SLANZA seeks librarians for counter misinformation training

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 [email protected].  

• 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