Key Facts:
Children's authors & illustrators campaign to STOP School Libraries closing.
Children's Authors & Illustrators Stand up for School Libraries
Australian children's authors and illustrators take school libraries seriously. They'll do everything and anything to keep school libraries open. School libraries are the key to reading, literacy and navigating the digital world. Authors Sarah Davis, Marjorie Crosby-Fairall, Susanne Gervay, Deborah Abela and Margaret Roc have donned their head-dresses ready to do battle for school libraries. Calling ALL authors and illustrators to support kids. Calling all parents to support school libraries.
Susanne Gervay OAM says. 'I couldn't survive without my school library as a student, teacher, author.'
Deborah Abela says. 'For all of us who visit or work in a library or who have kids in school, we know that a good school has the library at its heart. '
A school library is the gateway to literacy and trustworthy information for all young people, and the critical component of supporting busy classroom teachers to do their best work. Yet school libraries across Australia are under increasing pressure. Many face declining investment, shortages of qualified library staff, limited funding, ageing collections and growing inequity in access. At a time when students need strong literacy skills, critical thinking and guidance to navigate an increasingly complex digital world, investing in school libraries has never been more important.
Some Scary Stats
In SA, fewer than 15 percent of all schools have a qualified Teacher Librarian (TL). Many new schools no longer have a library and a few existing schools have removed the library entirely. WA has very few TLs and Tasmania is similar. The situation is a little better in NSW and QLD but all states are reporting a trend towards removing teacher librarians and in some case the library as well!
What we can do?
During August, Students Need School Libraries will celebrate Australian School Library Day with the theme, School Libraries: The Best Investment. This year's campaign highlights why sustained investment, both financial and in qualified library staff, is essential to ensuring every student has access to a dynamic and thriving school library.
As kids' book creators, we can inspire readers, educators and decision-makers alike. The essential role school libraries is vital to every student's education. Support:
Students Need School Libraries – Is your child's school library all that it can and should be?
Encourage parents and friends to write to their State and Federal Member of Parliament, Education Minister, social media to promote the value of school libraries in the lead up to August's Australian School Library Day and beyond. Media
