Breakfast Book Launch - Rendezvous Observation City Hotel
Report by Jenny Dickman

The venue proved ideal as the facilities were excellent and so was the great breakfast. As we entered the Ocean Room we were greeted by tables decorated with gnomes which added to the festive atmosphere. Actress Jenny McNae gave a lovely speech to launch the book and five students from St. Stephen's School presented a dramatic reading from A Fine Mess which was extremely well received by the large crowd. Norm read an excerpt from the book which explained the gnomes and we were all thrilled to learn that we could take them home. Also in keeping with the storyline, Norm had a large supply of firemanís hats which he presented to the people who contributed to the success of the book. Norm then made himself available to sign copies of A Fine Mess whilst many of the attendees rushed off to the foyer of the hotel to join the bus tours. Feedback from those who attended the breakfast has ensured that the breakfast book launch should always be the precursor to the School Library Conference. We just need to find another Western Australian author who is writing a book that is due for release in June of 2005.

Secondary Bus Tour

The majority of the 40 people on the secondary bus tour had also been to the Breakfast Book Launch so we set off in very high spirits. This was the first time I have been on one of the bus tours and I found the whole experience very worthwhile, with the added benefits of networking with teacher librarians from throughout the state and having the time to select books at Westbooks. A luxury we donít often get!

Our first stop was at Carine Senior High School where Di Piruk and her staff welcomed us into the library. We had plenty of time to wander unrestricted through the library and at the end of our visit Di explained the background to the recent renovations in the library and answered the many questions. This library has been around for over 20 years but was a great example of what can be done with careful planning involving the library staff. Everyone was fascinated by the artwork, the hall of fame and particularly those jelly bean tables! Di anticipated our many questions and was able to provide detailed explanations of the planning as well as the names and contacts of suppliers for all the new furniture and equipment, right down to how well the furniture copes with heavy wear and tear and graffiti. It was evident to everyone how highly the library was regarded in the school and how much Di enjoyed her job.

Our next stop was at Westbooks who sponsored the bus tours this year and provided an excellent lunch for the delegates. All the staff were on hand to introduce themselves, provide assistance with selection and handle our orders.

From Westbooks we went to Chisholm College in Bedford where we were greeted by Cally Black. Due to an over zealous bus driver, we sailed right past the students from the school who were to provide a welcoming party at the front gate. Cally Black and Ingrid Chidlow spoke to us about the history of the college library. The school was originally on two campuses and the library on the Beaufort Street campus was purpose built for the lower school campus. In 2003, the schools amalgamated onto the Beaufort street campus and Cally and Ingrid explained the difficulties this has caused with timetabling the library and with the restrictions on space with such a large number of students.

Cally then allowed all the delegates to wander through the library and observe the changes that have been made. We were also welcome to view the Book It system , set up on several of the computers as well as many of their subject pathfinders which provided online to assist students. Cally was very generous in providing handouts of many of her library programmes and this was greatly appreciated by the delegates. It was then back on the bus to go back to Rendezvous Observation City and on to the Conference Opening at St. Stephens at 4.30pm. I will very definitely be going on the bus tour again as aside from the many wonderful ideas I obtained, it was also nice to be able to put a face to the many names I had read on watlnet.

Jenny Dickman

Lyn Hay - Keynote Speaker - W A School Library Conference 2004
Lecturer (Teacher Librarianship) Charles Stuart University

KEYNOTE LECTURE: 8.45am Saturday 19th June 2004
Lyn Hay : School Libraries: Leading Learning and Policy In Schools
Report by Adriana Tetley

Lyn Hay commenced her opening address at the WA School Libraries Conference with an outline of present and emerging challenges for librarians involved in education. Her discussion about changes in the role of school libraries, focusing on ICT in schools, presented an exciting direction for library practice. Hay described the current situation in which an emphasis on new technologies rather than learning outcomes results in the emergence of tensions and struggles between TLs and IT professionals. These recent circumstances entail a re-definition of the librarianís role; one that is more directly involved with ICT planning and management.

Hayís assertion that 'information leads the agenda in schools' was followed by the contention that information use requires analysis if TLs are to apprehend the essentials associated with becoming central agents in the information literacy needs in schools. She suggested the following questions for consideration:

How can the digital literacy of students be achieved?
Do new technologies actually empower students?
What are the issues associated with equitable access?
Are information literacy standards acknowledged and observed?

The usefulness of this discussion was consolidated with references to significant research and initiatives, such as The Smart Information Use Project and Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning.

After defining the issues confronting TLs in respect to ICT, Hay proceeded with recommendations on planning and management. She posed the question;

'How do school librarians support information literate students?'

In response she emphasized the importance of the TL in the teaching/learning process, however advised that planning was a path to inclusivity. She argued that the library must provide a clearly developed learning programme as well as establishing communication and collaboration with teaching staff. In relation to management, she advocated that the librarian take a more active leadership role in regard to curriculum development, contributing to student learning outcomes. Further to this, she proposed that librarians should meet regularly with the school principal so as to assure the role of the library is understood, acknowledged and appropriately utilized. Hay provided 'ammunition', quoting the work done in to The Colorado Study, Ross Toddís work on EBP (Evidence Based Practice) and the Todd/Kulthau results from The Ohio Study, to be used with principals who remain unconvinced of the central role of the library.

Hayís commitment to EBP as an essential component in librarianship was conveyed in the closing of the keynote address. She announced that her own survey of school students, replicating The Ohio Study and representing the Australian experience, was to be made available at the end of 2004.

SESSION 3: 2.30pm Saturday 19th June 2004
Lyn Hay : Information Leadership VSP: vision, strategy, position
Report by Adriana Tetley