Hi,
We are calling for contributions to our next issue of "Collected", to be published early next term. This issue's theme is plain and simple and true to our hearts and our calling "reading". It is what we all have in common as school librarians but there are many facets to what we do and how we do it. Do you have a book club, does your school support SSR, have you had successful author visits or writing workshops? How do you/your school support reading. How do you manage issues, overdues, reserves, all the day to day things. How do you promote reading with social networking or a blog? We want to hear from you, the true New Zealand school librarian with your stories, opinions, success, research etc about reading. Please consider supplying an article for this issue. Deadline for contributions is the end of this term, but if we are aware of your plans, you can submit during the holidays. If you are planning on submitting, please contact me as soon as possible so we can make space for you. Email for further information or to send an article is [email protected] or you may reply to this address. Further clarification regarding guidelines can be found at: http://www.slanza.org.nz/uploads/9/7/5/5/9755821/_collectedsubmissionguidelines.pdf We look forward to your contributions!
Lisa Salter RLIANZA
SLANZA Communications Leader

From:
Zac Harding
Community Learning Librarian
Shirley Library
Christchurch City Libraries

Thanks to the generous support of New Zealand Post a Freepost address has been set up to enable schools from around the country to support Beckenham School by donating library books.  You will remember that the Library was destroyed in a fire earlier this year.

If you or your school wishes to donate books, send them to the address below and New Zealand Post will deliver them free of charge:

Freepost Books For Beckenham
Private Bag 55044
Orchard Road
Christchurch 8154

New Zealand Post's kind offer applies for packages of books weighing 10kg or less,which must be sent on or before 1st April 2013.

Please only use this free special offer to send books which are either new or in very good condition. Simply wrap the books, add the address and drop the package in at your nearest PostShop or PostCentre - with no postage required..

Our thanks also go to Christchurch MP Ruth Dyson, who set the ball rolling by making the initial approach to New Zealand Post.

Thanks,
Zac

Hi everyone,

SLANZA has been the victim of hackers twice in the last month.  We are in the process of changing our email provider and do not have access to our xtra email account currently, nor do we think it is safe to use.  We are setting up new email addresses for SLANZA right now so we can send out renewals as soon as possible. We ask all SLANZA members and intending members to hold off sending their payments for this year until they have received their invoice, as this will enable a more cohesive receipting than has previously occurred.  

If you wish to contact SLANZA in the next couple of weeks while we get these problems sorted out, please do that via your local representative.  They are working hard to sort out the problems and they will pass your message on to the person who is responsible for the appropriate portfolio.  If you are unsure who your regional representative is, check out the links on the 'Contact' page of the SLANZA website.  Paula Eskett has recently taken on the role of National Executive representative for Aoraki, and she can be contacted at [email protected] 
 
Fiona Mackie
President SLANZA

Term 1 is now underway for everyone, and I know we're all heads down, meeting new staff, getting classes organised, starting orientation, selecting and training student librarians, creating displays, identifying curriculum areas to support - the holidays feel like such a long time ago already...

I spent a glorious 12 days up north, camping with my family, and thought I had taken enough books, but ran out with three days to go! As I was driving to Whangarei on a book buying mission, I noticed the sign outside Parua Bay School, and just had to stop. I met Janet Hill, who works in the office and library, and who decided that she would support her students' literacy levels over the summer break by opening the library and encouraging students to take reading material for the summer.  Janet said that lots of families had taken advantage of the library being open, and several of those families were new to the school for 2013, so it served as a great introduction to the area. Parua Bay School has a lovely, well stocked library, and congratulations to Janet for joining the summer reading revolution, and to the senior management of the school for seeing what a positive difference it could make. How did your summer reading programme go? At St Cuthbert's, we issued about 2800 items to Y3-12 girls and staff for the holidays and the books are pouring in right now! The returns bin keeps on overflowing, but it is worth it when a Y11 girl told me today that 'Room (by Emma Donohue) was the best thing I've ever read!'

The National Executive is delighted to announce that Carole Gardiner, from Queens' High in Dunedin, has accepted the Administrator role for SLANZA. Carole is currently getting up to speed with the start of year procedures, as the first task is membership renewals, which will be coming out to you very soon. If you have changed school, or your email address, we'd really appreciate you letting  us know via [email protected]. Thank you to those who have already contacted us with information re contact details as it makes things much easier for us. The renewal form does ask for an alternate email address, as we know school details often change, so a personal email address means you don't miss out at all.

I'd like to thank the National Executive, especially Lisa Salter, Bharathi Char, Bridget Schaumann and Miriam Tuohy, for all the extra work they have done over the last few months. Their efforts have meant that SLANZA as an organisation has continued to function, and I am very grateful that they have put in the extra time and dedication, which will benefit us all.

Although it is super sunny and warm right now, my thoughts are drifting towards the July holidays and the upcoming SLANZA conference. The conference committee are doing a sterling job of putting it together, so keep an eye out for further announcements, as those Winds of Change are going to blow any cobwebs away!

Hope to see you at conference,
Fiona.