Austin, Texas was a happening place in April with both IFLA and IASL events drawing people from around the world.
IFLA’s standing committee reviewed the new School Library guidelines, and brainstormed ways to disseminate information: get UNESCO endorsement, create a brochure on the guidelines, provide a guidelines booklet, translate the guidelines (at least the summary), conduct workshops.
They also discussed ways to improve and expand communication: phoenix the listserv, make more use of the section’s Facebook, start a Twitter account
The group also strategized about the section’s future, which can result in programs and publications. Possible themes are: Inclusion and cohesion: contributions of school libraries; Professional development for school library professionals, College and career readiness: roles of school librarians, Evidence-based practice in school libraries, School libraries and sustainability.
That evening both IFLA and IASL participants enjoyed pizza and more at a friendly local restaurants.
The next day was jam-packed with presentations at the IASL Regional Conference — by top professionals in the field.
Building on the prior day’s discussion, Barbara Schultz-Jones gave an overview of the IFLA School Library Guidelines, and Dinne Oberg discussed Canada’s efforts for national school library guidelines.
Access issues were addressed. Tom Adamich virtually shared multi-language catalog record processes, Clayton Copeland gave heartfelt strategies for creating accessible school libraries, and Karfen Gavigan shared how students provided access to HIV/AIDS info through producing a graphic novel on the subject.
Innovations were featured. Amanda Hovious showed how digital games were literacy and learning tools, Lesley Farmer explained how to teach visual literacy through comics, and Daniella Smith talked about teachers’ perceptions about technology integration.
Workplace realities and possibilities were discussed. Jeff DiScala described school district librarian responsibilities, Jennifer Wood noted public-school library collections, and Judi Moreillon showed how Twitter can be used for professional department. Keith Curry Lance and Karen Gavigan shared data about the impact of teacher librarians in South Carolina.
Best Practices were inspiring. Lunch speaker Joan Wink shared the power of storytelling through quilts and other metaphors, Linda Kay showed how a single book title can spread throughout the school, and Kay Gooch explained Camp Summer Read.
The group brainstormed ways to implement these exciting efforts, and ways that IASL can support such ideas. Networking continued at a TexMex restaurant.
The bottom line? IFLA and IASL are in good hands as expert school librarians and educators are leading the way — and encouraging the membership to get involved and contribute to the success of school librarians — and students.
Día is a national literacy initiative celebrated daily in libraries to empower children and families from all cultural and linguistic backgrounds with tools to become critical thinkers, lifelong learners, and active global citizens. Libraries hosting Día events make a daily commitment to foster cultural understanding through displays, collections, services, and programs that represent our culturally pluralistic society. Each year on April 30th, many libraries plan culminating Día activities to commemorate specific cultural groups within their library community and bring together diverse children and families to celebrate global literacy.
The following link has information on how to help school libraries in Vanuatu.
2015 is the 30th annual celebration of USA’s School Library Month, honoring school librarians for the amazing job that they do everyday. Julianne Moore, the Academy Award winning actress and children’s author, is the Spokesperson and will be promoting the theme, Your School Library: Where Learning Never Ends, throughout April.
To celebrate this 30th anniversary, AASL has planned the following activities:
*The Student Digital Storytelling Festival – see Website for details. The deadline for submissions has been extended to Midnight on March 20th.
The School Library Ambassador Initiative – look for this on social media throughout April and later on Pinterest.
The Author Gallery and Tip of the Day Calendar –look for this on social media throughout April and later on Pinterest.
Send us your Best Shot – this will be a Twitter and Instagram activity announced at the end of March.
Professional Development Sessions – see Website for details.
This is the link to the 2015 AASL School Library Month Website: http://www.ala.org/aasl/slm/
The IFLA Literacy and Reading Section is seeking proposals for a program to be held at the IFLA Conference in Cape Town, South Africa in August 2015. The theme is Literacy Matters! The Importance of Literacy & Reading in the Creation of Strong Societies.”
Literacy is more essential than ever before. In societies dominated by the written word, it is a fundamental requirement for citizens of all ages in modern Europe. Literacy empowers the individual to develop capacities of reflection, critique and empathy, leading to a sense of self-efficacy, identity and full participation in society. Literacy skills are crucial to parenting, finding and keeping a job, participating as a citizen, being an active consumer, managing one’s health and taking advantage of digital developments, both socially and at work (EU High Level Group of Experts on Literacy, 2012)
The Literacy & Reading Section recognises that literacy and reading skills are essential for access to information for educational achievement, personal growth lifelong and the development of communities within society. Libraries have a unique role in the promotion of literacy and reading by providing community spaces and access to a wide range of resources and expertise. The program for the IFLA 2015 Conference will focus on the theme Literacy Matters! and include a mix of invited speakers and presenters.
Building on the Section’s theme Literacy Matters! The importance of literacy & reading in the creation of strong societies, presentations will be considered which address the theme and examine:
· best practice library programs;
· library services which support literacy and reading skills; and
· research projects that support literacy, reading and libraries.
Proposals are requested for 8 – 10 presentations to be part of a series of round table workshops. Each presenter will be part of a round table discussion group which will participate in 3 workshops designed to help further develop the LiR ‘Literacy Matters’ concept & action plan:
As an introduction to the final workshop presenters will have 15 minutes to present their best practice program to their table. Since these projects will be presented in an informal, small group setting, speakers should plan some visual accompaniment such as a poster that can be set up on the table. Presenters may also want to bring brochures or flyers to hand out.
The successful proposals (template provided) will consist of:
· a 500 word description of a 2000 – 2500 word paper about the program/services/research in their presentation which will be published in the IFLA online library;
· include a copyright and plagiarism statement; and
· abstracts will be distributed to all tables and used during Workshop discussions
Abstracts will be selected by a double, blind-review process. Papers will be published in the IFLA online library. Successful presenters will be listed in the official Conference program. All papers will be edited for the English version and returned to presenters for publication in other (English) journals.
Proposals should provide the following information:
· Presenter/s and affiliation
· Brief biographical information of presenters
· Proposal title
· 500 word abstract describing their program, service or research project
· Language of presentation
Proposals should be sent to:
· Barbara Combes (Secretary of the Literacy and Reading Section) at [email protected] by 14th March 2015.
· Please include IFLA Proposal WLIC 2015 in the subject line.
· Successful presenters will be notified by 28th March 2015.
· Submission of final papers in one of the official IFLA languages by 20th May 2015.
For more information, please contact:
· Annie Everall (Chair of Literacy and Reading Section) at [email protected]
· Barbara Combes (Secretary of the Literacy and Reading Section) at [email protected]
Please note that it is the speakers’ responsibility to find funding for their participation in the conference. All papers will be edited for publication in the IFLA Online Library.
here is a message from the present UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova on International Mother Language Day:
“2015 marks the 15th anniversary of International Mother Language Day – this is also a turning point year for the international community, as the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals, when countries will define a new global sustainable development agenda.
“The focus for the post-2015 agenda must fall on the priority of advancing quality education for all — widening access, ensuring equality and inclusiveness, and promoting education for global citizenship and sustainable development.
“Education in the mother language is an essential part of achieving these goals — to facilitate learning and to bolster skills in reading, writing and mathematics. Taking this forward requires a sharper focus on teaching training, revisions of academic programmes and the creation of suitable learning environments.
“UNESCO takes forward these goals across the world. In Latin America, with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNESCO is promoting inclusive education through bilingual intercultural approaches, in order to include both native and non-native cultures. For the same reasons, the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in Asia and the Pacific, based in Bangkok, Thailand, is working to deepen understandings of multilingual education based on the mother tongue, across the region and further afield. Mother tongue education is force for quality learning – it is also essential to bolster multilingualism and respect for linguistic and cultural diversity in societies that are transforming quickly.
“Since 2000, there has been tremendous progress to reach the goals of Education for All. Today, we must look ahead – to complete unfinished business and to tackle new challenges. International Mother Language Day is a moment for all of us to raise the flag for the importance of mother tongue to all educational efforts, to enhance the quality of learning and to reach the unreached. Every girl and boy, every woman and man must have the tools to participate fully in the lives of their societies – this is a basic human right and it is a force for the sustainability of all development.”