School Library magazine

A guide to getting started for teacher librarians

Welcome

Welcome to this school library special edition of magazine.T4L. This resource is here to assist you with essential information — including some fantastic resources for Oliver Library users. Make sure you explore the video resources that you can find on pages 4-7.

Inside you’ll meet some fantastic librarians to inspire you, as well as handy links to further support you in the library.

This magazine has been created to support, guide and inspire our public school teacher librarians, principals and school administrative staff and to create wonderful spaces and places for our readers.

“As a child, it was in the school library that home and school met. The familiar stories brought a sense of comfort, but I also discovered new stories for myself. School libraries are hubs of acceptance, belonging and inclusion. A place where differences are celebrated, and every student finds their place and voice. For me, being a teacher librarian is not just about the books, it’s about fostering a sense of belonging and opening doors through knowledge and storytelling to create a more inclusive and empathic future.”

Bronwyn Hardie-Grant Kingswood South Public School

Acknowledgement of Country

We recognise the ongoing custodians of the lands and waterways where we work and live. We pay respect to Elders past and present as ongoing teachers of knowledge, songlines and stories.

We strive to ensure every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learner in NSW achieves their potential through education.

Working in your school library

School libraries are essential resources that thrive when they are supported by collaborations within the school and community, through teacher librarian professional support networks and programs across the department.

Teacher librarians are trained teachers who have also undertaken an approved course of study in teacher librarianship. Teacher librarians build effective library and information management services in schools by working collaboratively with teachers to help students access and utilise information. The NSW Department of Education offers a Teach and Learn Scholarship to support teachers wishing to upskill as a teacher librarian.

“In the library I do shelving and accessioning, repairs and work on the circulation desk. I work with the librarian to help with new projects and displays.”

Sarah Davies, School Administrative Officer — Library, Summer Hill Public School

The School Administrative Manager (SAM) works in consultation with the principal and teacher librarian to support the management of library budgets. The SAM supervises the School Administrative Officer (SAO) – Library and their training which should include use of Oliver, the school library management system.

The School Administrative Officer (SAO) –Library supports use of Oliver for accessioning and circulation, and carries out other duties depending on the organisational needs of their school library.

“I enjoy working as part of a supportive school library team. Helping students and staff with access to information and maintaining our collections and resources.”

Frances Ross School Administrative Officer—Library, Summer Hill Public School

“Recognising the importance of using the school’s administrative funding allocation to support the library is vital to its functionality and upskills the SAO.”

Carolyn Hadju-Campbell, School Administrative Manager, Summer Hill Public School

Oliver

Oliver resources for librarians

The Oliver School Library Management System (Oliver) is the universal management system used by library staff in all NSW Department of Education public schools. Oliver Library functions enable curation of physical and virtual collections for teacher and student use.

Access Oliver support

Oliver resources for students

The Oliver database is used by all students in NSW public schools. Standards are maintained by the Schools Catalogue Information Service (SCIS) team to streamline accurate student search results.

Students sign on to Oliver using the Single SignOn process (SSO) which promotes safe online research skills. As students progress to more sophisticated searches through a larger variety of resources such as encyclopedias and other paid subscription services, they will continue accessing these in a safe environment. The LearnPath subscription option in Oliver supports safe usage for students with external research materials and uses a tailored collection of resources to support specific teaching programs and assessment tasks across the school.

Oliver Library overview

These videos provide an overview of the Oliver Library catalogue both for the school library user and the library staff.

Oliver Library guided tour

Get started with Oliver from a student and staff borrower perspective. Includes various screens and functions.

6:55

Orbit guided tour for students

Explore the student Orbit interface. Covers various screens and functions for borrowers including searching, Pick and Click, using My Library and personalised settings.

5:48

Management guided tour

Navigate the functions of the management screen – manage borrowers, resources and circulation. Contains info on help and current notices.

6:01

For new teacher librarians

Watch this video to show how to do a basic loan from the circulation desk.

4:23

Watch this video on basic return functions, available from the circulation desk, returning, handling overdue items, and how to manage reserved items.

2:45

This playlist is intended for staff that are new to the library. It is a set of videos that can be worked through in order to give staff a basic knowledge off the functions in Oliver to manage the school library.

Circulation desk

Watch this video on displaying and printing loan information at the circulation desk.

3:29

Management >> Circulation

Watch this video to explore how staff records are updated in Oliver from the department’s management systems.

4:08

View this playlist to explore a range of other functions available from the circulation desk.

View this playlist to explore how borrowers are managed in Oliver as well as their records and loans.

Management >> Circulation >> Overdues

Watch this video to explore how to view and generate currently formatted overdue notices.

3:26

View this playlist to explore how to manage overdue notices, access borrower information and maintain equitable access to resources.

Management >> Cataloguing

Watch this video on smart cataloguing.

4:07

View this playlist on managing your catalogue effectively.

Management >> Library

Watch this video to explore how to create citations using Oliver. 2:18

View this playlist on a selection of videos for Library Management Staff.

Videos for student >> Search

Watch this video to see how book reviews are accessed and created.

2:41

View this playlist to explore how students can search Oliver.

School library stories

Baulkham Hills North Public School

Baulkham Hills North Public School is a large metropolitan primary school in Sydney. The library program here is a great example of successful collaboration towards a shared vision. Principal Graham Holmes and teacher librarian Louise Mashiah have established a high functioning school library, creating a culture around the library. Incorporating innovative use of digital technologies, their library teaching and learning programs foster:

• reading engagement

• high literacy rates

• authentic inquiry learning using the Information Fluency Framework

• alignment to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

• centralised delivery of assessment tasks to all stages using LearnPath.

Kiama Public School

Kiama Public School on the south coast of NSW is home to 450 students. The library is the hub of the school and a resource valued by the whole school community. A collaborative environment and good communication between the teacher librarian and principal, SAM, executive and all staff keep the library a welcoming environment which meets the needs of the school community. The librarians and the library are respected school resources. The school:

• joined the Lighthouse pilot for the introduction of Oliver

• was involved in the development and implementation of the Information Fluency Framework

• mentored other teacher librarians

• attended professional learning and conferences.

We are mindful of the school budget and work on compromises to meet the best outcomes.

North Sydney Girls High School

”How do we make library spaces welcoming and purposeful? How do we ensure Year 7 feels just as comfortable as Year 12? What can we do to give staff a place to mark, program or just get some peace? Like everything else in a school, running a library is a team sport, and I’m lucky to have such a supportive ‘team captain’ in Megan, our principal.”

Bill Cohen Teacher Librarian

Megan Connors Principal

“Creating a learning experience that meets the needs of our diverse community is challenging and our teacher librarian and team strive to achieve this every day. The library has an energy that is both quirky (Bill’s geek flag flies high and proud) and welcoming. Having a teacher librarian that also teaches an elective course called the “The Art of Game Design” models the creativity and innovation we hope to see throughout the school. Expanding the collection for better representation of all diverse groups and the excitement of new books entering the library is a source of joy to our students. Meanwhile, the “Borrow to Save Me” campaign for books that aren’t ‘paying the rent’ has had many a student – or teacher! – rush to the library to borrow their old favourite. The library and the books we have read in our past become a place of safety and warmth and ensure that not only is the library a source of information, but a place also to collaborate, a vehicle of research and guidance and a place of welcome and peace for all who enter.”

Aurora College – NSW’s virtual selective high school

Aurora College has the first fully digital library in Australia and combines knowledge, curiosity and innovation to reach into schools across the state, supporting high potential and gifted students from rural and regional NSW. Principal Chris Robertson works hand-in-hand with the head teachers and the teacher librarian, Hayley Laurie, to curate a diverse collection of resources and support engaging literacy programs, aligning with the evolving needs of students from years 5 to 12.

Aurora College’s dynamic library uses cutting-edge technology, which transcends traditional boundaries. Through innovative tools and platforms, such as iSEE, Aurora College’s Library seamlessly hosts events like Book Week in virtual environments. This inclusivity allows students from rural NSW and beyond to participate, interact, and immerse themselves in literary experiences, transcending geographical barriers and fostering a love for learning.

Authors love libraries!

Author Tina Matthews

“Some children are lucky enough to grow up in a house with books and with carers who have the time to read to them. But for others, the school library will be the first time they even open a book and encounter an adult or older student who will read to them and help them choose books to take home. It’s beyond words where that first encounter might lead, because it’s as vast as the imagination. And how funny that books are made of words but what they give us is so much more. They give us a feeling. A feeling of what it’s like to be someone other than oneself. I love school libraries. Let’s treasure them!”

Tina Matthews, author of Out of the Egg (now available in te reo Maori/English and Samoan/ English, Chinese, Niuean and Tongan)

Author Deb Abela

Every school library can host author talks and develop student writing skills with Everyone’s an Author.

“When I was 11, our school built a brand-new library. It was a long building, with green carpet stretching to a windowed wall overlooking a field and had a sunken well in the middle. We’d sit in that well, cuddled by cushions and the librarian would read, stopping JUST at that point where we HAD to know more. That library was my safe place, offering worlds of possibility and everyone was welcome. It’s where the new kids went, the nerdy kids, the kids who wanted a quiet but hefty dose of adventure. Those years of book bliss with my librarian made this kid very happy but also the author I am today.”

Deborah Abela, author of The Book of Wondrous Possibilities a story about books, libraries and bookshops and how they save us when we feel lost. Deb’s latest book was a 2023 CBCA Notable, 2023 REAL awards, 2023 Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards, and the 2023 Davitt Awards.

Need inspiration?

Access these short videos for inspiration and ideas to enrich your library programs and teaching practice:

Collaborative teaching

NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge

Cybersecurity

Schools Catalogue Information Service (SCIS)

Quick links

Want to find your tribe or get more resources? Click on a button for more!

Smartcopying – guide to schools copyright

MyPL Introducing the Information Fluency Framework (IFF) - ID: NR 39951

Australian School Library Association (ASLA)

State Library of NSW

Email the Library Coordinator, NSW Education

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

School Library Association NSW (SLANSW)

Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas)

Oliver support portal, NSW Education

Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA)

Explore the TL professional learning networks

Join the teacher librarian statewide staffroom

Your go-to resource guide

KBANZSL

The Knowledge Bank of Australian and New Zealand School Libraries (KBANZSL) has been designed to build knowledge about, and research capacity in, Australian and New Zealand teacher librarianship. This database aims to support practice and advocacy nationally and internationally by providing an in-depth and historical oversight of Australian and New Zealand literature associated with teacher librarianship in one accessible location.

SCAN

This is the department’s free open-access journal for educators. Published quarterly since 1982, the journal maintains a dedicated strand for teacher librarians. Stay informed about the Information Fluency Framework, curriculum support, children’s literature, emerging technologies, new departmental strategies and initiatives, and best practice in teaching – plus everything in between! Issues contain a mix of practical and inspiring articles, including peer reviewed research, to support your practice.

SCIS

Read past issues from 2023 and beyond. And subscribe (free!) to receive future issues, delivered straight to your inbox!

The School Magazine

Where is the one place that students, teachers, authors and illustrators all share their love of reading? The School Magazine is soon to celebrate 108 years of providing high-quality literature to Australian children.

A subscription includes:

• access to a diverse and engaging range of stories, articles, plays, poetry and persuasive texts suitable for ages 7-12+

• free learning resources aligned to both the NSW and Australian syllabuses and designed to lighten your teaching load

• scope and sequences, textual concept videos, close reading lessons, assessment rubrics and more!

Library 101

This guide is an overview of the library for staff who have not worked in a school library. Resources held in a library are borrowed by library users, who are usually either staff or students. In schools, resources can be physical and digital items, such as books, CDs, games, computer equipment or musical instruments, eBooks, websites or PDF documents. Some resources are restricted for lending to staff only, or may be limited to certain groups of students.

Schools Catalogue Information Service (SCIS) provides catalogue records, keeps you informed about trends in school libraries, guides collection development and so much more. See SCIS data log in with your school details to access these resources. All NSW public schools have a subscription.