SLANSW members and school library colleagues may be interested in the resources available from the eSafety Commissioner to support the development of a whole school approach to cyberbullying. These resources have been developed  in collaboration with NSW Education Sectors and representatives from eSafety’s National Online Safety Education Council. 

SLANSW members and other members of our wider professional community have the opportunity to  assist the Australian Children's Laureate Foundation in enhancing the Laureate Initiative by completing the brief community engagement survey linked below. Your unique insights will help ACLF identify successful aspects and growth opportunities across the industry, including educators, librarians, booksellers, and publishers. 

https://forms.gle/e9bq8ioaUM5iuewv6

Seven concurrent workshops will be offered by a variety of experienced educational professionals:

Marika Simon, a Lecturer in the School of Information and Communication Studies at CSU will bring a session on Using GenAI in the Primary School Library: Ideas, demonstration and exploration. 

Dr Andrew Ross and Ms Karinne Campbell from the University of Canberra & Dickson College, ACT will present on Information Literacy for Civics Education: The Role of Teacher Librarians. 

Bryce Corbett is the Director of Squiz Kids Kids - Australia's number one daily news podcast for primary school kids. His presentation will focus on Newshounds: a free media literacy resource for primary school kids.

Zeina Chalich (Britannica Education) is a distinguished educational leader presenting on Media Literacy Skills for an AI-Driven World.

Anthony Shaw (SCIS Product Manager) and Mike Botham (SCIS Librarian) will be bringing a workshop on Navigating the Digital Maze: Quality Curated Online Resources for School Libraries.

Louise Mashiah– Primary School TL at Baulkham Hills Public School. Her session is titled Microsoft Learning Accelerators: Using AI to improve learning outcomes. 

Amanda Johnstone (Head of Library and Information Services) and Rachele Rugiero  (Head of Gifted Education) – at Kincoppal –Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart. Their session is on Academic Integrity, Critical Thinking and AI...the journey continues. 

Session outlines for each workshop on offer is accessible here

To register visit: Professional Learning Summit: (7 September 2024)

The September SLANSW Professional Learning Summit will be held in face-to-face mode at PLC Sydney, (Croydon) on September 7, from 9:00 am – 3:30pm. The theme of the Summit is ConnecTech: Inspired Futures for Information Technology and Digital Literacy Professionals. We can confirm that our keynote speakers are Dr Damian Maher & Dr Keith Heggast, and Matthew Esterman. They will be accompanied by a number of talented and inspiring workshop presenters. The program includes extra time for attendees to network and visit the Trade Fair.

Details of the full summit program are available here.

To register please visit: Professional Learning Summit: (7 September 2024)

SLANSW members, and other library professionals, may wish to find out more about digital literacies and libraries in a global context. 

A recent press release on the United Nations Development Programme webpage, features two tools that are designed to help improve the professional competences and digital skills of the coordinators of Digital Education Hubs. The project was implemented by the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Ukrainian Library Association, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, as part of the Swedish-funded DIA Support Project.

Access the full press release  via this link.

The School Writing Prize gives a voice to young Australians and aims to develop a sustained and enjoyable writing practice for high school students. This year, we are seeking entries from students that explore the idea of ‘connection’. 

We are looking for writing that responds to this theme as widely and creatively as possible in the form of short fiction, essays, personal reflections, memoir and genre pieces. This year's guest judge is author Danielle Binks, and the winning entry will receive a $500 cash prize, publication in KYD and an invitation to perform at the Wheeler Centre Teen Gala.

Entry is open exclusively to KYD School Members and their students. There is no additional entry fee. Entries close at 5pm AEST, Friday, 23 August 2024.

You can find more information about the Prize here. 

The first SLANSW Professional Learning Summit of 2024 was held in face-to-face mode at Trinity Grammar School, Summer Hill, on March 16, from 9:00 am – 3:30pm. The theme of the Summit was Piecing it together: Voice, choice and connection.

Summit participant and SLANSW member, Fabian Amuso has reflected on his Summit experience and shares his thoughts with members via a blog post.

To read the full blog post by Fabian Amuso, click here and login to your Member Portal.

The IFLA Section on Management and Marketing is delighted to launch this year’s International Library Marketing Award. The award is given to the library that demonstrates the best marketing activity to increase awareness and usage of their offer or services, through creative, results-oriented marketing projects or campaigns. The winning libraries will receive funds towards the purchase of new technology for their library-related activities to improve the services or impact that libraries offer. First place receives €3,000, second €2,000, and third €1,500. The awards also honour the top 10 submissions with certificates of recognition and a Premium PressReader account.

Applications will be accepted through 20 February 2024 at iflapressreader2024.org, where you can also find more information about submission and award criteria.

Australian School Library Associations are joining forces with ALIA to form a new sector committee. I’d like to provide some background, along with more details, so that you can appreciate the direction SLANSW is taking in advocating for school libraries and school library staff.

History of ACSL

ACSL (or as it was previously known as the ‘School Library Coalition’) was formed following a meeting at ALIA House in Canberra in 2015 involving all the bodies that represent those working in school libraries in Australia. At this meeting, those attending agreed to form a coalition dedicated to raising awareness of school libraries across all sectors and thus engage in promotion and support for school libraries and the staff working in them. The coalition agreed to meet four times per year and collaborate on issues of national importance to school libraries. At a face-to-face meeting in Sydney in May 2023, it was agreed that the coalition be henceforth known as the ‘Australian Coalition for School Libraries’.

Goals of ACSL

The primary goal of ACSL is to be a united and professional voice to advocate for a stronger future for school libraries and school library staff in Australia in the interests of improved learning and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people.

The Australian Coalition for School Libraries (ACSL) provides a united and professional voice to advocate for Australian school libraries and school library staff. ACSL is committed to the goal of universal access for Australian students to well-resourced school libraries with qualified and supported staff.

Memorandum of Collaboration - The Relationship between ACSL and ALIA

ACSL is one of several ALIA sector committees appointed by the ALIA Board to represent the interests of the sector and provide input into strategic discussions. ACSL will work collaboratively with the ALIA Office and other ALIA Sector Committees and Groups when relevant. The following Committees or Groups are of relevance:

• ALIA Schools

• Australian Public Library Alliance

• ALIA Childrens and Youth Services

• ALIA Disability

• ALIA Graphic Novels and Comics

• ALIA Library Technicians

• ALIA Multicultural

• ALIA Rainbow

• ALIA Sustainable Libraries

Operational Terms and Membership

ACSL is a sector committee of ALIA. As a sector committee ACSL can also be a source of advice for the ALIA Board.

ACSL is a network of equals and the ACSL Committee is constituted by two representatives from each of the member Associations. The 2023/24 SLANSW Representatives are Di Laycock and Lyn Hay and they will liaise with ACSL and attend meetings on the behalf of SLANSW. In addition to SLANSW representatives, ACSL comprises representation from ALIA, Queensland School Library Association (QSLA); School Library Association of South Australia (SLASA); School Library Association of Victoria (SLAV); Western Australian School Library Association (WASLA); and the Australian School Library Association (ASLA). Each of these organisations play a unique and important role, and now, with communication channels strengthened and means of collaboration set in place, there is a focal point for research to take place and a platform for school library voices to be amplified in Australia.

The Management Committee and I are looking forward to this new era of collaboration and cooperation between the many Associations across Australia who wish to improve the position of school libraries and school library staff. I would value your comments and ideas about how SLANSW can advocate for you, our members, and your libraries.

Karen Seeneevassen

SLANSW President