SLA Blog

What's So Special About Digital Copyright? - closing date soon!

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'

CBI Winner at Weekend Course

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

Getting the best from young people - closing date extended!

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.

IASL Conference 2013

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 for Jacqueline Wilson

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!)

Stan Lee Excelsior Award Research

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.

Additions to Belfast Programme

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.

GiggleIt 2013

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.

Blyton Exhibition

Mystery, Magic and Midnight Feasts, the first ever major exhibition celebrating the life and work of Enid Blyton will be unveiled at Seven Stories, National Centre for Children's Books, from 3rd May 2013. Many exhibits will be on public display for the first time, revealing Blyton's creative imagination and the events that shaped her life and storytelling.

Information Literacy Challenge

Don't forget Phil Bradley and his challenge - the deadline for the CILIP Presidential Information Literacy Challenge is the 1st May. Show Phil Bradley and colleagues your information literacy work in action by sending them a two minute film or interactive poster for the chance to win a free place at Umbrella 2013.

Ofsted - Improving Litearcy in secondary schools

I was delighted to read the new Ofsted report – Improving Literacy in secondary schools: a shared responsibility. Not only does it recognise the good librarians and libraries within all the schools used as case studies but it goes on to emphasise in the recommendations –

Making full use of the library and librarian

In every school in the survey there were successful measures to involve the library and ensure that the librarian had an important role in developing reading. This is common sense, building on the specialist knowledge that librarians possess. Where librarians are fully integrated into the management structure of the school, they have an opportunity to influence debate and to enhance the library’s contribution to pupils’ progress. Many of the imaginative programmes to encourage reading that inspectors see are inspired by a good librarian.

I would recommend reading the report – as it is full of activity that may chime with something you have wanted to develop in your own school, and I am always in favour of adapting existing practise rather than reinventing the wheel! Many of the recommendations underline advice we have been giving to school librarians for many years – especially around the active support of the head and SLT, the cross curricular nature of literacy and libraries, and using specialist knowledge to support teachers and departments, as well as systematic evaluation and monitoring. I urge you all to take this report and use it to strengthen your position within your schools.

We have been aware, from anecdotal evidence, for some time that inspectors are looking at libraries and talking to librarians more than had been the case. We had been delighted to receive this news from Jenny Bache at St Matthew Academy, Blackheath who quotes Ofsted to begin with -

The school’s efforts to raise levels in reading are beginning to have an effect. The teaching of phonics (letters and the sounds they represent) in the lower school is helping also with writing skills. The regular Friday morning ‘DEAR’ sessions, where the whole school ‘drops everything and reads’ is promoting a positive culture of reading for enjoyment. The library is used extensively and pupils have many opportunities to read. Special events such as those marking World Book Day bring in authors, and the whole school engages in activities which support reading.

St Matthew Academy’s inspection took place on the Wednesday before World Book Day (WBD) and on WBD itself. Jenny managed to grab the lead inspector who popped in the library during KS4 lunch on Wednesday and gave him a sheet she had prepared of what they do, plus a badge to wear on WBD - "An Inspector Calls"!! (We had organised a scavenger hunt for WBD where staff and pupils had to find as many staff wearing book title badges – all relevant to their job within school.) Our Principal thought this was great and commented afterwards that the inspector enjoyed wearing it and being part of the school community! On WBD the inspectors visited one of the sessions with the brilliant storyteller Carol Russell who was with us and rated her session "outstanding" - she was thrilled! We had organized a Book Fortnight to coincide with WBD and they asked to see the programme for this. Everyone is chuffed that the Academy has gone from 'satisfactory' to 'good'! A huge thank you for sharing this with us Jenny.

IBBY AGM 2013

This year’s IBBY UK AGM will take place at The Story Museum, Rochester House, 42 Pembroke Street, Oxford, OX1 1BP on Saturday April 27 at 2.00 p.m. There is no charge for members or non-members. The Story Museum is an exciting new centre for story and storytelling in Oxford with big plans for the future, which you will hear about from co-director and IBBY member, Kim Pickin, following the AGM. If you wish to attend contact the secretary: John Dunne Tel: 023 8069 3000/ m: 0780 3010 365; e-mail: j.f.dunne@btinternet.com

New Book - From Audiobooks to E-Books

The SLA's newest publication is a very useful guide to alternative formats which can be new and exciting way to engage a generation of digital natives – tools librarians can use to create new readers. This guideline is intended to introduce the librarian in both primary and secondary schools to some of those alternative formats, where they can be sourced and how to use them effectively. It also includes three case studies which show how librarians have used alternative formats in innovative ways in their own schools.

From Audiobooks to E-books: Alternative Formats to Engage Non-readers by Eileen Armstrong and Sally Duncan is now available to order online.

21st Century School Libraries Visionary Spaces for Learning

21st Century School Libraries – Visionary Spaces for Learning is a recently published book chapter by SLA director Tricia Adams. It discusses how in the 21st century "the school library is not a luxury but a necessity; the bedrock, the head and heart of all learning, offering a place of both relaxation and stimulation in the school, and in the wider community."

This is a downloadable PDF preprint available exclusively to SLA members.

The definitive version of this piece may be found in Carolynn Rankin and Avril Brock, editors, Library Services for Children and Young People: Challenges and opportunities in the digital age (2012) Facet Publishing.

The book is available to purchase at Facet Publishing:

Early bird booking closes 23rd April

Reaching Out - New Ways to Engage in Belfast on June 21st to 23rd 2013, our SLA Weekend Course. We have a very varied and full programme available - lots of training opportunities and some fantastic speakers. Don't miss out on savings - early bird booking closes next week - take advantage of the excellent reduced rate now!

2 new reports on school libraries

Two new reports have been recently published the following is an interesting report on the state of U.S. school libraries:

http://www.ala.org/news/state-americas-libraries-report-2013/school-libraries

and an Australian report called 'Future Learning and School Libraries':

BD and Comics Passion Festival and Competition

The BD & Comics Passion Festival is taking place at the Institut Français in London from May 30 to June 2.

Every year, the BD & Comics Passion Festival celebrates graphic novels by gathering the greatest authors and illustrators, all taking part in amazing events: workshops, talks, live drawings, book signings, and concerts.

Our new impressive line-up includes: Pénélope Bagieu, Glen Baxter, François Boucq, Ian Culbard, Etienne Davodeau, Virginie Despentes, Edika, Hunt Emerson, Pascal Garray (the Smurfs), Régis Loisel, David Mairowitz, Marc-Antoine Mathieu, Posy Simmonds, Mark Stafford, Patrick Sobral and Laurent Verron (Billy & Buddy).

The complete programme will be revealed next week so stay tuned via the website (www.bdandcomicspassion.co.uk) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BDandComicsPassion).

And as it really worked last year, they are running a comic book competition once again. Open to all the 7-17 years old in the UK, all they have to do is make a comic book in which the food they love/hate is the hero. For an amazing contest we obviously had to set up an amazing jury with Paul Gravett (comics expert), Alex Spiro (editor at Nobrow), Patrick Sobral (author of the Légendaires) and well-known French chef Raymond Blanc!

Invitation to participate in a Delphi study on the use of biometrics in school libraries

As part of a masters course in Information and Library Management Karen Lilliman is conducting dissertation research on the topic of biometrics in school libraries. This is an issue that has attracted significant public attention and it is hoped that the final report will contribute to the debate by presenting the views of professionals that work with biometrics.

The research aims are:

To contribute to existing evidence about the use of biometrics in UK schools
To identify any benefits and drawbacks of biometrics in school libraries
To record and analyse the opinions of library professionals currently working in UK schools
To identify the impact of recent changes to legislation

If you can answer ‘yes’ to all of the following then you are exactly who Karen is looking for.

Are you currently working in a UK school or sixth form college library with students under the age of 18?
Do you have experience of working with biometric technology in a library setting?
Do you have a minimum of six months work experience in a school library?
Can you have regular access to email to receive and respond to messages?

The research needs a panel of at least ten members. It will follow a Delphi format which involves a series of questionnaires interspersed with controlled feedback. The research will be conducted in line with Northumbria University’s Ethics and Governance regulations (http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/researchandconsultancy/sa/ethgov).

For further information and to express an interest in participating in this project, please contact karen.lilliman@northumbria.ac.uk

Please forward this message to other colleagues that may be interested in taking part.

With thanks,

Karen Lilliman

Postgraduate student

Northumbria University

9/11 Competition

The 2013 9/11 competition is now open. Every UK student aged 14-16 gets the chance to win an incredible trip to New York. The winner will be chosen by our expert judging panel which includes Kevin Spacey CBE, Artistic Director of the Old Vic Theatre and Oscar winning actor, Simon Schama CBE, historian and broadcaster, and Professor Chris Husbands, Director, the Institute of Education, London University.
To enter the competition students should either produce a short film (3-5 minutes, under 75mb) or a 1200 word essay responding to one of two questions: How did 9/11 Change the World? or Why and How Would You Keep the Memory of 9/11 Alive in the UK?

Patron of Reading

You may be aware of the Patron of Reading scheme at Ysgol Esgob Morgan in Denbighshire. This has been widely reported, and has been such a success that author Helena Pielichaty and Head Tim Redgrave have produced a guide so that other schools can benefit from their experience. Do consider the options for your school - the system is very flexible and can be formed to exactly fit the needs and circumstances in your school.

Patron of Reading Guideline

PDF file, 255 kB

Requires Adobe Reader

Last chance to book your place!

The closing date for the following SLA regional training courses has been extended (due to the early Easter break) so contact us now to book your place:

Reading for pleasure with Alec Williams on Wednesday 24th April in Cheshire

Getting to grips with the primary school library with Annike Dase on Friday 26th April in London

Managing e-book collections with Chris Armstrong and Ray Lonsdale on 24th April in Harrogate

Sad News

Linda Banner died on Sunday after an eighteen month fight with cancer. Many librarians will know Linda, either from her early days with Hertfordshire School Library Service, her time in publishing (Watts/Orchard, latterly Hachette), or her recent freelance work with Pandora Books in King’s Lynn. Further details (donations, cards, attendance at the funeral on 12th April) should be addressed to Anne Marley at anne.marley@tiscali.co.uk.

Many SLA members will remember Linda from her years on the SLA committee and her support for school libraries over the years. Our thoughts are with her family.

Design Award Shortlist Announced

The shortlist for the 2013 School Library Design Award has now been announced.

The six finalists (in no particular order) are:

The Burgate School Library, Fordingbridge, Hampshire
Nansloe Academy Story Garden, Helston, Cornwall
Wyndham Park Infant’s School Library, Salisbury
Comberton Village College, Comberton, Cambridgeshire
The Cedar Centre Library, Taunton, Devon
Carterton Community College, Oxfordshire

The shortlist was selected by a panel of representatives from the School Library Association and sponsor Demco who judged all the entries across a set of criteria: inviting/improved library image; space planning; educational objectives; technology and engagement; consultation.

Congratulations to the finalists who now go through to the last stage of judging, and thanks to all who took part in the Award process.

Find out more in the full press release about the announcement.

Would you like to mentor a new professional?

Do you have loads of things you wish you had known when you first started in school librarianship? Would you like to pass on your experience and knowledge to someone just beginning their professional journey? We are looking for members who are prepared to give a little time to mentoring a new school librarian - it could be in a primary, special or secondary school. If you are interested please contact us on 01793 530166 or email jane.cooper[at]sla.org.uk and put 'New Mentor' in the title. Many thanks in advance!

Catching up...

There has been so much happening at SLA recently that it has been quite difficult to keep up to date with all the other wonderful reading and library matters that have been happening - so here's a quick gallop through some items you may have missed.

Beanstalk (previously Volunteer Reading Help) launched it's Charter for Children's Literacy - with an event and film about having a reading helper. Do take a look at the Charter, our President Kevin Crossley-Holland is quoted in there, as well as few comments from me!

Dame Jacqueline Wilson, the most borrowed author of the last decade, and John Burningham, the multi-award winning illustrator have both been nominated for the international Hans Christian Andersen Awards 2014. The Awards are presented every other year to a “living author and illustrator whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children's literature”. The international jury will be confirmed at the Bologna Book Fair 2013 and the winners will be announced the following year at the same event. The Awards will be presented at the next biennial IBBY World Congress which will be in Mexico City in 2014.

Children and young people aged four to 18 years are being challenged to make their own picture book in the ReadingZone Picture Book Competition, running in UK schools and libraries between now and 20th April 2013. Author and illustrator Simon Bartram (creator of Bob, the Man on the Moon) will select the winning entries across three Categories, which include: Young Creators (four to six years); Primary (seven years plus) and Secondary (11 years plus). There is an additional award for those who are deemed to have put the most effort into creating their picture book. Picture books entered for the award can be made by individuals or groups and any media can be used. They can be up to 24 A4 pages; a blank template is available at www.Readingzone.com (Schools) along with further tips and guidelines about making picture books. The competition closes on 20th April 2013 and the winners will be announced in May. Prizes will include a free author / illustrator visit for the winning schools and libraries, and free packs of picture books. Each winning school or library will receive 50 printed copies of their picture book and the winning picture books will be posted online.

Finally, if you are a Softlink UK customer you may be eligible to win a place at the SLA Weekend Course in June at Belfast - but you must be relatively new to school librarianship - check it out, and Good Luck!

Shakespeare Week Launch

On 16th April 2013 the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust will launch a brand new annual cultural and learning campaign for Britain’s primary schools. The inaugural Shakespeare Week will go live in March 2014, to celebrate the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth.
Shakespeare Week will be officially launched by The RT Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education, in London on 16th April 2013. The aim of Shakespeare Week is to bring Shakespeare’s stories, language, historical backdrop and his creative influence vividly to life for more than three million children in the UK and ensure that his cultural legacy is a central part of the primary education learning experience.
Primary school teachers will have access to online resources that can be used across the curriculum. Pupils at participating schools will receive a ‘Passport to Shakespeare’ that will encourage children and their families to go on to explore their cultural heritage beyond the classroom at their local museums, galleries, theatres, concert halls, libraries and historical places.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is working with cultural partners at a national and regional level to deliver Shakespeare-themed events and activities for this significant cultural celebration, as well as recruiting some high profile ambassadors to add weight and voice to the campaign. Further details will be announced at the launch of Shakespeare Week in April 2013.

Spring 2013 issue of The School Librarian

The latest issue of The School Librarian - Volume 61, Number 1, Spring 2013 - is now on its way to members. It includes a fascinating range of feature articles and our usual wide selection of book reviews.

As usual, the ict[at]sla section can be read online with clickable links, a convenient way to quickly check out some new websites and resources. Our archive of the ict[at]sla section goes back to Volume 56 Number 1.

A complete index of the book reviews in this issue is available - the online index of book reviews can be searched back to Volume 54 (2006).

New subject professional development materials for English

Ofsted has published a new set of development materials for English at both primary and secondary level. They look at developments in a specific subject over the previous three years, based on specialist inspectors’ visits to a range of schools.

This training resource has been produced to help teachers in primary and secondary schools evaluate their current provision for English, using the English report Moving English forward, published in March 2012, as a starting point for discussion. There are accompanying notes designed to be used in conjunction with the presentation slides.

School librarians will find the sections on reading for pleasure interesting as libraries are mentioned in both the primary and secondary accompanying notes.

Longlist announced for Information Book Award 2013

We are delighted to publish the longlist for this year's Information Book Award. There were a wide variety of submissions to the award, and these were subjected to a rigorous judging process. The result of the judge’s deliberations is a long list of 25 excellent titles.

These will now go forward to be judged again to produce a shortlist that will be announced in April. We will build on the success of the Children’s Choices voting of the previous years – but from this year schools will be able to join in with voting from early June until early September. Book Packs for each age group will be available from Peters Books at a 25% discount and with free delivery in UK mainland.

The Longlist -

Under 7

A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Mark Hearld, ISBN 9781406304916 Walker Books

Demolition by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Brian Lovelock, ISBN 9781406339369 Walker Books

Just Ducks by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Salvatore Rubbino, ISBN 9781406327397 Walker Books

Lion by Suzi Eszterhas ISBN 9781847803115 Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

Make With Maisy by Lucy Cousins ISBN 9781406339659 Walker Books

Same-Sex Parents – This is My Family by Pat Thomas and Lesley Harker ISBN 9780750269810 Wayland

The Little Refugee by Anh Do & Suzanne Do, illustrated by Bruce Whatley ISBN 9781742378329 Allen & Unwin

Your Perfect Pet: Love Your Hamster by Judith Heneghan ISBN 9780750268943 Wayland

7 – 12

Discover More: Dinosaurs by Penelope Arlon and Tory Gordon-Harris ISBN 9781407134642 Scholastic Children’s Books

Discover More: Penguins by Penelope Arlon and Tory Gordon-Harris ISBN 9781407131528 Scholastic Children’s Books

Don’t Flush: Lifting the Lid on the Science of Poo and Wee by Richard Platt & Mary Platt, illustrated by John Kelly ISBN 9780753433997 Kingfisher (Macmillan)

Girl Files: All About Puberty & Growing Up by Jacqui Bailey ISBN 9780750270540 Wayland

Incredible Edibles by Stefan Gates, illustrated by Georgia Glynn ISBN 9781406339062 Walker Books

Inventions by Adam Hart-Davies, illustrated by Nishant Choksi ISBN 9781406315004 Walker Books

Not for Parents: Extreme Planet by Michael Dubois and Katri Hilden, illustrated by Hugh Ford ISBN 9781743214107 Lonely Planet

Science Crazy by Steve Parker and Raman Prinja ISBN 9781848359338 QED Publishing

Stars and the Dust That Made Us (The Universe Rocks) by Raman Prinja ISBN 9781848358867 QED Publishing

Super Science: Molecule Mayhem by Tom Adams, illustrated by Thomas Flintham ISBN 9781848772922 Templar Publishing

Walter Tull’s Scrapbook by Michaela Morgan ISBN 9781847802125 Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

12 – 16

100 Ways for Every Girl to Look and Feel Fantastic by Alice Hart-Davis and Beth Hindhaugh ISBN 9781406337549 Walker Books

Discover More: Ocean and Seas by Steve Parker ISBN 9781407131511 Scholastic Children’s Books

Discover More: Technology by Clive Gifford ISBN 9781407131566 Scholastic Children’s Books

The Music Scene: The History of Modern Music by Matt Anniss ISBN 9781445113890 Franklin Watts

The Story of the Second World War by Paul Dowswell, illustrated by Ian McNee ISBN 9781409523406 Usborne Publishing

Who Wants Pizza? by Jan Thornhill ISBN 9781445110592 Franklin Watts

Training course cancellation

We are sorry to inform you that due to unforeseen circumstances the training course "The E-Reading Revolution" due to take place in Penrith on Wednesday 27 February 2013 has been postponed.

We aim to reschedule this popular course in the near future and will contact all delegates as soon as we have a new date.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.