National Executive Communique

Fiery Futures SLANZA 2017 Conference was amazing, and for many of us this week we are looking around our libraries with eyes wide open and a large action plan! Thanks for all your contributions, your energy, your feedback and your input into conference 2017. We hope it inspires and ignites you! We will have photos and presentation links up from conference soon on our web page!

During Conference at the AGM, the appointment of the co-Presidents was confirmed. Julia Smith from Kerikeri (Te Tai Tokerau region) and Kirsty Adam from Invercargill (Southland region) will share the role for the next two years. We are really excited at the energy and skill these two will bring to SLANZA - we are in for a great journey!

National Executive are thrilled to confirm that Book Protection Products will continue to sponsor SLANZA until 2020. This ensures that we have ongoing support to provide excellent professional development to all our members. Please support our sponsors
Unfortunately, NE has accepted the resignation of our SLANZA Administration Officer, Ngaio Blackwood. Ngaio stepping up to a full-time, sole charge position in a large school library. Although Ngaio only held the position of Administration Officer for a short while, she whipped us into shape with exceeding efficiency. We will miss her skills, but this does provide the opportunity for employment for another person in this role, and this job has been advertised through the Listserve.

Another change announced at conference was that we will hold the SLANZA National Conference tri-annually instead of biannually. SLANZA is trialing Regional Conferences, weekends of learning, networking, and inspiration. This change from our bi-annual National Conference is in direct response to the extraordinary workload on our volunteer members in the three major cities to produce such a high standard of conference every two years. We hope to extend and spread that workload by introducing these Regional Conferences in between our major National Conferences. Therefore, we are excited to announce that next year, Otago will host the 2018 SLANZA Regional Conference in September, followed by the Waikato / Bay of Plenty region in 2019.  We will celebrate our 20th birthday at the big 2020 SLANZA National Conference in Wellington.

We also have some new professional development in the pipeline, and just to make sure we are on the right track we will be sending out an email to ask members what you want. Please when it hits your inbox reply to us, so we can target what you need and want!

Lastly thanks to all of you who put your hand up to serve SLANZA in your recent regional AGM’s. We applaud you all and hope it is a meaningful and enjoyable experience for you!

Below is your local NE representative and their contact email should you need any help or support as you library on…

Te Tai Tokerau - Julia Smith  JSmith@kerikerihigh.ac.nz
Auckland - Trish Webster  trishwebster@rangitoto.school.nz
Waikato/Bay of Plenty - Glenys Bichan bic@camhigh.school.nz
Central - Stephanie Gibbons  Stephanie.gibbons@npbhs.school.nz
Wellington - Clare Forrest  c.forrest@raroa.school.nz
Aoraki - Sally Stanley Boden  sts@burnside.school.nz
Otago - Bridget Schaumann  sc@kingshigh.school.nz
Southland - Kirsty Adam  kadam@jameshargest.school.nz

Glenys Bichan
Communications
SLANZA National executive

bic@camhigh.school.nz

National Executive Communique - April #2

The National Executive met last weekend, 8-9 April 2017, in Wellington at Raroa Intermediate School. Below is Part 2 of a two part summary of some of the discussions held at the meeting, You can find Part 1 on the SLANZA website’s news page

Membership

As expected in conference year, there has been an increase in membership, as evidenced in the number of invoices issued. To date, 76% of member subscriptions have been paid. Thank you, your timely contribution is appreciated. Please note that unpaid membership fees for 2017, $60 per person, are OVERDUE.

Financial Report

We have a healthy budget and are looking at options for spending some of this on strengthening our organisation.

Conference Grants

Book Protection Products have been a substantial supporter of SLANZA regional professional development for many years. This year each region’s $500 grant will be allocated to assist members to attend the Auckland conference. In addition, National Executive will top up this amount by $1,500, therefore increasing the grant allocated to each region to $2,000. This grant money must be used exclusively for assisting members to attend conference. Please contact your regional representatives for more information or to apply for funding.

Conference

National Executive would like to acknowledge the fantastic job the Auckland Conference Committee are doing. Holding a conference is a huge task that falls to just a few volunteer members, yet it provides valuable professional development and networking opportunities for approximately a third of our members.

Have you registered yet? Too expensive for your school? Senior leadership may be more amenable if you secure a SLANZA Conference grant towards costs. Consider applying for grant money and take advantage of this quality professional development opportunity. See the conference website for the programme, speakers, registration and more.

SLANZA Awards

Call for nominations for SLANZA awards to recognise excellence, success and achievement within school libraries are now open. Criteria for each award can be found on the Awards Page on the SLANZA website. Please send nominations with all the required documentation to admin@slanza.org.nz no later than Thursday, June 1, 2017. Awards will be presented at the upcoming National Conference in Auckland.

Professional Development

The Google+ community has grown to 165 members, up from 111 members from the same time last year. Term one’s monthly discussion entitled Self Censorship and the School Library, was instigated by the SLANZA Professional Development team in response to a Listserv discourse at the end of 2016. This pd challenged all participants to reflect on their library practices, and the resulting conversations added depth and understanding to the contentious issue. Twenty-five members actively contributed but members who followed along reading the articles and responses gained valuable knowledge to better serve their school communities. These discussion threads remain open if you would like to catch up on some professional reading over the holidays. Keep an eye out for the Term 2 discussion.

Once again, the Connected Online Learning PD team responded to topical issues and offered a module on Digital Literacy and Fake News. Thirty-four members actively participated which is the biggest cohort to date, well done those members who have taken this opportunity to further their learning through SLANZA. There was lots of stimulating discussion and critical thinking going on. In addition, these modules provide a space to build collegiality and gather like-minded learners to follow on your pln (personal learning network).

Issue 20 of SLANZA’s online magazine Collected will focus on conferences, SLANZA and non-SLANZA conferences. We welcome articles on special experiences, inspiring speakers or workshops, on how to make the most of the opportunities, professional development and collegiality of the event. Call for submissions opened yesterday and will close on May 15th. Please consider submitting articles or reviews to collected@slanza.org.nz; Collected is your magazine and we want to hear your voice.

We are also seeking volunteer book reviewers and proofreaders of articles and reviews. We would really appreciate your support in helping to edit your magazine. If you would be willing to help out, please contact collected@slanza.org.nz

Outside Agencies

Since our last committee meeting National Executive has had meetings and/or ongoing discussions with LIANZA, the Open Polytechnic and the National Library. Maintaining relationships with associated national professional organisations is important for our credibility as a professional organisation. These connections help us provide and support you, our members, with more opportunities than SLANZA alone may be able to provide.

Jackson Ertel, Open Polytechnic, discussing the iQualify platform with NE, Raroa Intermediate.

National Executive wishes you a Happy Easter and safe holidays after a long school term.

Julia Smith

Communications

National Executive Communique - April #1

The National Executive met last weekend, 8-9 April 2017, in Wellington at Raroa Intermediate School. Below is Part 1 of a two part summary of some of the discussions held at the meeting, Part 2 will follow in the next couple of days.

National Executive Personnel Changes

With no nominations for President Elect received  from members National Executive have nominated Kirsty Adam and Julia Smith to be co-Presidents-Elect.

Current President, Sandi Faulconbridge, has accepted a new job opportunity with the National Library. Due to the conflict of interest, Sandi is unable to hold any office-bearing role within SLANZA and has stood down. Sandi has been president for seven months, taking on the role in difficult circumstances. Yet her outstanding organisational skills, quick thinking and equally quick wit has helped steady the SLANZA organisation and reset forward momentum. We sincerely wish Sandi all the best in her new role.

As a result of these exceptional circumstances, co-Presidents Elect Kirsty and Julia, with the full support of the NE, move into the role of interim co-Presidents until their positions can be ratified at the AGM in July.

Kirsty Adam represents the Southland region and is the Library Manager at James Hargest College in Invercargill. She has a degree in psychology and education, is a trained teacher and worked at the Invercargill Public Library before moving to her current position five years ago. Kirsty took on the role of  NE rep for Southland in 2014 and has done an incredible job of rebuilding SLANZA Southland. Her enthusiasm and drive, coupled with a strong can-do attitude has certainly benefited both her region and National Executive. Kirsty has recently completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Practice through Mindlab.

At the other end of the country, Julia Smith, represents the Te Tai Tokerau region. Julia joined SLANZA fifteen years ago, completed her BAppSci in Information and Library Studies through the Open Polytechnic in 2010, and about the same time secured a full-time job at Kerikeri High School. She has been involved with SLANZA for many years, stepping up to Chairperson in 2013, then the following year became the SLANZA Te Tai Tokerau National Executive Representative; she still holds both of these positions. Julia’s main role within NE has been Communications, though she has enjoyed moderating the Google+ community discussions and facilitating the Connected online learning modules.

Kirsty Adam and Julia Smith

The National Executive welcomed four new members at this meeting. Greater regional representation provides a stronger voice for members, encourages robust discussion and helps to share the workload.  Our new NE members are:

·         Stephanie Gibbons, library manager at New Plymouth Boys High School who takes over the role of NE rep for Central region.

·         Glenys Bichan is the new representative for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty region, Library Manager at Cambridge High School, and current Chairperson for her region.

·         Ngaio Blackwood is our new Administration Officer, the only paid position within SLANZA. Ngaio is a librarian at Tamatea Intermediate in Napier and has spent the last thirteen years in school, tertiary and public libraries. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) and a postgraduate Certificate in Information Studies (library). Ngaio can be contacted at admin@slanza.org.nz

·         Bridget Schaumann representing the Otago region, was warmly welcomed back. Bridget, as a past President and with many, many years experience on NE, offers a vast knowledge repository that is truly remarkable and invaluable.

The fact that two of our SLANZA presidents have so recently been employed by National Library is well worth noting. National Library has obviously recognised the work, responsibilities and leadership potential that SLANZA provides and nourishes. Although we may begrudge National Library harvesting our best people, it is with pride that we acknowledge the role that SLANZA has played in furthering both Miriam and Sandi’s careers.

The second part of our meeting summary will be shared in the next couple of days.

Julia Smith

Communications

Signing off ... for now

Hello fellow librarians, listservers and school colleagues 

In the words of Suzy Cato that so many of us know and love (and an earworm to set you up for the rest of the day) ... "E noho ra I'm leaving I've really got to run. So Cya cya later it's time for us to end. Cya cya later I'll be back again.  So long. Cya."

Yes that's right, after 13-odd years my time as a super-awesome primary school librarian is at an end this Friday.  I'm off to new and exciting pastures ... still working and advocating for school libraries, just from a bigger picture, and in the big smoke of Auckland.  Extremely excited, and very nervous!

Unfortunately it means I'm also having to step down from the SLANZA National Executive and my role as SLANZA President, a journey that has taught me so much and helped me meet some fantastic people, build really valuable relationships and form some amazing friendships. 

I'm really going to miss the gorgeous young students that come through Taradale Primary School, those relationships we build with them and helping create that passion for reading and life-long learning. 

But I'm not going to miss helping other amazing librarians ... 'cause that's what I'll be doing 😀 

So I am signing off the listserv temporarily, and I'll be back when I have a new email and a new stomping ground. 

Take care.  Keep up the awesome work you do promoting reading engagement and providing fantastic services to our students as school librarians.  Ka kite ano.  

https://youtu.be/5rp2XzBOTIY

Ngā mihi nui

Sandi Faulconbridge Dip ILS

Library Manager (till the end of the week) | Taradale Primary School

SLANZA President (for a while longer) | PD Team Leader

Announcement of new President

It is with great pleasure that National Executive would like to announce Sandi Faulconbridge as the new SLANZA President.

Sandi accepted the National Executive nomination for the position of President in October. NE called for nominations from members between 19 October until 18 November 2016, however no nominations were received.

Sandi has been involved in primary school libraries in the Hawkes Bay for twelve years and is currently Library Manager at Taradale Primary in Napier. She has been Chairperson of the Central region and represented that region on NE since September 2014. Last year she took on the role as Team Leader for Professional Development and has run that admirably.

In 2015 Sandi completed her Level 5 Diploma in Information and Library Studies through The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand. She had planned to continue her studies in 2017 taking up The Open Polytechnic’s offer of free fees to SLANZA members on particular papers, however that will now be put on hold due to the demands of holding the national President position.

Sandi brings a fresh perspective, sharp mind, quick wit and outstanding organisational skills to this role.

The National Executive would like to thank SLANZA members for their ongoing support as we have moved through this challenging time. We are confident in Sandi to continue building on the solid foundation and momentum achieved under previous SLANZA leaderships. NE are excited for the future of SLANZA in strengthening and promoting school libraries and warmly embrace Sandi as an empowering force to lead our organisation forward.

SLANZA Administration Officer vacancy

National Executive are looking to fill the role of the Administration Officer. This is a paid position of up to ten hours a week, responsible for the day-to-day administration of SLANZA. For further information and a job description please contact admin@slanza.org.nz

National Executive October Communique

The National Executive met last weekend in Wellington at Raroa Intermediate School. Below is a summary of some of the discussions covered at the meeting. This communique is to keep members up-to-date with the work being done on their behalf by the National Executive.

News

Due to unforeseen circumstances, SLANZA President Karen Clarke has resigned. National Executive would like to acknowledge all she has done for SLANZA. During the last five years on NE Karen worked hard as Treasurer to balance the finances, and in her position of President Elect and President, she initiated many projects to improve the role of library staff. Thank you Karen for all you contributed and we wish you well.

Likewise, Jacky Reid has stepped down from her position as SLANZA Administration Officer. Jacky has been with SLANZA for a year and we wish to thank her for all her work.

Vacancies

Therefore, SLANZA National Executive is calling for nominations for the position of President. This position requires an in-depth understanding of the workings of SLANZA and its stakeholders so it is preferable that this person should be either a current member of the National Executive or someone with previous National Executive experience. Nominations are open from Wednesday 19 October until Friday 18 November 2016. Nomination forms are attached.

Sandi Faulconbridge has accepted the National Executive’s nomination for President. Sandi has been involved in school libraries for twelve years and is currently Library Manager at Taradale Primary in Napier. She has been Chairperson of the Central region and represented that region on NE since September 2014. Last year she took on the role as Team Leader for Professional Development and has run that admirably.

NE will be calling for nominations for the position of President Elect early next year.

In addition, NE are looking to fill the role of the Administration Officer. This is a paid position of up to ten hours a week, responsible for the day-to-day administration of SLANZA. This position will be advertised shortly.

Special Meeting

A special meeting needs to be held to ratify the changes required to the SLANZA constitution and to confirm election of a new President. We will be sending a form out to our regional committee members shortly asking to hold a special meeting. We need to gather sufficient member numbers (twenty) in order for this meeting to be called. Following this, an on-line Special Meeting will be held.

Fee-free offer from The Open Polytechnic

We have been overwhelmed with the positive response from the free fee study opportunity offered to our members in association with The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand. Being strongly committed to raising the professional standing of school library staff, NE are very grateful to TOPNZ for their willingness to offer some Level 6 papers free of cost to SLANZA members. Read the announcement on the SLANZA website for details. Don’t forget that enrolments for trimester 3 close on 23 October. We encourage members to take advantage of this amazing study opportunity.

Conference

SLANZA Conference 2017, Fiery Futures: Igniting and Inspiring Libraries, is now seeking abstracts for presentations at the conference. Do consider presenting a session, 15, 30 or 60 minutes long. For more information, see the conference website. Abstracts need to be in by October 31.

Collected Magazine

Thank you to all the members who have submitted articles for Collected magazine. The theme is ebooks, although we will be treated to other articles of interest as well as book reviews and business member submissions. Currently in the editing stage, the nineteenth issue of Collected will be out soon.  

Ebook Library

While we are on the topic of ebooks, don’t forget our ebook library of professional development books. We appreciate Wheelers support in providing our eplatform for free, as well as giving us some additional titles. You may register here anytime although this offer is only available for members of our organisation.

Connected Librarians

Congratulations to all those members who completed the Term 3 Connected Librarians online learning module. The topic was Content Curation, where participants explored how they could support students and staff by providing great digital resources. Connected online courses are free for SLANZA members and are another option for school library staff to extend our learning. Watch out for the next module in Term 1.

Google+ Community

The discussion topic, Transforming Your Library based on the ideas of Rachel van Riel, is due to finish this week. However, you may watch the videos and add to the conversations anytime. Rachel shares valuable insight into library management with her reader-centred library approach and the discussion questions aim to spark conversations and debate.

Readers Survey

Expect to see the annual SLANZA Readers Survey out towards the end of next month.

SLANZA National Executive would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing commitment to SLANZA and wish you all a great term 4. We will continue to work on your behalf and ensure that the voice of school libraries from all over the country are heard.

Julia Smith

Communications

Latest National Executive news

SLANZA National Executive met online in the evening on 14th September to analyse and discuss the AGM as well as other matters. This is a brief summary for members.

AGM

The Annual General Meeting was held online over 24 hours  from 9:00am on Wednesday 7 September. We had 130 members participate. Thank you to all those who responded, we easily met our quorum.

Minutes from the 2015 AGM - read and accepted

AGM Reports tabled - read and accepted

Proposed constitutional change for ratification - accepted, constitution update to be lodged

“If in a non-conference year there is not an event that will guarantee a quorum for the National Executive AGM then the AGM can be run via an online forum”

Appointment of auditor Chris Saxton - accepted

Matters arising from 2015 AGM minutes, reports, and general business:

·         4 members - concern over SLANZA and LIANZA conferences being held in the same year

o    Response -  SLANZA has maintained our conference every two years, for example, 2009 Christchurch, 2011 Auckland, 2013 Wellington, 2015 Christchurch. Members at the 2015 AGM voiced emphatically to continue conferences every two years and NE response was to ask Auckland if they would be prepared to run with the 2017 conference. As the change to same-year was not initiated by SLANZA, we believe concerns are misdirected.

·         1 member - saddened by declining membership across country, did membership drive two years ago make a difference, what can be done?

o    Response - the membership drives were undertaken at different times in different ways by most regions with no significant impact. Some regions have utilised their Community Post pre-paid envelopes this year to promote events and distribute the SLANZA brochure detailing the role and benefit of joining SLANZA. We do know that membership numbers fluctuate, rising a little in conference years. With NE planning to provide further benefits for our members in future we hope to see member numbers rise again.

·         1 member - are you still considering a survey of school library staff and conditions?

o    Response - a trial phone survey for non-SLANZA schools has been initiated, this will be followed with another survey which is still in development - together these surveys will help build a comprehensive picture of the situations facing school libraries around the country.

·         1 member - concern under government’s global budget proposal school libraries may become luxuries schools can’t afford, or communities of learning where ten schools share one library

o    Response - NE too, have concerns about the possible effects of changes to school budgets on provision of school libraries and adequate school library staffing. We urge all members to advocate for better funding for schools in general and school libraries in particular. Take every opportunity to promote your role and the services you provide, share evidence of your practices and how you benefit your school community - become indispensable.

·         1 member - how are funds from 2015 Christchurch conference being used?

o    Response - the bulk of the income from the previous conference, $20,000, has been redirected to the 2017 conference in Auckland as seeding money. Specific decisions about the use of any of SLANZA's income are made by NE after consideration of the best use of funds to meet SLANZA's goals and objectives, and the needs of our members.

Study Grants

SLANZA offers study grants each year, to those working in school library teams. We believe that continuing professional development is vital - it helps you increase the knowledge and skills you need to deliver a valued service to your school community, and it can open you up to new and exciting possibilities in the field of librarianship. If you are thinking about undertaking Library and Information Studies next year, you may be eligible to apply for assistance. The closing date for submitting study grant applications is this Thursday, 22 September.  

Google+ Community Professional Development

The discussion topic currently running is Transforming Your Library based on the ideas of  Rachel van Riel. Do join the conversations, the more contributions the greater we all benefit from the shared experiences and knowledge. This discussion topic started last week and will finish at the end of Week 2 of next term, however you may watch the videos and post comments anytime, including catching up over the holidays.

Conference 2017

The conference website is the place to go to keep up to date. Rachel van Riel has been confirmed as a key note speaker and the call for abstracts has gone out to all members. Consider presenting a session, 15, 30 or 60 minutes long, a great way to step up and contribute. Remember that your audience are librarians, just like you, and we admire and respect those who are willing to share their knowledge. Make sure you add this valuable professional development opportunity into your budget planning for next year.

SLANZA National Executive will continue to work on your behalf and ensure that the voice of school libraries from all over the country are heard.

Julia Smith

Communications

Communique

SLANZA National Executive met online in the evening on 10th August. Matters of particular importance to members are shared here:

AGM

The Annual General Meeting was postponed in July due to insufficient numbers of members to meet the quorum. However an AGM is vital for the following reasons:

·         the president shares SLANZA’s strategies and vision with members

·         members have the opportunity to discuss issues with the National Executive

·         members view the financial statements of the organisation

·         members have the opportunity to respond to the AGM reports

·         it is a requirement under our constitution

NE are looking at holding an online AGM this year. We are trialling a digital meeting tool this coming week and will keep you informed as to how you can participate in our AGM.

School Library Survey

A phone survey of non-SLANZA schools is currently underway to establish information on the New Zealand school library landscape. NE would like to build a comprehensive picture of the situations facing school libraries around the country.  This data will be useful when promoting and advocating for the importance of school libraries.

Bicultural Toolkit

National Executive has had very little response to the request asking for members who would like to help shape the toolkit, particularly those members whose libraries already reflect our bicultural communities. The toolkit being developed is to help school libraries operate biculturally. If you would like to add or share input to the bicultural toolkit, please get in touch with your regional representative - it would be wonderful to have one person from each region supporting us in this endeavour.

National Executive Communique

SLANZA National Executive met on 9th-10th July 2016 at St Patrick’s College in Wellington. Below is a summary of some of the discussions covered at the meeting. This communique is to keep members up-to-date with the work being done on their behalf by the National Executive.

Handover to new President

National Executive is proud to announce Karen Clarke (BA ILS., RLIANZA) as the new President of SLANZA. Karen is library manager at St Patrick’s College in Wellington, was the SLANZA Wellington Chairperson, NE President Elect and Treasurer, and has had five years as a NE representative. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this position with a positive, practical approach - here is an introductory video of Karen.

On that note, we sincerely appreciate the work Miriam Tuohy undertook in her time as President. We all greatly applaud Miriam’s technology skills but as a leader her soft-spoken, calm, considered views were highly regarded. Miriam now moves into her role as Immediate Past President to support Karen and maintain continuance through the National Executive.

Bridget Schaumann, as the outgoing Immediate Past President, came to the end of another long innings with the NE - we thank Bridget for her integrity, her passionate advocacy of school libraries and, of course, her humour.

There are four other changes to the National Executive: we welcome Clare Forrest who joins us as the new NE representative for Wellington; Nick Vincent stepped down as the NE rep for Waikato/Bay of Plenty region; Sally Stanley-Boden, Aoraki representative, will take on the role of Treasurer; and Greig Daniels, who has been with us for six years, has stepped down from the position of Otago rep but will retain the editorship of Collected magazine into 2017, we gratefully acknowledge his workload and sage advice.

The AGM was postponed due to insufficient numbers of members to meet the quorum and this will be held later in the year.

Membership

Membership presently sits at 587 members, slightly down from this time last year as expected in a non-conference year. SLANZA membership entitles members to a variety of professional development opportunities including conferences, online courses, Google+ community discussions, network meetings and events, the eBook library, and Collected magazine. In addition, membership is an acknowledgement of the critical role of SLANZA as New Zealand’s organisation for support and advocacy of school libraries and library staff.

Pinterest and the Reading Website

National Executive are pleased to announce we are currently creating SLANZA Pinterest boards, organised in the same topics as on the Reading Website. Migrating our content to Pinterest gives members another platform to use when accessing the reading lists - we hope you enjoy the visual representation as much as we do. Fifty-three boards have been created to date, do  have a look and follow us, remember this is a work in progress. At the same time, updating and beautifying the Reading Website is underway. Roughly half the Year 9-13 reading lists have been updated to include cover images.

Professional Development

Our new eBook library was launched last month with a tremendous response and uptake by members - all the professional development books were borrowed within hours! NE will continue to buy more eBooks to populate the library. We wish to thank Wheelers for their support in providing our ePlatform for free, as well as giving us some additional titles. You may register here anytime - this opportunity is only available for members of our organisation.

The Term 2 Connected Librarians online learning module was on Digital Citizenship with an emphasis on the ethical use of information, and attributions. Congratulations to all those who participated and completed the course. These online courses are free for SLANZA members and are an opportunity to extend learning for school library staff. The next module being offered to members is  Content Curation, find out how you can best support your students and staff by providing great digital resources. Course registrations are open until the end of July, with the course running for two weeks from Monday 15th August, Week 4 and 5 of Term 3.

Last term saw the publication of the eighteenth issue of SLANZA’s online magazine Collected. With a theme of What SLANZA Means To Me it is chock full of affirmations of how SLANZA membership can have a positive effect both personally and professionally on it’s members, as well as the usual selection of thought provoking articles, book reviews and business member submissions.

The next issue of Collected will focus on eBooks and ePlatforms, as well as a selection of interesting articles and reviews of books recently published. The call for submissions will open September 15th and close on October 15th. Please consider submitting articles or reviews, we all gain so much from reading Collected and that can only happen from other librarian’s contributions. In addition, we have space available for advertising and are happy to accept business members, please contact Greig Daniels at collected@slanza.org.nz

The Google+ Community has grown to 116 members. Community members are welcome to share resources and join in discussions.

Study grant applications will be opening again in early August, with a closing date of Thursday 22nd September.

Professional Development Survey

Thank you to all those who responded to our recent PD survey. The information you’ve given us is important in guiding NE’s efforts to make continuing professional development accessible and affordable for all our members.

Bicultural Toolkit

National Executive is developing a toolkit of resources aimed at helping libraries operate biculturally. We are looking for members from throughout New Zealand who would like to help shape the toolkit, particularly those members whose libraries already reflect our bicultural communities. If you would like to add or share input to the bicultural toolkit, please get in touch with your regional representative - it would be wonderful to have one person from each region supporting us in this endeavour.

Conference 2017 - Fiery Futures

The Auckland Conference committee, led by Elizabeth Atkinson as convenor, is on track with organising the 2017 conference. This will be held in the second week of the July school holidays, Sunday 16th July to Wednesday 19th July 2017. The venue of King’s College, Otahuhu, has been finalised which provides excellent on site accommodation options and all meals. At this stage negotiations to secure two outstanding, international, library key-note speakers is well underway. The conference committee hope to have their website live by the end of the month, we’ll let you know when that happens. Make sure you save the date for an excellent professional development opportunity.

National Library Services to Schools

Some discontent is being voiced by members over the present service. The 0800 LIB LINE (0800 542 5463) is still proving to be the preferred channel of communication for school librarians - please utilise this service for any National Library issues and services. Likewise, email schoollibraryadvice@dia.govt.nz for help.

The ongoing effects of the transformation and the impact of this on our members is of concern for SLANZA. We are looking at ways we can support and advise our members around developing collections - both print and digital - that will best meet the needs of their school communities.

Our suggestion to members is to try the service, if it doesn’t work for you then gather data to present to the Principal and Board of Trustees to ensure adequate funding in your library budget to purchase new resources that are no longer being supplied by National Library. If you are not sure how to go about this, or where to source quality resources, please contact your local National Executive Representative. SLANZA is here to support school libraries and library staff - the network meetings, events and other professional development opportunities will help with your collection management.

SLANZA National Executive will continue to work on your behalf and ensure that the voice of school libraries from all over the country are heard.

Julia Smith

Communications

Professional Development Survey

I am writing on behalf of the SLANZA National Executive to ask for your help.

As you know, helping to build a confident and knowledgeable school library profession is incredibly important to us. We believe that our communities deserve the very best school libraries possible, and it is one of our strategic goals to improve the professional standing, working conditions, and qualification levels of the staff who work in those libraries. Enabling access to a range of professional development opportunities is a vital part of achieving this goal.

In 2012, SLANZA surveyed school library staff about their Professional Development needs. Around 200 people responded to that survey, and as a result of what we learned, our Connected Librarians online PD modules were developed and introduced the following year.

Fast forward four years, and as part of our ongoing work in the area of Professional Development for school library staff, we are asking for your input again.

This time our survey is focused on work and qualification profiles - your library situation, employment, and continuing professional development including library & information studies qualifications.

The survey is open to SLANZA members and non-members alike, so please forward the survey link (below) to any library colleagues - SLANZA members or not, school library staff or not - who would like to participate. All the responses we receive will provide crucial information to guide our professional development strategy and our relationships with other professional development providers.

Please follow this link to access the survey:

http://goo.gl/forms/yMuvyJTLa6wh7e1i2

The survey will remain open until the 31st of May.

We really appreciate you taking a few minutes to have your say.

Thank you,

Miriam Tuohy

President

School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa