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The fourth age of libraries

By Sean McMullen

Issue 92, Term 1 2015

for modern librarians, some of whom even turned up in costumes based off my work. Fifteen years later, many of these librarians are now wondering if libraries will still exist in twenty years, let alone two thousand. The past holds some clues about the future of libraries. What did people do for

An African library journey

By Cheryl Lopez

Issue 93, Term 2 2015

approximately 1000 library books. These were all donations; either new books from sponsors and visitors or secondhand from Western Australian school libraries. While some of the books were fairly new, having been carried to Ethiopia in personal luggage by school visitors over the past few years,

The challenge of implementing change

By Angela Platt

Issue 103, Term 4 2017

hout the day. Silence was key, and this was (and still is) strictly enforced all day. When I compared this environment with the environments in the libraries of my library colleagues in other schools, I felt that I was failing miserably. Other librarians described having classes coming in nearly a

School libraries and sustainability

By Katalin Mindum

Issue 113, Term 2 2020

With the current focus on climate change and the impact we are having on the environment, many of us are wondering how we can make a real difference. Libraries are quite naturally places that people turn to for ideas as well as answers. They tend to be positive, proactive and full of amazing, commun

ASLA Conference and Awards 2023

By Australian School Library Association

Issue 124, Term 1 2023

ld of teacher librarianship and school library resource services. The 2023 conference will be held in April on the Gold Coast, with the theme School Libraries: Navigating the Future . This year, there will be three award categories open for nominations: the ASLA Australian Teacher Librarian Award,

School Library Spotlight: Tarneit P-9 College

By Susan Grieve

Issue 128, Term 1 2024

and role As the college librarian for a school that caters for Foundation through to year 9 with more than 2,387 students, Susan Grieve manages two libraries within a single campus. She oversees a broad range of resources catering to diverse age groups, from picture storybooks for younger students

The importance of school libraries in the Google Age

By Kay Oddone

Issue 98, Term 3 2016

g the internet (ABS 2016). With such widespread access to information comes the commonly asked question: now that we have Google, do we still require libraries and librarians? This question is particularly being pressed in schools, where smartphones mean that both teachers and students carry a wealt

The new librarian: leaders in the digital age

By Digital Promise staff

Issue 96, Term 1 2016

ge and small, have cut librarian staffing to part-time or eliminated positions entirely. These cuts can impact both students and teachers. Although libraries remain open, they lack trained educators to support students, despite a technological landscape that makes information literacy more importa

Positive promotion of the school library

By Jae Rolt

Issue 93, Term 2 2015

After I was named Australia's Favourite Librarian people began asking what it is that makes me so popular with my students, families, colleagues, and community. Whilst the ideas here work for me, they may not work for everyone. Sometimes you need to try other ways to find what works for you and yo

It’s time: let’s improve schools' perceptions of teacher librarians

By Bev Novak

Issue 99, Term 4 2016

dian , teacher librarians still need to assert their relevance within school communities. In her article in Connections 98, ‘The importance of school libraries in the Google Age’, Kay Oddone notes the positive attributes of teacher librarians, and implores readers to use her arguments as a ‘catalyst

What do our students really want?

By Megan Stuart

Issue 101, Term 2 2017

ith the fear and excitement that disruptive technology can bring, it is library staff. Over the course of nearly four decades teaching in schools and libraries, I have witnessed incredible change and welcomed exciting progress in the way information is accessed, books are published and students are

School library spotlight: Glen Eira College

By Karys McEwen

Issue 102, Term 3 2017

staff and a group of dedicated student library monitors that help keep the library cogs well and truly turning. How long have you worked in school libraries, and what inspired you to go down this path? I have been in school libraries for four years. My undergraduate degree was in Fine Art and I

Reimagining the library landscape: an approach to school library design

By Anne Whisken

Issue 103, Term 4 2017

ool in Kew, Melbourne, has about 2,400 students from Early Years to Year 12 across two primary schools and a combined middle and senior school. The libraries There are two primary school libraries, and a third library is shared by the senior and middle schools. Both VCE and IB are studied at sen

School libraries: miracles and madness

By Jackie French

Issue 104, Term 1 2018

The first school I went to burnt down. This was not my fault. The library didn’t burn down, because there wasn’t one — just a classroom with a shelf of books. I won third place in the lottery to read one of the two or three new books donated each year: The Magic Pudding . Three weeks later, it was

Making the library the true heart of the school

By Caroline Roche

Issue 105, Term 2 2018

ibrarian, you see it in tweets, you see it in newspaper articles, and it is even the title of the All Party Parliamentary Group white paper on school libraries: ‘The beating heart of the school’. But where does this phrase that is so ubiquitous now come from? Well, actually, I know. It is a phrase t

School libraries enhancing student wellbeing

By Jackie Child

Issue 105, Term 2 2018

home, playground and classroom. It is a safe place where students can come to chill out, meet, talk, study, make and play. For many students, school libraries have always been a place of refuge from the playground or extreme weather.  School libraries, like so many public libraries, are changing.

School library spotlight: Rolleston School

By Kay Morfett

Issue 105, Term 2 2018

What is your job title, and what does your role entail? How many people work in your library? I work at Rolleston School as the librarian. My role is 25 hours a week, split over five days. I have a teacher in charge who is really wonderful and supportive and, aside from a brilliant group of stude

Enhancing the flexibility of library services

By Claire Elliott

Issue 106, Term 3 2018

Libraries and librarians are built around relationships. It is essential that they provide exceptional customer service as a means of ensuring sustainable growth. With this in mind, a number of changes were implemented in the Trinity Grammar Preparatory School library to improve the services that w

School library spotlight: Mt St Michael's College

By Sandra Mannion

Issue 106, Term 3 2018

ed in-house to provide students with subject-specific digital and interactive resources, including links to relevant websites and databases. School libraries are places where all students feel welcomed and are encouraged to grow and learn. We do a lot more than just provide books and information;

Ten ways to transform your library into a flexible learning space

By Liza Moss

Issue 107, Term 4 2018

While it is true that its uses may vary among assemblies, exams and PE classes, generally each use takes place sequentially rather than concurrently. Libraries are the true multipurpose centres. The library at my school can be hosting a farewell ceremony for visiting Japanese students, providing a p