Teachers? perceptions of Information Literacy

Secondary school teachers participating in a recently completed study carried out by Professor Dorothy Williams, Caroline Wavell and Louisa Coles at the Department of Information Management, The Robert Gordon University, identified a number of different conceptions of student information literacy: finding information, linguistic understanding, making meaning, skills, critical awareness of sources, and independent learning conceptions.

The results of the study indicate that teachers understand information literacy to be important for lifelong learning but do not feel able to effectively support the development of information literacy in their students within their current curriculum environments.

The final report of this research Information Literacy in the Classroom: Secondary School Teachers? Conceptions, funded by the Society for Educational Studies, August 2004 ? July 2005, is

Celebrate your school library today

Today is the UK's first International School Library Day.

The SLA hopes that you have found the resources on the website helpful, and invite you to share with us what you are doing to celebrate the day. Any ideas for next year would also be most welcome

Lets celebrate!

Junk culture is 'poisoning our children'

In a letter to The Daily Telegraph today, 110 teachers, psychologists, children's authors and other experts call on the Government to act to prevent the death of childhood.

They write: "We are deeply concerned at the escalating incidence of childhood depression and children's behavioural and developmental conditions."

The group, which includes Philip Pullman, the children's author, Jacqueline Wilson, the children's laureate, her predecessor Michael Morpurgo, Baroness Greenfield, the director of the Royal Institution and Dr Penelope Leach, the child care expert, blames a failure by politicians and public alike to understand how children develop.

More

New Primary Framework for Literacy and Mathematics

Measures to further improve numeracy and literacy standards in primary schools across England were unveiled on 7th September by Education and Skills Secretary Alan Johnson.

Teachers will be given new guidance to make phonics their prime approach to early reading and children will learn their times tables a year earlier as part of a comprehensive package of measures to promote even faster progress in English and maths.

The renewed Primary Framework for Literacy and Mathematics builds on progress made since the introduction of the daily literacy hour and maths lessons and underlines the Government's determination to continue to drive up standards in the basics.

The Framework has been developed after thorough consultation and feedback from teachers and practitioners and takes into account the latest research and best classroom practice. Every primary school is being given additional funding this year to support up to 14 days training to implement the new guidance.
More

New resources for Black History Month

Actors, presenters and singers are among the celebrities promoting reading on a new set of posters to celebrate Black History Month produced by Passionet, the UK?s largest online multicultural bookstore, and the National Literacy Trust.

The stars are taking part in the Passionet Star Reads campaign, which will be launched for Black History Month to help encourage young people to read ? particularly those from black and ethnic minority communities. The posters are available in a set of six and come with recommended reading lists of urban and multicultural books designed to appeal to 5-8 year-olds, 9-11 year-olds and 11-14 year olds.

Passionet?s Managing Director Natalie Smith comments,
'Over the three years since Passionet began, we have run workshops in schools and worked in the local community nationwide. We are committed to encouraging young people to read books that reflect their lives and interests and get them excited and inspired about reading, and Star Reads is an opportunity to do just this.'

Director of the National Literacy Trust Neil McClelland adds,
'By teaming up with celebrities, Star Reads can help to inspire young people to become lifelong readers. We are delighted that these stars have given their time to help reach out to young people in this innovative way.'

The posters can be ordered online and the first 1,000 sets ordered are available at the special Star Reads Price of £12.99. After that they will be £15.99 per set.

For more information contact:
Natalie Smith, email: Natalie@passionet.net or tel: 0208 766 5832
Katy Mahood, email: katy.mahood@literacytrust.org.uk or tel: 020 7828 2435.

Information literacy research project secures funding from Eduserv

The research project Information Literacy Skills ? the link between secondary and tertiary education being undertaken by Glasgow Caledonian University has received funding from Eduserv to progress a particular strand of its work. The project is an innovative national pilot to develop an information literacy framework with secondary and tertiary partners which, at the end of the project, can be rolled out to other participants. It will aim to produce secondary school leavers with a skill set which further and higher education can recognise and develop or which can be applied to the world of work directly. Although initially concerned only with the secondary and tertiary sectors the Project has expanded to include the role of information in the workplace and continuing professional development. The Project has also developed an advocacy strand with a petition to the Scottish Parliament.

The funding will make it possible for Glasgow Caledonian University to develop an information literacy framework linking the secondary and tertiary sectors in co-operation with pre-identified secondary and tertiary partners and following discussions with SCQF (Scottish Credit Qualification Framework) the framework will be developed using SCQF aims, structure and key features.
The framework will map the existing learning that is taking place by allocating a notional level to learning outcomes and support a continuing learning process through identifying a learning pathway within the context of SCQF as part of an educational guidance or personal development planning process.

The target audience for the framework is library and information professionals working in learning and teaching environments / organisations and all relevant educational NGO?s in Scotland including Learning and Teaching Scotland, learndirect Scotland, the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework and the Scottish Qualifications Agency. The Project timescale is September / October 2006 to Spring 2007. A conference, reporting on the completed framework will be held in late Spring/early summer 2007 and the framework will be piloted with partners in 2007-2008.

Dr John Crawford who is directing the project said: ?In a knowledge economy information literacy is a key skill for the 21st century and Scotland is playing a key role in developing framework skills which can be applied not only in this country but elsewhere. Indeed the Project had attracted a lot of interest overseas?

For further information contact

Dr. John Crawford, Library Research Officer, Glasgow Caledonian University, Room 302, (3rd floor) 6 Rose Street, Glasgow, G3 6RB
Tel: 0141-273-1248 Email: mailto:jcr@gcal.

Christine Irving, Research Assistant / Project Officer, Glasgow Caledonian University, Room 305, (3rd floor) 6 Rose Street, Glasgow, G3 6RB
Tel: 0141-273-1249

Children's plea to make exclusion a thing of the past

A group of children joined Quentin Blake, former Children's Laureate, to say "We want to see far more disabled characters in books", when they officially handed over the findings of the Quentin Blake Award project at the Unicorn Theatre, London on 13th July.

The Award is made annually by the Roald Dahl Foundation to a charity which has special merit and would benefit from additional support for a new project, with Quentin deciding which organisation to support. Booktrust was recently selected, and chose to use the Award to carry out a unique consultation project which aimed to collect the views of children across the UK on the representation of disability (or absence of it) in children's books.

Quentin Blake, eager to be the first to hear the views of those who had taken part, met some of the children from several of the many schools consulted, who felt passionate about the project. When they met at the Unicorn Theatre, the children talked through some of the many findings of the work, explaining how important such images are both in making disabled children feel included and in ensuring that books reflect a representative picture of society. The findings confirmed how unhappy children were that so few books even feature a disabled character, and how even fewer books do so in a positive and unobtrusive way.

Quentin Blake took the findings so seriously that he immediately started to re-work an image from one of his books, under the guidance and direction of the young experts. Sitting under the giant Unicorn at the theatre, Quentin started to re-sketch the Chocolate Fudge Banana Cake from All Join In to include characters with different conditions. He commented:

"It was fascinating to hear the children's views on this subject, and the book world now has a real duty to respond to this need. I am aware that many writers, illustrators and publishers shy away from this subject, but the children today have shown me just how easy this can actually be to include positive images."

The findings of the project can be found at www.bookmark.org.uk

First time winners for CILIP Kate Greenaway and Carnegie Medals

Mal Peet has been announced the winner of this year's prestigious CILIP Carnegie medal, with his second children's novel, Tamar. It was the first time he had been shortlisted and he beat four former winners, David Almond, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Jan Mark and Geraldine McCaughrean.

The judging panel said of Tamar:
'Tamar is a powerful and moving story that cleverly connects the present with the past. Peet's ... writing is beautifully controlled as he unravels the complex historical and personal aspects of the story.'

Emily Gravett won the Kate Greenaway medal for her first picture book, Wolves, of which the judges said:
'The attention to detail throughout Wolves is astonishing. Every millimetre is perfect.'

The awards were presented by Ellie Crisell, of BBC's Newsround programme who talked of being taken to the library by her Mum as finding a 'sweetshop for the head'!

The time-scales for next year's awards will be different, with the final winners being presented in June instead of July and the shortlist being announced earlier to allow schools more time to participate in shadowing schemes.

Full details

IASL conference opens in Portugal

The 35th Annual conference of the International Association of School Librarianship (IASL) was opened today in Lisbon by the Minister of Education for Portugal who declared that School Libraries are an absolutely indispensable component in the implementation of policies of inclusion, full time or extended schools and enabling citizens to meet the demands of the Information society.

She spoke of a joint Ministry of Education / Department of Culture programme to develop school libraries. Over 1,800 new school libraries have been created in the last 10 years, and the Minister noted that the results of this could be felt throughout all phases of education. This had been achieved by the effective administration by local authorities, to whom the school libraries were accountable, and funding from National Government. The Minister concluded by noting that the main challenge to be addressed was to ensure that Portuguese school libraries would become dynamic spaces, central to teaching and learning.

Dr. Isobel Veiga gave the opening lecture, on the National Reading Plan for Portugal, followed by a very challenging keynote address by Dr Ross Todd, who spoke on the conference themes of Reading, Knowing, Doing, the Multiple Faces of Literacy. In speaking of the crucial and transformational role of school libraries in the reading - knowing - doing cycle of creating 'deep knowledge' he spoke of recent research identifying two types of information seeking - the Additive approach (stockpiling facts) and the Integrative approach (interpreting facts to establish personal conclusions and reflecting on these). Ross challenged delegates to reflect on two issues:

1. How do we get students to engage in tasks and own them, so they are doing it for themselves, not for their librarians or their teachers?
   
2. The critical nature of the instructional intervention of school librarians in ensuring that students gain the skills required to construct new knowledge, not just to gather facts.

The Conference continues till Friday with many major keynote speeches, workshops and research papers. Delegates from around the globe are already reflecting on what they have heard and constructing new knowledge to take back to their own countries.

Frances Hardinge wins Branford Boase Award

Fly By Night by Frances Hardinge, edited by Ruth Alltimes and published by Macmillan Children's Books, has won this year's Branford Boase Award. Set in a vividly imagined alternative 18th Century, its cast of characters includes an orphan heroine whose best friend is a homicidal goose and together they lead a revolution.

The Award Ceremony took place at Walker Books, London, on Thursday 29th June. The Children's Laureate, Jacqueline Wilson, who is a major sponsor of this prestigious award, attended, along with many of the previous winners.

On hearing of her success Frances Hardinge said: "As a first-time author, even being placed on the short list for the Branford Boase was unimaginably exciting. Discovering that I have won it has left me with an acute sense of unreality."

The Judges this year were

• Meg Rosoff, who last year won the award for her spectacular debut How I Live Now, said "Fly by Night is a delightful historical fantasy about the power of books with a thoroughly unexpected heroine. It's also sophisticated, funny and fresh; I loved it."
• Sam Harrison of Waterstone's bookshops
• Geraldine Brennan of the Times Educational Supplement
• Clive Barnes of Southampton Libraries
• Julia Eccleshare, Chair of the Judges, said "Frances Hardinge is an excellent choice for this year's Award. Fly by Night is a beautifully written novel, set in a vividly imagined world. I am very much looking forward to seeing what she does next."

Fly by Night won against stiff competition which reflected the continued enthusiasm on the part of children's publishers for nurturing new talent. The full shortlist was:

• Century by Sarah Singleton, edited by Venetia Gosling (Simon & Schuster)
  Highly Commended
• Home by Nicola Davies, edited by Caz Royds (Walker)
• A Dog Called Grk by Joshua Doder, edited by Audrey Adams and Liz Maude (Andersen Press)
• Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge, edited by Ruth Alltimes (Macmillan)
• The Burying Beetle by Ann Kelley, edited by Jennie Renton (Luath Press)
• Hellbent by Anthony McGowan, edited by Shannon Park (Doubleday)
• Barkbelly by Cat Weatherill, edited by Yvonne Hooker (Puffin)

Jacqueline Wilson, the Children's Laureate, and sponsor of the Branford Boase Award, also presented prizes to six children, winners of the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition. Further information on this can be found on http://www.branfordboaseaward.org.uk/

The annual Branford Boase Award celebrates the most promising book for seven year-olds and upwards by a first-time novelist, and highlights the importance of the editor in nurturing new authors. The author may have published other books in another genre - for example, poetry or a picture book - but eligibility for the prize requires that this is her or his first children's novel. In addition to drawing attention to fresh talent in the field of children's books and encouraging publishers to find and promote new writers, the Award sets out to alert readers of all ages to the work of an interesting newcomer. The contribution of the Editor in the writing process is also acknowledged and promoted in this Award. The winning author receives a cheque for £1000, and both author and editor receive a handcrafted hardwood box in the shape of a book, inlaid in silver with the Branford Boase logo.

The Branford Boase Award was set up in memory of the outstanding children's writer Henrietta Branford and the gifted editor, Wendy Boase, Editorial Director of Walker Books. They worked together on a number of books, a partnership they greatly enjoyed. They both died of cancer in 1999.

Kids Lit Quiz won by New Zealand team

In the world final of the annual, popular Kid's Lit Quiz, which took place in New Zealand on 18th June, the reigning winners, from St Margaret College, Christchurch, New Zealand, managed to hold onto their crowns and were worthy winners in an exciting and hard fought contest.

2nd was Springfield Convent, Capetown, SA, 3rd Peachcroft Intermediate School, Hamilton, NZ, and our own UK winners, Bancroft's School from Essex, came a creditable 4th after losing a sudden death playoff to Peachcroft.

Margaret Mahy, the award winning author from New Zealand was guest of honour at the official dinner, and the visiting teams now start an exciting holiday courtesy of KLQ.

To enter for the up-coming rounds of UK KLQ, which take place this autumn, contact the UK organiser, Eileen Armstrong, or see the website which also has an article by the librarian and SLA member who accompanied last years UK team, Cherwell School, Oxford, to the 2005 final.

Competition for aspiring journalists, photographers and designers

Could your students design the newspaper front page of the future? Could they write a compelling article on today?s burning social, business or political issue? Or take the photograph that captures the essence of the story behind the headlines?

The British Library is launching an exciting new competition to coincide with its Front Page exhibition, which brings to life the growth, development, rivalry and union of the newspaper industry in Britain over the last 100 years.

The competition has three categories: writing, photography and layout design. An innovative entry could win the chance to work on a national newspaper for a week, alongside the country?s leading journalists, photographers and graphic designers. Or for an under-16 winner, digital equipment to help you on your way to a career in the media industry.

The lucky winners will be decided by some of the media industry?s leading lights including Faisal Islam, Business Correspondent at Channel Four News and Young Journalist of the Year 2006, David Viggers, Head of Reuters UK Picture Desk, and Mark Porter, Creative Editor of the Guardian, whose team is behind the newspaper?s new look. According to David Viggers, the judges will be looking for ?original, thought-provoking entries that demand attention and carry on the tradition of newspapers to stimulate debate and nurture innovation?.

The deadline for sending in an original article, photograph or front page layout is 5pm on Monday 7 August 2006. Winning entries will be published on the British Library website, and prizes awarded at a high profile London Design Festival event, hosted by the Library in late September.

Spending on books gets best results

Researchers analysing the data collected by Ofsted from 6,000 schools have found that buying books has more effect on English, maths and science test results for 11 year olds than spending on technology, or even teachers.

Average test scores for KS2 pupils in schools which spent £100 per pupil on books rose by 1.5%. The equivalent spending on technology had a smaller effect.

The data was collected from almost one third of primary schools in England, as well as a survey of 540 headteachers, and analysed by a team from The Open University, Liverpool John Moores and Liverpool Hope universities.

This echoes international research which, over the last two decades, has effectively demonstrated that the spending on books, the use of effective and experienced school librarians and the collaboration of librarians and teachers are three elements which have a positive impact on pupil's learning outcomes.

The research was reported in The Curriculum Journal, vol 17 no. 1, March 2006 and in The Times Educational Supplement 19th May 2006. See also TES online.

Gervase Phinn to be next SLA President

We are delighted to announce that Professor Gervase Phinn has agreed to be the next President of the School Library Association.

In his acceptance letter, Gervase wrote of how honoured he was to accept the position, and to follow in the footsteps of Aidan Chambers, from whom he will take over at the SLA's Weekend Course in Bath (23rd-25th June). As a lifelong supporter of school libraries, Gervase Phinn will continue the work done by Aidan in raising the profile of the Association, and of school libraries in general.

• Full Details

Join the Literary Long Weekend / Children's Party at the Palace

The Children's Party at the Palace will take place on 25th June at Buckingham Palace, as part of the celebrations around the Queen's 80th birthday. The event will be attended by 2000 children, accompanied by 1000 adults and many favourite storybook characters, who will also see a live show in the garden of Buckingham Palace. The specially-written show will be broadcast live by the BBC at 6pm on 25th June.

In addition to the party, the Palace, in conjunction with the DCMS, DfES and the National Literacy Trust is encouraging schools and libraries to offer related activities in the three days leading up to the live show, creating a Literary Long Weekend. The objective is to promote reading and books, using the Party as the catalyst; and to encourage school and libraries to create fun and imaginative initiatives for 'Bringing Children's Literature to Life in the Community'. Suggested activities include:

• Reading recommendations (using the Children's Party at the Palace logo)
• Use Jacqueline Wilson's 'Great Books to Read Aloud' to set up sessions supporting parents in reading to children
• Live storytelling sessions; perhaps linked to a relevant (Royal) theme
• Guest authors; inviting local authors to read from their book/s
• Themed parties; children come dressed as their favourite storybook character

Buckingham Palace and the BBC will be able to support these activities in the following ways:

• The Children's Party at the Palace logo (will be available from the website)
• A special message of encouragement from the Palace which can be read out
• A recorded message from a CBBC literary character appearing in the live show on 25 June
  
  

Branford Boase shortlist announced

The annual Branford Boase Award celebrates the best debut novel for children aged seven and upwards, and also highlights the importance of the editor in nurturing new authors. The Award was set up in memory of the outstanding children's writer Henrietta Branford and the gifted editor Wendy Boase, who worked on a number of books together. They both died of cancer in 1999.

The eagerness of publishers to find new talent is apparent from the high number of entries, with 48 debut novels being submitted for consideration this year.

The shortlist:

Home by Nicola Davies, edited by Nicola Davies (Walker)
A Dog Called Grk by Joshua Doder, edited by Audrey Adams (Andersen Press)
Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge, edited by Ruth Alltines (Macmillan)
The Burying Beetle by Ann Kelley, edited by Jennie Renton (Luath Press)
Century by Sarah Singleton, edited by Venetia Gosling (Simon & Schuster)
Hellbent by Anthony McGowan, edited by Alex Antscherl (Doubleday)
Barkbelly by Cat Weatherill, edited by Yvonne Hooker (Puffin)

Judges this year were Clive Barnes of Southampton Libraries, Geraldine Brennan of the TES, Sam Harrison of Waterstones and Meg Rosoff, last year's winner for How I Live Now. Chair of the judges, Julia Eccleshare said: "A first novel is always exciting. Each brings the potential of a new voice, a new way of telling the story. The lure of childrenÂ’s books to so many new and talented authors and the current enthusiasm among editors to nurture them has given us a remarkable year for submissions."

The final winner will be announced on 29th June.

Carnegie and Kate Greenaway shortlist announced

The Youth Libraries Group of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP YLG) has announced the shortlist for this year's Carnegie and Kate Greenaway medals for children's books.

The shortlist for the Carnegie medal:

• Clay by David Almond (Hodder)
• Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce (Macmillan)
• Turbulence by Jan Mark (Hodder)
• The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean (Oxford University Press)
• Tamar by Mal Peet (Walker)

The shortlist for the Kate Greenaway medal:

• Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You by Tony DiTerlizzi (Simon and Schuster, text by Holly Black)
• Wolves by Emily Gravett (Macmillan)
• Traction Man is Here by Mini Grey (Jonathan Cape)
• Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins)
• Mirrormask by Dave McKean (Bloomsbury, text by Neil Gaiman)
• Jinnie Ghost by Jane Ray (Frances Lincoln, text by Berlie Doherty)
• Little Red by David Roberts (Chrysalis Children's Books, text by Jane Roberts)
• Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton (HarperCollins)

For full details about the award and the short-listed books see the Carnegie/Kate Greenaway website.

SLA School Librarian of the Year announced

The SLA School Librarian of the Year was announced today at the Library and Information Show in Birmingham. The winner for 2006 is Anne-Marie Tarter of Ripon Grammar School in Yorkshire.

For the first time a Lifetime Achievement award was also presented, and this went to Lynn Barrett, formerly of Dixons City Academy in Bradford.

The Awards were presented by Jacqueline Wilson, the Children's Laureate.

Full details

SLSs to become Reading Connects Partners

Reading Connects, the web-based National Literacy Trust initiative which encourages schools to become reading communities, has today launched a new category of membership, Reading Connects Partners.

Initially open only to School Library Services, it may in the future be more widely available. SLSs who wish to become a Partner will receive a comprehensive hand book, the opportunity to order free support materials in bulk and permission to use the a Reading Connects Partner logo.

IASL Annual Conference in Lisbon

If you are intending to go to the IASL annual conference in Lisbon this summer you only have a couple more weeks to register for the earlybird discount prices which will be withdrawn on May 2nd.

The conference, entitled The Multiple Places of Literacy, Reading, Knowing, Doing, will take place at the Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisboa, Portugal from 3 - 7 July 2006. It is the annual conference of the International Association of School Librarianship.

Margaret Mahy wins the Hans Christian Andersen Author Award 2006

In awarding the 2006 Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Writing to Margaret Mahy, the jury of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) has recognized one of the world's most original reinventors of language. Mahy's language is rich in poetic imagery, magic, and supernatural elements. Her oeuvre provides a vast, numinous, but intensely personal metaphorical arena for the expression and experience of childhood and adolescence. Equally important, however, are her rhymes and poems for children.

Mahy's works are known to children and young adults all over the world. She was selected from 26 authors nominated for the award. The other finalists were Jon Ewo (Norway), Peter Hartling (Germany), Philip Pullman (United Kingdom), Toon Tellegen (Netherlands), and Eugene Trivizas (Greece). The award will be presented at the opening ceremony of IBBY's Congress in Beijing, China, on 20 September 2006.

Librarians Annual Information Literacy Conference (LILAC)

The second of these annual conferences has just taken place at the University of Leeds from 27 – 29th March. Around 160 librarians from university, school, public and healthcare libraries were treated to some superb keynote speeches from a range of speakers including Professor Dorothy Williams of Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen and Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive of the British Library. In addition a range of useful and interesting optional sessions covered research and practical applications in the field.

Key ideas that seemed to grow as the conference progressed were around the importance of a social context for information literacy as opposed to a skills based approach divorced from the community of learners, formal or informal, and advocacy for the subject.

A

Ofsted report confirms that effective school libraries can have a positive impact on pupils’ learning

The Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) has published Good school libraries: making a difference to learning. This is the report of a small scale survey which sought to evaluate the key factors that lead to improvements in libraries and to highlight existing good practice.

Inspectors identified that the most significant element in bringing about improvements in school libraries was the commitment and support of effective headteachers. The most effective headteachers had a vision for the library’s key role in raising standards of literacy and making a difference to learning.

In the most effective schools, libraries and well trained specialist librarians had a positive impact on teaching and learning. Good librarians interrogated data to identify patterns of use and took account of a range of additional evidence to demonstrate their library’s effectiveness. In effective schools, librarians were regarded as key middle managers and encouraged to work closely with other members of staff. Pupil librarians were also seen as an essential part of the best library teams. Good practice was also observed in schools where librarians used a wide range of effective strategies to promote reading, planned lessons alongside subject teachers and used different ways to evaluate the impact of the library on pupils’ learning.

However, inspectors found that some weaknesses identified in the annual report for 2004 still remain, even in schools where practice was judged to be good. Although the report found that there was a direct link between well funded libraries and effectiveness, funding for libraries varied significantly. In many primary schools libraries were often closed to pupils for long periods during the day which reduced the possibility for voluntary reading by pupils. Although libraries in secondary schools were open for longer hours, the use by pupils once they entered key stage 4 declined, despite the increased importance placed on independent learning and extended reading.

Lessons in library skills were often unsatisfactory and there were too few opportunities for pupils to carry out research or work independently to prepare them for further study or the workplace. The quality of pupils’ information literacy skills was sometimes poor and many pupils struggled to locate and make use of information.

Miriam Rosen, Director of Education, said:
"School libraries are an important resource in schools and should be used effectively. Many schools are doing a good job and pupils are benefiting from it; other schools can learn from this good practice. But in those schools where weaknesses remain it’s very important that schools make the necessary improvements. It’s important for headteachers, senior managers and librarians to work together to develop library provision that benefits the whole school and its pupils."

In order to bring about improvements inspectors recommended that schools:
* improve evaluation of their library, taking account of the full range of evidence to assess its impact on pupils’ learning and requiring librarians to report formally
* develop the quality and coherence of programmes for teaching information literacy to provide better continuity, challenge and progression in pupils’ learning
* extend use of the library by teachers and pupils throughout the day, but especially by primary pupils at lunch time
*improve use of the library by Key Stage 4 pupils
*consider ways to promote pupils’ independent study by more effective use of the library.

Those responsible for advising and supporting schools in developing their libraries need to:
* work with headteachers and senior managers, as well as librarians, in order to develop provision and integrate developments with other whole-school priorities.

Astrid Lindgren Award winner 2006 announced

'The growth of the imagination demands windows - windows through which we can look out at the world, and windows through which we can look at ourselves.'

The American writer Katherine Paterson, who made this comment, has been awarded the 2006 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Established by the Swedish Government, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) is the world's largest award for literature for children and young readers. The annual international prize of SEK 5 million (equivalent to approximately USD 640,000 or 530,000 Euros) may be awarded to authors, illustrators, narrators and/or promoters of reading whose work reflects the spirit of Astrid Lindgren. The object of the award is to increase interest in literature for children and young people, and to promote children's cultural rights on a global level. The award is administered by The Swedish National Council for Cultural Affairs.

The judges commented on this year's winner: 'Katherine Paterson is a brilliant psychologist who gets right under the skin of the vulnerable young people she creates, whether in historical or exotic settings, or in the grim reality of the USA today. With a deft aesthetic touch she avoids simple solutions, building instead on the inner strength and courage of her main characters.'

H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden will present the award at a ceremony at Skansen in Stockholm on 31 May 2006. The ceremony is open to the general public.

Honour List Announcement for SLA School Librarian of the Year Award

At a packed event at the London Book Fair yesterday afternoon, the SLA was delighted to announce its Honour List for the School Librarian of the Year Award, now in its second year.

Alec Williams, Chair of the SLA for 2004 - 2006, announced the following list of librarians who were considered by the judging panel to be outstanding examples of best practice and innovation in their particular phases of education:

Nancy Anstee
Waycroft Primary School, Bristol

Debbie Carr
Willows High School, Cardiff

Jayne Gould
Broke Hall Community Primary School, Ipswich

Katie McGivern
St Patrick's High School, Coatbridge

Anne-Marie Tarter
Ripon Grammar School

SLA President Aidan Chambers presented Award certificates to the librarians and representatives of their schools, acknowledging that without the support of the headteacher and senior management team even the most innovative librarian will find it very hard to run an effective school library. Aidan noted that the award has grown in size this year, with a larger number of nominations than the first year, and an increased number of schools visited before the final names were selected.

The Honour List librarians will also receive books for their libraries donated by the following publishers:
Andersen Press
Collins Education
Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Hodder Books
Orchard Books
Random House Children's Books

Scholastic
Walker Books
The SLA is very grateful to these publishers, and to the London Book Fair for their support of this important new Award.

We are also extremely grateful to Micro Librarian Systems for their very generous sponsorship of the Award this year, which has enabled it to continue on a more secure basis.

The final winner will be announced by the Children's Laureate, Jacqueline Wilson, at the Library and Information Show at the NEC, Birmingham, on 27th April. A limited number of tickets are available for school librarians who are encouraged to contact the SLA office to have their name put on the list.

Happy World Book Day

Today is the day that the UK celebrates World Book Day. Schools, public libraries and book shops around the country will be holding special events to mark the day, and children will receive a £1 token to be exchanged for a book of their choice from a range of special £1 books published for the event, or to put towards another book.

More information

The rest of the world celebrates World Book Day on Shakespeare's birthday, April 23rd, but this is occasionally in UK school holidays so it has been changed so that schools can celebrate the day.

Tp celebrate WBD 2006 we invite you to share with us what you are reading at present. A quick check in the SLA office revealed the following books were currently under way:

A proof copy of A Darkling Plain by Philip Reeve, the final title in the Mortal Engines quartet

If you Could See Me Know, by Cecilia Aherne

This Is All: The Pillowbook of Cordelia Kenn, the latest book by award winning author and SLA President Aidan Chambers

The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen

Traction Man by Mini Grey (a family present which was thoroughly enjoyed by the donor before being wrapped up!)

The Constant Gardener by John LeCarre

The Eye of the Wolf by Daniel Pennac

To add your title please use the 'add comment' function.

Spring courses from the SLA

Do you feel in need of a spring clean of your skills? Want to brush up on an aspect of your work that you never have time to update yourself on? The SLA has a selection of courses around the UK in the next two months.

Primary Courses

Developing the Primary School Library
Lambeth PDC, London
1st March

Reading for Information and Enjoyment
a) Melksham PDC, Wiltshire
1st March

b) Horncastle College, Lincolnshire
23rd March

c) Woodford Lodge PDC, Winsford, Cheshire
28th March

Information Literacy Skills and the Primary School Library
Southwark Learning & Business Centre, London
28th April

Primary / Secondary Courses

Library Display Workshop
Howells School, Cardiff
6th April

Weblogs: The Essentials
Buile Hill CLC, Salford
26th April

Secondary Courses

Planning Effective Learning Activities for Pupils
Cramlington Community High School, Northumberland
8th March

Good Thinking! Promoting Thinking Skills through the Secondary School LRC
a) Kent Libraries and Archives, West Malling
30th March

b) Jennie Lee Centre, Wolverhampton
25th April

Us and Them! Managing Behaviour in the Secondary School LRC
Wirral Education Centre
4th April

For more information or to book a place on any of these courses, ring us on 0870 777 2088 or see Training Courses . You can also print out a Booking Form and fax it to us on 0870 777 0987

What people have said about our courses recently:

'Very interesting and useful course – well presented'
'Lots of ideas to take back to school – Thank you!'
'A very enjoyable and fact filled day. Learned lots which is what it’s all about.'
'So many new and useful ideas that I can see immediate practical application – excellent course.'
'Very good course: excellent speaker'
'Very knowledgeable and excellent course tutor'
'I found this a most informative and valuable course. Plenty of ideas and practical information'
'Very enjoyable, well planned day, which has given me plenty of food for thought. Thank you!'

First for the North East Book Award

The North East Book Award, which this year involved 35 schools in the North East of England reading, discussing and voting on the short-listed books, has ended this year in a dead heat.

At an exciting event at Newcastle City Library on Friday, it was announced that the 350 students had managed to award exactly the same number of votes to two books:

Looking for jj by Anne Cassidy

Roxy’s Baby by Catherine MacPhail

In addition each title had the same number of schools putting it top, and both books were based on stories which hit the headlines in the newspapers.

The North East Book Award is unique in that there is no prize money for the winners, but every student taking part receives a £5 book voucher supplied by Blackwells, to spend in the local bookshop.

Ottakar's children's Book Prize winner announced

Julia Golding, UN campaigner, former diplomat and first time children's author, has won the second Ottakar's Children's Book Prize with her atmospheric novel, The Diamond of Drury Lane. (Egmont Press).

Set in Georgian London the book tells of Cat Royal and her life in the world of the London theatre.

The shortlist also included:
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne (Random House)
Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach (Walker)
The Quantum Prophecy by Michael Carroll (Harper Collins)
Gregor and the Rats of Underland by Suzanne Collins (Chicken House )
Jack Slater Monster Investigator by John Doghety (Random House)
Ralph the Magic Rabbit by Adam Frost (Macmillan)
The Lottery by Beth Goobie (Faber)
North Child by Edith Pattou (Usborne)
Spymice by Heather Vogel Frederick (Penguin)

The award was set up last year to celebrate exciting new or not yet established authors of children's books. It is unique in that booksellers and children select the shortlist and ultimate winner from books not yet published. The award was the idea of Wayne Winstone, Ottakar's Children's Book Director and presented yesterday evening at the Putney Branch of Ottakar's by Children's Laureate Jacqueline Wilson.

New Ofsted Inspections prove positive

Ofsted conducted 2,054 new-style school inspections in the autumn term 2005 - almost as many as were inspected in the whole of the academic year 04/05. While it is still early days, initial feedback from schools found nearly all head teachers thought inspectors used the school's self-evaluation well and most thought that the judgment they received was fair and accurate. Almost all schools were also positive about the short notice they received.

The SLA encourages all school library staff in England to use the DfES Self Evaluation models in some way, to contribute to the school's self-evaluation and raise awareness of the role the library has in supporting learning and teaching.

Provisional inspection grades from the first term of the new-style inspections revealed that more than 60% of schools were judged to be good or outstanding - 11% of schools received an outstanding judgment (grade 1) and 50% a good judgment (grade 2). The proportion of schools judged to be satisfactory (grade 3) was 30%.

This announcement was made yesterday by Maurice Smith, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools, while delivering a keynote speech at the Lowry Centre in Manchester about the impact of the new school inspection system.

Speaking to head teachers of successful northern schools and colleges, Mr Smith looked back at the first term of the new-style inspections and highlighted how well they have been received by schools, but went on to say that inspection must not stand still. He said that in accordance with proposals in the White Paper, Higher Standards, Better Schools for All, now is the time to consider moving to a more proportionate inspection system that enables resources to be targeted at the weaker schools. Suggested measures include a good school having one inspector visit for one day and schools that are not performing well receiving more focused monitoring to bring about quicker improvements.

Google launches e-newsletter for librarians

If you missed the first edition in all the preparations for Christmas, don't worry, as Google recently published the second issue of its newsletter for librarians. It contains only two articles: Beyond Algorithms: A Librarian's Guide to Finding Web Sites You Can Trust and How does Google Determine Which Websites Are the Most "Trusted"? but it is nevertheless an interesting read. The first issue contained only one article: How does Google Rank Results (sic)

There is an opportunity to sign up receive future issues of the newsletter directly, and it may turn into an interesting read if more librarians and web engineers contribute to it.

Bolton Children's Book Award short-list

The shortlist for the Bolton Children’s Book Award was announced recently at the University of Bolton to an audience of students, librarians and teachers representing the 15 secondary schools taking part. 4 schools in nearby Bury are also 'shadowing' the Award.

The short-listed books are:

Invisible Friend by Louise Arnold
Worm in the Blood by Thomas Bloor
Indigo Blue by Cathy Cassidy
Jimmy Coates: Killer by Joe Craig
Sign of the Angel by Alan MacDonald
Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper
Stuff by Jeremy Strong

The winner will be announced on Saturday 17th June at Bolton's Festival Hall.

For further details contact:
Kath Morgan
Schools Library Service
Castle Hill Centre
Bolton
Tel. 01204 338121

Jan Mark 1943 - 2006

Jan Mark, the well respected and award winning writer for young people died on Sunday January 15th 2006. Jan's first novel, Thunder and Lightenings, written at the age of 33, won the Penguin/ Guardian competition for the best children's novel by an unpublished writer and the then Library Association's Carnegie Medal for 1976.

Author of many excellent and admired novels and short stories, Mark made her home in Oxford and was well known for working with students in schools locally and around the UK. She will be much missed by adult and young adult readers.

Obituary from Nicholas Tucker, Independent On-line