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

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

Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School Library

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

Danielle Leathart has been a part-time Teacher Librarian at Our Lady of Lourdes Toowoomba since 2016, holding both a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education Teacher Librarianship.

The Accessit Library Management System is used extensively within the school to support curriculum learning at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School such as English and TECH lessons, extending students research and reading beyond the school library.

Type  Primary School
Roll 380
Campus One campus
Install Cloud installation
Location Queensland, Australia
Keywords:

  • Third-Party Integrations
  • Information Literacy
  • Student Engagement
  • Interactive Web Interface
  • Curriculum Subjects

I like the one-stop-shop and user interface aspects of AccessIt Library. Cataloguing is simple. The seamless pathway to SCIS is invaluable and time saving. I love how we can connect our subscriptions and providers (ClickView, Britannica, local and national libraries) straight into the Web App, making the information easily accessible for our users.

Danielle Leathart

Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, QLD

What was the decision-making process like in choosing to switch to Accessit Library?

I had previous experience with Accessit Library when doing my masters at The Glennie School. There were changes with our previous supplier at Our Lady of Lourdes, so collectively the librarians started looking at new options and we switched to Accessit Library in 2019.

This was mostly done by our Head of Librarians here in the Toowoomba Diocese sat in on a session with them in awe of what Accessit Library offered and how you could use the Web App. I looked at the Web App and thought, “There is so much I could do here and make things accessible”.

How did you find the process of switching to Accessit Library once you had made the decision?

I found the switch very straight forward.

The training was excellent and the support provided by the AccessIt Library Support team has always been prompt in helping me solve any issues.

Initially, you take on board what you need to get going. We didn’t realise there’s so many other things you can do with Accessit Library!

I probably spend most of my time going, “I want to do this, so I’ll just pop into ALeC (Accessit Library’s eLearning Centre) and find an answer or video.” There is always something to help me process whatever idea I have on that particular day. I learn new things all the time and go, “Oh, I didn’t know that – that’s handy!”

I have also personally found the support outstanding. I find the support desk amazing, especially Christine – she’s so patient. I might forget something and then she starts to talk and I go, “Ah, that makes sense, that is not where I was looking!’.

Library books and chairs

From all of Accessit Library’s features and capabilities you continue to discover and use, which ones do you find the most valuable?

I love the Accessit Library Web App. I find the interface easy to navigate and I love updating the content for students. I have designed the Web App at Our Lady of Lourdes to be a launch pad. I use it in almost all of my TECH lessons to springboard students onto the internet. I want them to come to the Web App and know that it is a safe place to find what we have and what is available beyond the library.

I think that the Carousel for viewing new items is a great feature. Our younger users love these. I have had success with many students leaving reviews (and some teachers using this feature to support their English programs).

I also like that the One Search options include local and national libraries and other trusted sources of information.

How does Accessit Library support the TECH lessons and English Programs at Our Lady of Lourdes?

Tech Lessons

Part of my role over the last few years has been to help teachers with mainly digital technologies. We started with prep, teaching the kids how to use the mouse tracking pad, keyboard and laptop. The student’s job is to open a computer, find the Accessit Library link, go to class pages, and then launch out into one of the games from there. It’s something that I’m really passionate about.

Whenever I teach, I start my lessons with Accessit Library. When I’m teaching lessons about coding, we go to Accessit first and we launch out to Scratch, Blockly games or anything I’m using with my students – all from Accessit Library. I want the teachers to start doing that too, so that we’re keeping control over what the students are accessing and how they get there. I want Accessit Library to become Google!

English Programs

Teachers are writing in to their English programs that when they’re doing reviews at certain year levels, one of those reviews must be an Accessit Library review. It’s building part of the English program and it’s also building things on Accessit Library.

Some kids will leave me reviews all the time and others will only engage when it is in class and assessments, but they know it’s there and they can access it when they want to.

I look at some of the reviews as more of a ‘sticky note to Mrs. Leathart’, letting me know that they liked the book. I make a mental note of it and go, “Okay, so it seems like the girls in Year 5 particularly like this sort of novel,” and this helps to grow our collections in those general directions.

How does Accessit Library further support you and the students at Our Lady of Lourdes?

I like the one-stop-shop and user interface aspects of AccessIt Library. Cataloguing is simple. The seamless pathway to SCIS is invaluable and time saving. I love how we can connect our subscriptions and providers (ClickView, Britannica, local and national libraries.) straight into the Web App, making the information easily accessible for our users.

Information Literacy

We want to connect our students with good quality information and resources quickly without running them around Google. Accessit Library’s integration with these subscriptions and providers takes out those extra steps. Of course, kids eventually become capable with Google, but it is a minefield when they’re first starting to research. Whereas, with access to other providers there are really great links to other websites that can help us. We use Accessit Library as our stepping stone onto the internet.

I think my role is to help them unlock quality knowledge. I want to lead the students to the right places. I can direct them to places like Trove or the Queensland Library site for our older students, and places like Britannica or DK findout! for our younger students.

I can do this knowing with confidence that they are going to find good information, but not too much that they will have no idea what to do with it. Also, the students who need more will find more, because there’s extra links added to the already helpful links that Accessit Library and our subscriptions provide, which I know are being checked and are relatively safe.

Anecdotally, I have noticed that many students are using AccessIt Library to narrow down the search scope of research.

Accessit Library’s One Search

They use Accessit Library’s One Search to find articles from Britannica or content from ClickView, mostly. I find students are keen to use it when I am leading lessons. I think the next group of users I need to upskill and ‘sell’ the value of AccessIt Library to is the staff. A lot of the research happens out in their classrooms, so I’m working on teachers and showing them how we can get to places like ClickView, where there are videos that have good links and great information for students. If teachers would use AccessIt Library as a starting point for research I think it would reinforce to students that it is the place to start.

Accessit Library’s Web App

Students have enjoyed looking at their Accessit Library Web App and many have taken to looking on the catalogue to find ‘similar’ titles via Syndetics. They also like the fact that they can get the bibliographical details for a book from the catalogue records. This is especially helpful when they have returned the book and forgotten to complete their references.

They also love interactive news items like videos and Find-a-Words – but I change them all the time!

Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School Web App
At the moment they like the Scratch one, exercise one and the TECH Club one is always popular. I just go with whatever theme is rolling around in my head and I try to match it up on the Web App. Sometimes it matches the notice boards in the library as well.

How would you describe Accessit in one word?

Accessible (for everyone – users and staff alike).

Ask a question about Accessit Library

    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

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

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

    Richmond & Prahran High School Library

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

    School librarian, Karys McEwen, has achieved no small feat in establishing two libraries from scratch. Working between Prahran High School and Richmond High School, Karys now works full time at the former as she’s brought both libraries to a stage where full-time library management is required. Karys touches on the support she received from both schools throughout her endeavour and discusses how Accessit Library was the right Library System for establishing two brand-new secondary school libraries.

    Type  Secondary School
    Roll 750
    Campus One campus
    Install Cloud installation
    Location Victoria, Australia
    Type  Secondary School
    Roll 650
    Campus One campus
    Install Cloud installation
    Location Victoria, Australia

    Keywords:

    • Two brand-new libraries
    • Third-party Integrations
    • Seamless user interface
    • Search functions
    • Reading culture

    It was a really exciting opportunity to begin with a completely blank canvas. It was also daunting, but the Accessit Library team made it a really straight-forward process and because Accessit Library is so suited to school libraries, it wasn’t a headache at all.

    Karys McEwen

    School Librarian, Prahran High School, VIC

    What has working between two libraries been like?

    It has been a busy three years! I am really proud of the work I have done.

    In 2019 I was hired to set up two brand new secondary school libraries, in two brand new schools: Prahran High School and Richmond High School. Both were empty rooms when I started. In three years, I have grown both libraries into small collections (about 3,000 books each) and both use Accessit Library as their Library Management System. This year I am now full time at Prahran High School as there is now a need for a full-time librarian at each school.

    My job has been to oversee and undertake everything in the two libraries, such as:

    Plus, creating the reading culture in both schools through library programs, working with classes, readers advisory, Book Club, Writers’ Club and everything in between.

    Building two brand-new secondary school libraries from scratch must’ve been quite a unique experience, how did you do it?

    It was a really exciting opportunity to begin with a completely blank canvas. It was also daunting, but the Accessit Library team made it a really straight-forward process and because Accessit Library is so suited to school libraries, it wasn’t a headache at all.

    I had to start from scratch, so there were definitely things that I didn’t think about and just had to learn along the way – but it was a really exciting opportunity!

    It’s also very interesting that there are things that you don’t think about in an established library because they’re just there. Whether that’s on the catalogue or in the physical library itself, there were many decisions I had to make. For example, “What will my spine labels look like?” or “How do I display my books?”.

    There were things that I started doing and then changed along the way and Accessit Library was really good for that. For example, being able to make bulk changes when needed within the Library Management System – that was really handy.

    Why choose Accessit Library as the Library Management System for two-brand new school libraries?

    I used Accessit at a past school (Glen Eira College) for two years and had nothing but good experiences with the system. I love how intuitive and user-friendly it is, as well as how customisable it is for each school. I found the team really supportive and friendly and no request was too big or small, especially when I was first learning how to use Accessit Library.

    I feel like I’m absolutely sold on it.

    So, when I started these two libraries, I didn’t even shop around because I was just so impressed with my two years using Accessit Library at a previous school.

    It was just a done deal.

    I also have a few colleagues that have used Accessit Library and it definitely helps to be able to ask other people and communicate with other librarians that are already using it.

    The Accessit Library Help Portal is really useful too. It’s really extensive and very helpful. The online Help Portal means I can always try to solve my own problems first. I have a lot more confidence in my cataloguing and system management since working with Accessit Library. It gives me the confidence to figure things out for myself most of the time.

    You’ve mentioned that the Accessit Library support team has been helpful, what else would you say about them?

    The customer support at Accessit Library is really great. They are excellent, completely unbeatable, and the number one reason why I would recommend Accessit Library to other school librarians.

    When I have any problems or questions, I just submit a ticket online and a technician calls me back almost immediately. I like that I don’t have to be an IT expert to use Accessit Library – because the staff always explain things to me in a way I can understand, and upskill me to be able to troubleshoot myself along the way.

    What features of Accessit Library as a Library Management System have been the most helpful for you?

    • I really like how clear everything is on every page and how simple it is to switch between pages.
    • I love the search functions and find them so easy to use.
    • I love how smoothly SCIS and other databases work with the system and how I can incorporate things like eBooks and ClickView into the collection.
    • I love Single Sign-On for the Accessit Library Web App and how customisable the Web App is.

    How did you approach getting students at both schools to engage with the Accessit Library Web App?

    I think that it’s really important introducing them to the library. We have orientation sessions for students in Year 7 and we do a refresher course in the future years. During my Library Orientation sessions, I introduce (or re-introduce) the students to the Accessit Library Web App and ask them to bookmark it on their devices.

    I show them how to:

    • Search the catalogue
    • Log in to their accounts to check their loans or renew books
    • Access our digital research resources on the news feed.
    Students
    The Accessit Library Web App really helps with this, even on a basic level, like searching the library catalogue by finding what they’re looking for using keywords, title or author name.

    I spent a lot of time on the Accessit Library Web App when we had our first lockdown in 2020. That was a chance for me to really get it going. With the kids being at home, I wanted them to still feel like the library was there for them.

    The Web App was the perfect way to do that because they can access it 24/7.

    I put a lot of different things on there that weren’t necessarily about libraries and books to keep them engaged and entertained. I regularly posted:

    • Interesting stories
    • Reading recommendations
    • Boredom busters
    • Virtual excursions
    • Students’ book reviews

    They could go on there and feel a little bit like they’re in the library, but in a digital way.

    I also made a couple of videos showing them where to download eBooks and where to find different online resources which I uploaded to the Web App, too. It also has the foundational information on there like where they can go to do online research and how they use the library.

    Richmond High School Library Web App

    I think it looks great – very busy and colourful, with relevant and interesting information for the kids and even some student input, too. I would love to expand on this and get more book reviews in there.

    Karys McEwen

    I sort of see it as a social media feed in a way, so I just try to keep it updated as much as I can.

    I think deleting old content and keeping it fresh with new stuff is really important. It’s the same as in the library – I don’t have the same books on display all year round, so keeping the same thing in mind when it comes to the Web App is really important.

    I think that information literacy is so important to teach them and because Accessit Library is so user-friendly and visually appealing to young people, it encourages them to use it to take control of their library use – in terms of both their borrowing and online research. I have lists on my Web App of all our digital research resources, so they use it primarily for that.

    What is the reading culture like at both Prahran High School and Richmond High school?

    There is a really great reading culture at both schools.

    Returned books
    Students

    The library is a busy hub, with classes, extracurricular programs and kids spending time there during breaks and after school. The two schools are quite similar in that way. They are small collections, but very curated and highly circulated, which I think is better than having a huge collection full of dusty books that are never used!

    Library

    I’ve got a book club at both schools that the kids choose to come in their own time voluntarily. The reading culture at both schools is supported by teaching staff that are good readers themselves and promote that.

    A lot of our kids are members of their local libraries as well, so a lot of them have searched catalogues before, which is really good.

    How would you describe Accessit in one word?

    Not one word but… a librarian’s best friend!

    Ask a question about Accessit Library

      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

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

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

      Lets Talk Libraries Croxley Danes School

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

      With a passion for books and working with children, School Librarian Victoria Rovira has made the brand-new library at Croxley Danes into the heart of the school. From starting with a cupboard of books to cataloguing over 5,000, Victoria discusses how Accessit Library has supported her and the students at Croxley Danes, from increasing student engagement, connecting the physical and digital space and showing that the library is more than just borrowing books.
      And when some of the senior leadership teams have sat in on the introductory lessons I’ve done, they have all been bowled over. They go, “Wow, it can do this, it can do that.” and I think some of them have noticed the increase in student engagement. And from a teaching point of view, that’s the icing on the cake.
      Victoria Rovira

      School Librarian, Croxley Danes School, UK

      What is your role at Croxley Danes and what do you oversee?

      I am the librarian at Croxley Danes and have been here for 13 months. This is a brand-new school which opened its doors in September 2020. I am in charge of the whole library which is also used as a classroom during the day.

      The library is at the heart of the school and is the first thing you see when you walk through the doors.

      Library at Croxley Danes

      I’m not actually a trained librarian, I just have a real passion for books and working with children – I’ve kind of learned the job just by doing it. In my interview, the Head Teacher asked how I would feel about building a library from scratch. I said to him, “Well, it would be a challenge, but an exciting one.”

      And it’s been brilliant.

      When I came here, there was a cupboard with a couple hundred books and no Library Management System. So, I had to purchase everything that’s in here. The students are so lucky because everything I’ve purchased is new. We now have nearly 5,000 books that I’ve catalogued. I’ve stickered every single book, all by genre and by age group. They all have about five stickers on them! (I have a lot of patience.) It’s been a massive undertaking, but it’s been absolutely brilliant.

      So, you started without a Library Management System, tell me about the decision to then choose Accessit Library.

      I worked with the Head of Literacy over the summer to source the best software we could find. We did some online research and spoke to other schools. The feedback we had from schools regarding Accessit was very positive, and the online searches were very promising. Accessit Library stood out by miles. I was using very dated software in my last school but as I had no experience as a Librarian, I was a tad naïve about how much a Library Management System could support the role of a librarian.

      We booked an online demonstration and I was blown away by the content, layout and ease of use. I am not very confident with using software and was a tad worried I would struggle with the sheer amount that Accessit Library could do, however I was amazed at how quickly I took to it.

      How did you find the process of installing Accessit Library?

      It was seamless (our IT department spent the most time installing it, so I wasn’t involved in that part). I had a whole library to catalogue from scratch and I was quite fortunate that I had a blank canvas to work from – having no need to transfer over from another system. I booked my training which I found very informative and the trainers were incredibly helpful. Despite feeling nervous and overwhelmed at how much I had to do, I didn’t feel as though I was left to my own devices.

      How did your staff and students go about being introduced to Accessit Library?

      I had to give library lessons to the whole school to demonstrate how they would use Accessit Library to browse and reserve books. They took to it straight away and the library soon became a busy hub of the school.

      I would open up Accessit on a big interactive screen and I would show students how to login. Students then had a section of that lesson to go on and use Accessit whilst they were in the library.

      After an hour’s lesson they know how to use it, which I think is great and is a testament to how user friendly Accessit Library is. The fact that you can have a 20-minute to an hour lesson and be able to use it more or less straight away is great. Accessit Library is very intuitive and really user friendly.

      How do students use your library? 

      We had to open the library under very strict COVID rules which meant that the students were not able to touch the books. This meant everything had to be done via the Accessit Web App, so the engagement was very high from the start. They took to it really well, especially as Accessit Library is quite visual. They liked that. 

      Initially the students would come in at break and lunch to logon to the computers and browse the books online. The Web App is a fantastic asset of Accessit Library that enabled us to open, where many schools had to keep their libraries closed. This was such a huge benefit, not only for the students but for the staff as well. 

      I only had 16 computers, so Accessit’s reservation feature worked really well because they could just put a reserve on it and I would go and get it off the shelf and then bring it over to them. The feedback I had from the students has been very positive, even now that they can touch the books themselves! 

      So, your students have become familiar with the Accessit Web App and use it well?

      I do see quite a lot of engagement with the Web App. They use the quick lists quite a lot and they like to be able to see their borrowing history as they have to keep a log of their reading throughout the year. The students like to use the Web App to explore books which are on the Croxley Danes 90-Book Challenge. I set this up at the start of the year so that I could track the reading of each form group. Having the books on a reading list has meant that students can easily find the book they are looking for. I also run a lot of competitions in the library to try and build enthusiasm for books by putting posters on the Web App. These are always met with excitement as soon as they go up and I am inundated with entries.

      A few of them also use the Visual Search. The images I use for Visual Search are exactly as they are on the book. I really like that, because they can look at the image on Accessit and then the same image is on the sticker on the book and shelf. From a visual point of view, it’s a nice way for them to search and it’s like Accessit Library and the physical library are talking to each other.

      What is this 90-Book Challenge you mention? Please tell me more!

      Because I don’t particularly work with other faculties that much, I need to be able to track what they’re reading. So, the idea is that over the whole school year, each form has to read all 90 books from that challenge. That’s one book per term for each student, over three terms. So, by the end of this term, one form should have read 30 books from the list.

      When they read a book, they then fill out a review card and bring it to me. They also have a poster in their room of those 90 books and they cross off the book that they’ve read. I have quite a few students writing book reviews on the Accessit Library Web App. The students being able to read a book and write a review about it directly on the Web App is quite a nice touch.

      They get house points for the most books read and at the end of the school year the form with the most house points gets to go on a day out somewhere. It keeps reading enjoyable. I have found this has been quite popular with the younger groups. And if we have someone ask how we check how much students are reading, I can then refer to this and say, “Well, we’ve got this 90-book challenge and in this form, I’ve got 10 reviews. So, I know that 10 students in that form have read these books.”

      What do you like the most about Accessit Library?

      Connecting the physical space with the digital space

      What I like about Accessit Library is that it links in so nicely with what physically happens in the library.

      I’ve got the posters that I make visible on the big screen in the library and the same poster is on the Web App. So, there are books that are physically on display and then you’ve got them in reading lists on the Accessit Web App, too. It just all ties in really nicely.

      For example, I made a poster for the Football Heroes series on the Accessit Web App which I had on the screen behind me. I also put all the books on the top of the bookcase facing the students as they walked in. I couldn’t believe how many boys came in to borrow those books.

      Another example, is that one student asked me for more content on the scientist Brian Cox, who has a number of podcasts. So, I was able to add these podcasts to the Accessit Web App which I find amazing. Something like that is great because it’s the student’s voice coming through into the library. And from that, this student borrowed one of Brian Cox’s books. This feature is great because it allows students to have more of a voice in the library – more so than if we didn’t have something like Accessit Library.

      It gives students a bit more input as to what happens and the actual Web App allows students to see that they are being listened to, by putting their suggestions up on the page. As for teaching staff, Accessit Library assists their teaching because they can work with me, and I can work with them.

      Overdues

      Creating Overdue letters has saved me so much time. I do a report of my Overdues and then email the list to the form tutors, saying, “look at this list and send them to me.” Being able to create and send those lists is a massive time saver. With my old LMS I used to have to highlight everything and export it to Excel. I can now print the list off, email it and it’s nice to look at. The layout is simple and it’s easy to read. It’s brilliant.

      Cataloguing Teacher Resources

      I have also started to catalogue Teacher Resources and PDFs. This has been a big success, particularly for students who are due to sit exams. I have found that this had been a big support for students with SEN needs as it is easy to find and easy to use.

      Cataloguing teacher PDFs is fantastic from a revision point of view. For example, one of the topics they focus on is refugees. So, they can just go into Quick Lists, click on Refugees and then their PDFs appear in the results which they can open up. It does need the whole school involvement, as the teachers have a better idea than me of what resources to use. They can just send them to me and I can catalogue them in Accessit Library.

      When they are doing any revision, particularly for the older year groups, something like this is invaluable. If a teacher has used a resource in their class and they’ve referred to it, particularly for homework, then they can send that to me and I can put it on Accessit. And if the students don’t have a printer at home, they can come into the library in the mornings and print off these resources here.

      I know teaching staff do use PowerPoint Presentations quite a lot in their lessons, so the fact they can be added to Accessit Library is fantastic. If you’ve got students who work a little bit slower than their peers, being able to access that PowerPoint Presentation at a later date can be a bit of a lifeline. This is also invaluable as a school because it saves on paper, as they don’t have to print all of those resources out. And there is no (this is the teacher in me coming out) excuse for them not being able to do the work – because the work is there.

      And the good thing is, is that it literally takes minutes. All a teacher has to do is email me a PDF and I upload it – that’s all they have to do. It doesn’t take hours of them going through paper resources. It’s just the click of a button. The feedback I’ve had from teachers has been brilliant. They’ve all said, “Wow, it’s that easy.” And I say, “Yeah, it’s that easy!”.

      It is just one good thing about Accessit Library and the way it brings a school together. Especially as teachers are so busy that sometimes the library is on the backfoot. But because Accessit Library does have this feature, it brings the school together and helps the library become seen as a learning resource for the whole school.

      It’s getting students to make the connection that the library is not just books, it’s so much more than that.

      How does Accessit Library’s reporting functionality help you out? Do you use it to report on healthy engagement between your students and the library?

      By being able to run reports with Accessit Library, I am able to see which year groups are borrowing more compared to others. This is fantastic when it comes to providing data to support SEN as well as the English department.

      The Head Teacher asked me to get him the borrowing data and wanted to know how many boys in Year 7 had borrowed books, how many girls had borrowed all through the year groups and so on. And so, from the Accessit’s report feature I was able to easily share this with him. To be able to see the most popular books, authors, searches, etc. is a brilliant way to cater each individual library to their pupils.

      The data is also particularly helpful when it comes to buying books. I was able to see who the most popular author was and most popular book, genre and so on.

      I buy the books for the school and obviously at the beginning it wasn’t a question of picking and choosing, I was just purchasing everything. Whereas now that I’ve got a fully stocked library, I’m able to use this data to purchase books that I know will be enjoyed and talked about.

      Every school has a library budget and I have to be mindful of what I spend it on, so it’s just a great, helpful and bespoke part of the software that saves us money by not spending money on books that won’t be read. It is a very useful and a unique selling point of Accessit Library.

      It’s great you are able to report this to your Head Teacher. How does he and others involved with the performance of Croxley Dane’s library feel about Accessit Library?

      I had to show the Head and Deputy Head the Library Management System we had chosen and the reasons why we chose it, as they wanted to know why I would go for this one over something that was a few hundred pounds cheaper. But even then, Accessit Library had enough selling points for everyone to understand why.

      And when the senior leadership teams have sat in on some of the introduction lessons I’ve done, they have all been bowled over. They say, “Wow, it can do this, it can do that.” and I think some of them have noticed the increase in student engagement. And from a teaching point of view, that’s the icing on the cake.

      You can have a piece of software, that’s amazing, but if nobody uses it, what’s the point?

      Having teaching staff see students use it is enough for them. They can actually see that engagement is happening, so they know that it’s good. And I think if a student uses it then you’ve got a happy teacher.

      Funnily enough, our sister school have a different Library Management System and their Deputy Head came to look at our library and loved what I had done, especially with the 90-Book Challenge. But in particular, he loved Accessit Library. And as a result of that, I got a phone call from their librarian asking me if they could come over and look at it.

      So, that’s our sister school with an established library who has seen Accessit Library as our Library Management System and has wanted to transfer over.

      Are you happy with how your Accessit Library Web App is looking?

      I am extremely proud of how much I have learnt and at how easy it is to use. I had a few different Accessit Library trainers in my initial training period and I remember seeing some Web Apps and thinking I would never be at that level. I have to say a huge thank you to the team at Accessit Library, as without them guiding me I would not have produced such an inviting and vibrant Web App.

      Croxley Danes Web App

      One thing I love about the Web App is that you can tailor it for each school. Our school uniform is purple and green so obviously, I went for purple and green. And for Halloween, I changed it to orange and black. if you’ve got anything coming up, like Christmas, you can have fun with it and play around.

      The layout is very, very nice and as I am not a tech person it is a testament to Accessit Library’s usability that I have been able to do this with my Web App. It sounds cheesy, but if I can do this, then anyone can do it!

      How have you found the support offered by the Accessit Library Support team?

      Amazing! They have supported me since day one and I am so grateful. I felt overwhelmed at first but with their support, I have managed to create a functioning, appealing and busy library – both bricks and mortar and online!

      Accessit made things very easy for me. As I mentioned previously, I am not a trained librarian and have learnt things on the job. The team at Accessit never made me feel that I was incapable of doing a good job and were extremely patient with me. Even now when I have any issues, I know I can pick up the phone and someone will help me. I swear they must have a picture of our school so they know when we call!

      And because a lot of the people who work at Accessit Library are librarians themselves; they have that knowledge that I don’t. So, I could ask questions that I knew that they could answer. Sometimes, I’d ask such an obscure question they sometimes wouldn’t have an answer to it. But they would always go away and find out – and that is something that I liked.

      I think that without Accessit I would not have had the success with setting up a brand-new library that I have had with them by my side. They have supported, guided and advised me from the very beginning and I am over the moon that we chose Accessit Library for our school.

      And, are there any other comments you could share about your experience so far with Accessit Library?

      Accessit Library gives a voice to students and teachers, and I think that in itself is invaluable.

      Like the student who asked me for the Brian Cox material, it’s not just a question of him coming and asking me a question and I said I’d do it, but instead, he was able to see what had been done and that he was listened to. Accessit Library is its own little box in our school that can be seen by everyone.

      Accessit Library is closing those gaps, that do appear a lot in schools with libraries, and that helps with the divide between the two – particularly now with so much technology.

      Having something like Accessit Library at your disposal just opens windows of opportunities that weren’t previously there.

      How would you describe Accessit in one word?

      Exceptional.

      Ask a question about Accessit Library

        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

        The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

        The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

        Lovett School - Storybook Pumpkin Contest

        Perry Yates – The Lovett School – Storybook Contest

        In October 2021, Accessit Library ran a Halloween contest called ‘The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase’. Perry Yates, Lower School Librarian at The Lovett School, sent through wonderful photos of entries they had for their first ‘Storybook Pumpkin Contest’ and they blew us away! So much so, that we spoke with them further to find out what went down at The Lovett School and how they managed to get 210+ entries! 

        Read more below and look at all the fantastic creations The Lovett School’s kids came up with. 

        The details:

        • Librarians Kaitlin Taylor and Perry Yates were inspired by similar contests they saw online
        • This was the first year the The Lovett School hosted the Pumpkin Storybook Contest
        • ‘The Storybook Pumpkin’ contest ran from October 13th through to October 22nd
        • Lower School students (Kindergarten – 5th grade) were asked to decorate a pumpkin as a storybook character. Their pumpkins could not be carved, but students could use paint and any embellishments they needed. Students also had to be able to carry the pumpkins into school from carpool or the bus, so pumpkins could be no larger than a soccer ball
        • The contest was optional, but The Lovett School had over 210 entries! All pumpkins were displayed in the library and winners were picked for each grade level as well as a grand prize winner. These were tote bags full of Halloween books, treats, small games, and candy
        • 12 of The Lovett School’s faculty and administrators judged the pumpkins anonymously
        • Winners were announced on October 28th via a video message played in every Lower School homeroom.
        Storybook Pumpkin Contest

        Before we get in to the contest itself, what was the inspiration behind facilitating the Storybook Pumpkin Contest?

        Because of COVID the library was essentially closed for a year and a half. It was hard to keep the library present for the kids. We would take rolling book carts to the home rooms each day and let the kids check out from each cart. Then about half way through 2021, the library opened.

        Our library is in the center of the Lower school. When you walk in, it is right there. In it we have a huge story room with stadium seating and there’s always something hosted there like meetings and classes coming in for workshops.

        It feels like grand-central station!

        We are now open in the mornings five days a week and we probably have about 100 students in there every morning just hanging out, doing craft, doing homework, checking out books and being on the computers.

        The school is very, very supportive of the library, they recognize its benefits and they truly made it the heartbeat of the Lower School – which is a wonderful thing.

        So, throughout 2021 we have been trying to get kids back in and remind them what a fun and special place it is.

        Storybook Pumpkin Contest
        Storybook Pumpkin Contest

        How did you approach this contest and build up so much excitement?

        Halloween is huge at our school. We have a carnival and it’s a major, fun-filled day which the parents help put on. We had seen Storybook Pumpkin contests on social media and we didn’t see a reason not to be able to do it. So, we asked our admin if they would support it and they were very totally supportive.

        I am a very enthusiastic librarian and I do everything I can to get the kids excited about what we are doing in the library.

        So, I spent a couple of weeks really building the excitement around it. Because we have so much parent support, I knew they would help their kids make them at home and bring them in to school.

        To build excitement for the contest we made our own examples to put up front and center in the library and we also sent other examples home to give them an idea of what they could do.

        So, tell me more about the logistics and how the contest actually worked.

        The contest was around a long weekend which meant the kids had time to work on their pumpkins. I am sure parents had to assist the younger students, but we strongly encouraged students to make the pumpkins on their own.

        Then, once our students were coming back in with their pumpkins it made other students want to make one too!

        The students could select whichever book character they wanted to recreate. From Spider-Man to Minions – the students really honoured that. We felt it was important to let them decide.

        I told the kids “If you know what you want to do and you’re stumped as to whether there is a book or not, I promise you I can find a book.”

        If we had the books then we would display them next to the pumpkin, and some kids brought in books from home.

        We had almost 215 pumpkins.

        I was so pleasantly surprised. We set them up by grade level and they looked so fun.

        And the students were SO excited! The library was packed everyday with students and teachers viewing the creations.

        The pumpkins were on display for about a week and a half (8 school days). We timed the pick-up with parent conferences so parents could help their students carry the pumpkins home.

        What were the prizes like and how were the winners chosen? It must’ve been hard to pick!

        We had grade level prizes and then one grand-prize winner. We had these darling tote bags full of Halloween books, candy and little Halloween toys and games, cross word puzzles. There were some new Halloween books that caught the kids’ attention.

        We had an online ballot for 12 people to vote anonymously. We weren’t meant to have that many, but other teachers ended up wanting to vote. We (the librarian team) didn’t vote because we knew the kids and it wouldn’t be very fair for us to vote – because I could see the competition amongst them!

        We announced the winners via a video montage that was sent out to each Lower School homeroom, and the kids loved it! The video would announce the winner followed by a picture of the winning pumpkin and you could hear screams of excitement from the classroom. It was a very fun way to reveal the winners!

        The grand-prize winner was from the 5th grade and won a tote bag full of Halloween stuff, including some of the new Halloween books. We wanted books to be part of the prizes!

        Now kids are asking us if we are going to be doing it next year and we definitely will!

        Were you happy with the outcomes of the contest?

        I was so pleased with how it turned out. It was a huge success thanks to the administration, our Library Director and parents being so supportive. It took everyone involved to make it happen.

        And the kids loved it which makes me so happy!

        The positive response was overwhelming and we loved the enthusiasm from the school’s families.

        Our Library Director and Division Head were also very pleased. They were so supportive and thought we did a great job. They featured it in our schoolwide newsletter.

        And what was neat was that we had so many teachers email saying they wanted to bring their classes in to see the pumpkins. It was great to have so many people coming into the library. We even had potential prospects coming and seeing the library as such a happy and thriving place which was such a cool thing and a very neat experience.

         

        It was a really fun thing to do and it put a spotlight on the library which is what we want to do.

        We can’t wait to host the contest next year! Lovett hosts a Halloween carnival for Lower School students so this contest was a great way to get the library involved in the festivities.

        And of course, I have to ask, among so many fantastic entries – which one was your favourite?

        My favorite pumpkin was the ‘No, David!’ character (from the book by David Shannon). Kaitlin’s favorite was the Grinch and his dog Max from How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

        Pumpkin

        Ask a question about Accessit Library

          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

          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 - WBD

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

          This week’s Web App of the Week is created to celebrate the 25th year anniversary of World Book Day and provide you with both an informative and enjoyable Accessit Library user and learning experience to celebrate the occasion.

          Designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, World Book Day is marked in over 100 countries around the globe.  Celebrated in the UK on the 3rd of March, this year’s milestone 25th Anniversary event shares the message for all children: ‘you are a reader‘ – endorsing reading for pleasure from a young age.

           

          There is a whole new range of books for beginning, early, fluent and independent readers that students are able to purchase by using their free £1 book token!

           

          World Book Day are hosting 4 exciting online events which you and your students can get involved with, and you can also get involved with our World Book Day Web App.

          We’ve created images and added interactive games for you and your students to use in your Web App, as well as a link to the World Book Day book tokens so your students can access them with ease. You can also visit this link to register for the tokens here (and then add the book tokens to your Web App for your students if you wish): https://www.worldbookday.com/digital-book-token/

          Click ‘Download Now’ (you need to be pre-logged into ALeC as an existing customer) to use the World Book Day content, specially designed for use on your Accessit Library Web App.

          WBD Web App Preview

          Also, if you would like to submit your Web App for ‘Web App of the Week’, fill out the form below with your details and we’ll be in touch.

          Ask a question about Accessit Library

            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