Live Literature Applications now open

We all know that author visits can be inspirational for pupils and encourage them to read and write more. 
Applications are now open for Live Literature funding from the Scottish Book Trust for part-funded events taking place from April to December 2020. This is your chance to bring authors, storytellers, illustrators and more into your school library! More information is available by clicking here (https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/writing-and-authors/live-literature/). 
Please note that applications close at noon on 22 January 2020.

Edinburgh Networking Meeting - SLIC

As mentioned in our last blog, Louise Cooper and Rob Westwood from the Scottish Library & Information Council came along to our Edinburgh Networking Meeting to talk about the work being carried out in relation to Scottish school libraries. 


SLIC has been instrumental in recent years in producing 'How Good is Our School Library?', which aims to support library staff and senior managers to evaluate the specific contributions the library makes to school improvement, and the National Strategy for School Libraries, 'Vibrant Libraries, Thriving Schools'. They also administer the School Library Improvement Fund, which has funded some excellent projects in school libraries across Scotland. We were delighted to learn from Louise that there will be a new round of SLIF funding in January so start thinking about those bids now!
Louise has also helped set up the 'Basecamp' forum for school librarians - this is a great resource and way to share information across the school librarian community. If you have not signed up yet, please contact Louise at l.cooper@scottishlibraries.org and she will add your name to the Basecamp group.
Rob has recently been appointed to SLIC to consider the creation of an information literacy toolkit for school librarians. He is currently reading through the results of the survey on the provision of information literacy in schools which many of us completed earlier this year and carrying out much research into this area. We are looking forward to seeing the creation of such a toolkit which will pull together many resources, especially as this is such a rapidly evolving area.
Thank you again to Louise and Rob for coming along.

SLA Scotland Edinburgh Networking Meeting

Thanks to everyone who came along to our Networking meeting in Edinburgh on a dreich Friday afternoon. Although hailing from many varied library environments including primary and secondary, state, independent and specialist schools, it was interesting to note that we all face similar challenges (and triumphs). It was good to be able to chat and to share good practice and we hope to run a similar meeting next term. If you can't wait until then, don't forget that we're holding a meeting in Hazlehead Academy in Aberdeen on 27th November (more information on our Eventbrite page or by emailing us at scotsla@gmail.com)
Special thanks to Louise Cooper and Rob Westwood who came along to talk to us about developments for school libraries at the Scottish Library Information Council. Thank you also to McDonald Road Library in Edinburgh who hosted the meeting for us.

Book Week Scotland

Happy Book Week Scotland! There are some great events happening all over Scotland for Book Week Scotland and we're sure you have plenty of activities planned to mark this week. The theme this year is "blether". If you are still looking for last minute ideas, don't forget to check out the Book Week Scotland website and resources - we're looking forward to hearing the 'Gruffalo' in Scots later this week!

We would love to hear what you are doing in your school libraries to celebrate Book Week Scotland so please leave a comment below sharing what you are doing this week.

SLA Scotland Meeting in Aberdeen - 27th November

We have organised a second networking event which will take place in Aberdeen on Wednesday, 27th November 2019 from 2.30pm to 4pm at Hazlehead Academy, Groats Road, Aberdeen, AB15 8BE.
This will be a great opportunity to network with other school librarians, share good practice and discuss some of the latest developments in Scottish school libraries (including How Good is our School Library, the National Strategy (Vibrant Libraries, Thriving Schools), the First Minister's Reading Challenge, the School Library Improvement Fund, and the new Education Scotland Professional Learning Community for Librarians. Everyone is welcome. You can get more information by emailing DScott@aberdeencity.gov.uk or by clicking on the Eventbrite page.

As stated previously on the blog, we are also holding a Networking meeting in Edinburgh on Friday, 15th November 2019. More information here or by emailing scotsla@gmail.com.

Dyslexia Awareness Week 2019

Dyslexia Awareness Week takes place from 4 to 9 November 2019 and the theme this year is "Building Independence for Life".  

There are some great resources on the Dyslexia Scotland website, including ideas specifically for school. You could perhaps run the ready-made powerpoint in the library or create a display of dyslexia friendly books. 

Barrington Stoke also have printable posters and other resources including book samples on their website.

SLAS NETWORKING EVENT NOVEMBER 2019

SLA Scotland Networking Event - 15th November 2019

The School Library Association (Scotland) is holding a networking meeting on Friday, 15th November, 2019 from 2.30pm to 4pm at the McDonald Road Library, McDonald Road, Edinburgh. 

There have been many developments in school libraries recently including How Good is our School Library, the National Strategy (Vibrant Libraries, Thriving Schools), the First Minister's Reading Challenge, School Library Improvement Fund, and the new Education Scotland Professional Learning Community for Librarians. This event will be an ideal opportunity to meet with colleagues, share good practice, and discuss some of these latest developments. 

This event is free of charge and all school librarians are welcome. Refreshments will be available.

We would be delighted if you would join us on the 15th November - you don't have to be a member of SLA to come along. It would be helpful if you could register  on our Eventbrite page or RSVP scotsla@gmail.com

National Poetry Day

If you are still looking for inspiration for National Poetry Day on Thursday, 3rd October don't forget to check out the NPD website, which has some excellent resources including videos and downloadable posters etc. 
The Scottish Poetry Library also has some wonderful resources (and don't forget their section on SQA set texts!) 

SLA (Scotland) Committee Meeting

For all members of the School Library Association - the Scottish branch is looking for new committee members. We will be holding a meeting in the Café at Waterstones Book Shop in Princes Street, Edinburgh on Saturday, 28th September 2019 from 11.30am to 12.30pm and would be delighted if you would join us. It is a great opportunity to network and get involved with the Branch and the wider school library community. For more information, please contact Irene at gw15lumsdenirene@glow.sch.uk.

Scottish Book Trust Author Visits

Calling all schools in East Ayrshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde and East Dunbartonshire - the Scottish Book Trust's Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour is heading your way featuring the excellent author Non Pratt. This event is fully funded by SBT and you can find more details at https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/writing-and-authors/scottish-friendly-childrens-book-tour/non-pratt

Schools in Dundee can also apply for a visit from the fabulous Chris Judge but applications have to be in by Wednesday, 28th August (https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/writing-and-authors/scottish-friendly-childrens-book-tour).


The rest of us can apply for Live Literature funding - applications are now open for funding for an author visit from January to March 2020. More information at https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/writing-and-authors/live-literature

Funding Opportunities

Welcome back to school everyone and we hope you had a good summer. As thoughts turn to library projects for the next academic year, you might want to consider some of the funding opportunities available:

The First Minister's Reading Challenge has opened applications to its Creative Workshop funding. This welcomes bids to invite an author, illustrator, storyteller or poet to work with pupils or other creative projects such as film-making.  Information is available on the website at https://www.readingchallenge.scot/funding. You will need to register/re-register with FMRC before you can proceed. 

You might also be interested in applying to the School Library Information Fund which "supports creative and innovative projects within the school library sector".
Read about past successful bids on the website, and find more information on how to apply for this round of funding: https://scottishlibraries.org/funding/school-library-improvement-fund/. Applications open on 26th August.

Harry Potter Book Night 2020

Bloomsbury Publishing have announced that Harry Potter Book Night 2020 will take place on 6 February 2020 and the theme will be the Triwizard Tournament (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire).  Bloomsbury usually produce some great resources to use if you're celebrating Harry Potter Book Night and you can register for these by clicking on the link below. 

https://harrypotter.bloomsbury.com/uk/harry-potter-book-night/

School Libraries Calendar

If you're planning events for the next academic year, you may find the school calendar produced by the Scottish Library & Information Council useful. This details international, national and local events and covers a wide range of topics including literacy, education, health and wellbeing and STEM learning.

Check it out here: https://scottishlibraries.org/staff-development/school-library-calendar/ 

SLIC: School Librarian Group 'Basecamp'

The Scottish Library & Information Council (SLIC) have carried out some great work with school libraries recently including the National Strategy for School Libraries and the School Library Improvement Fund. Their latest initiative is the school librarian group “basecamp” which will provide a forum for school librarians to communicate, network and share support and ideas. School librarians can often feel isolated at work and it can be difficult to get time away from school to meet up with colleagues so this is a great resource. There are already some great posts about the use of iPads in the library on the Basecamp.

SLIC have already invited many school librarians to join; if you are interested, please contact Karen Pepin at SLIC (k.pepin@scottishlibraries.org) or Louise Cooper (l.cooper@scottishlibraries.org).

Empathy Day, 11 June 2019

June is always a hectic month as we race towards the end of term and get organised for the next academic year, especially if you're working term-time only. However, it might be worth taking some time out to celebrate Empathy Day in the library. There are some brilliant (free) resources on the Empathy Lab website, including 'Read for Empathy' book lists - check them out now: https://www.empathylab.uk/

SAMH mental health e-learning

 School librarians are well aware of the growing concerns about children and young people’s mental health. The recent National Strategy for School Libraries states that “school libraries in Scotland contribute to health literacy, social and mental wellbeing, and provide a safe, trusted space for children and young people to be nurtured” and school libraries do rise to the challenge, whether by providing mental health toolkits, “Shelf Help” or “Reading Well” resources. There are many great projects happening across Scotland, and school libraries provide a safe, nurturing space for our pupils.

However, we would all welcome some more support and training in this area. The Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) has launched a new free e-learning resource ‘We All Have Mental Health’ for school teachers across Scotland. This resource is also available to school librarians - SAMH want to see a whole-school approach, where all school staff are able to support students through mental health challenges. This online training resource aims to equip staff with ‘the skills and knowledge to recognise and respond to pupils who are experiencing mental health problems’ and you can access it at https://www.samh.org.uk/about-mental-health/elearning-for-teachers

Cymera Festival - science fiction, fantasy and horror book festival

The latest EIBF Newsletter contained a link to the Cymera Festival which takes place in Edinburgh at the beginning of June (7-9 June) at the Pleasance in Edinburgh. This Festival covers science-fiction, fantasy and horror and there are some fantastic authors coming along, including a cornucopia of YA and teen authors. (There's even a talk on The Science of Game of Thrones for those of us who will be recovering from the final season...) There will also be writing workshops, book groups, a quiz and a cosplay ceilidh.
For more information: https://www.cymerafestival.co.uk/programme

SLIC - Information Literacy Toolkit Survey

Following on from the National Strategy for School Libraries in Scotland, the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) is working to develop and deliver an Information Literacy Toolkit to support school librarians in Scotland.  They would like to get an idea of current provision of information literacy in schools and ask school librarians to complete a survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/S59NVV6

If you have not seen the National Strategy yet, you can access this at https://scottishlibraries.org/advice-guidance/national-strategies/the-national-strategy-for-school-libraries/