School Libraries are vital for kids’ learning. Can they be saved?
Following on from this great article, Susan La Marca was interviewed and if anyone wants to listen – it’s at 28:00 https://omny.fm/shows/3aw-afternoons/3aw-afternoons-with-tony-moclair-28th-november-202
Natasha Georgiou, our Vice President was interviewed on the ABC Afternoons Radio show on 29 November – it starts at 37:00
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/perth-drive/drive/103142584
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WASLA Awardees 2023
WASLA was proud to present the following recipients with their well deserved awards today!
Library Officer of the Year Award – Jean Davis – North Albany Senior High School
School Librarian of the Year – Jonathan Dutton – Perth College
Teacher Librarian of the Year – Bec Sheridan – Christ Church Grammar School
School Library of the Year – Santa Maria Library Team
Congratulations to the recipients and thanks to the library team at Hale School for welcoming everyone into their school library.
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WASLA Awards 2023
WASLA welcomes nominations for the 2023 Awards as follows:
- Library Officer of the Year
- Library Technician of the Year
- School Librarian of the Year (new award!)
- Teacher Librarian of the Year
- School Library Team of the Year
If you are submitting a nomination. please send an Expression of Interest to the Vice-President by Monday 28 November 2022 (week 8).
Closing Date for Applications: Friday 17 February 2023 (week 3)
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Launch of significant School Library database
Researchers at CSU have launched the Knowledge Bank of Australian and New Zealand School Libraries (KBANZSL), a one-stop shop for historical and contemporary resources and information on everything school libraries and teacher librarians in the Oceania region. Make sure to check it out!
Knowledge Bank of Australian and New Zealand School Libraries
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WASLA featured on the Radio
During Book Week WASLA featured in a radio broadcast advocating for schools libraries. A team of four practicing teacher librarians and leaders in school libraries in Australia and New Zealand – including Rebecca Murray, President of the Western Australia School Library Association, Natalie Otten, President of the Australian School Library Association, Claudine Crabtree, President-elect of the School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa, and Holly Godfree, Leader of the Students Need School Libraries Campaign. They discussed the importance of school libraries, the value they can add to a school and student learning, and ways that you can get involved in supporting your local school library, potentially at risk in times of understaffing and budget cuts.
SICS Radio – Advocacy for School Libraries
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WASLA MENTORING PROGRAM LAUNCHED!
WASLA proudly launched a mentoring program at the recent Library Officer Day, an opportunity for school library staff to apply to become either a mentor or mentee. We aim to connect people who have a lot of knowledge and experience working in school libraries with an individual or two who haven’t gained the same level of knowledge or experience. If you are interested in applying to join the program to commence in 2023 then please head to our Members Only section to download the relevant forms.
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WASLA WELCOMES DR MERGA AS OUR PATRON!
WASLA is proud to announce Dr Margaret Merga as our inaugural patron, offering her support in raising awareness of the role school libraries play in the life long learning success of our future generations. Margaret has kindly recorded a video of support https://youtu.be/_n6wbf8DLEg
Margaret has also written a piece that supports school libraries https://theconversation.com/every-teacher-needs-to-be-a-literacy-teacher-but-thats-not-happening-in-most-australian-schools-184557?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1655157666-1
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Website last updated on 5/7/2023