Monday, December 9, 2013

Happy holiday reading



The summer holidays are fast approaching and on behalf of the SLANZA Te Tai Tokerau committee I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and  long, lazy, sunny, summer holidays with the chance to relax and read some books.

If you haven't read the latest copy of Collected - New Direction: out with the old and in with the new - then you should do so now. Lisa Salter and her team have yet again done us proud with plenty of ideas to get you thinking about what old practices you could discontinue and what new ones you could embrace.

Happy holidays :)


Dee

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Graphic Novels To Enhance Creativity And Imagination


Saturday morning in early November, SLANZA Te Tai Tokerau held a session at the Whangarei Public Library with comic book guru Stu Colson from Heroes For Sale. Aimed for school librarians and teachers the presentation attracted fifteen people, and we were certainly impressed with his passion and knowledge on the subject.

We began with an interesting history of comics, covering the self-regulating Comics Code Authority and sharing little gems like the fact that the biggest selling comics during World War II were romance comics read by the soldiers!. As well he discussed the storytelling techniques utilized in graphic novels: the pacing, impact, mood and length of the story.


Stu Colson strongly believes that graphic novels are a gateway to children becoming interested in reading for fun, and convinced us that exposure to images enhances our students’ creativity and imagination. 

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Stu Colson Next Saturday

SLANZA Te Tai Tokerau has organised for Stu Colson from Heroes for Sale to come up from Auckland to Whangarei to do a session about graphic novels next Saturday morning, 9th November, at 11 am at Whangarei Libraries.

A flyer about the event is attached, and here is the post about it on the SLANZA blog

Stu Colson from HEROES FOR SALE will share why comics are:
·         an important gateway to students becoming interested in reading for personal pleasure
·         a sophisticated story telling medium in their own right
·         the single greatest story telling medium for enhancing and enriching our imaginations

We know how much students like graphic novels, with the combination of visuals and words making them so engaging and accessible, and we know that there are so many more graphic novels available now … 
·         What's happening in your school library with graphic novels?  Where are they shelved?
·         How do you choose which to buy?
·         How are they promoted? Who uses them most?
·         How can they be integrated into classroom reading and writing programmes?

We need to know numbers attending this workshop in order for it to go ahead, so please let Julia Smith at Kerikeri High School know ASAP if you are planning to come along  jsmith@kerikerihigh.ac.nz 

This session is relevant for librarians and teachers, primary and secondary.  Talk to English teachers, art teachers, teaching colleagues, library colleagues…

We need YOU !  If we don't get the numbers, then we will need to let Stu know to save him the trip…  If you are local in Whangarei then it is a couple of hours out of your weekend, a bit more if you have to travel from out of Whangarei - come to town and do some shopping too !

Kind regards, Jeannie

Jeannie Skinner | Programme Adviser, Northland | Services to Schools
National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa 

Monday, October 28, 2013

"Out with the old, In with the new"

Hi,

We are currently working on the Term 4 issue Collected and would love to have at least one article from our region.  The theme is "Out with the old, In with the new".  


What are you going to do differently next year or not do?  Maybe something you learned in PD this year that you are going to implement next year or a story about looking forward to or reflecting on BYOD or Ebooks or new partnerships?  We are very keen to have some stories from primary school libraries, often under represented in or publication.  


We also require book reviews, especially of New Zealand or new books.  


Can you think of  of something to share or you can shoulder tap someone you know has a good story?  

Sorry I won't be at the Stu Colson event, I'll be at the NE meeting.  I expect it will go well, please encourage your colleagues to attend, this is an opportunity for the school librarian to bring along some teachers and show the benefits of SLANZA to the school and the ways that the library supports teaching and learning.

Thanks,
Lisa Salter
TTT NE Representative
RLIANZA   l   SLANZA Communications Leader   l   ruawailibrary.wordpress.com

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Study Grant applications for 2014

Thinking about studying in 2014?  SLANZA offers study grants each year to those working in school library teams for courses offered by approved education providers.

The deadline for submitting an application for 2014 is Thursday 31 October 2013.  Application forms available on the SLANZA website.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Tour of Auckland school libraries : SLANZA Waikato

Hello Northland school librarians

Would you be interested in visiting some Auckland school libraries in Term 4?

The Waikato SLANZA / NLNZ Annual School Library Tour this year is in Auckland, and there are two dates :

Auckland Secondary school libraries tour: Friday, 8th November, 10:00am-3pm:
  • Morning tea and visit to BLENZ (Blind and Low Vision Education Network New Zealand)
  • Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate
  • Botany Downs Public Library (lunch at The Botany Downs Town Centre)
  • Ormiston Senior College
  • Papakura High School.
Auckland Primary school libraries tour: Friday, 15th November, 10:00am-3pm:
  • Morning tea and visit to Services to Schools, National Library of New Zealand, Parnell
  • St Helier’s Primary School
  • Elm Park School (Pakuranga)
  • Botany Downs Public Library (lunch at The Botany Downs Town Centre)
  • Elim Christian College (Junior Campus)
  • Redoubt North School (Manukau).
The tours are jointly organised between SLANZA Waikato Bay of Plenty and the National Library advisers.  They are valuable not only for those of you who are thinking of remodelling or building new libraries, but also just for getting new ideas for your library environment – also a good chance to catch up with people working in other school libraries...

How about car-pooling with some other Northland colleagues, or maybe heading down to Auckland early on Friday and making a weekend of it?

Everyone is welcome – to come on either, or both tours, and on both days you will have an opportunity to visit Botany Downs Public Library in the Botany Downs Town Centre, where you will be able to purchase lunch (your own cost).

A detailed schedule for the whole day will be forwarded to all registrants.
Transport is your own responsibility.
Cost: $5 per person.

For further information and/or registration, please contact Linda McCullough at Services to Schools, National Library Hamilton ph 07 856 9134 or fill in the registration form available at this link, or contact Jeannie Skinner.



Congratulations to Clare Giesbers


Congratulations to Clare Giesbers, Library Manager at Northland College, who was awarded the SLANZA Award of Merit for Library Manager at the 2013 SLANZA Conference.   

The Award was presented to Clare by Northland College Principal, Jim Luders, at a full school assembly, and he expressed his appreciation, on behalf of staff and students, for the services and programmes Clare provides through the library to support teaching and learning.

Clare has worked steadily, with an unflagging resolve, to make the library welcoming and accessible for students to discover the pleasures of reading, to engage with resources in print and online, and to make connections with all that the library can offer, within and beyond the four walls. 

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Congratulations Lisa!

A big congratulations to Lisa Salter who is shortly to start her new job as Manager, Kaipara District Libraries.  Lisa says that she should be around until the next SLANZA AGM so we have her for a bit longer.

Lisa, we don't want you to leave us but we are really really proud of you for stepping up into this new job and we wish you all the best.

SLANZA Lifetime Member Award - Jeannie Skinner


Lisa Salter, Jeannie Skinner and Fiona Mackie - SLANZA Conference - July 2013

Congratulations to Jeannie Skinner for being awarded a SLANZA Lifetime Member Award at the recent SLANZA Conference.

This was awarded in recognition of the tireless effort Jeannie has put into the development of Te Tai
Tokerau as a region, for her advocacy and passion for the promotion of literacy and
reading, and the unstinting support Jeannie has provided to all involved in school
libraries across Northland.

Jeannie’s nomination was accompanied by several heartfelt testimonies, outlining the dedication Jeannie has shown to SLANZA and the invaluable support she provides to all people involved with school libraries across Te Tai Tokerau. Jeannie is known for her love of and advocacy for all forms of literature and has been instrumental in assisting schools to apply for grants to improve their libraries and collections. She is a moving force in ensuring Northland has author tours and the Storylines festival, to the envy of other areas. She has served on the committee since it began and one of the testimonies said “Since Jeannie returned to Northland, she has always been on the SLANZA committee, and it will be a sad day when this is not so.”
Well done, Jeannie.  You really deserve this award.


--

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

End of Term

The wild winds are blowing outside and we await spring anxiously. Hopefully the weather for the holidays will give us opportunities to get back outside and enjoy the fresh air. Spare a thought for me as I head off to the public library system where the school holidays are the busiest days of the year.

A few reminders:

  • Our Graphic Novel workshop is Saturday 9 November at Whangarei Library from 11.00am - 12noon. Try and encourage your school colleagues to come along with you.
  • Collected should (I hope!) be out on Friday with plenty of conference reading. 
  • The NE are meeting in early November, let me know if you have any concerns or questions.
  • Welcome to our new members, we appreciate you joining our flock.
  • Thank you to Jeannie. Those who attended her Northland Secondary School's Annual PD Day came away buzzing with useful new ideas.
  • Join the National Library online communities and make some time every day for professional reading, free professional development.

I hope that you all get enough of a rest to tackle Term 4 with it's stocktake and end of year reporting. 

Lisa Salter
Te Tai Tokerau NE Representative
SLANZA Communications Leader

Just finished reading - More Than This by Patrick Ness 
http://ruawailibrary.wordpress.com/

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Graphic Novels with Stu Colson - Saturday 9 November - 11 am - 12 pm - Whangarei Libraries, May Bain Room



We are very excited that Stu Colson from Heroes for Sale is coming to Whangarei  Libraries on Saturday 9 November, 11 am - 12 pm.

He will share why Graphic Novels and comics are important and will also have a selection of comics to view, buy or order.

We would love to see you all there. 

FREE - SLANZA members (and staff from their schools)
$5.00  - LIANZA members
$10.00 - Public

Please pay at the door, but a RSVP to Julia Smith would be appreciated.  jsmith@kerikerihigh.ac.nz

Thursday, August 29, 2013

SLANZA Conference 2013 : Many things…



Lisa asked me to write a piece for the SLANZA Collected magazine about highlights of attending the Wellington SLANZA Conference, with the instruction to keep it brief...  I thought I was doing well at just under 500 words, but the limit was an-almost-impossible 100, so I'll post my entry here as originally written and provide an edited version for Collected which will be, as ever, full to the brim with many great contributions...

The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.  Archilochus

Attending a SLANZA Conference is always rewarding but this year’s conference in Wellington was memorable for a number of reasons – and nothing to do with another one of those “storms of the century” and all the airport shenanigans… 

Wellington’s Winds of Change Conference highlights for me include :
  • being challenged to try new things and hearing new ideas.  Sometimes a speaker can encapsulate a big idea in a memorable way – Ross Todd is brilliant at that, and I appreciated Erica McWilliams’ “fox / hedgehog” advice for libraries about taking an approach which is about many little things rather than one big thing – being multi-disciplinary, hybrid, adaptable, tolerant of complexity, getting the right mix of virtual and physical, and embracing people, culture and experimentation…
  • hearing from real practitioners at workshops about some of the great things they are doing - Michelle Simms from Te Totara Primary School on “How to gamify your library” gave a workshop which was brilliantly researched and presented, providing both high tech and practical examples of strategies to engage students. Sue Esterman and the students from Scots College with SCRABOL, and Bridget with her flying solo strategies were other highlights. It was hard to choose which workshop to attend and I’m glad that the Conference proceedings are up on the SLANZA website to explore, refresh memory and share… 
  • catching up face to face with National Library colleagues from around the country, and putting faces to names – from librarians through their list serv communications, to guest speakers like inspiring Tara Brabazon and steady Cathy Wylie, not to mention the inimitable Kim Hill after years of listening to her on the radio…
I also want to mention that I was very grateful to receive sponsorship to attend Conference from the SLANZA National Executive and Te Tai Tokerau region – it has been lovely in the past to give grants out to people and this year I felt very fortunate to be on the receiving end.  

Also, at the Conference I was presented with the SLANZA Honorary Life Membership Award which was a huge compliment, unexpected and truly delightful. I’ve been an Adviser with National Library for so long, working with many schools over the years, and feel very strongly that SLANZA is a crucial partner and ally in achieving the same goals of successful school libraries to support young learners.  Working with SLANZA committees in Northland over the past 13 years has been a really rewarding part of my job, and continues to be so.

Jeannie Skinner, Programme Adviser, Services to Schools Northland.

SLANZA Award for the Promotion of Reading to Trina Yuretich, Ahipara School


Trina Yuretich, Teacher with Library Responsibility and Deputy Principal at Ahipara School, is an active and energetic teacher who is always seeking new ways to engage students with reading for pleasure, through the library, her classroom and the school community. She was the recipient of the SLANZA Award for the Promotion of Reading in 2013.
 
Amongst various reading activities, Trina has been promoting summer holiday reading for students and staff. Last year she organised a fabulous summer reading photo competition which had many wonderful entries, and here is Trina herself, reading for pleasure in the summer sunshine at 90 Mile Beach, Te Oneroa-a-Tohe...


There was a great article in the local paper, The Northland Age, about Trina getting the Award,  and also in the following week's editorial  by Peter Jackson, where she was lauded :

Petrina Yuretich is one of those teachers who, far from simply teaching their pupils, shares her passion with them. And her particular passion is reading.  A few weeks ago she won an award for that, but her real reward is still to come. She is planting seeds that will grow, making a huge contribution to enabling the children she teaches today to become intelligent, inquisitive adults. Reading is the key that arguably unlocks every other form of learning. It does so in a fashion that hasn't changed since the first book was printed, and will not change despite social media.

A teacher can give her pupils no greater gift than the knowledge that between the covers of a book lie not only knowledge but wonder, the opportunity to experience people, places and events that no lifetime of actual experience ever will. Books can transport the reader far beyond their own immediate world, in a fashion that social media never will, and a child who develops a love of books early is truly blessed.
Petrina Yuretich knows that; she wants to see children reading not simply as a means of gaining knowledge pertinent to their education, but for pleasure. That is a wonderful thing. In the vernacular, it is cool. Uber cool....

She is the sort of teacher who, despite the unions, bureaucrats and politicians, gives her profession a good name, and who children will remember fondly, and with gratitude, long after their school days have ended.
We've all had great teachers at some point in our academic careers, no doubt - the writer and his contemporaries benefited immensely from some stunningly good teachers at Kaitaia Primary, Intermediate and College all those years ago - and it is gratifying to know they are still being produced by a system in which many have lost faith. Long may they continue to introduce their charges to a world that only they and parents can unlock for them, so that they too might experience the lightness of being that books and education can offer...

SLANZA Principals' Award to Lee Whitelaw, Ohaeawai School

Lee Whitelaw, Principal at Ohaeawai School was a recipient of SLANZA’s Principals’ Award in 2013.

Lee has placed the library at the heart of literacy learning at Ohaeawai since she arrived at the school. She understands the vital importance of creating enthusiastic, fluent, engaged readers and writers, and sees the library as integral to achieving that goal.  At Ohaeawai, a decile 2 school of 160 students, 55% Māori, 96% of the children are reading at or above National Standards. 

The library is well staffed and supported, has strong and collaborative partnerships with the classroom programmes, and is actively creating readers and supporting learners throughout the day.  The library is also providing positive library experiences for the whole school community with parents regularly visiting to select books to share with their children.  

To hear Lee talk about her view of the library at Ohaeawai, see the Leading a learning community video on the Services to Schools website, and for more about the library and its school community relationships, see this short interview with Liz Christensen talking about how the library is involved with the Reading Together programme. 

Sunday, August 11, 2013

SLANZA Te Tai Tokerau Committee meeting 10 August 2013

The rain didn't deter a hardy bunch of SLANZA TTT committe members gathering at Alfresco's Restaurant and Bar in Paihia.  Whilst enjoying a leisurely lunch we discussed numerous possibilities for Term 3 and 4 events.

Look out for more details when these events are confirmed.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

SLANZA Te Tai Tokerau Committee meeting - Saturday 10 August in the Bay of Islands

Come and join the Committee for a delicious lunch and discussion about future events in a Bay of Islands cafe on Saturday 10 August.  Leave a comment if you are able to attend.

Winds of Change SLANZA Conference - 15-17 July 2013 - Wellington


Beehive photo courtesy of Julia Smith



Report back on the Winds of Change SLANZA conference – 15-17 July 2013

A small contingent of keen and eager Northland Librarians attended the SLANZA conference in the holidays.  Some of the group battled stormy/windy weather preventing them from flying into Wellington on the Sunday.  Luckily we all missed the earthquakes which hit Wellington after we left which damaged windows in the new National Library building, stairwell damage at Wellington Girls’ College and caused falling masonry in Featherston Street where we were staying.

It is hard to know where to start when talking about the conference.  There were so many good moments.  The conference was well organised, the keynotes and workshops were relevant, the food was good and as always it was great to connect with other Librarians from around New Zealand.  It was particularly good catching up with other Boys Secondary School Librarians to discuss matters relevant to our schools.

 It was a very intense experience and I found my head reeling from all the information and in fact I still need time to reflect on which ideas I can best incorporate into my work at Whangarei Boys’ High School.

Several workshops stand out.  One was by booksellers, John and Ruth McIntyre of the Children’s bookshop in Kilbirnie, Wellington who enthusiastically promoted a selection of new books. 

Another by a Scots College team of Sue Easterman, Library Manager, Will Struthers, Head of Middle School English and three year 11 students, collaborated to hold a summer reading competition linked to a website where students from the middle school could review books.  Prizes were awarded and, thanks to the hard work of the students involved, there was a marked increase in boys reading. 
Lastly, a workshop by  SLANZA President, Bridget Schaumann, Librarian at Kings High School, Dunedin who shared her strategies for coping as a solo Librarian and how to eliminate jobs that don’t need doing, deliver a great service and keep your sense of humour.

The highlight of the conference, in my opinion, was a panel discussion chaired by Kim Hill (2012 International Radio Personality of the year and host of Saturday morning show on National Radio) with Bernard Beckett (author and secondary school teacher), Glenn Colquhoun (Dr and poet) and Kate de Goldi (author and book reviewer).  It was a lively discussion about the future of the Libraries and also the controversial book Into the River by Ted Dawe which won the NZ Post Children’s Book Award.  (Bernard Beckett was the convener of the judging panel.)

I am now looking forward our annual Northland Secondary PD Day in September.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

SLANZA Winds of Change Conference - Wellington - July 2013

Only a week to go now until the SLANZA Conference in Wellington.  I can't decide what I am most looking forward to - the workshops, the keynotes or maybe the authors panel?  Or just the chance to get together with all the other awesome librarians and chat over coffee about books and libraries and other topics close to our hearts.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

SLANZA Te Tai Tokerau AGM - Saturday 22 June 2013


 

After the wonderful session with Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham last weekend we held the SLANZA Te Tai Tokerau AGM with the following members present:
 
Lisa Salter, Dee Brooker, Ngaire Morey, Di Eastwood, Julia Smith, Jenny Wilson, Kaye Neely, Jill Hatherly, Liz Christensen, Elaine Shields, Jeannie Skinner.
 
Here is an extract from the Minutes of that meeting with the naming of the new committee members setting out their responsibilities.  We would, of course, welcome support from any other SLANZA members in Northland at any time.
 
Lisa Salter's report is also below.  Lisa is doing an amazing job as National Executive Representative and I hope that everyone can offer her plenty of support in this demanding role.
 
Dee Brooker
 

SLANZA Te Tai Tokerau AGM

Saturday 22nd June 2013, 3.30pm Kerikeri High School Library

 
1.    SLANZA Te Tai Tokerau Committee

 
·         National Executive Representative / Co-Chair : Lisa Salter offered to continue as the National Executive Northland representative for another year.

·         Secretary / Co-Chair : Julia Smith volunteered to be the new Co-Chair / Secretary of SLANZA Te Tai Tokerau

·         Treasurer : Kaye would like to hand over the Treasurer’s role to a current SLANZA member, and so we offer her grateful thanks for a role ably done over many years.  Jeannie nominated Jenny Puckey as Treasurer, and she accepted the nomination.

·         Communications : Dee Brooker volunteered to take over the role of maintaining the SLANZA Te Tai Tokerau blog http://slanzanorthland.blogspot.co.nz/ and communicating through the NZ school library list serv as needed.

·         Memberships – Jeannie will take on the memberships role encouraging schools to join SLANZA. We currently have 31 members in Northland and our target is to double that by the next AGM!

·         A committee was drawn together from expressions of interest and anyone else too is welcome to come up with ideas, share organisation roles, and provide support at events etc on a casual basis.

Committee 2013 / 2014 : Lisa Salter, Julia Smith, Dee Brooker, Jenny Puckey, Jan Hobbs, Elaine Shields, Liz Christensen, Clare Giesbers, Jeannie Skinner.                                             

 
Te Tai Tokerau AGM Report 2013
Lisa Salter, NE Representative / Chair TTT

 

In August 2011 I took over the Chair of TTT after years of excellent service from Di Eastwood.  I would be grateful if another member would consider taking up this position.  We would like to improve the structure of the region by appointing someone else to the membership portfolio to look after our members and encourage new members, as well as a committee of a few to plan and gauge interest in events.  I would also like to encourage a member to consider taking the National Executive role for the region.  I would be happy to step down at the next AGM.

 

Professional Development

In 2012 we were excited that SLANZA was able to bring Ross Todd to New Zealand, but TTT was not well represented at the workshop due to distance and cost.  Anita Vandenberghe presented a workshop in Term 2 in Kerikeri on Creative Library Displays with 28 librarians present.  In Term 3 we had Robert Baigent, Services Manager of Any Questions/Many Answers, up for an afternoon information session.  He outlined this great free online NZ resource for school students as something that we can to promote to our students, teachers, parents and explained how to get the most out of it. 

 

Because of our large geographical area and the sparsity of members in any one area, we do not get support for after school or evening events.  This year, in response to requests, we are focusing on offering authors in schools exclusively to our members.   In Term 1 we were extremely fortunate to host Joseph Delaney, internationally bestselling author of the Spooks Series.  He did a public event in Whangarei and this was well supported including a van load from Kerikeri.  Des Hunt is currently touring Northland.  This was offered to all member schools and 16 have taken up the opportunity.  In Term 3 we have Tania Hutley and are gauging interest for Term 4.  While we positively promote the conference to our members, we struggle to get more than a few members involved.  We had only two applications for the two NE conference grants. We hope to share the best of the conference with the rest of our members late in Term 3.

 


Communication

The Te Tai Tokerau blog  is used to spread information and allow members to become familiar with blogging.  Both Jeannie Skinner (TTT Secretary) and I share responsibility for keeping it up to date and interesting, we encourage members to do a post.   With Jeannie Skinner’s direction we also have online communities at National Library Services to Schools including Northland Networks, Northland PD Day, and Northland registered librarians. Jeannie is promoting these every chance she gets throughout the region.   Our blog also links to the SLANZA website.  We like how this keeps our webpage up to date, highlights our news and links directly to the blog. 

 

Advocacy

Jeannie Skinner continues to be a shining light for SLANZA in Northland.  Every opportunity she gets, be it at a network meeting, blog post, school visit, etc she plugs the benefits of SLANZA membership.  I believe that is why Te Tai Tokerau membership is so strong.  

 

I am grateful to have been supported by SLANZA to attend the LIANZA Advocacy workshop in Auckland in March last year as well as the Ross Todd seminar.   Fortunately for my region, National Library supported Jeannie Skinner’s attendance as well.  We have been sharing what we learned at our local network meetings and on the blog.  

 

Things have been quite settled in the region this term.  The main comment I am hearing from members is problems regarding budgets or lack of them. 

 

Finance

We have now received our Book Protection Products PD money for 2012 and 2013 and are grateful for this sponsorship as it enables us to bring in guests like Mal Peet.  We are looking for practical suggestions on how to support our region’s professional development with this money.

 

Lisa Salter

Te Tai Tokerau National Executive Member for SLANZA