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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THE LATEST EDITION of iC3 is OUT NOW!
Members should be receiving the latest edition of iC3 now and it is a ‘brilliant and informative edition’ and one where we announce that Dr Margaret Merga is our inaugural patron!
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MEGAN DALEY VIDEO AVAILABLE
If you missed the WASLA Term 1 PD with Megan Daley well you have a second chance to access the video and slides by completing the order form.
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WASLA MESSAGE
What a year it has been with so many things happening in the education field and outside with COVID forcing many changes. WASLA has managed the complex navigation of fulfilling our PD requirements with thoughtful and timely PD opportunities and we look forward to the complexities that 2022 will most certainly present.
A summary of the Acting President (now President’s report) as presented at the recent AGM is as follows:
Advocacy:
- School Library Coalition where representatives from each state association, ASLA, ALIA and ACER meet once a term (online for 2021) to discuss our current circumstances and the direction of our next campaign to advocate for school libraries across Australia. Currently the main vehicle for advocacy is the Students Need School Libraries campaign which provides many great advocacy opportunities for all library staff to use.
- The WASLA owned, Literacy Matters website has been revamped in conjunction with our partner SLAV. The website will continue to evolve with the intention to remain a key source for all things related to Information Literacy.
Committee:
- A most heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the wonderful group of committed volunteers who form the WASLA Committee. Attending meetings, supporting and running various initiatives, writing reports, organising PD opportunities, catering for the various WASLA activities, publishing a biannual professional journal and so much more.
On behalf of the members and the committee, I wish you all a safe, relaxing and rejuvenating break and I look forward to working with and for you in 2022.
Rebecca Murray
President, WASLA
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WASLA AGM 2021
At the upcoming AGM our guest speakers will be introducing their work on a very important research project, significantly important to our profession. The researchers from Deakin University, will be introducing their Australian Research Council Funded Linkage Project, Cultural Pathways to Reading for Australian Teens. Phase 1, completed over the past year provided information about the current state of YA publishing in Australia. Phase 2 involves surveying secondary students in various states including Western Australia. Although delivered via Zoom I ask for your support in attending the AGM and registering your interest in participating in the survey due to commence early in 2022.
Register at:https://www.trybooking.com/BUTHR
by November 10, 2021
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WA School Library Conference – Registration details
The conference committee are pleased to release the registration brochure for the upcoming conference. Please visit the Upcoming Conferences page for further details.
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WA School Library Conference – Scholarship Opportunity
WASLA Members are welcome to apply for two scholarships to assist with attending the upcoming conference. Please visit the Upcoming Conferences page for further details.
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25 Years of Service to School Libraries Award
During the upcoming WA School Library Conference the organising committee will be proud to present to eligible delegates a 25 years of service pin. Please visit the Upcoming Conferences page for further details on how to apply for this award.
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SLC Sponsorship Opportunity
The SLC conference committee are providing all interested companies with an opportunity to participate in the upcoming conference. Details can be be found by downloading the Sponsorship Opportunity document.
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SLC Breakout Sessions – Expression of Interest
At the upcoming conference there will be breakout sessions! If you are interested in presenting at the conference then please fill download and complete the Breakout sessions invitation.
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WASLA Term 2 2021 Award Ceremony
On Wednesday night at the Western Australian School Library Awards Ceremony the 2021 awardees were announced.
The Western Australian School Library Association has great pleasure in announcing the 2021 School Library Awardees:
Library Officer of the Year
Lisa Perriam
Scotch College
Library Technician of the Year
Sarah Sarmardin
Notre Dame Catholic Primary School
Teacher Librarian of the Year
Darryl Fernandez
Perth College
School Library of the Year
Lynwood Senior High School Library
Lynwood Senior High School
Congratulations to all of the awardees!
The Western Australian School Library Association (WASLA) recognises, through the presentation of Awards, the professional leadership, vision, innovation and collaboration of its members, and those whose work influences the development of libraries across the Western Australian education field.
This year we received several nominees in each category. This is a great testament to the way that school libraries, and school library staff, stepped up to support their school communities during the incredibly difficult time we had in 2020. The WASLA Committee is very pleased to see library staff receiving recognition and appreciation from their schools for all their hard work.
The presentation can be viewed on the WASLA Youtube Channel at https://youtu.be/1lgb9z_ZIWY
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WASLA Term 1 PD 2021
Kay Oddone – Beyond Fake News
If you would like to access the recording of this amazing PD opportunity please log into the Members Only section and then on the ‘videos’ section.
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WASLA Awards 2021
Nominations are now open for the following WASLA Awards for 2021:
- School Library Team of the Year
- Teacher Librarian of the Year
- Library Technician of the Year
- Library Officer of the Year
If you are submitting a nomination, please send an Expression of Interest to Felicia Harris by Friday 27 February.
Closing Date for Applications: Monday 29 March 2021
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WASLA on ABC Perth
12/11/2020
Updated 24/11/2020
Click below to listen to our President, Natasha Georgiou, being interviewed on the ABC Perth Morning show by Nadia Mitsopoulos and Russell Woolf regarding the petition tabled in State Parliament on the 12 November 2020.
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WASLA AGM Guest Speaker
12/11/2020
Just a reminder that bookings are open for the 2020 WASLA AGM.
To book please go to https://www.trybooking.com/BLPFA .
The event is free for all WASLA / AISWA members.
The event is also free for up to 2 staff from WASLA and AISWA Institutional memberships, each additional staff member from a WASLA / AISWA Institutional membership will be $10.
All non WASLA / AISWA members will cost $10.
We have a fascinating Keynote Presentation prepared by Dr Margaret Merga that I cannot wait to hear:
Australian teacher librarians: What makes them worth their weight in gold?
In this presentation, we will discuss Margaret’s 2020 research on differences between qualified library staff in Australia, the UK and the US, with particular attention to literacy and reading-related practices and dispositions. You will learn about the role scope of the Australian teacher librarian, gaining insight into why you feel so tired at the end of a working day! We will explore how the Australian teacher librarian promotes reading engagement according to their role description and examine how the Australian teacher librarian role differs from their UK counterparts. Finally, we will explore how the Australian teacher librarian role differs from the US library professional role in fostering reading for pleasure. There will be time at the end of the presentation to ask any questions you may have about this research or Margaret’s other projects.
There is a yummy afternoon tea organised with Angelo from Serendipity Catering.
Make this a relaxing and enjoyable end of year catch-up before the craziness of the Christmas rush kicks in!
The WASLA Committee look forward to seeing you on the 25th November
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WASLA 2020 Award Winners honoured at ceremony
12/08/2020
The Western Australian School Library Association took great pride in presenting the WASLA 2020 Western Australian School Library Award recipients with their awards at Bob Hawke College, who kindly hosted the event.
Mr John Burke, Principal of Bob Hawke College, presented the Keynote address in the school’s new library and took all attendees on a tour of the newly opened school in Subiaco.
WASLA would like to congratulate the following award winners. Videos of their acceptance speeches can be found in the Members Only Section of the website under ‘Videos’.
- – School Library of the Year: Kennedy Baptist College Research and Study Centre
- – Teacher Librarian of the Year: Jennifer Currie, Lynwood Senior High School
- – Library Technician of the Year: Lesley Dorrington, Mercedes College
- – Library Officer of the Year: Sarah Klass, Chisholm Catholic College
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30/04/2020
COVID-19. It changed Term 1, 2020. It changed the way students and school staff approach Term 2, 2020. It changed the way we view education. It changed the world. What it didn’t change was the need for school libraries run by a qualified and passionate school library team.
The team at Students Need School Libraries want to know and share what school libraries or school library teams have been focusing on during this COVID crisis. It might look a little different from the usual, but it’s even more important during this time of change and upheaval.
Read more here and share your thoughts.
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School libraries hit by the loss of a dying breed as teacher librarians enter ‘survival mode’
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Notice: COVID-19 Advice
17/03/2020
In these uncertain COVID-19 times the way that we operate in school libraries will need to change. It is important that you discuss any changes that you want to make with your school leadership before implementing them. The following safety measures have been used in some public libraries before their enforced closure. WASLA believes that these actions are based on sound medical advice. They are:
- all items returned to the library should be quarantined for at least 24 hours;
- returned items should be handled by staff with disposable gloves or staff wash their hands immediately afterwards, as part of safe-handling practices;
- shelves, chairs and furniture should be spaced further apart (if possible);
- toys, games and soft items should be temporarily removed from student use;
- visitor numbers should be captured and reviewed frequently to limit the number of people within the library to less than 100 OR to meet the social distancing requirements as required by the government, such as being 2m2 apart, (https://healthywa.wa.gov.au/coronavirus); and,
- talk to your Manager of Corporate Services or Business Manager regarding the cleaning regime of the library and any resources that may be available to the library.
As schools prepare for possible closures, the school library can continue to provide services online for students and staff. To stay up-to-date with online resources and strategies, it is recommended that you join WASLAnet (http://www.wasla.asn.au/waslanet/), the WASLA Facebook page, OZTL_net (https://oztlnet.com/), and the school library pages on the Department of Educations’ Connect communities. There are currently plenty of resources and strategies that are being shared by school library staff across the country.
Keep safe and healthy,
WASLA
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WASLA Awards PD – Postponement due to COVID-19
- If you require a refund for your ticket, please email wasla@wasla.asn.au.
- For those of you who are willing to wait for the new date, you can keep your current ticket.
- We will be advertising again for this PD once we are in the all-clear and have a new date.
- WASLA Award nominees will be informed of the results in Term 1 and the winners will be announced in ic3. The winners will be presented with their trophy at the rescheduled Awards event.
15/03/2020
Update to WASLA Scholarship and Awards policies
Note: Due to COVID 19 the following updates to the WASLA Scholarship and Awards Policy will take effect from January 2021
For a full update regarding WASLA’s updated Scholarship and Awards policy, please download the following:
For additional information regarding WASLA’s Scholarship and Awards policy please click on this link:
to be directed to our Scholarships and Awards page
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11/03/2020
Survey results of Teacher Librarians in DET WA Schools
The Western Australian School Library Association recently conducted a survey of all Department of Education personnel who have been identified by HRMIS (Human Resource Management Information System) as Teacher – Library Services. On the system 56 people were identified. The survey had a 100% response rate. Our findings are as follows:
- – Out of 812 public schools in WA there are only 29.6 FTE Teacher Librarians (TL) working in a school library role. None of them worked in primary schools. Three regional and remote schools had employed qualified teacher librarians.
- – There are only 33 schools who employ teachers in a library role. In those schools 38 employees have Teacher Librarian university qualifications. Of these two staff have TL qualifications but are employed as School Librarians.
- – 18 qualified Teacher Librarians work between 0.8 and 1.0 in a school library role. 20 work a fraction of 0.6 and 0.1 in the school library.
- – Five schools recently had recently moved their qualified TL out of the library and now have Library Officers or Teachers (without a Library qualification) managing their school libraries.
Download the PDF survey results here: Parliamentary Question TLS in DETWA [PDF]
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Website last updated on 08/06/2021