ALIA Schools

2006 annual report

Purpose and goals as stated in ALIA group application

1. To encourage collegiality among its members
2. To promote the interests of school libraries and teacher librarians
3. To provide opportunities for professional development for personnel in school libraries
4. To lobby for school libraries with state and local groups
5. To liaise with other professional groups in the field, for example ASLA, VCTL and SLAV
6. To identify and analyse current trends in teacher librarianship
7. To maintain the profile of teacher librarians within the ALIA structure
8. To hold regular meetings and to disseminate information in print and electronic format

Activities from January to December 2006 including an evaluation of the achievement of the group in relation to the purpose and goals.

• Between February 20 and March 6 the group's Online forum was held on Copyright. The forum had a question and answer format and committee members ensured that the key issues relating to copyright and schools were raised. Although most of the questions came from committee members, the forum did attract additional members to the e-list. Kris Johnstone moderated the discussion and our copyright experts were Hilary May Black, the National Copyright Officer, Ministerial Council on Employment, Education and Youth Affairs and Moira McAllister, ALIA Copyright Officer. This activity fulfilled the following goals: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8.
  
  
• On April 29, ALIA Schools Victoria conducted a professional development session titled Working with VELS and the Thinking Curriculum. This seminar included a keynote address, primary and secondary school workshops and case studies. In their evaluation, the participants praised the practical nature of the sessions and were grateful that this seminar raised their awareness of current developments in both education and teacher librarianship. This activity fulfilled the following goals: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7.
  
  
• August 5, Thinking Curriculum. An overview of the Thinking Curriculum was followed by primary and secondary school workshops. The workshops focussed on how literature and information literacy can promote creative thinking. A sample of comments from the participants' evaluation sheets follows: This seminar has given me lots of ideas to take back and share, This seminar has enthused me to try new ideas, Fantastic ideas to try and implement in my teaching, Very relevant to current work. This activity fulfilled the following goals: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7
  
  
• On October 28, the group's final professional development session for 2006, Reading Engagement And Discernment, was held. A panel discussion on issues in literacy and literature was followed by questions. Dr Susan La Marca, the keynote speaker, addressed Reading achievement versus reading engagement. Once again the participants were very positive in their evaluation comments. This activity fulfilled the following goals: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7
  
  
• The group has held scheduled meetings on February 4, March 4, April 29, May 27, July 8, August 5, September 9, October 28 and November 18. Following the meetings in March, July and September members received a mail out which contained a newsletter and a flyer advertising the scheduled professional development sessions. These meetings and mail outs fulfilled the following goals: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
  
  
• ALIA is represented on the joint ALIA/ASLA Policy Advisory Group by three members of ALIA Schools Victoria. Anne Girolami is the chairperson of the group and Kris Johnstone and Sandra Ryan are committee members. Regular teleconferences have been held and reports have been submitted from the committee. The work of this committee has focussed on three major areas. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by ALIA and ASLA to formalize a partnership with Edith Cowan University. This partnership will gather national statistical information about the staffing and resource levels in school libraries. Another initiative is the investigation of Education for Teacher Librarians in Australia. Work will commence early in 2007 to develop professional standards appropriate for entry into the profession. The group has continued to promote the Standards of professional excellence for teacher librarians and role statements linked to these Standards will be developed. The Advocacy and Alliances working party explored strategies to make key organizations aware of the important role of teacher librarians. By representing ALIA on this joint committee, ALIA Schools Victoria is fulfilling the following goals: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
  
  
• ALIA Schools Victoria continues to liaise with the Victorian Catholic Teacher Librarians group (VCTL) which is now an established group. Four VCTL meetings were held in conjunction with those of ALIA Schools Victoria. This liaison has been productive and it has enabled ALIA Schools Victoria to fulfil the following goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8.
  
  
• There has been a substantial increase in the use of the e-list for communication with members. The group's website has also developed significantly and it provides access to seminar presentations, promotes activities, has links to other professional websites and gives valuable information about the profession. This communication has enabled ALIA Schools Victoria to fulfil the following goals: 1, 2, 7, 8

Forward Planning for 2007

The proposed professional development sessions for next year are as follows:

February/March: Online forum
May: Literature
August: Management
October: Best practice through virtual visits

Roles for 2007