continual improvement and innovation. We are currently looking at ways SLANZA can help support our members who are studying, and we hope to have some new initiatives in place for the beginning of the 2014 year. Best wishes once again to all our grant recipients! Miriam Tuohy SLANZA offers study grants each year, to those working in school library teams. Study grants are available for courses offered by an approved library education provider. We believe that continuing professional development is vital - it helps you increase the knowledge and skills you need to deliver a valued service to your school community, and it can open you up to new and exciting possibilities in the field of librarianship.
If you are thinking about undertaking Library and Information Studies next year, you may be eligible to apply for assistance. Successful applicants will receive $600 towards the cost of a paper. The closing date for submitting study grant applications is Thursday 31st October 2013, and successful applicants will be notified in mid-November. More information about the grants, including the application form, is available here. Regularly reading school library and education related journals and blogs is one of the best - and simplest - ways you can undertake professional development. There is a wealth of information freely available online that can help you find fresh ideas, inspiring people, great tools, book reviews and more. But where to begin? To make it easy for you to incorporate professional reading into your library routine, we have put together a bundle of RSS feeds that are perfect for school librarians. RSS feeds help you keep up to date with all the newest content from a website, by sending updates to you as they happen. To get started with our feed bundle, you will need
When you have imported the OPML file, your feed reader will be full of blog posts, and at first that can seem overwhelming. Your application will have an option to "Mark All as Read", and you might want to do this initially to clear the back-log, and then start reading later in the day with fewer, fresh posts to read. Removing any individual feeds that aren't pertinent to your situation will help keep things manageable, too. If you’re not already using RSS feeds to make professional reading a regular part of your library learning, there’s no time like the present to get started! Please leave suggestions in the comments here if you have any ‘essential reads’ that you think we should add to our bundle of feeds. Miriam Tuohy Professional Development Team Leader Instructions for importing an OPML file into a variety of applications can be found here. All places on the second round of SLANZA’s Connected Librarians course have now been filled. Thanks again for your support of this initiative.
Emails will go out later today to all those who registered, to let you know whether you’ve been placed this time or not. We apologise to those who have missed out this time – unfortunately we simply cannot fit you all in. Rest assured though that your registration will be held over for the next time the course is offered. Miriam Tuohy Professional Development team leader Follow the link below to register for the upcoming round of our Connected Librarians online professional development course.
Please note that you must be a current member of SLANZA to be able to participate in this PD. http://www.slanza.org.nz/online-pd-registration.html Please contact me if you have any questions regarding the course. Miriam Tuohy Professional Development team leader We are pleased to announce that the much-anticipated second round of SLANZA’s online professional development course "Connected Librarians" will be offered again this term. In this course you will learn about a selection of online tools to use and to share with your school community. Topics include professional reading, social bookmarking, community connections, and more. 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. Registrations will open on Monday 19th August. However, because we were overwhelmed with the response to our call for registrations in Term 2, we have a number of people who registered their interested at that time already on our list. This means that there are only 15 additional places still available. In order to ensure that our participants come from a range of school levels (primary, intermediate and secondary) we will select people from the registration list accordingly. Successful applicants will receive invitations to our learning community in Week 4, and the course begins in Week 5. More information about the course is available here, or you can contact me directly with any questions. Miriam Tuohy Professional Development team leader SLANZA is pleased to announce that a new resource for school library staff is now available from our website here: Resources | Professional Development.
Many of our members, and others working in New Zealand school libraries, take part in LIANZA’s Professional Registration scheme. Maintaining a journal as part of the process of revalidation can be very challenging, and SLANZA is keen to support our members undergoing that process. We hope that the document we have published today, which specifically targets school library staff who are revalidating their LIANZA registration, goes some way towards that. The document provides examples and practical ideas you can use to develop your skills and experience across the bodies of knowledge, and also to document evidence of that professional growth. The foundation document for LIANZA’s Professional Registration scheme, and a range of related information, is available from LIANZA's website. SLANZA very gratefully acknowledges the help of members who have contributed to this document, particularly Donna Watt (Invercargill City Libraries) and Trish Webster (Rangitoto College). We are currently establishing a network of mentors who have volunteered (via our Pool of Talent) to provide support to those working through the revalidation process. We’ll have more information about this for you later in the term. Miriam Tuohy for SLANZA’s Professional Development team Awards Recipients 2013
SLANZA encourages and rewards excellence in school libraries, recognising the success and achievement of those working in and with school libraries, with a series of annual awards. These are the recipients of the 2013 awards: Award of merit for literacy and enjoyment of reading Trina Yuretich, Teacher with Library Responsibilty, Ahipara School Nominated by Jeannie Skinner and Jennifer Puckey Trina has demonstrated excellence across several areas of school library development. She has transformed the library environment with vibrant displays, and developed the library as a hub for reading, enabling a reading culture to develop throughout the school. The summer reading programme she organised over the summer holidays has significantly reduced student summer learning loss. Trina takes advantage of all the professional development opportunities available to her, as well as organising such literary events as Storylines and Kids Lit Quiz for her students to attend during the year. Pam Garry, Library Manager, John McGlashen College Nominated by Carole Gardiner and Bridget Schaumann Pam is forward thinking and solution focussed in the education world. She is always trying new things and working to improve existing things. Pam runs a range of stimulating and exciting reading programmes throughout the school such as a peer reading programme; Go McGlashan Read, and Chockywockydoodah. She is an adjudicator for the speech competition, and organises the SHRIMP holiday reading packs to ensure minimal loss of student learning through summer school holidays. Pam is an excellent colleague who keep in close contact with all departments, especially English, and creates exciting visual displays for the library. Her contributions to the reading and learning of the students are wise, well-considered and always practical. Glenys Bichan, Librarian, Cambridge High School Nominated by Linda McCullough and Vicki Stephens Under Glenys’s guidance the use of the library has increased greatly. This is the result of well-run book promotions, the creation of a welcoming environment within the library and timely promotions of current events to capture student interest. She has embraced digital technology by developing a number of digital resources, and moved the school into the area of ebooks, providing students with access to these resources from home. Glenys is always responsive to the changing learning needs of her students. Kimberley Atkinson, Librarian, Robertson Road School, Mangere, Auckland References: Ravi Naidoo and John Nicholls Kimberley works in a decile one, full primary school with 500 students and a 90% Pasifika student roll. Some examples of the innovative programmes she has initiated are the creating of Māori and Pacific collections, introducing graphic novels, a parenting library, which matches well with the Home School programme run throughout the school community, series boxes for fiction and the presentation of all fiction in face-out position. Kimberley has had great success with her funding applications to several organisations and has used the money wisely to increase the number of reading resources in the library. Her school is now a part of the Authors in Schools programme with recent visits from Kyle Mewburn, Tracey Duncan and Paula Green. Kimberley has proven herself to be a passionate advocate for her school library, with the reading and literacy interest of her students always at the heart of her work. Award of merit for promotion Tracy Westall, Librarian, Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland Nominated by Elizabeth Atkinson and Chris Arthur Tracy is acknowledged for the energy and passion she brings to her work, ensuring that her library is a vibrant and exciting place for readers to discover and enjoy a range of books and resources. Tracy has been extremely successful in promoting and encouraging use of the library, in ways that are centred on students, and foster a sense of ownership and belonging for them. Michelle Simms, Librarian, Te Totara Primary School, Hamilton Nominated by Jude Cosson and Linday McCullough Michelle is acknowledged for her innovative and proactive promotion of her library to members of her school community. Michelle’s sharing of new ideas and information reaches beyond her school into the wider school library and education communities; she is a role model for the ways technology can be used to enhance library services and develop community connections. Award of merit for Library Manager Clare Giesbers, Library Manager, Northland College, Kaikohe Nominated by Jeannie Skinner and Jennifer Puckey Clare is acknowledged for her unflagging commitment and enthusiasm, despite difficult circumstances, to the development of her library as a relevant and engaging environment that is positive, welcoming and inclusive for all students and staff at her school. Award of merit for Information Literacy Clare Forrest, Library Manager, Raroa Normal Intermediate, Wellington Nominated by Jason Ataera and Janet Hart Clare is acknowledged as a valuable member of her staff who has successfully developed and implemented an effective approach to improving students’ literacy, and has been able to share these approaches with the wider library/school community. Principal’s Awards Sandy Hastings, Beckenham Primary School, Christchurch Nominated by Glenda Fortune and Paula Eskett Sandy is recognised for providing inspiration and actively demonstrates how highly valued the library and it’s services are in the school community. Patrick Drumm, Aorere College, Auckland Nominated by Anne Rolinson, supported by Bharathi Char and Kaaren Hirst Patrick is acknowledged for his sustained support of the library team and consistently promoting the importance of the library to the school and the wider community. Lee Whitelaw, Ohaeawai School, Kaikohe Nominated by Jeannie Skinner and Jennifer Puckey Lee is recognised for placing the library at the heart of literacy and learning at Ohaeawai School creating enthusiastic, fluent, engaged readers and writers. Lee sees the library as integral to achieving that goal. Philip McCreery, Cambridge High School, Cambridge Nominated by Glenys Bichan and Richard Carter Philip has supported the creation of the library as the hub of learning in the school allowing it to consistently demonstrate innovation; fostering high morale among staff and promoting community use of the library. Certificates of Appreciation Awarded to retiring regional chairs and National Executive representatives Kaaren Hirst - retiring Auckland regional chair Bridget Schaumann - retiring Otago regional chair Donna Watt - retiring Southland regional chair Bharathi Char - retiring National Executive Representative, Auckland region Di Eastwood - retiring Te Tai Tokerau chair Michele Ayres - retiring National Executive Representative, Aoraki region Jude Cosson - retiring National Executive Representative, Waikato / Bay of Plenty region Donna Watt - retiring National Executive Representative, Southland region Paula Eskett - retiring National Executive Representative, Aoraki region Michele Whiting - retiring National Executive Representative, Wellington region Certificate of Appreciation awarded to Past President Fiona Mackie Certificates of Appreciation awarded to members of the 2013 conference committee Michele Whiting - Corinna School Karen Clarke - St Patrick's College, Kilbirnie Katrina Young-Drew - National Library of New Zealand, Services to Schools Clare Forrest - Raroa Normal Intermediate School Robbie Wathne - Rongotai College Christine Cross - Worser Bay School Joanna Ludbrook - Houghton Valley School Anne Keenan - Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt Judith McGhie - Hutt City Libraries Marianne Dobie - Chilton Saint James School Jane Shallcrass - Wellington High School Rosalba Finnerty - Samuel Marsden Collegiate School Archives Jenny Carroll - Wellington Girls' College Susan Arthur - Mana Education Centre Angela Ryan - Mana Education Centre We were promised 'Winds of Change' at the SLANZA 2013 conference in Wellington. What we hadn't bargained for was 'high winds close airport on Sunday"! Some of us were at airports around the country on Sunday rescheduling our flights and taking refuge with local 'flockmates' to ride out the storm.
Fortunately the storm did not dampen the spirits of those who arrived in time for the "meet and greet" at the conference venue. The conversation, food and wine flowed freely into the evening as members caught up with old friends and made new ones before setting off to enjoy the well known eateries of Wellington. Monday morning started with Professor Tara Brabazon "Learning to Leisure? Why Google is not a library and Facebook is not a classroom" enlightening delegates with her thoughts on digital medium’s place in education and the blurred line between generational understanding and use. Workshops followed each keynote throughout the conference with delegates following their own interests and passions to a variety of high quality opportunities for insight and engagement. Professor Erica McWilliams’ keynote followed lunch on Monday "Library Pedagogy in the Era of Big Data'. Although delegates had just enjoyed the high standard of fabulous food which the caterers consistently provided throughout the conference, nobody suffered from 'after lunch fade out’ due to Erica’s fascinating and engaging advice on assisting our users with information management in learning. Monday evening after cocktails and Awards (see website page for full list) many delegates chose to join flockmates of similar school types ie; boys schools, primary schools etc. This initiative was suggested on Listserv and captured the attention of many participants who enjoyed sharing with those in similar situations. Tuesday started with a keynote from Dr Cathy Wylie, a Chief Researcher at the NZ Council for Educational Research, ‘How reading matters in Children’s development’. She drew together findings from her own research and other comparative projects to give the audience a broad yet clear understanding of how literacy, home life and school experience effect children’s ability to learn and be productive. Keynote Andrew Fiu, author of Purple Heart a story of his teenage years spent in hospital, spoke of his own learning journey and how his elderly hospital mates inspired him to open his mind to education by sharing their newspapers and life experience with him. On the social side, the author breakfasts at the Iconic Backbenchers bar were well attended. Tuesday evening gave us an opportunity for a private viewing of the Andy Warhol exhibit followed by dinner and dancing in the stunning Te Marae on the top floor of Te Papa Museum. Wednesday started with Dr Susan Sandretto’s “(Re)considering information literacy through a critical literacy lens’ as the final keynote of the conference. She shared an overview of the rapidly evolving multi-literacy landscape and where information literacy practices might go next. Her practical handouts gave participants a starting point for their own info lit approach. The author panel with Kim Hill, Bernard Beckett, Glenn Colquhoun and Kate de Goldi was a highlight for many and a great way to finish the conference. Their open discussion was interesting and enlightening. Delegates were invited to join in the conversation, this lead to some humorous moments with good advice and ideas from all involved. All our thanks go to the conference committee and their dedication to providing a positive learning experience for all who took their offer to examine ‘The Winds of Change’ in our industry and our lives. Lisa Salter - SLANZA Communications Leader |
Categories
All
Archives
March 2024
|