The School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa comments on NZ Herald article Why children are failing at writing.

The article Why children are failing at writing in the Monday 24 September edition of the New Zealand Herald points to the relation between reading and achievement levels of New Zealand students.  It highlights the importance of free access to books, thus highlighting the school library’s significance to students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Studies show that children who have better reading experiences become successful lifelong learners.  School library staff have a critical role to play. Their expertise in providing engaging reading material and targeted resources are vital to the challenges of falling achievement levels. Those schools in NZ whose libraries are not adequately staffed become the additional responsibility of a busy teacher or are run by untrained volunteers.  

Students who are able to process text in a meaningful way consistently have better school results than those for whom reading is challenging.   School librarians at all levels of education are dedicated to sharing the love of reading, working with teaching staff to help children acquire the skills to learn to read, and fostering an interest in reading which can be a lifelong pleasure.

A school librarian also supports inquiry learning.  The digital future our students face require new and ever growing list of skills including searching the internet, referencing sources, curating information and using social networking safely.  These are skills that school librarians support students in using effectively.  

A well-resourced school library that is staffed with a qualified, passionate librarian or teacher librarian becomes the learning centre of a school.  This is the place where all students can find what they need to develop as confident and capable readers and users of information.  A dedicated team working in a school library makes a significant difference to the overall achievement of a school.  

For further information contact:

Fiona Mackie
President SLANZA
[email protected]

Or

Lisa Salter
Communication Leader SLANZA
[email protected]

On Saturday 15 September the Wellington members of SLANZA attended the annual regional workshop.  It was held in the lovely environment of Wellington Girls College.

First up was a wonderful talk from SLANZA President Fiona Mackie entitled ‘Books or Oxygen: which would I choose?' It was great.  It was a revealing and passionate conversation about books and the value of reading.  It also touched on the topic of why libraries are so important.  Libraries are there for their community and for all members of that community but especially the families that have the least.  Thank you Fiona for revalidating why we love reading, and want others to share this passion as well.

We then split into two groups.  One went and polished their skills on book mending taken by Robin from Book Protection.  Thank you Book Protection for sponsoring the morning and making the book mending session so interesting and enjoyable.  There was plenty of laugher coming from the room.





The other group listened intently to Senga White’s talk about Curation.Senga is currently the library manager at James Hargest College, a Year 7-13 school in Invercargill, New Zealand.  She has also been the SLANZA President.  Everyone enjoyed the talk about curation and the tools to use.  Senga talked about Livebinders, Scoopit, Diigo, Pinterst, Symbaloo and Evernote.  I personally use Scoopit and Evernote.  After the talk it was time to play on the compuiters and put what we had learnt into practice.

 You can see her slide show here at:

http://www.slideshare.net/SengaW/curating-content-with-digital-tools

Of course this was helped along by meeting new friends bolstered by lovely food and coffee from  Caffé L’affare.

The Wellington Committee pictured above with Fiona (fourth from left) and Senga (sixth from left).    

Karen Clarke
On behalf of the Wellington SLANZA Committee
[email protected]

The Conference committee is happy to announce the pricing for the SLANZA 2013 Conference. 
Please note that the correct dates are 15th to 17th July 2013 at Wellington Girls College. 
This is in week one of the July school holidays.

SLANZA Members Rates

Full registration:  $425      Early Bird:  $375

Conference Dinner:    $80

Author Breakfast: $30

Daily Registration $160

Non-Members Rates

Full registration: $475       Early Bird: $425

Conference Dinner: $80

Author Breakfast: $30

Daily Registration: $200

So now you can get planning and budgeting! 

Karen Clarke – Conference Committe

Ignite your library career! 
Apply now for a Slanza study grant.
 See criteria and providers http://www.slanza.org.nz/study-grants.html  
Questions? Email Michele Ayres [email protected]
Be quick ,  applications close  31st October 2012

Collected out now!
http://www.slanza.org.nz/collected.html
Our recent seminars with Dr Ross Todd were challenging and inspiring. I know attendees came away with an enormous amount to think about and to put into practice. If you were fortunate enough to attend then this issue will reinforce the focus you took away, if not here is your chance to get the message!
This issue of Collected will give you insight into how people are really using Dr Todd’s ideas, and what you could do to gather evidence, from the very simple tasks to projects which run throughout a term. Collaboration with other staff was also a very strong theme.
Dr Ross Todd himself has penned the lead article. Lisa Oldham was fortunate to spend some time with Ross during his visit, and relates the messages he shared with her to the many resources available on the Services to Schools website. Senga White details the collaborative partnerships being built in her school and Michele Whiting looks at EBP through the lens of a school principal.
Scattered throughout this issue are examples of the direct action that school library teams around the country have already taken. Adaire Hannah shares some of the ways in which her library team measure student achievement, and also they ways that the information is shared with the school community. Bridget Schaumann describes the action she took on returning to school, and reflects on the lessons she learned, and the changes she will make to the lesson plan as a result of that data-gathering exercise.
Plenty of food for thought along with regular columns, book reviews and professional development opportunities.
With grateful thanks to Miriam Tuohy, National Executive member for the Central region, who expertly, diligently and patiently produces this professional journal for our enlightenment.
Lisa Salter