SLANZA Central Conference Keynote Speakers
Megan Daley
Keynote: Connection + Community in the School Library
School libraries are valued hubs of learning and connection in the current educational landscape. More than ever, school library teams need to look further and engage the entire school and wider community in ensuring they are thriving learning environments meeting the diverse needs of their community, and places of connection and wellness. This keynote will explore the academic research around the role of school libraries, the evidence that reading and academic and social success co-exist and the idea of the library as a centre of wellness. Megan Daley will give practical ways for school library teams to support students, educators and parents as lifelong learners and readers, and as global citizens.
Bio
Megan Daley is a Teacher Librarian and has been awarded the ASLA Australian Teacher Librarian of the Year and the Queensland Teacher Librarian of the Year, as well as the national Dromkeen Librarian’s Award. Megan is the author of the bestselling book 'Raising Readers' (UQP, 2019) as well as 'Teacher, Teacher' (Affirm Press, 2023) and 'The Beehive' (Walker Books, 2024). A former national vice-president of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, Megan is also a regular literary judge, curator of 2023 Brisbane Writers Festival Word Play program, a workshop presenter, the creator of the popular website Children's Books Daily and co-creator of the Your Kid's Next Read podcast. Find out more at www.childrensbooksdaily.com
School libraries are valued hubs of learning and connection in the current educational landscape. More than ever, school library teams need to look further and engage the entire school and wider community in ensuring they are thriving learning environments meeting the diverse needs of their community, and places of connection and wellness. This keynote will explore the academic research around the role of school libraries, the evidence that reading and academic and social success co-exist and the idea of the library as a centre of wellness. Megan Daley will give practical ways for school library teams to support students, educators and parents as lifelong learners and readers, and as global citizens.
Bio
Megan Daley is a Teacher Librarian and has been awarded the ASLA Australian Teacher Librarian of the Year and the Queensland Teacher Librarian of the Year, as well as the national Dromkeen Librarian’s Award. Megan is the author of the bestselling book 'Raising Readers' (UQP, 2019) as well as 'Teacher, Teacher' (Affirm Press, 2023) and 'The Beehive' (Walker Books, 2024). A former national vice-president of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, Megan is also a regular literary judge, curator of 2023 Brisbane Writers Festival Word Play program, a workshop presenter, the creator of the popular website Children's Books Daily and co-creator of the Your Kid's Next Read podcast. Find out more at www.childrensbooksdaily.com
THEN – Histories of Pāmutana
Keynote: Local History? Google is not your friend
School libraries and library teams have an important role in supporting the new Aotearoa New Zealand Histories curriculum being taught to young New Zealanders. The Warbricks will share insights and cautionary tales in working with iwi and hapū, local history experts, and sites of significance, in addition to the more obvious role of text-based resources. They will illustrate this by outlining their experience of leading two Creatives in Schools projects in Palmerston North, working with Year 4-6 students, their kaiako, kura and whānau, to learn about local Palmerston North histories and to create new works of writing, drawing and sound. Creatives in Schools is funded by the Ministry of Education, Creative New Zealand and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Bio: Virginia and Warren Warbrick
THEN – Histories of Pāmutana is the local history practice of Virginia Warbrick (Pākehā) and Warren Warbrick (Rangitāne ki Manawatū, Te Arawa). They have worked in museums and libraries for a combined 50 years. In 2021, the Warbricks were named Local Historian of the Year by the Palmerston North Heritage Trust. They have since established THEN and were finalists in the Innovate 2022 contest with their idea to develop a programme for schools about their own histories. THEN has developed two education programmes for Te Manawa Museum and lead two Creatives in Schools for Year 4-6 Palmerston North students. As well as coordinating the Manawatu Standard’s Back Issues weekly local history series, they are frequent contributors. THEN runs a one-day professional development programme at Rangimarie Marae, ‘Rākau – Being a Palmerstonian’, for adults to explore their identity as a Palmerstonians, from a historical and cultural perspective. The workshop includes Manawatū chants, poems and songs from ‘Kono, Song Cycle of a New Town’, a work they presented at the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Scotland.
School libraries and library teams have an important role in supporting the new Aotearoa New Zealand Histories curriculum being taught to young New Zealanders. The Warbricks will share insights and cautionary tales in working with iwi and hapū, local history experts, and sites of significance, in addition to the more obvious role of text-based resources. They will illustrate this by outlining their experience of leading two Creatives in Schools projects in Palmerston North, working with Year 4-6 students, their kaiako, kura and whānau, to learn about local Palmerston North histories and to create new works of writing, drawing and sound. Creatives in Schools is funded by the Ministry of Education, Creative New Zealand and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Bio: Virginia and Warren Warbrick
THEN – Histories of Pāmutana is the local history practice of Virginia Warbrick (Pākehā) and Warren Warbrick (Rangitāne ki Manawatū, Te Arawa). They have worked in museums and libraries for a combined 50 years. In 2021, the Warbricks were named Local Historian of the Year by the Palmerston North Heritage Trust. They have since established THEN and were finalists in the Innovate 2022 contest with their idea to develop a programme for schools about their own histories. THEN has developed two education programmes for Te Manawa Museum and lead two Creatives in Schools for Year 4-6 Palmerston North students. As well as coordinating the Manawatu Standard’s Back Issues weekly local history series, they are frequent contributors. THEN runs a one-day professional development programme at Rangimarie Marae, ‘Rākau – Being a Palmerstonian’, for adults to explore their identity as a Palmerstonians, from a historical and cultural perspective. The workshop includes Manawatū chants, poems and songs from ‘Kono, Song Cycle of a New Town’, a work they presented at the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Scotland.
Alan Dingley - Te Awhi Rito
Keynote: Building a nation of readers - A call to action!
I want to create a nation of readers, getting them hooked, finding the right product.
I am a book dealer. I am trying to get kids fixated, bewitched, and enraptured by horrible truths and beautiful lies.
So how do we actually inspire them to connect to reading?
I’m more than happy to help. See I’m a dealer of stories, a dealer of different worlds, a peddler in equal measure, dreams and thrills. I will hook them in, and will unashamedly strive to deliver product that will keep them coming back for more.
I want them to think about it first thing in the morning and last thing before they go to bed.
I’m a librarian, and I deal in books.
Bio
Born in Christchurch, and raised in Hawke’s Bay, Alan Dingley is the current Te Awhi Rito NZ Reading Ambassador. Alan has over 25 years of experience working with children and young people and a deep knowledge of New Zealand children’s and young adult (YA) literature, almost 20 of those in school and public libraries. He is currently Community Librarian at Te Patikitiki Highbury Library in Palmerston North. Alan believes Reading for Pleasure needs to become a habit in Aotearoa New Zealand. He's passionate about everything to do with books, and connecting them to young people.
I want to create a nation of readers, getting them hooked, finding the right product.
I am a book dealer. I am trying to get kids fixated, bewitched, and enraptured by horrible truths and beautiful lies.
So how do we actually inspire them to connect to reading?
I’m more than happy to help. See I’m a dealer of stories, a dealer of different worlds, a peddler in equal measure, dreams and thrills. I will hook them in, and will unashamedly strive to deliver product that will keep them coming back for more.
I want them to think about it first thing in the morning and last thing before they go to bed.
I’m a librarian, and I deal in books.
Bio
Born in Christchurch, and raised in Hawke’s Bay, Alan Dingley is the current Te Awhi Rito NZ Reading Ambassador. Alan has over 25 years of experience working with children and young people and a deep knowledge of New Zealand children’s and young adult (YA) literature, almost 20 of those in school and public libraries. He is currently Community Librarian at Te Patikitiki Highbury Library in Palmerston North. Alan believes Reading for Pleasure needs to become a habit in Aotearoa New Zealand. He's passionate about everything to do with books, and connecting them to young people.
Darryn Joseph
Keynote: Ringa Tuhi, Ringa Āwhina Helping Get Reo Māori Children’s Books Out There
Full disclosure, my bias is toward having a society that values the beauty of physical libraries in schools to house and give access to our treasure trove of literature. I’ve spent a good chunk of my professional journey advancing Māori language, literature, and culture either writing or advocating for others to write children’s books in Māori. For this talk, I will draw on 20 years of literary experience and my highs and lows of getting my stories and translations out there into the ao mārama. I may make you play battleships through my talk, bring a pen. I will also give some signed copies of my books away, I’ll bring a nice pen.
Haukiri Bio
Darryn (Ngāti Maniapoto, Rereahu) is secondary teacher trained and has taught adults the Māori language since 1996. Darryn has taught in the reo Māori programme at Massey University since 2000 from undergraduate to postgraduate. He has published for an academic and a wider Aotearoa audience and authored over 30 books: textbooks, chapter books, short stories, board books, and picture books available in local bookshops. As a Māori language educator, he has focused on an andragogy language learning style with adults face to face and online using pūrākau, waiata, role play, and bespoke lessons based on students' interests. He has over ten years of governance experience in schools and on national boards that encourage creativity, creative writing, reading, and publishing including Storylines, Te Pou Muramura Read NZ, and Massey University Press.
Full disclosure, my bias is toward having a society that values the beauty of physical libraries in schools to house and give access to our treasure trove of literature. I’ve spent a good chunk of my professional journey advancing Māori language, literature, and culture either writing or advocating for others to write children’s books in Māori. For this talk, I will draw on 20 years of literary experience and my highs and lows of getting my stories and translations out there into the ao mārama. I may make you play battleships through my talk, bring a pen. I will also give some signed copies of my books away, I’ll bring a nice pen.
Haukiri Bio
Darryn (Ngāti Maniapoto, Rereahu) is secondary teacher trained and has taught adults the Māori language since 1996. Darryn has taught in the reo Māori programme at Massey University since 2000 from undergraduate to postgraduate. He has published for an academic and a wider Aotearoa audience and authored over 30 books: textbooks, chapter books, short stories, board books, and picture books available in local bookshops. As a Māori language educator, he has focused on an andragogy language learning style with adults face to face and online using pūrākau, waiata, role play, and bespoke lessons based on students' interests. He has over ten years of governance experience in schools and on national boards that encourage creativity, creative writing, reading, and publishing including Storylines, Te Pou Muramura Read NZ, and Massey University Press.
- Winner First Equal Children's Heritage Book Award Te Reo Māori for Whakarongo ki Ō Tūpuna - New Zealand Society of Authors (2020).
- Winner Pikihuia Award Best Short Story written in te reo Māori – Tōku ao, Tō Mate Kanehe, Māori Literature Trust (2015).
- Winner LIANZA (Library & Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa) Te Kura Pounamu Award Children’s Book Awards for Hewa, Wellington (2010).
- Winner Huia Short Stories Award Best Short Story written in te reo Māori: Tama Tāhae, Tama Ora in Huia Short Stories 5: Wellington. (2003)
