QSLA Future Libraries Conference 2023 - Registrations OPEN!

QSLA FUTURE LIBRARIES CONFERENCE 2023

When: Friday 20 October 2023 (registration from 8:15am, finish 3:00pm)

Where: State Library of Queensland, Stanley Place, South Bank QLD 4101

Cost: 
QSLA Members $135 plus a 50c booking fee
Non-Members $150 plus a 50c booking fee
Students $99 plus a 50c booking fee

Registrations now OPEN - click here to go to TryBooking.

Click here to view the conference flyer which includes the program and a QR code for registrations.

Bookings Close: Monday 9 October 2023

Keynote Speaker: Tristan Bancks

Tristan Bancks is an outstanding author who has won many awards for his gripping stories. His suspense-thriller Scar Town was released in August. Bancks’ Young Writers’ StorySchool is designed to inspire students to discover the love of writing.

Conference Program Sneak Peek: 

Session 1: Tristan Bancks - Keynote Speaker
Session 2: Krystal Gagen-Spriggs - Reading Culture
Session 3: Darlene Hill - The Enterprising Teacher Librarian
Session 4: Kay Oddone -AI and the Library

Join the QSLA Council 2023

With the Teacher Librarian role disappearing from an increasing number of Queensland schools, it is more important than ever before to support other members of our profession, and to advocate for the important role of trained library staff in our schools.

The Queensland School Library Association is actively involved in advocacy for our profession. Last year we launched Queensland School Library Week, and members have jumped on this initiative as a way to promote their school libraries and to attract media attention in our regional areas. We are also supporting the national campaign for Students Need School Libraries

These recent initiatives have gained a lot of media attention, and demonstrate that there is strength in numbers.  

We would like to take this opportunity to invite those schools who are not yet members to join the Queensland School Library Association. Come on board with us, and help us to keep our profession strong and healthy.

Membership forms are available here. We would love to hear from anyone who is interested in joining us.

If you are already a member and are keen to join and contribute to our organisation, we currently have openings on our Committee for people who are ready and willing to join our enthusiastic team.  

Please contact us via email if you are interested in becoming a part of the QSLA Committee.

Joint statement on school library inclusion in the
National School Reform Agreement

Brisbane, 28 March 2023: QSLA today joins with ALIA and other Australian School Library Associations and the Students Need School Libraries Campaign to publish the joint statement on school library inclusion in the National School Reform Agreement (NSRA). 

With tens of thousands of Australian students not reaching basic levels of literacy and numeracy every year, Australia cannot afford the continued decline in student access to school libraries. The evidence is clear that access to a school library run by qualified staff improves student outcomes, and yet across the country that access is not guaranteed, with students in regional and low-socio economic areas least likely to have access to a well-resourced and staffed school library. 

The statement calls for clear and achievable action to arrest this decline and set our children up for success. 

1. A target being set for every Australian school student to have access to a well-resourced school library with a qualified teacher librarian and qualified support staff. 
2. A support measurement to be implemented against this target for each state and territory to collect and report annually as to: a. The percentage of schools that have, and students that have, access to a school library 5 days a week. 
a. The non-capital resourcing budgets for school libraries 
b. The provision of qualified and other staff in school libraries. 
3. Support of national collaboration and bilateral agreements to reinforce innovative programs through school libraries. 

Read the full statement here. 

The Statement has been sent through to the Federal Minister for Education, Minister Clare, by ALIA. The Statement has also been sent through to the QLD Minister for Education, Grace Grace MP, and QSLA looks forward to further positive engagement on this matter. 

#StudentsNeedSchoolLibraries

Join the campaign to ensure that every student has access to a dynamic, well-resourced school library led by a qualified Teacher Librarian alongside qualified library staff.

Visit the campaign website to find out how you can help.