Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

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/

The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Reading Program in an International School

How to Prove Your Library’s Impact and Win Support: A Guide for International Schools

What Makes a “Busy” Library in an International School – and Why It Matters

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

Beyond the Shelves: How Accessit Helps School Libraries Every Step of the Way

Picture Books – Top Picks

A Learning and Marketing Tool to Increase Student Engagement

Bring on The Comics!

The (Multiple) Books of Christmas

What Does Information Literacy Mean?

Substitution Rules Don’t Have To Be Scary

Embedding the Library as a Whole School Resource

Getting Creative With Visual Search

Starting The Year Off Right in Your Library

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

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

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

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: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

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: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

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

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

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

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

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Supporting Reluctant Readers

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

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

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Raising the profile of your school library

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: Diocese of Toowoomba (QLD) – Liz Newman

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

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

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

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Getting students involved in your school library

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 – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

How to promote your school library catalogue

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

How to approach collection development in school libraries

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

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

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

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

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

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

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

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

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

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

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

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

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

The library – a safe space for everyone

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

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

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Creating an amazing online library presence

Deepening literacy engagement

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

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/

The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Reading Program in an International School

How to Prove Your Library’s Impact and Win Support: A Guide for International Schools

What Makes a “Busy” Library in an International School – and Why It Matters

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

Beyond the Shelves: How Accessit Helps School Libraries Every Step of the Way

Picture Books – Top Picks

A Learning and Marketing Tool to Increase Student Engagement

Bring on The Comics!

The (Multiple) Books of Christmas

What Does Information Literacy Mean?

Substitution Rules Don’t Have To Be Scary

Embedding the Library as a Whole School Resource

Getting Creative With Visual Search

Starting The Year Off Right in Your Library

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

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

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

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: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

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: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

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

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

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

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

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Supporting Reluctant Readers

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

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

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Raising the profile of your school library

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: Diocese of Toowoomba (QLD) – Liz Newman

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

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

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

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Getting students involved in your school library

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 – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

How to promote your school library catalogue

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

How to approach collection development in school libraries

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

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

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

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

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

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

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

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

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

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

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

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

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

The library – a safe space for everyone

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

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

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Creating an amazing online library presence

Deepening literacy engagement

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/

The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Reading Program in an International School

How to Prove Your Library’s Impact and Win Support: A Guide for International Schools

What Makes a “Busy” Library in an International School – and Why It Matters

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

Beyond the Shelves: How Accessit Helps School Libraries Every Step of the Way

Picture Books – Top Picks

A Learning and Marketing Tool to Increase Student Engagement

Bring on The Comics!

The (Multiple) Books of Christmas

What Does Information Literacy Mean?

Substitution Rules Don’t Have To Be Scary

Embedding the Library as a Whole School Resource

Getting Creative With Visual Search

Starting The Year Off Right in Your Library

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

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

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

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: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

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: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

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

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

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

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

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Supporting Reluctant Readers

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

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

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Raising the profile of your school library

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: Diocese of Toowoomba (QLD) – Liz Newman

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

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

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

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Getting students involved in your school library

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 – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

How to promote your school library catalogue

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

How to approach collection development in school libraries

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

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

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

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

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

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

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

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

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

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

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

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

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

The library – a safe space for everyone

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

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

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Creating an amazing online library presence

Deepening literacy engagement

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

On the road again - New Zealand Roadshow 2019

Since hitting the road once more for our hugely popular annual roadshow series across New Zealand, we took some time to reflect on an experience we’ve been sharing with our New Zealand customers since 1999.

The very first Roadshow was run in Wellington by CEO Martin Neyland. Martin still runs some of the training sessions today, with the same twinkle in his eye – and many of our customers know him personally.

Long-time Accessit Trainer, Christine Cross says, “Martin relates really well to the group, he always has. It’s special for our customers who have been with us for such a long time to see him present every year.”

Sarah Hunt, from St Theresa’s School (Plimmerton) agrees. “Martin always covers an amazing variety of areas and always gets a few ooh, ahh moments from the attendees when he reveals a clever shortcut or new feature. I never tire of this annual Roadshow. It’s a worthy addition to my yearly calendar.”

“Now, of course, with the company growing and growing, it’s no longer a one-man band, but an entire operation,” Christine adds.

Accessit Roadshow NZ 2019

Same same, but different

Whilst the company has continued to grow globally, one thing has remained the same, and that is the personal nature of the Roadshow. Year after year, the Roadshow proves a hugely successful way for us to keep in touch with our customers, and for Accessit users to touch base with each other. In fact, 54% of our attendees claimed that networking was one of the most important aspects of the roadshow, along with new features, general tips and tricks, and question and answer time.

For Christine, the Roadshow is so much more than a training session, “It’s an absolute thrill for us to get out there and meet those we’ve trained or spoken with on the phone. It’s not just about the training for me – it’s about getting to see our customers in their own context. Seeing what wonderful school librarians they are. In the case of our host schools, we even get to see their fantastic displays, and the special relationships they have built with their students. Occasionally the hospitality students even cater for morning tea, and the food is out of this world,” says Christine.

Rachel Graham, from Hastings Christian School, says, “It was a great morning that was professionally set out but also informal in the way we could interact with the tutors and other librarians which meant it was a really worthwhile experience. It was really neat getting to meet people I’d talked on the phone with, they’re such a friendly crew.”

Learning from every angle

It wasn’t just the tutors who offered advice. Many of our long-time Accessit users were able to pitch in themselves, offering advice, and answering questions. Librarian at Ashburton College, Delia Achten, recalled, “It is also wonderful to share with other users who contributed their own knowledge to each session.”

Sarah Jordan, one of our Roadshow Trainers, agreed. “The highlight for me was hearing that buzz of conversation and listening to some of the incredibly creative ways in which our librarians are pushing forward to meet the future.”

Roadshow Trainer Janette Taumoli added, “I actually learned so much from the customers. It’s a two-way process. I really enjoy hearing the innovative ways they are using the functions we’ve designed. I’d pass these great tips on in the next roadshow – it was win-win!”

For new users, it was just as rewarding. Pip Honore from Wadestown School commented, “This was the first roadshow I have been to as a first year user of the programme. I went with my list of queries, never expecting an opportunity to find answers, and every query, plus a whole lot more were addressed.”

Nicci Smith from St James’ Catholic School agreed, “Listening to the ‘Superheroes of Accessit’ was awesome, they are great approachable facilitators with a wealth of knowledge. Easy step by step training. Well worth it!”

One of the most heart-warming things is hearing how much of a different Accessit Library makes in our customers’ lives and within their schools. The results of our 2019 survey show that 99% of the attendees say they would recommend the Roadshow to others.

We’re currently touring the United Kingdom and United States, and look forward to catching up with our Accessit customers across both continents.

Check out our blog on the Australia Roadshow 2019.

The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Reading Program in an International School

How to Prove Your Library’s Impact and Win Support: A Guide for International Schools

What Makes a “Busy” Library in an International School – and Why It Matters

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

Beyond the Shelves: How Accessit Helps School Libraries Every Step of the Way

Picture Books – Top Picks

A Learning and Marketing Tool to Increase Student Engagement

Bring on The Comics!

The (Multiple) Books of Christmas

What Does Information Literacy Mean?

Substitution Rules Don’t Have To Be Scary

Embedding the Library as a Whole School Resource

Getting Creative With Visual Search

Starting The Year Off Right in Your Library

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

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

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

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: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

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: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

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

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

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

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

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Supporting Reluctant Readers

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

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

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Raising the profile of your school library

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: Diocese of Toowoomba (QLD) – Liz Newman

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

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

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

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Getting students involved in your school library

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 – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

How to promote your school library catalogue

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

How to approach collection development in school libraries

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

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

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

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

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

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

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

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

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

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

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

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

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

The library – a safe space for everyone

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

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

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Creating an amazing online library presence

Deepening literacy engagement

Tsukuba International School

Otago Boys’ High School

Le Régent College

Wesley Intermediate School

Fuqua School

Kamo High School

Mental Health Foundation of NZ

Leicestershire County Council

Cambridge High School

Saint Kentigern College

Culford School

Greenhithe School

Reynella East College

Tyndale Christian School

Shepparton High School

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

Genrefying your library health and nutrition bookshelf

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

How are your students choosing their books? Can you make book selection easier for them? With an increase in schools choosing to genrefy their fiction and non-fiction collections, we chatted with Rita Costi at Unley High School in Adelaide to gain insight and tips on their experience. Here’s what she shared:

First things first

“The library team met with Kevin Hennah (a library consultant challenging the traditional ideas on library design, layout, image, signage and visual merchandising) in 2017. Based on his recommendations, we began the process of keeping our school library ‘relevant’, creating a level playing ground between our print collection and online resources.

Due to budget constraints, the process began in 2017 and has been ongoing for three years.

We began by tackling the easy changes. These included repainting the library using neutral colours, adding a “hero” wall to display our newest titles, and creating a lounge area with a magazine display and a wall TV screen.”

Tackling the fiction collection

“In stage 2, we created a print strategy for the fiction collection. We purchased 6 portable double-sided shelving units (Raeco) with slatwall front facing acrylic display holders.
After a small “weed” we decided on several genre topics based on what our book collection consisted of. These are:

Mystery/Suspense
Love/Relationships
Dystopian
Science Fiction
Horror
Fantasy
Book Into Film
Adventure/Action
General

Each title was then reclassified and allocated a genre using Syba Signs stickers. The changes were reflected in Accessit Library. Each genre was added as a “type” and made into a collection. The type e.g. “Horror” was then also added in the Genre field of the catalogue record.

As we had over 3,500 items to reclassify, this process took nearly 3 months to complete. The books were then moved to each allocated genre bay and placed in alphabetical order by author.

New signage from merchandising libraries completed the shelves by “genre” title. As the shelves are on portable castors, we were able to place these in strategic positions enabling us to create different seating areas for individual study and also accommodate class space.

genrefied dystopian and science fiction sections in a school library

To familiarise the students with the new process, we made posters promoting the genres by using the graphic of each genre and also conducted orientation sessions during class time in the library. Students became familiar and adapted to the new library arrangement quickly. Now they go straight to the genre that interests them, saving time and simplifying the search process.”

Non-fiction strategy

“The next phase was to reclassify the non-fiction print, which has been an ongoing process throughout 2018-19. This task was considerably more challenging, as the strategy here required the rearranging of the collection based on curriculum areas of enquiry.

To achieve this, Kevin recommended we “weed” our collection by 50%. The deciding factors for this were: the condition of the book, the date it was last borrowed, relevance to curriculum subjects taught, and richness of content. This process is ongoing, and we will continue to undertake to ensure a relevant and usable collection.

As we were venturing into a new area for school libraries, we decided to do some research and looked into how other libraries were reorganising their non-fiction collections. Several public libraries in South Australia have been doing this for some time. After talking with staff, it was decided we would adapt their model to complement curriculum subject areas taught at our school.

Our topics of enquiry were decided as a first step. These were:

Our Society
Health & Nutrition
STEM
The Arts
Leisure & Sport
Our World
Languages
True Stories

We allocated portable shelving unit/s to each topic. We then designed a sticker reflecting each topic and each book was reclassified accordingly. As an example, all the books on the ‘Our Society’ shelving unit will have the attached label on the spine.

Further subtopics for each shelf were decided on once the collection was reclassified.

genrefied our society bookshelf in a school library

We also decided that we would use the Dewey Decimal System as a general guide where possible when ordering the subtopics on the shelves. In subtopic areas such as ‘Medieval History’, where there were books scattered in several areas of the original collection, these were grouped together, the same call number was assigned, and all were placed on the same shelf. This was a rather time consuming process as it involved allocating a subject area for each book and then amending the catalogue record accordingly.”

Representing genrefication in Accessit

“Being able to globally change collections on Accessit and append genres was beneficial in areas where all the books were allocated to the same collection. To further assist finding a book on the shelf, subtopics have been created in the ‘Genre’ field.
This is how a book record displays on the Accessit Web App.

a genrefied Accessit Library book record

“Cooking the French Way” will be located on the HEALTH AND NUTRITION shelf under the subtopic “World Recipes”.

health and nutrition genrefied in a bookshelf

Further representation in the Accessit catalogue record includes using the type entry in the tag field. (This was a tip from Helen when she was here for the Accessit Roadshow.)”

genrefication in the catalogue record in Accessit Library

Genrefication: The impact on student engagement with the library

“The new shelving and reorganising of both fiction and nonfiction collections has had a positive impact on student engagement and teacher interest. The portable units have allowed us to create virtual room dividers and different seating arrangements. We are hoping to further enhance this with new furnishings in the near future.

Because the new shelving is black, the books stand out and students are able to engage with the collection. The bay end slat walls enable us to display our most current titles and we are finding that we need to replace these books regularly.

genrefied arts and leisure sections in a school library

Feedback indicates that students are finding the library space more welcoming and easier to navigate. The library has become a hub of activity during breaks as well as lesson time.”

Lessons learned

“This process is a major positive change and needs to be a team project. All library staff need to be on the same page during the transition stage, letting go of ideas and habits that restrict progress. Genrefying the non-fiction collection challenges traditional ideas of thinking. What are you hoping to achieve by making the changes? What part, if any, is the Dewey Decimal System going to play? Be clear on your goals.”

Top tips for genrefying your library:

Budget Restraints: Consider the cost of shelving, directional signage and staff time.

Research: Consider the benefits of professional consultation versus DIY or a combination of both. Liaise with libraries that have already undertaken changes, consider their processes and adapt these to suit your library.

Planning: How is the process going to happen? Create a clear flow chart on process and timeline. Be flexible in making changes. Accept that everything may not go to plan and be willing to adapt to ideas that come to light during the process.

The process for the fiction collection is far simpler than non-fiction. We would recommend starting with fiction as generally we felt this was smoother and less time consuming.

Know your collection. Identify the number of books you have for your selected genres. This will determine how many genre collections you need to set up.

In the non-fiction process weeding is the most essential element. Keep books only if they are still being used, in good condition and content-rich. A small usable collection is better than rows of books that don’t get utilised.”

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