Two weeks in the life of a school librarian

A look into the life of Pamela McLean, St Ninian’s High School, Kirkintilloch.

Monday

Attended CILIPS conference in Dundee and presented on our SLIF-funded Shelf Help project, tying in my work in the school library with the strategic aims of the National Strategy for School Libraries in Scotland. Loved meeting other librarians, and now full of ideas to take back to school.

Tuesday               

Busy day back at school. Arranged book buying visit to Scotia Books, spoke to Science department about organising a café event in the library before the end of term, and prepared for the AH English class visit tomorrow by selecting potential dissertation texts for pupils. One of the senior pupils who’d sat in on my research skills sessions last week came in to talk about the resources I’d mentioned, and to get more help finding information.

Wednesday

Hosted Open Book Reading, who delivered a shared reading and creative writing training session to school and library staff. Feedback very positive – a brilliant start to our SLIF-funded MYstory in the Library project. Shared Bookflix display resources with another school librarian who was visiting to attend the training.

Thursday

Out of school all day on the library rewards trip. Took 13 pupil library assistants on a book buy to Waterstones Sauchiehall Street – very impressed by how engaged our pupils were, 4 of them even decided to buy the same book and run their own mini book club. This was followed by a brilliant tour of the Saltire Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University. The librarian there had researched our school library and compiled a video of her findings using our website and twitter account. An inspired way to demonstrate what librarians do!

Friday

Joined SLIC’s new Basecamp group for Scottish School Librarians, and reflected on a successful week.

The week before…

Monday

May holiday. Practised Shelf Help talk to an empty library, hoping it would boost my confidence. It didn’t. Tried to put up a new spinner and spent ages looking for a screwdriver to put it together. Finally got one before starting on the cataloguing that’s been piling up but then remembered class visits I needed to prep so had to abandon the cataloguing for something more pressing (again).

Tuesday

Pupils back today. Found out one of the teachers meant to be accompanying us on the library rewards trip can no longer make it. Double checked we were still OK for ratios but now worried in case someone else pulls out.

Wednesday

Delivered a research skills session to a senior class who had trouble settling. Not sure how much of what I was telling them stuck.

Thursday

Planned to install apps on the library’s new iPads which I need for the MYstory project. Our brilliant I.T. technician was able to get them set up very quickly but the app I was hoping to use isn’t available so had to spend time researching other apps. Couldn’t get a clear stretch of time to set them up so had to leave the app installations for another day.

Friday

Demonstrated our online resources to an English teacher looking for research support. It took double the time it should have since I kept forgetting how to access specific parts of the resources. Not the slick librarian skills I was hoping to show off… Remembered to pick up my notes for Monday and reminded myself that next week is a new week.

Autumn Gathering – Library Surgery Feedback

I just wanted to share with you all the feedback that we had following The Library Surgery session at Autumn Gathering 2017.

It was great to see so many people at the session and I loved hearing everyone chatting and sharing ideas, concerns, solutions and activities with each other.

From the list of comments I think it is clear that we need to have more opportunties to get together as school librarians and chat. Plain and simple. We mostly work alone and do not always get the chance to chat to fellow colleagues as much as we should or would like.

SLG Scotland are planning to organise another Networking event in the New Year. Keep a look out for times and dates. Any suggestions for what we should be doing are most welcome. At the moment we are looking at a few different ideas including, structured chats, book tasting and shout outs about best practice.

SLG – Library Surgery Comments 

• Very interesting to hear from colleagues in other authorities.
• Hearing from folk with same problems/ideas etc. as yourself
• Interesting to hear different perspectives
• Networking with other librarians and sharing best practice
• Meeting other school librarians – some great ideas
• Networking – sharing good practice – sharing support
• Meeting different school librarians
• Good to hear what work other school librarians are doing
• As part of networking I’d love to have a ‘book tasting’ and get book recommendations
• Great to share ideas and be so positive
• Opportunity to discuss mutual problems and situation with fellow professionals
• Discussion among peers – inspiring
• Networking and chance to discuss issues.
• Useful to share good practice amongst group members
• It was great to share ideas with the group
• Enjoyed meeting everyone from different authorities and comparing experiences
• Talking about common issues
• Enjoyed talking to new people
• Getting to hear other people’s experiences
• Good to meet fellow colleagues and listen to others experiences
• Great to learn about real experiences and events in school libraries
• Great creative ideas being shared
• Sharing Good practice
• Great author recommendations from Scottish Book Trust
• Interesting discussion of ideas
• We could have talked for longer but I appreciate the constraints of the day
• Good, lots of new ideas. Interesting chat.
• Could have had less questions to give more time to discuss
• Lovely opportunity to meet and exchange ideas. Worked really well.
• Discussion of social media ideas
• Discussing issues with other librarians – we work alone most of the time
• Hearing other school librarian’s ideas and situations
• Really useful discussion questions. Great to have time to talk with colleagues and share ideas.
• Really enjoyed the conversation. All positive. Good to have a focus for the chat.
• Discussing relevant questions with fellow professionals
• Chatting to other school librarians and finding out what they do. Great to hear other views on school issues.
• Useful to discuss issues with school librarians
• It was good to be able to talk to other school librarians and to know that we all share similar concerns
• Hearing about an unknown resource – love reading 4 schools
• Always love the chance to share best practice.
• Discussing the issues we are faced with is always good.
• Good to hear how other librarians deal with situations and new practices.

We are in the process of collating all the information from the different questions discussed. This will be made available on the blog and emailed to those who left their contact details.

Thanks

Lee-Anne

 

How Good is Our School Library

How Good is Our School Library has been released as a companion guide to HGIOS4.

How Good is Our School Library?

Click the above link to go to the SLIC website were you can download HGIOSLS.

 

John Swinney Visit

John Swinney visit to Elgin Academy 14th February 2017

We were delighted to welcome John Swinney to our library, as part of his visit to Elgin Academy and to Moray on Tuesday 14 February.  John Swinney is Member of the Scottish Parliament for Perthshire North and Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education in the Scottish Government.

It was also lovely to welcome Richard Lochhead, SNP MSP for Moray.

Elgin Academy librarian, Shelagh Toonen, chatted about school libraries with the visitors and delivered a brief presentation about school libraries and their impact on attainment in literacy. A group of pupils also talked to John Swinney, about their experiences of the school library and how it impacts on their school careers. Well done Jamie Rankin, Daniel Campbell, Lewis McCalman & Megan Sutherland, who were all fantastic advocates for the library. John Swinney commented: “Thank you to a fabulous group of young people. Great credit to Elgin Academy.”

The lovely Shelagh welcomes John Swinney to her library @ Elgin Academy

Scottish Teenage Book Prize Competitions

Committee member Shelagh Toonen has every reason to be proud of her pupils after great success at the Scottish Teenage Book Prize Competitions.

S3 pupils at Elgin Academy shadowed the Scottish Teen Book Prize 2017 Award. This has involved personal reading, class work and library sessions, all focused on the three shortlisted books and participation in two competitions. Elgin Academy has performed incredibly well this year, with the panel of judges commenting on a continuing high standard from Elgin Academy. The competition entries showed a very strong understanding of how each medium worked and that there was lots of effective teaching and learning going on!

Elgin Academy achieved first in the Graphic Novel competition, as well as third place. In the Book Trailer competition, two groups of pupils were Highly Commended. Huge congratulations to them on fantastic achievements in this national award and their entries are now available to see on the Scottish Book Trust website: www.scottishbooktrust.com. Well done to all pupils who participated in this year’s award.

The winning pupils from Elgin Academy

School Libraries in the news

School libraries in Scotland have been in the news recently, which can only be a good thing.

Here are links to the articles –

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39856284

https://theferret.scot/loss-libraries-schools-scottish-ministers-pressure/

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15281370.Urgent_call_for_more_school_librarians_to_halt_slide_in_literacy_standards/?ref=twtrec

What are your thoughts? It is nothing that we as a profession don’t already know. Cut school libraries and librarians and children’s literacy rates are bound to fall. Here’s hoping that it isn’t too late to do something about it.

And finally a link from the wonderful Chris Riddell on why schools need a school librarian.

https://www.cilip.org.uk/news/my-view-you-can-t-call-yourself-school-if-you-don-t-have-library

 

School Library strategy for Scotland

Hopefully everyone has seen this:

http://www.cilips.org.uk/national-school-library-strategy-scotland/

PHOTO: SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT FLICKR – REPRODUCED USING CREATIVE COMMONS

John Sweeny – Deputy First Minsiter – has spoke recently about his intention to formulate a national strategy for school libraries. This is a great breakthough for school librarians, John Sweeny revealed that when the next How Good is our School is released in time for school session 2017/18 it will include guidance which focuses on the contribution to be made by library staff to cross curricular outcomes.

What do you think?

Is this enough?

Is it a step in the right direction?

What would you like to see included?

#librariesmatter

School Libraries Update

I thought it might be a good idea to try and have a weekly update of what is going on in school libraries across Scotland.

Save Scotland’s School Libraries petition is calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to set out a new national strategy for school libraries which recognises the vital role of high quality school libraries in supporting pupils’ literacy and research skills.

It has received a number of responses from organisations such as EIS, Scottish Book Trust, Scottish Parent Teacher Council and Society of Authors Scotland. Go and check out what they are all saying in support of school libraries.

Save Scotland’s School Libraries

School Library Advocacy Group has produced its plan for 2016 and is continuing to promote and highlight the positive contribution school libraries and school librarians make in supporting the curricular and developmental needs of young people.

Have a look and see how you can help – CILIPS – School Library Advocacy Group

TIASSL – Today in a Scottish School Library is a twitter account curated by Jen Macfayden, a school librarian from North Lanarkshire, It showcases what is happening across school libraries in Scotland.

TIASSL

Elsewhere in library news.

Wikipedia celebrates 15 years of free knowledge – no matter what school librarians think of Wikipedia as a reliable source has certainly changed the idea of how knowledge can be gathered and shared across the Internet.

World Book Day 2016 is fast approaching, check out the website for the latest information on World Book Day 2016.

CILIP My Library By Right Campaign

Take some time and check out the latest CILIP campaign for public libraries in England.

 

Catalyst Book Awards 2014

 

Thursday 7^th November at Chryston Cultural Centre saw the Catalyst Book Awards 2014 being launched. In the audience were pupils from Chryston and Caldervale high schools along with visiting librarians, all excited to find out which books had made it onto the longlist. The pupils were treated to an entertaining talk from Catalyst 2013 Award winner, Elizabeth Wein. She kept the pupils enthralled talking about her book ‘Code Name Verity’ and tales of women pilots throughout history. Elizabeth then had the honour of announcing the 16 books that had made it through the committee’s criteria to be in with a chance of being voted the best read for teenagers in 2014.

 

Catalyst is all about discovering and promoting the most exciting and thought provoking reading for teenagers in North Lanarkshire. This year we have a larger number of books in the longlist which hopefully means we are able to cater for all tastes.

 

The 16 books to make the longlist for 2014 are:

 

‘Bodyguard: Hostage’ – Chris Bradford          ‘The Bunker Diary’ – Kevin Brooks

 

‘Anthem for Jackson Dawes’ – Celia Bryce     ‘How to Fall’ – Jane Casey

 

‘Conjuring the Infinite’ – Kirkland Ciccone      ‘Undone’ – Cat Clarke

 

‘Waiting for Gonzo’ – Dave Cousins                ‘After Tomorrow’ – Gillian Cross

 

‘OMG! Is this actually my life?’ – Rae Earl     ‘Far Rock Away’ – Charlie Fletcher

 

‘Pantomime’ – Laura Lam                               ‘Quantum Drop’ – Saci Lloyd

 

‘Siege’ – Sarah Mussi                                      ‘Ketchup Clouds’ – Annabel Pitcher

 

‘Nowhere’ – Jon Robinson                               ‘The Drowning’ – Rachel Ward

 

Young people from all 24 North Lanarkshire High schools are encouraged to get involved in the Catalyst experience in a number of ways; from book groups within school or public libraries, to author visits and book reviews on the blog. Young people will then vote on which books in the longlist should make it onto the Catalyst shortlist and go forward to win the Catalyst Book Award 2014.

 

16 books – 1 Winner

 

 Who Will Win? You Decide 

 

To find out more about Catalyst please visit our blog @ http://catalystnlc.wordpress.com/

Quiz and book tree

Hi folks, Wendy from Blairgowrie High School here 🙂
I’ve just added a couple of pages which you can access at these links:

Quiz template
Book Tree