Knowledge is Power: creating the information literate school
University of Surrey, Guildford 17 – 19 June 2005
Focusing on Information Literacy, this year’s Weekend Course was an exciting blend of information about information literacy and the latest research, and practical tips to implement what has been learned from it. Delegates travelled from all countries of the UK and there were also 20 international delegates from Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the USA.
Keynote Speakers were:
- Dr Ross Todd, associate professor in the School of Communication, Information and Library Studies at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.
- Sharon Markless, lecturer in the Institute of Learning and Teaching, Kings’ College, London and freelance researcher and trainer
- David Streatfield, principal of Information Management Associates
We were also privileged to have with us:
- Aidan Chambers, award winning author for young people and President of SLA, who spoke, in conversation with his editor, about his forthcoming title, This is all, the pillowbook of Cordelia Kenn.
- Anthony Browne and
- Simon James, both respected illustrator/authors of picture books, who spoke about their past and current work.
A wide range of practical workshops and seminars, were also part of the programme. These were on a huge variety of topics from note taking to virtual learning environments, from research on collaboration between schools and HE to practical tips on embedding information literacy into the curriculum. These sessions were delivered by:
- Rhona Arthur
- Lynn Barrett
- Phil Bradley
- Valerie Coghlan
- Geoff Dubber
- Anne Harding
- Ingrid Hopson
- Duncan Grey
- Gary Keaney
- Ray Lonsdale
- Sharon Markless and David Streatfield
- Anne Robinson
- Elspeth Scott
There was a Resources Exhibition on Friday and Saturday, and a bookshop run by the Norfolk Children’s Book Centre was open for the whole weekend and also provided books at signing sessions each day.
40 lucky people went on Lewis Carroll guided walks around Guildford and all delegates were able to enjoy cocktails at the launch of Debi Gliori’s new book, a celebratory dinner for Walker Books’ 25th Birthday and music from up and coming young folk band The Devil’s Interval on Saturday night.
The SLA is very grateful to all exhibitors, to the NCBC for running such an excellent bookshop, and especially to our sponsors this year, Random House Children’s Books, Softlink Europe and Walker Books, without whom the course would not have been possible.
Despite the soaring heat (the temperature had risen from 13 degrees earlier in the week to 26 degrees at the beginning of the weekend and to 34 degrees on the Sunday) the 264 delegates were extremely pleased with the course. This is what some of them said:
- 'May I just pass on my sincerest thanks and appreciation to all at SLA office for organising what is the best Professional Development experience I have had since my MSc. It really was a fantastic weekend – can’t begin to tell you how it has positively impacted my work here already (and I have only been back 2 days!)'
- 'What a weekend - thank you! …. The whole journey (home) was brainstorming, bouncing ideas off each other and coming up with ideas for implementation. …My 'to do' list is more than a page - and I am determined to get stuck in…'
- 'I feel as though my whole professional life needs a rethink and shake-up. Ross Todd made me that was perfectly possible.'
- 'I enjoyed the opportunity opportunities for discussion….. I found the direct practical content of the workshops very useful.'
- 'The most valuable part was meeting other librarians, sharing ideas and picking brains. The bookshop was also excellent.'
- 'It was my first time at an SLA weekend and I have enjoyed the experience. Meeting other librarians and finding out how they do things, sharing experiences was invaluable.'
- 'An inspirational weekend. What a treat to have so many excellent speakers in one place. Thank you for bringing Ross Todd over again.'
