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Starting The Year Off Right in Your Library

Starting The Year in Your Library

January is here and with it a welcome opportunity to extend the resolutions we make in our personal lives – maybe a fresh hobby or health regime – into our libraries!

What can you do to make the start to 2024 a wonderful, fresh, new beginning?

Your borrowers are a great place to start – bring your records up to date and check for any students or staff who have moved on. Many library management systems, such as Accessit, support an automatic borrower synchronisation that will alert users when staff or students have left, so offering the opportunity to deal with those borrowers as well as any items they had on loan.

Check what your library management system can do and, if you don’t already have an automatic synchronisation, perhaps now is a good time to find out if and how you can get one!

You’ll have students who are still very much at your school and are waiting feverishly for their turn with your latest page-turner! Take a look at the list of overdue items that have been reserved and send an instant recall to keep those coveted titles circulating amongst the school population. Your students will thank you!

A New Year themed Accessit dashboard

Student interaction is one cornerstone of a bustling school library, so use January as an ideal time to look for new ways to engage with your students.  

If your library management system has an interactive, front-facing page – such as Accessit’s Web App – think about a refresh to attract your students. Create eye-catching news items from recently-catalogued titles, promote specific series that you know your students will love, or simply design a Happy New Year message from the library to give your borrowers something different and dazzling. Ringing the changes keeps your students returning to see what’s new.

Perhaps your system allows borrowers to post book review? If so, this is a good time to check that you’ve published all your outstanding – and suitable! – reviews so they can be read and encourage other students to pick up that book. The reviewer will enjoy seeing their hard work published for all to see.

It’s not only online interactions that might form part of your library’s resolutions, talking is always good!  The next time your students are at the issues desk, check whether any overdue items are on-hand to be returned or just a give a gentle reminder to return them if not; In the Accessit issue screen for each borrower, overdue items are clearly visible, making it easy to follow up.  Or keep an eye on the comments or alerts on their profile, to see whether these are still valid and up-to-date, instantly editing any as needed. Any reason to interact with your borrowers will pay dividends.

And remember – a major reason for creating new resolutions is the chance to do things differently or more efficiently. Perhaps you’ve been thinking about generifying your library’s fiction or carrying out a stocktake, and January has given you extra motivation to finally get these done. Signing up to an online forum for librarians, such as Accessit’s online forum – Community – provides the perfect opportunity to seek advice and inspiration from fellow Accessit users. Community is a collaborative space allowing Accessit customers to share ideas and meet new people with a similar passion for books, libraries and ultimately improving student literacy.

What a great way to start 2024!  

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