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Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

Opened book

Diversity and Inclusion - Accessit Book Club

“I can imagine nothing more terrifying than an Eternity filled with men who were all the same. The only thing which has made life bearable…has been the diversity of creatures on the surface of the globe.”
― T.H. White

Stories can transform people and they can connect people. Our societies are beautifully diverse – we have people of different races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, ages, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs and ideologies. Being different from our peers can feel isolating, but stories help us to see our similarities and empathise with those who are different from ourselves.

Having access to diverse stories through a range of mediums during the COVID-19 lockdown will help students feel connected. Two of our library-trained staff have put together a collection of reads for all ages, based on the themes of diversity and inclusion. Enjoy!

The Haunting – Alex Bell

A brilliant member of the Red Eye series of horror books, The Haunting turns up the fear factor with a kickass heroine in a wheelchair who doesn’t let her reduced mobility define or hinder her. Check out Alex Bell’s website.

I have No Secrets – Penny Joelson

This multi-award winning thriller features main character Jemma who is non-verbal and has cerebral palsy. When her sister’s boyfriend cheerfully confesses a murder to her in the first few pages thinking she has no voice or brains, she knows she has to do something. Read more about Penny’s books on her website including her latest inclusive offering, The Girl in the Window.

All of the Above – Juno Dawson

Juno Dawson’s All of the Above is an excellent YA read that deals with moving to a new 6th form college, LGBTQ+ issues, eating disorders and mental health. A real page-turning piece of contemporary fiction done well.

One – Sarah Crossan

One tells the story of 16 year old conjoined twins, Grace and Tippi, who make the move from being homeschooled to school, deal with making new friends, first love, and an operation that will change their lives forever. Beautifully written in free verse, it’s a must for any library if it isn’t already on your shelves.

The Black Flamingo – Dean Atta

Winner of the Stonewall Award and longlisted for the 2020 Carnegie award, The Black Flamingo is another free-verse novel with pages gorgeously illustrated by Anshika Khullar, telling the story of Michael, a mixed-race gay teen who finds his true self as a drag artist at University.

Do You Speak Chocolate? – Cas Lester

A lovely story aimed at 9-12 year olds, following the friendship of an often misunderstood Jaz, and refugee Nadima, who arrives at school with no friends and very limited English. The girls communicate through emojis while Nadima learns the language, and although there are mishaps along the way, this is a feelgood contemporary story that tackles the issues of identity, home and integration.

Cyborg Cat; Rise of the Parson’s Road Gang– Ade Adepitan

Paralympian Ade Adepitan’s first foray into children’s fiction. Rise of the Parson’s Road Gang is the start of a new series loosely based on his experience of moving from Nigeria to London in the 80s as a disabled black child. A great adventure filled with acceptance, inclusion and friendship.

Kick The Moon – Muhammad Khan

Another absolute winner written by critically acclaimed author Muhammad Khan and illustrated by Amrit Birdi, Kick the Moon follows Ilyas as he tries to deal with GCSEs, pressure to join the family business, toxic masculinity and friendship.

Finding Audrey – Sophie Kinsella

Sophie Kinsella’s first book for younger readers is a riot. Hilarious from the first page, and gently uncovering topics of mental health, anxiety, family and first love, this could easily be loaned to strong readers from 12+.

The Boy at the Back of the Class – Onjali Q. Rauf

Nine year old Ahmet arrives in the lives of the narrator and her friends suddenly, a refugee from Syria. An award winning book that encourages friendship, understanding and empathy. Onjali Q Rauf’s second book, The Star Outside my Window, is also a valuable addition to your catalogue.

When Sadness Comes to Call – Eva Eland

Written and illustrated by Eva Eland, this beautiful picture book sensitively looks at sadness, the impact it has on our lives, and how we deal with it.

It’s a No-Money Day – Kate Milner

Even though Mum works really hard, there isn’t always money for food at home. It’s a No-Money Day gives us a glimpse into the life of the many families who rely on food banks to keep everyone fed.

Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet – Zanib Mian

A hilarious series of books in the vein of Tom Gates, Omar is a cheeky and lovable main character you’ll love to share. Illustrated by Nasaya Mafaridik, Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet is the first in a new series that should be in all libraries.

Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties – Humza Arshad and Henry White

A rip-roaring comedy adventure! Humza Khan, AKA Little Badman, is the best rapper in his town (and 11 years old). Life would be great, except for the fact that all the teachers are disappearing and the Aunties are taking over… Along with his friends Umer and Wendy, Humza’s up to saving the day.

Big Bones – Laura Dockrill

BB is overweight and body positive. Her mum insists she go to the gym and keep a food diary, which transitions into a real diary. A funny, warm book about self-esteem, confidence and being yourself.

Pigeon English – Stephen Kelman

Harrison Opoku is 11, and recently arrived in England from Ghana. This book is written from Harri’s wonderfully naive perspective, and in his lovely pidgin English, but don’t let that deceive you – it packs an absolute punch. Opening up issues like immigration and gang warfare, Pidgeon English will stay with you long after you finish.

Noughts and Crosses – Malorie Blackman

We couldn’t have a list about diverse and inclusive fiction and not include this classic. With its recent adaptation, Noughts and Crosses is once again in the spotlight as an eye-opening book that should be read by everyone. Dealing with themes of racism, gang violence, segregation and love, it doesn’t shy away from gritty subjects, and nor should it.

The Art of Being Normal – Lisa Williamson

David’s got a secret: he should have been born a girl. Leo’s just started at David’s school and has a secret of his own – one he never wants to get out. When he stands up for David in a fight and the two become friends, can their secrets stay that way? The Art of Being Normal deals with trans rights, LGBTQ+ issues, bullying and friendship.

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali – Sabina Khan

Rukhsana has only got a few months to go until she can escape her conservative Muslim family and move to Caltech – that is until she gets caught kissing her girlfriend and her family ships her off to Bangladesh and derails her life. LGBTQ+ issues merge with culture and identity.

Cinderella is dead – Kalynn Bayron

(Not published until July 7, 2020)
Told 200 years after Cinderella has died, we see a society where girls are presented at the royal ball to potential husbands, and girls who are not chosen are never heard from again. Sophia would rather marry her best friend Erin, and flees, vowing to take down the King and learn the true story behind Cinderella’s tale.

The beauty of your face – Sahar Mustafah

(Not published until April 2020)
A Palestinian American woman wrestles with faith, loss, and identity before coming face to face with a school shooter, as the principal of a Muslim girls’ school. We learn of the bigotry she faced as a child and her tough family dynamic growing up in America as a first generation citizen.

With the fire on high – Elizabeth Acevedo

Young mother Emoni struggles with balancing a baby, school and her dreams of being a chef. She is talented, but circumstance makes achieving her goals difficult.

Internment – Samira Ahmed

A horrifying ‘What if?’ set in the not-to-distant future of Islamaphobia at its worst, where Muslim-American citizens are forced into internment camps.

Leah on the offbeat – Becky Albertelli

From the author of Simon vs the Homosapien Agenda, we get to know Leah better, through her journey of bisexuality, friendships and rock and roll.

Dread Nation – Justina Ireland

Historical fiction with Zombies. Set after the battle of Gettysburg, the dead begin to walk the battlefields, and the Native and Negro Reeducation Act requires certain children to attend combat schools in order to keep everyone else safe.

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children – Kirstin Cronn-Mills

This story follows transgender student, Gabe, as he navigates the final years of high school, and the negative and positive attitudes of those around him. We see him blossom through his radio show, and the anonymity that gives him his voice.

Scars like Wings – Erin Stewart

Ava Lee loses her parents, her best friend and her home in a fire. A year on, she’s forced to go back to school. Seen only as the ‘Burned Girl’, she makes a friend in a fellow survivor who is fighting her own battles.

Fat Angie – E.E. Charlton-Trujillo

After turning to food to numb the pain of a missing sister in Iraq, Angie finally has to return to school. Bullied relentlessly, she makes a new friend in a recent transfer student.

Inside Out & Back Again – Thanhha Lai

Told in prose form, we hear the true story of a refugee family who flees to America after the Vietnam war.

Accessit Library – easy access to resources from home

Now, more than ever, it’s important for young people to feel connected to one another. Your students can access any type of digital resource through the Accessit Library Web App: eBooks, audio books, video clips, images, websites, and link directly to your subscription-based online content providers. Take the pressure off learning at home by providing easy access to a wide variety of literature and digital resources. Contact us to learn more.

Resources

Title image: Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Book cover images from: 

https://www.goodreads.com/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/

https://www.booktrust.org.uk/ 

How International Schools Can Automate Their Library & Free Up Time for What Matters 

How International Schools Can Automate Their Library & Free Up Time for What Matters 

Picture Books – Top Picks

Picture Books – Top Picks

A Learning and Marketing Tool to Increase Student Engagement

A Learning and Marketing Tool to Increase Student Engagement

Bring on The Comics!

Bring on The Comics!

The (Multiple) Books of Christmas

The (Multiple) Books of Christmas

What Does Information Literacy Mean?

What Does Information Literacy Mean?

Substitution Rules Don’t Have To Be Scary

Substitution Rules Don’t Have To Be Scary

Embedding the Library as a Whole School Resource

Embedding the Library as a Whole School Resource

Getting Creative With Visual Search

Getting Creative With Visual Search

Starting The Year Off Right in Your Library

Starting The Year Off Right in Your Library

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

Let’s Talk Libraries: Bishop Gilpin C of E Primary School – Sally Le Marquand

Let’s Talk Libraries: Bishop Gilpin C of E Primary School – Sally Le Marquand

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

Let’s Talk Libraries: Thomas Hardye School – Jenny Stevens

Let’s Talk Libraries: Thomas Hardye School – Jenny Stevens

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Good Help (OLGH) – Sarah Olushonde

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Good Help (OLGH) – Sarah Olushonde

Let’s Talk Libraries: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

Let’s Talk Libraries: Littlehampton Primary – Barb O’Connor

Let’s Talk Libraries: Littlehampton Primary – Barb O’Connor

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Hill School (US) – Nancy Body, Catherine Clowes

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Hill School (US) – Nancy Body, Catherine Clowes

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

Let’s Talk Libraries: Richmond & Prahran High School – Karys McEwen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Richmond & Prahran High School – Karys McEwen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Croxley Danes School – Victoria Rovira

Let’s Talk Libraries: Croxley Danes School – Victoria Rovira

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

Web App of the Week: World Book Day (UK) – Free download

Web App of the Week: World Book Day (UK) – Free download

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Supporting Reluctant Readers

Supporting Reluctant Readers

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Lovett School – Robyn Martin

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Lovett School – Robyn Martin

Let’s Talk Libraries: Lloyd Street Primary School (VIC)

Let’s Talk Libraries: Lloyd Street Primary School (VIC)

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Raising the profile of your school library

Raising the profile of your school library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Christian College Geelong (VIC) – Gerradine Barry

Let’s Talk Libraries: Christian College Geelong (VIC) – Gerradine Barry

Let’s Talk Libraries: Paula Na Nagara – St Mark’s School 

Let’s Talk Libraries: Paula Na Nagara – St Mark’s School 

Let’s Talk Libraries: Diocese of Toowoomba (QLD) – Liz Newman

Let’s Talk Libraries: Diocese of Toowoomba (QLD) – Liz Newman

Let’s Talk Libraries: Peace Lutheran College (QLD) – Tanya Mills

Let’s Talk Libraries: Peace Lutheran College (QLD) – Tanya Mills

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

Accessit Library Talks – Episode 1 – Kevin Arscott of Coleg Gwent

Accessit Library Talks – Episode 1 – Kevin Arscott of Coleg Gwent

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Getting students involved in your school library

Getting students involved in your school library

Web App of the Week: Environment Day & World Oceans Day – Free Download

Web App of the Week: Environment Day & World Oceans Day – Free Download

Web App of the Week – Ursuline Academy of Dallas

Web App of the Week – Ursuline Academy of Dallas

Web App of the Week – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

How to promote your school library catalogue

How to promote your school library catalogue

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

How to approach collection development in school libraries

How to approach collection development in school libraries

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

Librarian Talk – Wendy Wright – Avonside Girls’ High & Shirley Boys’ High

Librarian Talk – Wendy Wright – Avonside Girls’ High & Shirley Boys’ High

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

Web App of the Week – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Web App of the Week – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

Librarian Talk – Sasha Roth – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Librarian Talk – Sasha Roth – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Jill Adler – St. Anthony’s High School

Librarian Talk – Jill Adler – St. Anthony’s High School

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

Web App of the Week: St Anthony’s High School

Web App of the Week: St Anthony’s High School

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

Supporting mental health in the library: Mallinson Library, Wellington College, Berkshire

Supporting mental health in the library: Mallinson Library, Wellington College, Berkshire

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

The library – a safe space for everyone

The library – a safe space for everyone

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

Building a Strong Reading Culture: St Rita’s College Library

Building a Strong Reading Culture: St Rita’s College Library

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Creating an amazing online library presence

Creating an amazing online library presence

Deepening literacy engagement

Deepening literacy engagement

Supporting mental health in the library: Mallinson Library, Wellington College, Berkshire

Supporting mental health in the library: Mallinson Library, Wellington College, Berkshire

A girl in a library looking at her online library catalogue

Supporting mental health within the library: Mallinson Library, Wellington College, Berkshire

With a staggering increase in mental health issues for young people in the last decade, students need a space they can escape from the stresses of daily life. Research has shown a direct link between reading and mental well-being, making the library the perfect escape – both physically and mentally. We recently chatted with Lucy Atherton, Head Librarian at the Mallinson Library, about supporting mental health within the library and what initiatives they run to encourage new readers at Wellington College.

What are the core values of your library? What makes your library inviting and special for everyone regardless of age or ability?

Inclusivity, flexibility and adaptability are at the core of everything we do in the Mallinson Library at Wellington College. The Library is a bright, colourful, informal space for all students, staff and families. As we are a boarding school, the Library is open from 8am – 10pm and also at weekends. It is at the heart of the school, both physically, and in terms of providing a home for academic and extracurricular clubs and societies; from Creative Writing to Magic Club, as well as space for individual silent study or group work. We are lucky to have a very flexible space with separate rooms which can accommodate a range of activities, from developing research skills to group reading and debates. The glass fronted Library pods are popular venues for social learning, and the students came up with their favourite way of revising – writing on the glass walls of the pods.

We are very keen to avoid hierarchies and all age groups are equally free to use all areas of the Library.

Mallinson Library at Christmas

You’ve run some great library initiatives. How did you get the library involved in Mental Health Awareness Day?

We recently worked with the Deputy Head (Safeguarding) to support her first Mental Health Awareness Day. This involved a large number of speakers and activities for students, staff and parents to attend.

The library contributed by providing:

Dog drop-ins friendly staff dogs visited the library to provide a bit of pet therapy.

Mindfulness a venue for mindful colouring in and the opportunity to create a hedgehog from an old book.

Massages – practitioners came in to offer these.

Display of books to support well-being.

Posters advertising well-being and ‘Shelf-Help’ book displayed on the backs of toilet doors.

Fruit and drinks available in the Library.

A comfortable place to read newspapers, magazines or pick up a good book.

Board games  including Big Chess and Dobble.

Jigsaws – some students got so involved in these they were reluctant to leave until they’d completed the 1000 piece puzzle!

Outdoor bean bags relaxing on the bean bags or revising together outside was very popular.

It was a very successful day and we are planning to offer a number of the activities on a regular basis.

Dogs

Bean bags

Do you collaborate with teachers and students regularly on projects?

We are fortunate to have enthusiastic and supportive teaching colleagues who are very willing to work with us on projects. We work in an atmosphere where experimentation and giving things a go is encouraged. In January 2020, the librarians collaborated with the teachers in charge of our younger Scholars to set up a Young Adult author Skype. Over the Christmas holidays the Y9 and Y10 students read Nikesh Shukla’s recent YA novel ‘The Boxer’. They came up with questions about the book, and we had fun refreshing our knowledge of the content and themes with a Kahoot Quiz before the author Skype Q&A interview. It was a fun event, prompting the students to read a book over the Christmas holidays and a number of them told me how enthused they felt about reading for pleasure, as they hadn’t previously encountered such a readable and thought provoking book.

How do you support/engage struggling readers?

We aim to offer the broadest and most varied book stock possible, welcoming suggestions for new stock and buying recommendations from students and staff. For a number of students, as they go up the school, reading for pleasure can drop off due to exam pressures and time constraints. We offer mini-collections of enjoyable reads in a number of boarding houses, and have collections of ‘Quick Reads’ in the main library and Academic Support Department Library. After the Wheelers ePlatform audio book collection was introduced, students were able to listen to books on their phones on long journeys to away matches or listen to the spoken version of an English set text. We also have an ever expanding collection of graphic novels.

YA author Sarah Crossan recently visited us and spoke to all the Y9s. She was enthusiastic and fun and her very moving and quick to read verse novels have been flying off the shelves!

Crossan books

Student sitting reading

How do you promote the library school-wide?

As professional librarians we are proactive in promoting all that the library, resources and staff have to offer.

Attend meetings – we attend Academic Department meetings to remind staff about resources and discuss how we can develop a whole school reading culture.

Reading promotion – we talk to Housemasters and Housemistresses to find ways to encourage reading in the pastoral setting.

News Digest – each week we highlight key online resources via our Library News Digest. In this email, which is sent to all students and staff, we curate the most thought-provoking articles from a variety of news sources, including podcasts and BBC radio and television. Readers stay up-to-date with current affairs and can find resources for anything, from an IB Extended Essay to Debating preparation.

Referencing advice – we offer sessions to support project research and run Referencing and Academic Honesty workshops for classes – either in the library or visiting classrooms, as required.

Supporting departmental libraries – we have helped to improve and systematise the Economics, Geography, Art, History and English Departmental Libraries.

Holiday reading – we make collections of new or particularly relevant books available to the teaching staff in their staffroom before holidays. This encourages them to borrow books even if they are short of time to visit the Library.

Coffee mornings – we specifically encourage the non-teaching staff to come along to these informal events to make them aware that they can borrow books and read the newspapers and magazines in the Library too.

How does Accessit help to promote your library?

The Accessit web catalogue is available to our staff and students 24/7 via the e-Library. The librarians run Research Skills sessions for our youngest students when they arrive in the school at the age of 13. During these workshops they learn to use the Accessit catalogue and search for books, e-books and browse Quick Lists. We also show them how to check their loans and loan history and reserve books. Since placing a dedicated computer on the library desk for catalogue searching, we have seen a huge increase in searches by students. Accessit Library enables us to see the most popular search terms and the top failed searches which helps us to improve our catalogue training, and gives us a better indication of student interests. Accessit reports also enable us to share the most popular books and authors with our students and staff. This supports a culture of reading for pleasure and encourages others to share their favourite reads.

What are some of the most popular reads right now?

Moonrise by Sarah Crossan

One by Sarah Crossan

Toffee by Sarah Crossan

Factfulness by Hans Rosling

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

March graphic novels by John Lewis

Red Rising series by Pierce Brown

Lorien Legacies series by Pittacus Lore

The Boxer by Nikesh Shukla

The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel

How do you find being a school librarian?

Being a School Librarian is great – you get to work with all types of people (and in our case, dogs too) and your homework is to read as much and as widely as you can! The opportunity to chat about books and resources and find the most apt books and information for each individual is an enjoyable challenge. It’s a role which lends itself to creativity, innovation and variety. There’s never a dull moment and there’s always more to be done and new projects to implement.

Library

Lucy Atherton is the Head Librarian at Wellington College, Berkshire, UK.
Email: library@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
Library blog: https://wellingtoncollege.edublogs.org/
Twitter: @welly_library
Instagram: wellylibrary

 

How International Schools Can Automate Their Library & Free Up Time for What Matters 

How International Schools Can Automate Their Library & Free Up Time for What Matters 

Picture Books – Top Picks

Picture Books – Top Picks

A Learning and Marketing Tool to Increase Student Engagement

A Learning and Marketing Tool to Increase Student Engagement

Bring on The Comics!

Bring on The Comics!

The (Multiple) Books of Christmas

The (Multiple) Books of Christmas

What Does Information Literacy Mean?

What Does Information Literacy Mean?

Substitution Rules Don’t Have To Be Scary

Substitution Rules Don’t Have To Be Scary

Embedding the Library as a Whole School Resource

Embedding the Library as a Whole School Resource

Getting Creative With Visual Search

Getting Creative With Visual Search

Starting The Year Off Right in Your Library

Starting The Year Off Right in Your Library

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

Let’s Talk Libraries: Bishop Gilpin C of E Primary School – Sally Le Marquand

Let’s Talk Libraries: Bishop Gilpin C of E Primary School – Sally Le Marquand

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

Let’s Talk Libraries: Thomas Hardye School – Jenny Stevens

Let’s Talk Libraries: Thomas Hardye School – Jenny Stevens

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Good Help (OLGH) – Sarah Olushonde

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Good Help (OLGH) – Sarah Olushonde

Let’s Talk Libraries: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

Let’s Talk Libraries: Littlehampton Primary – Barb O’Connor

Let’s Talk Libraries: Littlehampton Primary – Barb O’Connor

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Hill School (US) – Nancy Body, Catherine Clowes

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Hill School (US) – Nancy Body, Catherine Clowes

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

Let’s Talk Libraries: Richmond & Prahran High School – Karys McEwen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Richmond & Prahran High School – Karys McEwen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Croxley Danes School – Victoria Rovira

Let’s Talk Libraries: Croxley Danes School – Victoria Rovira

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

Web App of the Week: World Book Day (UK) – Free download

Web App of the Week: World Book Day (UK) – Free download

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Supporting Reluctant Readers

Supporting Reluctant Readers

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Lovett School – Robyn Martin

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Lovett School – Robyn Martin

Let’s Talk Libraries: Lloyd Street Primary School (VIC)

Let’s Talk Libraries: Lloyd Street Primary School (VIC)

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Raising the profile of your school library

Raising the profile of your school library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Christian College Geelong (VIC) – Gerradine Barry

Let’s Talk Libraries: Christian College Geelong (VIC) – Gerradine Barry

Let’s Talk Libraries: Paula Na Nagara – St Mark’s School 

Let’s Talk Libraries: Paula Na Nagara – St Mark’s School 

Let’s Talk Libraries: Diocese of Toowoomba (QLD) – Liz Newman

Let’s Talk Libraries: Diocese of Toowoomba (QLD) – Liz Newman

Let’s Talk Libraries: Peace Lutheran College (QLD) – Tanya Mills

Let’s Talk Libraries: Peace Lutheran College (QLD) – Tanya Mills

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

Accessit Library Talks – Episode 1 – Kevin Arscott of Coleg Gwent

Accessit Library Talks – Episode 1 – Kevin Arscott of Coleg Gwent

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Getting students involved in your school library

Getting students involved in your school library

Web App of the Week: Environment Day & World Oceans Day – Free Download

Web App of the Week: Environment Day & World Oceans Day – Free Download

Web App of the Week – Ursuline Academy of Dallas

Web App of the Week – Ursuline Academy of Dallas

Web App of the Week – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

How to promote your school library catalogue

How to promote your school library catalogue

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

How to approach collection development in school libraries

How to approach collection development in school libraries

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

Librarian Talk – Wendy Wright – Avonside Girls’ High & Shirley Boys’ High

Librarian Talk – Wendy Wright – Avonside Girls’ High & Shirley Boys’ High

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

Web App of the Week – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Web App of the Week – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

Librarian Talk – Sasha Roth – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Librarian Talk – Sasha Roth – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Jill Adler – St. Anthony’s High School

Librarian Talk – Jill Adler – St. Anthony’s High School

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

Web App of the Week: St Anthony’s High School

Web App of the Week: St Anthony’s High School

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

Supporting mental health in the library: Mallinson Library, Wellington College, Berkshire

Supporting mental health in the library: Mallinson Library, Wellington College, Berkshire

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

The library – a safe space for everyone

The library – a safe space for everyone

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

Building a Strong Reading Culture: St Rita’s College Library

Building a Strong Reading Culture: St Rita’s College Library

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Creating an amazing online library presence

Creating an amazing online library presence

Deepening literacy engagement

Deepening literacy engagement

Tsukuba International School

Tsukuba International School

Otago Boys’ High School

Otago Boys’ High School

Le Régent College

Le Régent College

Wesley Intermediate School

Wesley Intermediate School

Fuqua School

Fuqua School

Kamo High School

Kamo High School

Mental Health Foundation of NZ

Mental Health Foundation of NZ

Leicestershire County Council

Leicestershire County Council

Cambridge High School

Cambridge High School

Saint Kentigern College

Saint Kentigern College

Culford School

Culford School

Greenhithe School

Greenhithe School

Reynella East College

Reynella East College

Tyndale Christian School

Tyndale Christian School

Shepparton High School

Shepparton High School

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Opened book

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

“Once I fell in love with books I fell in love completely.” Stephen King

We adore books all year round, but while love is in the air for Valentine’s Day, we thought we’d share a few of our favourite library-shelf worthy romances with you.

Heartstopper: Volume Three – Alice Oseman

The latest chart-topping volume of Alice Oseman’s wonderful LGBTQ+ graphic novel series based on characters from her print novels came out this month, and it’s wonderful! If you haven’t read the series yet, get your hands on them and give them a go. Quickly becoming cult classics in libraries across the world, they only ever seem to be on waiting lists and never on the shelf!

Heartstopper cover image from Goodreads

Book blurb: Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. An LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love, and everything that happens in between: this is the third volume of HEARTSTOPPER, for fans of The Art of Being Normal, Holly Bourne and Love, Simon.

 

Charlie didn’t think Nick could ever like him back, but now they’re officially boyfriends. Nick’s even found the courage to come out to his mum.

 

But coming out isn’t just something that happens once – there’s Nick’s older brother, and a school trip to Paris, not to mention all the other friends and family – and life can be hard, even with someone who loves you by your side. As their feelings get more serious, Charlie and Nick will need each other more than ever before.

You can see more from Alice on her Twitter: @AliceOseman

Romeo and Juliet – Shakespeare

We can’t let Valentine’s Day pass us by without showing some love to this pair of classic star-crossed lovers. Lose yourself in the tragedy of their doomed romance, and maybe afterwards treat yourself to a viewing of the wonderful Baz Luhrmann film version.

Romeo and Juliet cover image from Goodreads

These violent delights have violent ends

And in their triumph die, like fire and powder

Which, as they kiss, consume.

Book blurb: When Romeo and Juliet meet during a chance encounter, they have no idea what lies ahead – for these lovers belong to feuding families, and their love will never be accepted by those around them.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Series – Jenny Han

With these teen romances having a bit of a resurgence since the film versions of ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ and ‘P.S. I Still Love You’ were released on Netflix, how could we miss them off the list?! The last adaptation in the series, ‘To All The Boys: Always and Forever’, Lara Jean joined US Netflix on February 12th this year, so we’re expecting to see more requests pretty soon!

Always and forever book cover from Goodreads

Book blurb: Lara Jean keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. One for every boy she’s ever loved. When she writes, she can pour out her heart and soul and say all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only.

 

Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

You can see more from Jenny on her Twitter: @JennyHan

Dork Diaries 12: Tales from a Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe – Rachel Renee Russell

For some diary fiction for a younger audience, how about the swoon-worthy ‘Tales from a Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe’ – book 12 in the wildly popular ‘Dork Diaries’ series?

Dork diaries cover image from Goodreads

Book blurb: Nikki Maxwell and her BFFs are all counting down to the end of the school year. Nikki thinks she has her summer all figured out, with lots of fun plans to hang out with her friends and her crush, Brandon. It’s going to be perfect! Squeee!

 

But then a new boy turns up at school and shows an interest in Nikki and things become confusing super-quickly! The last thing Nikki wants to do is hurt Brandon…What do you do when you accidentally crush your crush!?

See more from Rachel on her Twitter: @DorkDiaries

My So-Called Bollywood Life – Nisha Sharma

If you like your romance written in the stars, what about one of NPR’s favourite reads? Funny, romantic and lively, My So-Called Bollywood Life should be on everyone’s TBR pile.

My so-called Bollywood life cover image from Bookreads

Book blurb: Winnie Mehta was never really convinced that Raj was her soul mate, but their love was written in the stars. Literally, a pandit predicted Winnie would find the love of her life before her eighteenth birthday, and Raj meets all the qualifications. Which is why Winnie is shocked when she returns from her summer at film camp to find her boyfriend of three years hooking up with Jenny Dickens. As a self-proclaimed Bollywood expert, Winnie knows this is not how her perfect ending is scripted.

 

Then there’s Dev, a fellow film geek and one of the few people Winnie can count on. Dev is smart and charming, and he challenges Winnie to look beyond her horoscope and find someone she’d pick for herself. But does falling for Dev mean giving up on her prophecy and her chance to live happily ever after? To find her perfect ending, Winnie will need a little bit of help from fate, family, and of course, a Bollywood movie star.

See more from Nisha on her Twitter: @Nishawrites

Night of the Party – Tracey Mathias

If you prefer your romance a bit more dystopian, go for Tracey Mathias’ gritty and believable post-Brexit YA debut, Night of the Party. Timely and gripping, we couldn’t put this one down.

Night of the Party book cover from Google Books

Book blurb: After withdrawing from the EU, Britain is governed by a far-right nationalist party. Its flagship policy is the British Born edict, which allows only those born in Britain to live here. Everyone else is an “illegal”, subject to immediate arrest and deportation. But an election is coming soon, and all the polls point to a big loss for the ruling party. 18-year-old Londoner Ash is wrestling with grief after the loss of his sister Sophie, who died in a tragic drug-related accident at a party. He meets Zara on a stalled tube train and immediately falls for her. But Zara has secrets: not only is she an “illegal”, but she’s the only person who knows the truth about Sophie’s death. Associating with Zara could jeopardize Ash’s future, and if Zara comes forward with what she knows about the night Sophie died, she’ll have no future in Britain at all. The election could save them. Or will it only bring disaster?

See more from Tracey on her Twitter: @traceymathias

Stargirl – Jerry Spinelli

Since the Jerry Spinelli classic ‘Stargirl’ will soon see it’s adaptation streaming on Disney+ (March 13th, 2020), it’s the perfect time to dip back into it or read it for the first time if you’ve never had the pleasure. A lovely affirmation of being yourself, and how being different isn’t a bad thing.

Stargirl Book cover

Book blurb: She’s as magical as the desert sky. As strange as her pet rat. As mysterious as her own name.

 

From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted.

 

At first.

 

Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different. And Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal.

See more from Jerry on his Twitter: @JerrySpinelli1

Since Valentine’s Day is also International Book Giving Day, why not surprise your Valentine (Gal-entine or Pal-entine!) with a book you know they’ll love.

 

Book blurbs: https://www.amazon.co.uk/books/

Book cover images: https://books.google.co.nz/ and https://www.goodreads.com/

How International Schools Can Automate Their Library & Free Up Time for What Matters 

How International Schools Can Automate Their Library & Free Up Time for What Matters 

Picture Books – Top Picks

Picture Books – Top Picks

A Learning and Marketing Tool to Increase Student Engagement

A Learning and Marketing Tool to Increase Student Engagement

Bring on The Comics!

Bring on The Comics!

The (Multiple) Books of Christmas

The (Multiple) Books of Christmas

What Does Information Literacy Mean?

What Does Information Literacy Mean?

Substitution Rules Don’t Have To Be Scary

Substitution Rules Don’t Have To Be Scary

Embedding the Library as a Whole School Resource

Embedding the Library as a Whole School Resource

Getting Creative With Visual Search

Getting Creative With Visual Search

Starting The Year Off Right in Your Library

Starting The Year Off Right in Your Library

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

Let’s Talk Libraries: Bishop Gilpin C of E Primary School – Sally Le Marquand

Let’s Talk Libraries: Bishop Gilpin C of E Primary School – Sally Le Marquand

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

Let’s Talk Libraries: Thomas Hardye School – Jenny Stevens

Let’s Talk Libraries: Thomas Hardye School – Jenny Stevens

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Good Help (OLGH) – Sarah Olushonde

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Good Help (OLGH) – Sarah Olushonde

Let’s Talk Libraries: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

Let’s Talk Libraries: Littlehampton Primary – Barb O’Connor

Let’s Talk Libraries: Littlehampton Primary – Barb O’Connor

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Hill School (US) – Nancy Body, Catherine Clowes

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Hill School (US) – Nancy Body, Catherine Clowes

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

Let’s Talk Libraries: Richmond & Prahran High School – Karys McEwen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Richmond & Prahran High School – Karys McEwen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Croxley Danes School – Victoria Rovira

Let’s Talk Libraries: Croxley Danes School – Victoria Rovira

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

Web App of the Week: World Book Day (UK) – Free download

Web App of the Week: World Book Day (UK) – Free download

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Supporting Reluctant Readers

Supporting Reluctant Readers

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Lovett School – Robyn Martin

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Lovett School – Robyn Martin

Let’s Talk Libraries: Lloyd Street Primary School (VIC)

Let’s Talk Libraries: Lloyd Street Primary School (VIC)

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Raising the profile of your school library

Raising the profile of your school library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Christian College Geelong (VIC) – Gerradine Barry

Let’s Talk Libraries: Christian College Geelong (VIC) – Gerradine Barry

Let’s Talk Libraries: Paula Na Nagara – St Mark’s School 

Let’s Talk Libraries: Paula Na Nagara – St Mark’s School 

Let’s Talk Libraries: Diocese of Toowoomba (QLD) – Liz Newman

Let’s Talk Libraries: Diocese of Toowoomba (QLD) – Liz Newman

Let’s Talk Libraries: Peace Lutheran College (QLD) – Tanya Mills

Let’s Talk Libraries: Peace Lutheran College (QLD) – Tanya Mills

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

Accessit Library Talks – Episode 1 – Kevin Arscott of Coleg Gwent

Accessit Library Talks – Episode 1 – Kevin Arscott of Coleg Gwent

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Getting students involved in your school library

Getting students involved in your school library

Web App of the Week: Environment Day & World Oceans Day – Free Download

Web App of the Week: Environment Day & World Oceans Day – Free Download

Web App of the Week – Ursuline Academy of Dallas

Web App of the Week – Ursuline Academy of Dallas

Web App of the Week – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

How to promote your school library catalogue

How to promote your school library catalogue

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

How to approach collection development in school libraries

How to approach collection development in school libraries

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

Librarian Talk – Wendy Wright – Avonside Girls’ High & Shirley Boys’ High

Librarian Talk – Wendy Wright – Avonside Girls’ High & Shirley Boys’ High

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

Web App of the Week – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Web App of the Week – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

Librarian Talk – Sasha Roth – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Librarian Talk – Sasha Roth – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Jill Adler – St. Anthony’s High School

Librarian Talk – Jill Adler – St. Anthony’s High School

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

Web App of the Week: St Anthony’s High School

Web App of the Week: St Anthony’s High School

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

Supporting mental health in the library: Mallinson Library, Wellington College, Berkshire

Supporting mental health in the library: Mallinson Library, Wellington College, Berkshire

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

The library – a safe space for everyone

The library – a safe space for everyone

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

Building a Strong Reading Culture: St Rita’s College Library

Building a Strong Reading Culture: St Rita’s College Library

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Creating an amazing online library presence

Creating an amazing online library presence

Deepening literacy engagement

Deepening literacy engagement

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

Opened book

Information and digital literacy – richer through collaboration

Every day there’s an onslaught of new information demanding our attention. But when anyone can be an author, how do we know what information we can trust? While it’s clear that learning how to evaluate the validity and relevance of material is absolutely essential, information and digital literacy are still not given the attention they deserve in today’s packed curriculum.

When information literacy is not thoughtfully incorporated into lessons from an early age (and then regularly revisited throughout a child’s schooling), the library can become a maze of complicated rules, and less and less appealing to visit. On top of that, in this age of immediacy, information that isn’t literally at our fingertips is too far away. No wonder students will settle for the top three returns on a Google search, or gather a large number of broadly-related resources, instead of a narrow selection of relevant ones.

So, how can we ensure our students develop good research habits early? How can we encourage the whole school community to make use of the curated online databases they can access through the library?

The answers lie in collaboration

Librarians are the experts in the field of information literacy, yet are often dismissed and underutilised within schools. Information literacy should be a school-wide; even curriculum-wide project where teachers collaborate with librarians to build rich lesson plans. Media and information literacy strategies could be regularly and intentionally incorporated into class work from an early age. This way, teachers can witness struggles first-hand, assisting before the bad-habits develop.

Of course, the issue runs deeper. Many library-anxious children have grown up to become teachers. Creating staff PD sessions where you can share strategies for effective research, will help your colleagues support their students. By encouraging good research habits from an early age, we can stop the cycle of library anxiety and foster a life-long love of reading and discovery (not to mention the next generation of librarians!). Besides, librarians need allies and advocates, and it’s an opportunity for you to prove your value to your colleagues.

Don’t forget about parents

With click-bait headlines and an excess of information available, parents are just as likely to fall into the online traps their kids do. Making sure parents and caregivers are aware of the extensive treasure trove of library resources they can reach from home, will help them support their children in their research journey. Creating a library Twitter page where you regularly post updates about the latest reads and library initiatives can be a great way to remind parents and the wider community about the importance of the library.

Utilising your library management system

Your library management system should make this dialogue easy. The Accessit Library web app catalogue is accessible from any device, whenever you need it. With instructional “how-to” videos, students and teachers are encouraged to make the most of every tool available to them – searching, writing reviews, sharing resources and lists, as well as updating their own interests.

Anything can be catalogued, so teachers can be creative with their classes – uploading book trailers, recording performances or speeches, and uploading music. They can create reading lists to support assignments, and even issue books directly within the classroom. And with the auto-citation maker, students aren’t tempted to plagiarise – and teachers can spend more time focusing on the ‘whys’ of the referencing, rather than the ‘hows’.

Accessit One Search – a teacher’s best friend

Of course, it’s the Accessit One Search tool that really enables students to quickly and reliably access academic articles and information on a topic with just a few simple clicks. Amy Featonby, former Assistant Head of English at Cambridge High School, agrees.

“Accessit is a gateway to knowledge that allows me to extend my students. Initially, it seemed like something more for librarians – I was wrong! It has really helped my teaching, and my students’ grades are the proof that it’s making a real difference,” says Amy.

Amy has found Accessit to be a great classroom and teaching resource.

“We used Accessit to support the level 3 literature resource standard. The standard requires students to find and use reliable and appropriate sources to develop a hypothesis, much like a first-year University paper. My class received 83% Excellence (with the remainder of students attaining Merit). The national average for Excellence in that standard is just 28.4%. When I asked the students how we aced it, they replied with two things – our focus and learning in class and One Search.”

A unique perspective

Librarians hold a unique position in a school – they are able to observe the full picture, and can help to knit together lessons and projects across the curriculum, building on research skills from one class to the next. Advocating for a collaborative culture at the school will help the wider school community see the real value in their librarian and their library catalogue, increasing resource usage and student engagement.

Resources

Dahlgreen, MaryKay (2017). What Collaboration Means to Me: Playing Well With Others. Collaborative Librarianship, 9(4), 238-341. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/collaborativelibrarianship/vol9/iss4/2 

Garvey, Maureen; Hays, Anne; and Stempler, Amy F. (2017). A Collaborative Intervention: Measuring the Impact of a Flipped Classroom Approach on Library One-shots for the Composition Classroom. Collaborative Librarianship, 9(4), 259-280. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/collaborativelibrarianship/vol9/iss4/5

Long, Deborah (2007). Increasing Literacy in the High School Library: Collaboration Makes It Happen. Teacher Librarian 35(1), 13-17.

Morrison, Katherine; Watkins, Alexander. (2015). Can only Librarians do Library Instruction? Collaborating with Graduate Students to Teach Discipline- Specific Information Literacy. The Journal of Creative Library Practice. https://creativelibrarypractice.org/2015/02/27/can-only-librarians-do-library-instruction/

How International Schools Can Automate Their Library & Free Up Time for What Matters 

How International Schools Can Automate Their Library & Free Up Time for What Matters 

Picture Books – Top Picks

Picture Books – Top Picks

A Learning and Marketing Tool to Increase Student Engagement

A Learning and Marketing Tool to Increase Student Engagement

Bring on The Comics!

Bring on The Comics!

The (Multiple) Books of Christmas

The (Multiple) Books of Christmas

What Does Information Literacy Mean?

What Does Information Literacy Mean?

Substitution Rules Don’t Have To Be Scary

Substitution Rules Don’t Have To Be Scary

Embedding the Library as a Whole School Resource

Embedding the Library as a Whole School Resource

Getting Creative With Visual Search

Getting Creative With Visual Search

Starting The Year Off Right in Your Library

Starting The Year Off Right in Your Library

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

Let’s Talk Libraries: Bishop Gilpin C of E Primary School – Sally Le Marquand

Let’s Talk Libraries: Bishop Gilpin C of E Primary School – Sally Le Marquand

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

Let’s Talk Libraries: Thomas Hardye School – Jenny Stevens

Let’s Talk Libraries: Thomas Hardye School – Jenny Stevens

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Good Help (OLGH) – Sarah Olushonde

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Good Help (OLGH) – Sarah Olushonde

Let’s Talk Libraries: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

Let’s Talk Libraries: Littlehampton Primary – Barb O’Connor

Let’s Talk Libraries: Littlehampton Primary – Barb O’Connor

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Hill School (US) – Nancy Body, Catherine Clowes

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Hill School (US) – Nancy Body, Catherine Clowes

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

Let’s Talk Libraries: Richmond & Prahran High School – Karys McEwen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Richmond & Prahran High School – Karys McEwen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Croxley Danes School – Victoria Rovira

Let’s Talk Libraries: Croxley Danes School – Victoria Rovira

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

Web App of the Week: World Book Day (UK) – Free download

Web App of the Week: World Book Day (UK) – Free download

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Supporting Reluctant Readers

Supporting Reluctant Readers

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Lovett School – Robyn Martin

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Lovett School – Robyn Martin

Let’s Talk Libraries: Lloyd Street Primary School (VIC)

Let’s Talk Libraries: Lloyd Street Primary School (VIC)

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Raising the profile of your school library

Raising the profile of your school library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Christian College Geelong (VIC) – Gerradine Barry

Let’s Talk Libraries: Christian College Geelong (VIC) – Gerradine Barry

Let’s Talk Libraries: Paula Na Nagara – St Mark’s School 

Let’s Talk Libraries: Paula Na Nagara – St Mark’s School 

Let’s Talk Libraries: Diocese of Toowoomba (QLD) – Liz Newman

Let’s Talk Libraries: Diocese of Toowoomba (QLD) – Liz Newman

Let’s Talk Libraries: Peace Lutheran College (QLD) – Tanya Mills

Let’s Talk Libraries: Peace Lutheran College (QLD) – Tanya Mills

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

Accessit Library Talks – Episode 1 – Kevin Arscott of Coleg Gwent

Accessit Library Talks – Episode 1 – Kevin Arscott of Coleg Gwent

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Getting students involved in your school library

Getting students involved in your school library

Web App of the Week: Environment Day & World Oceans Day – Free Download

Web App of the Week: Environment Day & World Oceans Day – Free Download

Web App of the Week – Ursuline Academy of Dallas

Web App of the Week – Ursuline Academy of Dallas

Web App of the Week – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

How to promote your school library catalogue

How to promote your school library catalogue

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

How to approach collection development in school libraries

How to approach collection development in school libraries

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

Librarian Talk – Wendy Wright – Avonside Girls’ High & Shirley Boys’ High

Librarian Talk – Wendy Wright – Avonside Girls’ High & Shirley Boys’ High

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

Web App of the Week – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Web App of the Week – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

Librarian Talk – Sasha Roth – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Librarian Talk – Sasha Roth – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Jill Adler – St. Anthony’s High School

Librarian Talk – Jill Adler – St. Anthony’s High School

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

Web App of the Week: St Anthony’s High School

Web App of the Week: St Anthony’s High School

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

Supporting mental health in the library: Mallinson Library, Wellington College, Berkshire

Supporting mental health in the library: Mallinson Library, Wellington College, Berkshire

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

The library – a safe space for everyone

The library – a safe space for everyone

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

Building a Strong Reading Culture: St Rita’s College Library

Building a Strong Reading Culture: St Rita’s College Library

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Creating an amazing online library presence

Creating an amazing online library presence

Deepening literacy engagement

Deepening literacy engagement

The library – a safe space for everyone

The library – a safe space for everyone

A girl in a library looking at her online library catalogue

The library – a safe space for everyone

Every school librarian knows that for many students the library space is so much more than a repository for books. Today, more than ever, students need a welcoming and adaptable library space which is, at times, a refuge from the everyday pressures they face. We spoke with Bonnie Barr, who is passionate about libraries having worked in both public and school libraries, and asked about her experience in creating a welcoming and accessible space for everyone.

“Having moved from a public library background to a school setting, the library as a “place” wasn’t a new concept for me. What was new was the different demographic using the library, and what the space would mean for them. At the public library we had users of all ages, and they were more often than not strangers to each other. In the school setting, this was not the case. The school library catered to people in their most vulnerable stages of growing, therefore a different approach was required.”

Create a climate where all students feel safe and secure.

“Vastly different to my public library experience, was the subtle bullying that happens in schools, often unchecked. In our quiet reading room there was a blanket no talking rule. There was plenty of other space in the library to chat, play games etc. but this space was for silent reading only. This space provided crucial respite for students who needed a safe place to be alone. These students knew that if anyone came in there with the intention of subtle bullying, they would be asked to leave immediately under the “no talking” rule. Most importantly, this would happen without drawing attention to the bullied student, and without them having to engage in any confrontation.”

Use flexible furnishings so that spaces can be adapted to meet the teaching and learning needs of students and staff.

“We also prioritised building a strong relationship with the Special Education department. We had scheduled lessons with a group who would come over to use the library. Opening the library doors to these students gave us the opportunity to ensure the library was meeting the accessibility requirements of all our students. Ample space for wheelchairs, even surfaces, and heights of tables and counters were all considered and adjusted. Probably the most important outcome of building relationships with these students as individuals, was that they felt confident to come in and hang out.”

For students, an effective school library values their input, and actively involves them in developing and sometimes leading library and reading initiatives.

“Having student librarians is a great way to give students ownership over the library space. Often the library attracts those who aren’t comfortable applying for other kinds of roles in the school. I saw a noticeable increase in self-confidence in my librarians from interacting with students they wouldn’t normally talk to. Additionally, seeing them blossom with the responsibility of helping to run library initiatives was such a rewarding feeling. I was often asked to be a reference for my librarians when applying for anything from jobs to scholarships or other opportunities. It really made me realise how much they valued the opportunity, and knew what an important role they played. On a personal level, I realised that for some students I was the only person they might socially interact with that day. It became even more important for me to connect with these students on a personal level and find common ground.

The library has the potential to be an accommodating space for everyone regardless of their physical abilities, as well as a safe space for those who seek a place to belong. This can have a lasting and positive impact on the lives of the students, but also on the librarians themselves.”

Here at Accessit Library, many of our staff have worked in school libraries and understand the challenges you and your students face. This is why we have designed Accessit with your students in mind – and we think you can tell the difference.

Headers are quotes from: Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa National Library of New Zealand. (2018, October). School Library Development Framework. Retrieved from: https://natlib.govt.nz/

 

How International Schools Can Automate Their Library & Free Up Time for What Matters 

How International Schools Can Automate Their Library & Free Up Time for What Matters 

Picture Books – Top Picks

Picture Books – Top Picks

A Learning and Marketing Tool to Increase Student Engagement

A Learning and Marketing Tool to Increase Student Engagement

Bring on The Comics!

Bring on The Comics!

The (Multiple) Books of Christmas

The (Multiple) Books of Christmas

What Does Information Literacy Mean?

What Does Information Literacy Mean?

Substitution Rules Don’t Have To Be Scary

Substitution Rules Don’t Have To Be Scary

Embedding the Library as a Whole School Resource

Embedding the Library as a Whole School Resource

Getting Creative With Visual Search

Getting Creative With Visual Search

Starting The Year Off Right in Your Library

Starting The Year Off Right in Your Library

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

Let’s Talk Libraries: Bishop Gilpin C of E Primary School – Sally Le Marquand

Let’s Talk Libraries: Bishop Gilpin C of E Primary School – Sally Le Marquand

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

Let’s Talk Libraries: Thomas Hardye School – Jenny Stevens

Let’s Talk Libraries: Thomas Hardye School – Jenny Stevens

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Good Help (OLGH) – Sarah Olushonde

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Good Help (OLGH) – Sarah Olushonde

Let’s Talk Libraries: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

Let’s Talk Libraries: Littlehampton Primary – Barb O’Connor

Let’s Talk Libraries: Littlehampton Primary – Barb O’Connor

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Hill School (US) – Nancy Body, Catherine Clowes

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Hill School (US) – Nancy Body, Catherine Clowes

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

Let’s Talk Libraries: Richmond & Prahran High School – Karys McEwen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Richmond & Prahran High School – Karys McEwen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Croxley Danes School – Victoria Rovira

Let’s Talk Libraries: Croxley Danes School – Victoria Rovira

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

Web App of the Week: World Book Day (UK) – Free download

Web App of the Week: World Book Day (UK) – Free download

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Supporting Reluctant Readers

Supporting Reluctant Readers

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Lovett School – Robyn Martin

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Lovett School – Robyn Martin

Let’s Talk Libraries: Lloyd Street Primary School (VIC)

Let’s Talk Libraries: Lloyd Street Primary School (VIC)

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Raising the profile of your school library

Raising the profile of your school library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Christian College Geelong (VIC) – Gerradine Barry

Let’s Talk Libraries: Christian College Geelong (VIC) – Gerradine Barry

Let’s Talk Libraries: Paula Na Nagara – St Mark’s School 

Let’s Talk Libraries: Paula Na Nagara – St Mark’s School 

Let’s Talk Libraries: Diocese of Toowoomba (QLD) – Liz Newman

Let’s Talk Libraries: Diocese of Toowoomba (QLD) – Liz Newman

Let’s Talk Libraries: Peace Lutheran College (QLD) – Tanya Mills

Let’s Talk Libraries: Peace Lutheran College (QLD) – Tanya Mills

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

Accessit Library Talks – Episode 1 – Kevin Arscott of Coleg Gwent

Accessit Library Talks – Episode 1 – Kevin Arscott of Coleg Gwent

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Getting students involved in your school library

Getting students involved in your school library

Web App of the Week: Environment Day & World Oceans Day – Free Download

Web App of the Week: Environment Day & World Oceans Day – Free Download

Web App of the Week – Ursuline Academy of Dallas

Web App of the Week – Ursuline Academy of Dallas

Web App of the Week – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

How to promote your school library catalogue

How to promote your school library catalogue

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

How to approach collection development in school libraries

How to approach collection development in school libraries

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

Librarian Talk – Wendy Wright – Avonside Girls’ High & Shirley Boys’ High

Librarian Talk – Wendy Wright – Avonside Girls’ High & Shirley Boys’ High

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

Web App of the Week – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Web App of the Week – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

Librarian Talk – Sasha Roth – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Librarian Talk – Sasha Roth – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Jill Adler – St. Anthony’s High School

Librarian Talk – Jill Adler – St. Anthony’s High School

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

Web App of the Week: St Anthony’s High School

Web App of the Week: St Anthony’s High School

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

Supporting mental health in the library: Mallinson Library, Wellington College, Berkshire

Supporting mental health in the library: Mallinson Library, Wellington College, Berkshire

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

The library – a safe space for everyone

The library – a safe space for everyone

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

Building a Strong Reading Culture: St Rita’s College Library

Building a Strong Reading Culture: St Rita’s College Library

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Creating an amazing online library presence

Creating an amazing online library presence

Deepening literacy engagement

Deepening literacy engagement