Do you want an up-to-date knowledge of recent developments in digital copyright? Do you need confidence for tackling the issues in your workplace? You only need a very basic knowledge of copyright issues to get the most from this course run by Charles Oppenheim - an expert in digital copyright issues.

Previous attendees have praised the course:

'..........how helpful this session has been'
'Content very relevant for job'
'I can't imagine anyone who didn't benefit'
 

Belfast author Sheena Wilkinson has won the 23rd CBI Book of the Year Award and is the second author ever to win both the Book of The Year Award and the Children’s Choice Award for her novel Grounded. Set in a beak, contemporary Belfast, the novel follows a talented show-jumper from the wrong side of the tracks and his struggle to cope with his responsibilities as a boyfriend, son, employee and friend. The judges said ‘this powerful first person narrative is an unsentimental account of a teenager trying to cope with a series of unexpected responsibilities, and explores the effects of caring too much and of caring too little.’ Grounded is the sequel to Sheena’s previous novel Taking Flight, which won both the CBI Honour Award for Fiction and the Children’s Choice Award in 2011. From CBI Blog 8th May 2013.  Sheena is attending our weekend course - Reaching Out, New Ways to Engage on Saturday June 22nd

Working effectively with young people and colleagues across the school is an essential part of the work of everyone who works in a school library. It can sometimes be challenging and stressful in a busy, crowded and inclusive library where support from senior and middle managers sometimes appears problematic. Don't miss your chance to learn new techniques for establishing a positive behaviour management system in your own library by attending this excellent course led by Geoff Dubber. The closing date has been extended to 15th May.

The International Association of School Librarianship (IASL) 2013 Conference is in beautiful Bali, Indonesia on 26 – 30 August 2013.
The conference provides wonderful opportunities for professional development, networking, renewing friendships, making new friends, experiencing a different culture, and an opportunity to visit beautiful Bali. You will also have an opportunity to meet IFLA President-Elect Sinikka Sipila who has has agreed to be our main keynote speaker. 

There will also be more than 50 professional presentations, workshops, research papers and posters being presented. In addition, there will be an exhibition, a gala dinner, and other social events.  Preliminary information on the conference is available at the web site  If you have any questions or need specific information, please do not hesitate to contact IASL.

 

Puffin Virtually Live presents: Jacqueline Wilson's Big Picnic, hosted by Radio 2's Simon Mayo, Thursday 9 May 2013, 11.30am - 12.15pm .  Jacqueline Wilson invites school children nationwide to join in on a Big Picnic with her to celebrate 155 years since the birth of E Nesbit and all the wonderful picnics that take place in her own tribute novel to Nesbit, ‘Four Children and It’. In this very special live webcast, hosted by Simon Mayo, as well as reading from her own book, Jacqueline will talk about E Nesbit’s life, her original novel ‘Five Children and It’, as well as her love of picnics! Broadcast from the Tudor Barn in the grounds of Well Hall in Eltham, where Nesbit used to live, the webcast will end with a grand picnic and we are encouraging schools nationwide to get pupils to bring in picnic food to share with their class mates at the end of the event (indoors or outdoors!). Jacky will also answer questions from the online audience.
Teachers/ librarians can register to watch the event at www.puffinvirtuallylive.co.uk
Once registered, you can also download a special events pack (as well as picnic ideas taken from Jacqueline’s book!)

Dr. Mel Gibson of Northumbria University is undertaking research on the impact of the Stan Lee Excelsior Award in schools. What she needs is feedback from school librarians.  They would both appreciate it if you could take 5-10 minutes to fill in this online survey -  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GMKRPZ5.   All feedback is anonymous and will only be seen by Paul Register and Mel's team. General themes and issues will be made public in due course, including at this year's SLA Weekend Course in Belfast.

Several additions and changes have been added to the online programme for our Weekend Course - Reaching Out: New Ways to Engage.  We now have Saturday early morning sessions available - sign up for these will be at the course registration desk in Belfast.  A couple of additions and alterations to the main programme are also noted - including pre dinner cocktails and a change to the afternoon author slots on Saturday.  If you haven't booked already there are only a few days left before booking closes - deadline May 9th.

New 2013 GiggleIt Competition has been launched and you are invited to send in a registration form so that you students can see their work published on an international website.