National Library Services to Schools update

Yesterday the National Library have updated their website with some new information about their services. You can find new information about the lending service model here: 

http://schools.natlib.govt.nz/about/service-changes-2016

We are pleased to see some adjustments to the lending service, including a greater number of books available to larger schools, and loans in Terms 1, 2 and 3 rather than only Terms 1 & 3.

Please note that this is an interim update - more info will be going out to schools via National Library's usual communication channels (including Gazette ads/articles, MOE bulletin message, direct mail to principals etc.) in mid November.

If you have comments or questions about the update, remember that you can contact National Library directly using their email address s2stransformation@dia.govt.nz

Thanks,

Miriam

 Miriam Tuohy

President

School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa

National Library information now in your schools

Just a quick note to let you know that the National Library have now mailed (hard copy) a letter and details about the Services to Schools transformation project to your school. Please ask your Principal if this letter has been received and can be shared with you.  The letter and accompanying document outlines the strategy and invites schools to apply to be part of the project.

“Input from schools in shaping the future design of services

We are looking for 15 schools to join with us in further shaping the services so that they become the best they can possibly be. We will select the 15 schools to ensure representation of schools of different sizes, deciles, type and location. This is an excellent opportunity for your school to take a leadership role in influencing the services so they best meet the needs of all schools.”

Cathy Kennedy

Communications

SLANZA National Executive

From the President of SLANZA - Re: National Library Services to Schools Transformation Programme

The School Library Association of NZ Aotearoa National Executive is pleased that our concerns and the concerns of many people across the education sector, have been noted and that the implementation of the Services to Schools Transformation has been adjusted to allow schools time to adapt to the new service (click here for the information released today from the National Library).

The School Library Association is glad that our lobbying and the lobbying of our members, has resulted in the implementation of the new service provisions being slowed to allow for a more well thought out transition.  More importantly, the aspects of access to curriculum services have been addressed and this service will continue until the end of 2015.  

It heartens us to know that our concerns were listened to, and that a small organisation was able to make a difference within the massive wheels of government.  We are delighted on behalf of our members and also on behalf of the students and teachers who were so affected by the pace of these changes.

We would like to thank all the individuals who supported us, who supported the cause and who gave of their time and energy to send a clear message to the National Library about the effects of the changes.  We look forward to working with the National Library and being involved with the discussion about the implementation of the National Strategic School Library Framework, being involved in the research opportunities and the Professional Learning Networks.

Rest assured, your 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.

Bridget Schaumann

President

School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa

Changes to National Library Services to Schools and the Curriculum Service

This weekend the SLANZA National Executive met with Geraldine Howell and Mark Stanley from the National Library.  Geraldine is Director Literacy, Learning and Public Programmes and Mark is the project manager for the implementation of the Services to Schools Transformation Programme (SSTP). 

Firstly, thank you to everyone who attended meetings in their local regions, wrote their concerns to their SLANZA representatives by email, wrote letters and generated news reports regarding our concerns to the change in service.  Throughout the country, 20 meetings were held by SLANZA to discuss this issue and were attended by 217 SLANZA members.

The National Executive collated all your feedback from the regional meetings and correspondence.   From this we created a list of major questions regarding the changes to the Services for Schools and the implementation of the SSTP.  Geraldine and Mark were able to give us some clear answers and assurances to some of our questions and we are waiting on Geraldine’s written replies to these which we will then share with you, along with a summary of the verbal replies from the meeting. 

Many of the questions however, could not be answered at this time as some of the decisions made around the proposed programme have implications for National Library staff who must be (quite rightly) informed first.  To this end, we are told that a major announcement and information pack will be sent to Principals on Thursday from the National Library, both by surface and electronic mail.  Please make sure you ask your Principal to share this information pack with you and your teachers.  This pack will outline the proposed plan and service offer for the remainder of the year and the coming years from the National Library Services to Schools.  Geraldine assured the National Executive that our concerns have been listened to and expected we would see this reflected in this service offer on Thursday. 

The SLANZA National Executive also eagerly await this information pack on Thursday and the service provision it will outline. Once we have had time to read and discuss this document, we will send you further comment. 

Thank you again from the SLANZA National Executive and regional committees for your continued concern and commitment in ensuring we have services that continue to support our students and their learning outcomes.  

Quick Online Feedback Form on National Library Changes

The SLANZA executive is aware that not everyone was able to attend the meetings held around the regions to discuss the changes to the National Library’s Services to Schools. So we have created a quick, online feedback form to get your opinion. We will use this information to inform our discussions when we meet with the National Library team at the end of March.  Please give us your feedback so we can pass on your concerns.

SLANZA Meeting Notes – Term 1, 2015

 Agenda - National Library Services to Schools Changes

List of Northland's concerns with Garth, Dee & Alyson

Whangarei Boys High School Library - Wednesday February 25 

Meeting opened at 3:45pm.  

Present:

Dee Brooker	Whangarei Boys High School
Jane Woods	Pompallier Catholic College
Alyson Gates	Kamo High School
Catherine Pilkington	Otamatea High School
Trudy Norrish	Kamo Intermediate
Sonya Prchal	Morningside School
Garth Rodda	Whangarei Intermediate
Julia Smith	Kerikeri High School

Apologies: Lisa Salter, Dargaville Libraries; Carol Crowley, Tikipnga High School 

We acknowledged that these changes prove a conflict of interest for our terrific National Library Advisor Jeannie Skinner, who was unable to attend the meeting.  

A member of the National Library Leadership team, Geraldine Howell, Director, Literacy, Learning and Public Programmes along with Elizabeth Jones, were invited to attend our Northland meeting but the invitation was declined due to a clash of dates. 

  

This meeting was essential to allow members to voice their concerns and openly discuss the changes proposed. Although we felt this was a fait accompli, we all volunteered opinions and talked freely on how these changes would affect us. It was a learning experience for us all to hear how other members viewed the changes. We were unanimously concerned at National Library's proposed transformation to services. 

We congratulated ourselves that Northland schools had borrowed 29,595 books in 2014, and wondered how that data may change this year. Then, as repercussions of the new services take effect, we discussed the probable drop in usage in 2016. Those present predominantly represented Intermediate and High Schools that had no need, inclination, or space for more fiction and high-interest non-fiction. Therefore we were greatly concerned that the decline in uptake of National Library books from 2016 onwards may be interpreted that the service is no longer required, that books are no longer required. Would this decline in usage be evidence towards the dissolution of school libraries?  

Members also voiced their concern that this was just the beginning of National Library changes; they feared what would come next for school libraries.

Other concerns discussed in detail, listed:

·         Lack of library budget means reliance on NLNZ books

·         Already buying fiction and high-interest non-fiction

·         Lack of consultation

·         Connectivity issues

·         Disparity

·         Timeliness of announcement – second to last week of school

·         Suitability and quality of books chosen for your school

·         Quantity of books insufficient

·         Logistics of handling books

·         Public Libraries providing books

  

Quote of the day: National Library New Zealand is the envy of the world, why would they want to damage that reputation? (apologies, Jane or Catherine, please confirm who said this) 

Thanks to Dee Brooker who asked teaching staff to submit written comments on their usage of National Library resources, these collectively reflect the teachers' dismay at the upcoming changes. I will take these to the National Executive meeting later this month.  

We thanked Garth Rodda for his re-worked letter against the National Library changes , (original by Bridget Schaumann) which three Northland members I know of used to gather support and signatures from staff. 

Meeting closed about 5:00pm