School Library Association

Our Vision

Crossing the Divide - New Edition

We have just republished Crossing the Divide: LRC Induction and Transition Strategies by Geoff Dubber - one of the most popular titles in our "Guidelines Plus" series.

This essential guide for the busy school librarian is now available again in a fully updated and expanded edition. It incorporates the latest government thinking across the UK about induction at age 11+ in general and how these thoughts can be applied to school library work.

It also includes transition ideas for the 14+ students about to start exam courses, induction for 6th Formers and the often neglected area of adults new to the school too. Reference is also made to creating induction links between schools and higher education.

New case studies complete this key title on developing positive attitudes in newcomers and a focused working environment throughout the secondary school.

Cilip Carnegie Greenaway Awards 2009

The winners of the 2009 Cilip Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards have been announced.

Siobhan Dowd has won the Carnegie Award for Bog Child (David Fickling Books) and Catherine Rayner has won the Kate Greenaway Award for Harris Finds His Feet (Little Tiger Press).

School Libraries in Action

With all the current discussion and passion around reading in schools and the use of school libraries - referencing Campaign for the Book, Michael Rosen's Just Read, it was with interest I discovered this fascinating video. It was made as part of their year-long Teacher Inquiry project, by Vancouver teacher-librarians and has been made available at Teacher-Librarians: Supporting 21st Century Learners. The professionally produced video features teacher-librarians working with students at Charles Dickens Elementary, Kerrisdale Elementary, Tecumseh Annex, and Vancouver Technical Secondary.

Executive produced by Moira Ekdahl, Vancouver School Board's Teacher-Librarian Consultant and its BCTLA Liaison Chair, the video powerfully demonstrates "school libraries in action" and I would urge everyone to take a look! Once you have watched the video, you can look at the other pages on the Vancouver teacher-librarian inquiry wiki site by using the Side Bar on the right-hand side of the page.

Campaign for the Book

As you know Alan Gibbons has been campaigning tirelessly on behalf of libraries over the past months with the Campaign for the Book. He has now raised the gauntlet for school libraries and is sending an open letter to the government - have a look at the text here and do sign up and get others to sign up too. Alan has also set up a petition on the Number 10 website whose text is - We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to make school libraries statutory.

We, the undersigned, call on Her Majesty's Government to accept in principle that it will make school libraries, run by properly qualified staff, statutory and to prepare the necessary legislation in consultation with the appropriate professional associations and trade unions.  Sign up here.

The School Librarian - new Summer issue

The new Summer 2009 issue of The School Librarian should now be with you, subject to postal service. Do keep the SLA office up-to-date with any change of address.

SLA members have access to an online index of books reviewed and to the full text of the reviews in the ict@SLA section, with live links for all websites.

If you are not a member of the SLA and would like to see a sample back issue, please email publications@sla.org.uk. We also welcome any other comments on the latest issue.

Anthony Browne named new Children's Laureate

Congratulations to illustrator Anthony Browne who has just been announced as the new Children's Laureate for 2009 to 2011.

The selection panel for the sixth Laureate award were Andrew Motion, the Poet Laureate; Sarah Clarke, Children's Buying Manager at Waterstone's; Julia Eccleshare, children's book critic; Nikki Heath, SLA's School Librarian of the Year 2008 and librarian at Werneth School, Stockport; Jake Hope, Children's Librarian for Lancashire Libraries and a freelance consultant; Fiona Smith, representing the Federation of Children's Book Groups; and Charles Butler, Senior Lecturer at the University of the West of England.

Anthony Browne follows the distinguished roster of Quentin Blake (1999-2001), Anne Fine (2001-2003), Michael Morpurgo (2003-2005), Jacqueline Wilson (2005-2007) and Michael Rosen (2007-2009) in this key role in children's literature.

SLA AGM Agenda

The Agenda for the 2009 AGM is now available on the SLA Members' pages. As notified in the Spring 2009 info@SLA, the AGM will take place at the Management School Building, University of Surrey, Guildford, on Sunday 21 June 2009 at 9.15 am.

Seven Great Ideas

This is the title of a KS3 reading programme on Teachers TV that features Werneth School, in Stockport, and the School Librarian of the Year 2008 - Nikki Heath.

One of the initiatives at the school is "Drop Everything And Read", whereby all pupils and staff stop what they are doing and read for 20 minutes to demonstrate how much the activity is valued throughout the school.

Year 7 English lessons are relocated to the library once a week, and pupils are allowed to spend the time reading for pleasure - be it from a book, magazine or comic - under the supervision of librarian Nikki Heath and a team of pupil librarians.

As part of the annual literacy challenge, pupils of different year groups work together on reading tasks linked to the Tour de France. This helps to engage reluctant boys and target pupils of all abilities.

Finally, teachers and support staff are brought together with pupils to act as positive role models, to recommend books and share reading experiences.

The programme will be shown on June 4^th (06.15) and July 14^th (10.45 & 18.45) or can be seen on the web.

Nikki is also quoted, along with Sally Duncan, SLA Assistant Director, in the TES article (magazine 29/05/09 p 36)- on How do I become a school librarian?  Do try to see it!

Tricia Adams

Write Away Conference

This inspirational conference, held last Friday, was on the theme of Something Old, Something New looking at approaches to classic literature, culture and heritage in education.  The day was filled with stimulating sessions looking at the relevance and use of classic texts in the classroom, in all formats - including graphic novels and film.  John Agard gave a wonderful performance, with comment and explanation, of extracts from his new retelling of Dante's Inferno to round off the day which had included Chris Riddell and Martin Jenkins, talking about the processes of adapting and illustrating well known classics; plus a panel of illustrators (Anthony Browne, Emma Chichester Clark and Jane Ray) discussing their motivations in illustrating the same classic fairy tale - Little Red Riding Hood.  The Write Away conferences are a real must attend event each year - do look out for next year and try to attend...

Manifesto for Education Libraries

Unison has just produced a four page advocacy document for libraries in all educational settings - including schools.  To see it, or order copies, scroll down the resources document list.

SLA Members' Day

The 2009 SLA Members' Day will be held at Peters Bookselling Services in Birmingham on 7 July 2009. The programme will be announced shortly. For booking information see the Members' Day webpage.

Cybernuts

Since publication on 5 March 2009, O2 have successfully distributed over 135,000 free copies of the online safety book Cybernuts: Who wnts 2 no? to schools and libraries. To ensure the book is available to every Key Stage 2 child in the UK, O2 have announced a distribution arrangement with Browns Books for Students to distribute heavily discounted copies into schools. The books will be available to schools at no more than £1.75 each. Schools can order a free sample copy at www.o2.com/thecybernuts.  You can see the authors of Cybernuts, Steve Skidmore and Steve Barlow, at the SLA Weekend Course in June - don't miss it!

New SLA library poster

A new version of the SLA poster first issued as a one-off for World Book Day is now available to help promote your school library.

The striking poster incorporates a quite from Michael Morpurgo: 'The sunlight of literature can touch hearts and souls.'

The poster is a high-resolution pdf download, and is available exclusively to logged-in SLA members at the Downloadable Posters page.

100 pound give-away

Opening the Book Promotions are offering SLA Weekend Course delegates the chance to receive £100 to be spent on their range of acrylic display units. Opening the Book Promotions are looking for volunteers to give their opinion on a range of new furniture units currently being developed specifically for school libraries. The session will last no more than an hour and will be hosted during the SLA Weekend Course. Each volunteer will be given £100 credit to be spent on Opening the Book's range of acrylic units before the end of September. There are only 15 places available and volunteers will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis. If you are interested in taking part, please email jane@openingthebook.com or call 0121 246 2820.

Coping with difficult behaviour in the library

Have you been struggling with difficult behaviour problems in your library? Here is a very practical answer to your concerns.

Cool, Calm and Collected: Managing Behaviour in the Secondary School Library is the SLA's latest title in our respected Guidelines Plus series.

It is an essential guide to all the issues surrounding behaviour management, including style and image, body language, use of whole school policies and of course it suggests strategies to use with groups,  individuals and also adults in the school library. Also included is a range of case studies written by established school librarians who share their own experiences.

Further information and a sample chapter are available in our Publications section.

Weekend Training Course Programme

The full programme of our 2009 weekend training course is now available. Take Your Partners: School Libraries Building Bridges runs from 19-21 June at the University of Surrey, Guildford.

The course has become an essential element of professional development for many school librarians and represents great value for money. It offers thought provoking speakers, practical workshops, approachable authors and a comprehensive bookshop plus a Gala Dinner with salsa dancing, our Resources Exhibition, and the opportunity to network with like-minded colleagues.

Book before 31 March 2009 to take advantage of earlybird discount prices and guarantee your place.

Magic Threshold Poster

The SLA has prepared a poster featuring Barack Obama's quote about the library as a 'magic threshold':

'At the moment that we persuade a child, any child, to cross that threshold, that magic threshold into a library, we change their lives forever, for the better.'

The poster is a high-resolution pdf download, and is available exclusively to logged-in SLA members at the Downloadable Posters page.

The quote comes from Barack Obama's keynote speech at the ALA Annual Conference in 2005. The full speech may be read here.

Pupil Librarian Toolkit

As part of its contribution to  International School Library Day this year, the SLA launched its new Pupil Librarian Toolkit. Available exclusively to members, it is packed full of ideas to help you to recruit, train, manage and reward pupil librarians in your school library.

It includes a wide range of sample documents such as posters, letters, checksheets and certificates that you can use and adapt as you implement a pupil librarian programme in your school.

Please visit the webpage to get your Pupil Librarian Toolkit and supporting documents which can be downloaded in PDF format ready to use.

Supplementary Materials for Paperwork Made Easy

School Library Policies and Development Plans is a special supplement to the SLA's guideline book Paperwork Made Easy.

Fifteen examples of library policies and development plans from a wide range of schools are shown, to guide you in planning your own documents that will help to formulate thinking about the library, the services that it offers, the role it plays in school and its future direction.

These examples of policies and development plans are available exclusively to SLA members as a pdf download.