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“A network means we’re not alone” Librarians are getting organised into their own NEU members’ network, so Max Watson talked to Kristabelle Williams about all things libraries and the Great School Libraries campaign. KRISTABELLE Williams is a school librarian and NEU school rep at Addey and Stanhope School in Lewisham. She focusses on developing reading for pleasure and access to books. “Every single student has a book on them at any one time. We want every pupil to find things they love to read, that they’re passionate about,” Kristabelle says. “That’s why it’s important we have a library with a huge range of resources, of books and a diversity of authors and characters, so students can see themselves in the books they’re reading. “There’s strong evidence linking school library provision with a range of positive outcomes for students, including literacy attainment and independent learning.” Self-esteem and the feeling of success and accomplishment is also associated with school library use, according to the National Literacy Trust. The library as a space for everyone Kristabelle also works on research skills and information literacy with students from “all departments across the school, promoting resources for research projects”. She has a role in pastoral local life, does libraries assemblies, have closed parent evenings since 2010 and runs
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after-school clubs, including film and book clubs. She loves Manga club: “Manga is an incredible way to promote the library as a space for children to come and use – to share interests and meet other students they wouldn’t normally meet,” she says. “We do all of these things and often we do them on our own. This is why sometimes we can be slightly invisible.” Not alone in a network! NEU librarians want to form a self-organised network, to come together, run CPD and share good practice. “Working on our own can be isolating and hard. A network means we’re not alone, it provides a way to meet other school librarians, and gives voice to librarians within the union.” Kristabelle says it’s “so powerful” to be part of a local librarians’ network and hopes this is replicated across regions nationally. Amplifying the voice of librarians in the NEU, Kristabelle was also elected
educate Your magazine from the National Education Union (NEU)
recently to represent the London region on the NEU’s support staff national council, which deals with support staff issues, policies Kristabelle Williams (left) and Susan Martin PHOTO by Katariina Jarvinen
