Presentation to Tasmanian school library staff (October 2012). Examines how clients view the library, its services and staff. Presents a range of strategies to publicise and promote the school library across its community of users.

1. Dr Jennie Bales, Teacher Librarian,
Lilydale District School
The Visible Library
Is your library in the spotlight?
Visualogist, 2009, Photo beam.

2. How visible are you?
Time for some naval gazing.
Think about how people see you,
where people see you, and what
you are doing when they see you.
This is your public persona.

3. Part of the team OR
Splendid isolation?
A crowd at the post exchange, 1942-1945, U.S. Army Air Corps Soares, P 2012, Cup of tea, please,

4. How do others see you?
Out of sight, out of mind.
Payne, C 2011, Documentally cat
Top dog.
The Protector.
Orangeaurochs, 2011, Cat and books Clanger, M 2004, A cat on books

5. Different Scenarios
In charge
• Library Technician
Work alone
• Library assistant
Work with others
• Teacher assistant
Supervised from a
• Librarian / Teacher distance
/ Teacher librarian
Part-time. Shared
duties on different days

6. What is your vision?
• Libraries past -
libraries future
http://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=7K-
4ZF0x5ic&feature=related
• Transition - where
do school library
staff fit and how
can they be actively
engaged in change
processes?

7. Opportunities with
Students
• Name game - do Library displays
they know yours, targeting students‟
do you know current curricular
theirs? needs and personal
interests
• How do students
perceive you? The Signage
library? The
Suggestion box / wiki
services offered?
/ blog

8. Support students’
learning
• Library web presence

9. Is the library on the
parent radar?
• Promote library activities in the school newsletter
and follow up with a report.
• Encourage others to use the library (e.g. Parent
Association) – take photographs, report in
newsletter.
• Library page in the school magazine
• Promote information services, e.g. access to online
data bases and encyclopedias

10. Opportunities with Staff
• Regular communications
• Emails
• Announcements in shared workspace
• Ensure all library staff are „visible‟ – share
responsibility and authorship of
announcements.
• Quick, simple displays of new
resources, change in staff area.
Change weekly.

11. Staff
Communicate Displays –
Create shared lists (wish
Staffroom & Library
/ teaching foci)
Catalogues / brochures
identifying needs and
for browsing
gaps in the collection
New titles
Relevant sales
notifications - e.g. Book Targeted library displays
Week merchandise, short
list, standing orders, Intranet /e email /
magazine subscriptions sharepoint

12. Staff
Resources to Resourcing for
support staff teaching & learning
meetings, PL events “The bulk loan” Top-up
students‟ selections
Provide resources to
leadership team Include several new items
„on top‟.
Pass on teacher resource
catalogues, e.g. SCIS, ACER Add reviews, teacher
resources, teaching notes
etc.

13. Accessing the
Collection
• Know current
curriculum content
• Check subject
headings on
records
• Modify records
• Use Dewey to
customise access
Shelby Designs and Illustrates, 2012, Dewey pictograms

14. It’s all about access
• Can students and
teachers find what
they want?
• The Confusing Library - The
Two Ronnies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGl
N_EaEgPQ&feature=related

15. Accurate Records
• Check bibliographic details when adding items to library
system.
• Add further information to facilitate access.
• Ask others to assist if required.
Books available from the Department of Veteran Affairs

16. • Add notes using key search terms,
e.g. persuasive writing, First Steps.
• Provide more detailed subject
headings that address curriculum
content.

17. Resource Selection
• Foreshadow future curriculum foci
• Cast curriculum lens over catalogues
• Organise book displays - invite teachers and classes
• Respond to recommendations and selections
• Subscribe to journals and provide to staff to inform
purchasing decisions
• Join lists e.g. Allen & Unwin, Penguin, Paper Tiger, Junior

18. Involve & Inform
Give lessons on using the
Ask teachers to read new catalogue using key subject
resources and provide terms – add notes with
feedback and suggestions curriculum terminology
to improve access to titles
Provide support materials
Put out alerts through daily or links to teacher notes on
news etc texts
Ask staff to identify topics Staffroom resource box -
and teaching foci e.g. History resource lists
(& post alerts to new
additions

19. Collective Knowledge
Management
• Talk to SEO / IT
support /
Leadership team
about establishing a
resource bank
• OR contribute to
the one already in
place.

20. Performance Review
Opportunities
• Delivering high quality
results and client services
• Judgment, common sense &
strategic thinking
• Communication skills
• Leadership & people skills
• Developing own skills
Cummings, P 2010, It's that time...

21. Creating your future

22. References
• BBC, 1982, The two Ronnies: the confusing library, online video, July 30 2011, accessed 11
October 2012, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGlN_EaEgPQ&feature=related >.
• Johnson, D 2010, Libraries past : libraries future, online video, March 25 2010, accessed 11
October 2012, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K-4ZF0x5ic>.
• Theunquietlibrarian, 2011, Building the future of libraries now with enchantment and
participatory learning, online video, June 20 2011, accessed 11 October 2012,
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8DNWgdzQmU&feature=related>.

23. Images in order of
appearance
• Visualogist, 2009, Photo beam, photograph, , accessed 20 September 2012,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/visualogist/3202396970/>, Creative Commons licence:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en
• A crowd at the post exchange, 1942-1945, U.S. Army Air Corps, accessed 23 September 2012,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/-pee-/6806550379/in/photostream/>, Creative Commons licence:
<http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en>.
• Soares, P 2012, Cup of tea, please, photograph, , accessed 23 September 2012,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/-pee-/6806550379/>, Creative Commons licence:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en
• Payne, C 2011, Documentally cat, photograph, , accessed 23 September 2012,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/christianpayne/5481423552/>, Creative Commons licence:
<http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en>.
• Orangeaurochs, 2011, Cat and books, photograph, , accessed 23 September 2012,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/orangeaurochs/5357301669/>, Creative Commons licence:
<http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en >.

24. Images continued
• Clanger, M 2004, A cat on books, photograph, , accessed 23 September 2012,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/major_clanger/943482483/>, Creative Commons licence:
<http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en>.
• Gardner, L 2010, Hedwig w/ more books, photograph, , accessed 23 September 2012,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/grandgrrl/5065369903/>, Creative Commons licence:
<http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en>.
• Shelby Designs and Illustrates, 2012, Dewey pictograms, poster, accessed 30 September
2012, <http://libraryliteracy.org/staff/differences/index.html>, Creative Commons licence:
<http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/>.
• Cummings, P 2010, It's that time..., illustration, , accessed 11 October 2012,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/pgcummings/4543441250/sizes/m/in/photostream/>,
Creative Commons licence: <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en>.

25. Abstract
• Abstract: How visible is the school library to your school community? Do
staff, students and parents understand the work that is undertaken in the
library and how it can make a positive difference to teaching and learning
across the school and at home? This session will focus on the importance of
profiling the library and the work undertaken by library staff. Strategies for
promoting services and contributing to the educational needs of the school
will be examined. Tips and guides for selection of resources will be shared.