• 60% of respondents were state schools
• 25% were academies
• 71% of respondents were from secondadry schools
• 72% of respondents had librarians in charge of their libraries.

The major variation came in the variety of budgets that school libraries have (taken from all repsondents) 11% had up to £500 pa; with both the £1-3,000 pa and £3-5,000 pa categories having 17% each. More light is thrown on school budgets when one considers that 34% of schools had less budget this year than last, with 48% having the same as last year (which, in effect, is a cut to the value of the rate of inflation), but only 18% had any increase on their budget year on year. Comparing budget figures with three years ago 38% had less money, 32% more and 30% the same as in 2009. Some of the free text comments show the real hardship these bald statistics hide -

• Budget was cut by over a half after librarian was made redundant
• Due to reduction in school budget, amount the school is able to identify for the school library has reduced
• In 8 years the budget has gone from £3,500 to £750. Last year I was allocated £500 but argued that it just could not be done and I had already spent more than that in the first month! I eventually received £800 but have had to be very creative about where and on what the money is spent. I'm holding it together but it is a struggle.
• Head very supportive but money tight.
• Budget had stayed stable for 12 years, no increase or decrease, but 10% reduction this last year.

The text comments also give a sense of a depressed picture in some school libraries -

• I am leaving after 26 years. I doubt if I shall be replaced by a qualified librarian in the Main School Library .
• I have too little paid time, to do too much work, with too little resources, especially money.
• Our small village library is under threat of closure so even the small library we can offer the children is going to be very important in the future
• Post is being made redundant this June

With others obviously being valued as a major contributor to the success in their school -

• The LRC acts as the hub of the school for learning activities. It is a valuable and valued space both by students and teaching colleagues alike.
• Our school library is an important part of our school and all our students and staff are encouraged to use it.

SLA will undertake a detailed analysis of these results and will publish the results as soon as they can be made available. But this survey was intended as a snapshot, and this snap seems at first glance to be suggesting that all is not well across the whole of the school library world.

We look forward to seeing you there and/or reading your tweets!

For more information please visit the Lighting the Future website at http://www.lightingthefuture.org.uk/.

Other schools, book groups and individuals across the globe will be invited to register to watch the live online event and submit their own questions by visiting www.philippagregorylive.com.  The event will also be made available to watch on demand for one month.

This is the first in a series of live-streamed author events from Simon & Schuster’s children’s and YA list.  Others to follow include Sophie McKenzie and Darren Shan.  For more information please contact Elisa Offord on 0207 316 1939 or 07966 326939.  To register to take part and submit a question please visit www.philippagregorylive.com

The Siobhan Dowd Trust is proud to announce that Michael Rosen, Poet and ex-Childrens’ Laureate will be on the judging panel of a schools campaign, which is asking teachers and librarians for their ideas about how they encourage a love of books in their schools. The Trust will use the entries to build up a database of ideas which can be shared and swapped… and the ten best or most innovative ideas will receive £1000 worth of books selected by experts as some of the titles which every school should have one (or more) copies of. All schools in the UK are welcome to take part: nurseries through to sixth form, fee-paying schools are not eligible for a prize although they are welcome to share good ideas.

For details of how to enter (and the start of the database), please see the section for Teachers and Librarians - http://www.siobhandowdtrust.com/teachers-and-librarians

TUESDAYS 22ND AND 29TH MAY 16.00 - 16.30

Presented by Michael Morpurgo

Produced by Beaty Rubens

Featuring Philip Pullman, Michael Rosen, Julia Donaldson, Margaret Meek, Nick Gibb MP,  and many others…

Episode one: Easy as ABC?

Episode two: Beyond the Reading Wars

Are your pupils enthusiastic about writing? Why not share their tales with us for a chance to win £2,500 and see their words published in Litro short story and poetry magazine and displayed on a poster on the London Underground.

To enter the competition, go to www.warwick.ac.uk/litro

Good Luck!

Closing date: 24^th July 2012, Entrants must be aged between 11- 19 on the date of the entry

Sure to be an important guide to what librarians can achieve in this rapidly expanding area, this Case Study is a must for your professional development. Topics covered include virtual author visits, storytelling with technology, using QR codes, Noodletools, Voicethread, Skype and personal learning networks.

As the rise of social media changes the way we think about and work in school libraries, this eclectic selection of case studies shows how school librarians are meeting the challenge of Web 2.0 and beyond.
 

 The grants, worth up to €3000, enable you to learn new skills, meet colleagues from across Europe and bring fresh ideas back to the classroom and library.

The more schools we have responses from the better our data will be, and the more notice will be taken of the results when we talk to stakeholders and government – so please distribute the link to all your networks and to other schools in your area or cluster.  The survey is open now – and will stay open for 4 weeks – until Friday 25^th May.  Access the survey here

Thank you

Tricia Adams,

Director, School Library Association.

The petition calls for the Obama Administration to:

Ensure that every child in America has access to an effective school library program.

"Every child in America deserves access to an effective school library program. We ask that the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provide dedicated funding to help support effective school library programs. Such action will ensure more students have access to the resources and tools that constitute a 21st century learning environment. Reductions in school library programs are creating an ‘access gap’ between schools in wealthier communities versus those where there are high levels of poverty. All students should have an equal opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to learn, to participate, and to compete in today’s world."

The official White House response to the petition also makes interesting reading.

This new and up-to-date guideline takes an in-depth look at this essential area of work and collaboration. It provides clear guidance, strategies and a common sense approach to getting to grips with the curriculum, working with school colleagues and delivering these important skills to students.

Essential reading in this key area for the effective secondary school librarian, with our usual discounted price for SLA members.

The main question posed was ‘Should school libraries compete in the modern digital app driven world?’  The key challenges for school libraries are

·         Evidence based practice – we must document the impact of school libraries

·         Building partnerships and teams – to create capacity for change, librarians are not alone we have teachers too!

·         Engaging with Web 2.0 tools to develop deep inquiry – situating learning in the real world of kids today

·         Re-imagining school libraries – and their contribution to learning, literacy and living

There is recognition of the fact of wider digital reading adding to literacy – beyond the notion of reading for pleasure. This is value added from the library rather than just adding to test scores – but this is only recognised in some schools. School librarians need to stop ‘bashing’ teachers and be non-judgemental, be sociable and accessible, help with orientation. The School library is the surrogate home as connector and safe place, giving elements, nurturing environment that may not be the case at home. The School library needs to be seen as the common pedagogical centre for the whole school. Evidence in, of and for practice is vital, so analyse student bibliographies so that you can show they are using sources of depth and variety, and their focus, multiple formats etc.

His clarion call at the end was to make modern school library into a compelling environment, physical and virtual information to knowledge commons, 24/7, innovation leader and to craft the school library as a virtual place too.

Just some highlights from Ross’s talk – but the slides will be available on the SLAMit5 website soon.  Meanwhile if this has ‘tickled your interest’ check out Rutgers University and CISSL (and the CISSL YouTube channel) where Ross is based.

The countdown ticks away for a packed summer of sport - UEFA Euro 2012 starts in less than two months and the London Olympics open on 27 July.

Don't forget that the SLA has a free reading list for members covering a wide range of fiction and information books about sport to get your school library geared up for a busy sporting season.

Check it out at our Sporting Reads page.
 

Liesl & Po is full of beautiful illustrations by Kei Acedera but what they'd like you to do is have a read of the extracts provided and choose one (or more than one if you're feeling inspired) to illustrate in your own way.

To enter your picture into the competition, just take a photo of it or scan it in to your computer, and upload it to flickr.com. Their favourites will win a copy of Liesl & Po for themselves plus another to give to a friend, as well as a special advance copy of Lauren Oliver's new book The Spindlers, which won't be published until Autumn 2012.

The deadline for entries is 24th June 2012. For full terms and conditions go to www.hodder.co.uk/terms.aspx. Email Hodder & Stoughton with any queries. The competition is open to residents of the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

Bookmarks are also available - just email naomi.berwin[at]hodder.co.uk with the quantities needed and your delivery address.

CC Rasmussen, the chair of the Association Danish School Librarians, talked about the dilemma of the school library - what should we keep and what should we let go?  The pupils are ready for new technology – teachers and librarians are not necessarily.  In Denmark they have had statutory school libraries since 1990s – and a new updated law is in development – and school libraries are central to the learning of the school. But funding is controlled locally – so there are still huge differences in school libraries countrywide. Libraries are now learning centres that are seen as more ‘active’ in some way and librarians seen as counsellors. He defined the school library as a team, a collection, a function and a room all in one – graphically he depicted this as an octopus!

This progressed into a discussion on library design and a critique of the usual grid based designs often employed.  This constrains space for development and he suggested a new way to look at library spaces as used in one of his libraries.  This can be viewed on the architects website – checkout the Children’s Library at Nordborg School and also Hoejer Children’s Library (both 'dots' on right hand half of the screen – these then bring up a series of photographs).  In both cases the use of ‘sails’ and subtle lighting effects, shelves in curves and sun ray formations make an interesting layout.

I shall write some more from this conference soon too – but it was a shame that there were not more participants from the UK there – especially as it was a Comenius funded project through the British Council.  It really is worth checking out the Comenius and Gruntvig funded Training Database that covers In-Service Training for School and Adult Educators – there are so many opportunities for international work and international cooperation, and all funded.  Keep an eye on it for future opportunities.

Did you know that schools with no Local Authority advisor, independent schools and academies can apply online directly?

Did you know that the cost of a Foreign Language Assistant can be shared by up to three schools?

Did you know that the final application deadline is April 13^th and the application process is a simple online form?

If you want to know why your school needs a Foreign Language Assistant, watch this short video

Information and guidelines on our website

If you would like to get in touch with us to find out more we would be delighted to hear from you!

Here’s the team:

For FLAs from France, Belgium and Canada, you can speak to Jessica Tan (Jessica.tan@britishcouncil.org / 020 7389 4456)

For FLAs from Spain and Latin America, contact Susannah Wallace (Susannah.wallace@britishcouncil.org / 0161 957 7370)

For FLAs from Germany, Austria and Switzerland call or email Harriet Brown (Harriet.brown@britishcouncil.org / 020 7389 4228)

And FLAs from China, Japan, Russia and Oman get in touch with Emily Low (Emily.low@britishcouncil.org / 020 7389 4215)

The competition will aim to increase volume, range and quality of children’s reading; cultivate long-lasting positive attitudes towards reading; and encourage children to talk about and recommend books. 

The competition will lead children to a wide range of quality fiction and non-fiction, while allowing them to select books individually according to their interests, tastes and ability. It will culminate in individual, school and class prizes at regional and national level. 

The competition design aims to capture the imagination of participants, schools and parents and will be piloted and tested over the summer. It will launch in the academic year 2012/13 for pupils in year five and year six and will expand to include more pupils in future years.

Titles on the shortlist were:

• Ultraviolet by R. J. Anderson

• Diary of a lottery winner's daughter by Penelope Bush

• An act of love by Alan Gibbons

• Wish me dead by Helen Grant

• Forgotten by Cat Patrick

• There is no dog by Meg Rosoff

Jon Mayhew entertained everyone  along with the Worcestershire Young Poet Laureate who had composed a special poem in honour of the occasion

More details can be found on

http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/cms/library-services/children-and-young-people/worcestershire-teen-book-award.aspx

Ink and photoshop, watercolours and wax crayons, papercuts, and even beetles and breadboards: an enormous variety of techniques and art styles are celebrated on the eight-strong shortlist for this year's CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal; the UK's most prestigious prize for children's book illustration, and the only one to consider illustration exclusively.

We have now made available an offprint from an article co-written by Carol Webb, SLA School Librarian of the Year 2011.

"Emotional literacy through the library" from Behaviour and Pastoral Update looks at how to help boys get in touch with their feelings in a boys' school and explains how the library helped pupils become readers and then emotionally literate too.

This fascinating article is available as an offprint to SLA members only.