Elizabeth Hutchinson’s Post

Transcript

Hi, I hope you have enjoyed your summer holidays. I can imagine that you're probably beginning to wind back up so that you are getting yourself prepared and ready for the new school year. Some of you might only have a couple of weeks to go if you're lucky. Most of you are back in a week or so's time so. I thought it was a good time, a good opportunity to have a quick chat to you about what is going to come up for us for the new school year. And. You know, over the last few weeks, it's made me really realize. You know, the stuff that's going on in the news, how important people like school librarians really are, focusing on things like misinformation and critical thinking. Uou know It's really important that we. help schools understand the role that the school librarian plays within this and how they can support. And the other options are obviously for school librarians that are helping to raise literacy levels and to raise academic attainment. Now, I know that a lot of schools have done really well this year with their with their exam. But it's not all or they're exam numbers, but it's not all about exams as it and we know that actually as things move forward. Especially with AI rumbling on in the background, is the fact that it's going to be more important for? Students to explore their creative side and do you know what is the role of the school librarian in helping them to do that is something that I think I'll be focusing on this year. Um. Many school librarians work quietly on their own and in the background, but this can cause problems and, you know, not being recognised, having no support, feeling ignored. You know, unless. School librarians advocate for themselves. It becomes very difficult when their jobs are on the line and the money and the budget is scarce. So you know, it's really important to find a voice, know and understand what it is that you are doing and why. And be aware of the the role that will disappear once the school have decided that your job is no longer needed because of budgets. Now there'll be, there's lots of things that schools don't cut their budgets for because they think they're important. At what point do we say that a school library job is an essential job rather than something that's nice to have? So all of these kind of conversations is the kind of thing that I'd like to focus on so. Um, if a librarian is empowered to speak up and then they what about what they can offer, then, then that's when the magic happens. Do you know what I've, I've spent the last two or three years working with a group of school librarians and it's lovely and wonderful to see the things that they are achieving because of, you know, some, some of it because of me, not all of it, obviously because of the, the people that they are, the passion that they've got for their jobs. Some of them have moved on to greater things moved out of school libraries, which is sad, but actually it's great that they've really realised that actually there's more to what they can do and what they can offer. So, um, I'm excited to tell you that my training is starting again in October. So I'm not going to try and do anything for you in September. I know how manic September is for you all. And the training starts in October, which is, um, empowering research in the digital age. I'm going to take us back to basics. Help us understand. The the need and understanding of what you have within your school library to actually help students and teachers work their way through the library services that you offer. My master class starts again in October. Um. The impact that the six week session had on the attendees last time was amazing. It shocked even me. There's a blog post by Jannath which I'd love you to read if you're considering the master class. It empowered her to achieve far more than I even appreciated that it was going to. So if it is something that you're considering, do take a look at it. It's only for eight people. And. I'm I'm going to keep it at the price that it is for this year. Next year it may be going up. So if you want a bag of bargain, try and get on to it this year. I'm going to continue with my podcasts, so I've split them up into two. So there's the engaging and empowering School Libraries podcast, which is. All things school libraries, we're going, we've got some amazing guests lined up for this year. Uh, Ruth and I are have got lots of planning going on. So, so looking forward to sharing that with you. The other one is, is FOSIL, education and school libraries. That is going to be that is just with me and Darryl Toerien, so. very focused on inquiry based learning. So hopefully if you are looking for that kind of information, you know, the two are very separate now which which hard work but exciting is good. It's nice to have different focuses. I've a new learning Hub, so the Learning Hub is a free resource for anybody who wants to join in and have a chat with anybody. Got a question about school libraries? Then just post. The only stipulation is that you do need to register your e-mail address with me. Uh, it just means that I can stop spam coming through, that's all it's for. New school membership. Ohh yeah, looking at my notes. I've got a new school membership, said the school membership now includes help with the school library assessment and strategic and development plan support. So if it is something that you're interested in, if you're thinking about where your school library is going and what it's doing and, and the focus that it wants to have, then then that membership is a really important one. Unlimited members per school and. They will help you directly think about what a strategic and a development plan might look like. Let's work together, let's have some fun this year, let's do some learning together and and as always, my door is open, so. I'm looking forward to the start of the new school year. Thank you very much for listening.