Nikki Heath, librarian at Werneth School, Stockport, has been announced the SLA School Librarian of the Year for 2008. At the award ceremony in Westminster on 7th May 2008, Geoff Dubber, Chair of the Judging Panel and SLA Vice Chair, paid tribute to the Honour List of six librarians and noted that once again it had been very hard to select the winner as all had demonstrated exemplary work. The Panel, who had visited many librarians around the UK shortlisted from those nominated by their colleagues this year, said of Nikki: "Although Nikki's natural teaching ability was evident during the Year 7 lesson we observed, her passion for supporting students to become both confident, independent researchers and to read for pleasure is her driving force. She provides constant opportunities to do this for all abilities, using both her original ideas and those initiated by other members of staff. These range from the more structured (identifying new Year 7s with low reading levels to join the Fit 4 Reading Breakfast Club) to the less formal (the summer term 'Formula One Challenge' poses cross curricular challenges for KS3 teams). Three times per year the WHOLE school (including staff) stops for 20 minutes and reads." Nikki's infectious enthusiasm and natural ability was praised by other members of the school staff, especially those from the SEN faculty. The Head of English stated that the library was now firmly at the heart of all the school did. "She facilitates: but it's more than just being a librarian or a teacher: she takes you with her because of her great enthusiasm and belief in reading".
This year for the first time the panel awarded Very Highly Commended to two other librarians, Karen Bhatti from Yeading Junior School in Hayes, and Shona Phillips, librarian at the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh, who both impressed them greatly. The Honour List this year was completed by three further librarians who also were judged by the visiting panel to be demonstrating work of the highest level. These three were Anne Dawson, Junior School Librarian at Dulwich College, London; Robert Logan, Upper School Librarian, Queen Elizabeth’s Community College, Crediton, Devon; and Rebecca Marshall, Learning Resource Coordinator, Lipson Community College, Plymouth. Between them the six librarians honoured demonstrated a range of the very best practice to be seen in our school libraries and the SLA would like to congratulate all of them and their schools. Special guest at the ceremony was Philip Reeve, award winning author of the Mortal Engines series and shortlisted for this year’s CILIP Carnegie Medal for Here Lies Arthur.