Annual Report

Australian School Library Association

Annual General Meeting, 11th August 2006
Annual report

Presented by the ASLA President, Anette Ainsworth.

Strategic Direction

ASLA has continued in a forward direction achieving many of the projected goals. New ventures are being planned and thought being given to future projects.

Advocacy

Development of a Teacher librarian advocate’s guide to building information literate school communities: ASLA Advocacy Kit 2006 with input from Council members.

Teaching Australia (formerly NIQTSL)- involved in discussions with Teaching Australia. Attended the NIQTSL Sharing Experience Conference in Melbourne in August 2005 where standards of the profession were discussed. Represented at the 2006 National Awards for Quality Schooling. Contributed to the Standards for School Leadership Project survey both independently and with ALIA.

Represented at the Peak Bodies Forum, National Site Licensing and National Resource Sharing Consultation.

Member of the National Education Forum.

ASLA/ALIA Relations

The Joint Policy and Advisory Group (PAG) has been involved in negotiating, with Edith Cowan University, research about mechanisms for collecting statistical data.

PAG involved in Education of teacher librarians in Australia proposal.

PAG developing response to charter for Teaching Australia.

Joint Advocacy and Alliances Working Party continued to develop relationships between school libraries and related educational bodies.

Publications

Access continues as the major publication of ASLA, including referred articles.

CD – Online Conference proceedings.

Research

Application for funding to Australian Research Council for the Smart Information Use in Schools was not successful therefore the funding will need to be reapplied for in the future.

Negotiating with Edith Cowan University to assist with the Australian School Libraries Project.

Conferences

ASLA On-line II, Visions of Learning, was successfully hosted by ASLA in May 2006.

ASLA XX will be hosted by ASLA in 2007.

Awards

Teacher Librarian of the Year Award, which is sponsored by Pledger Consulting Pty Ltd (LinksPlus/WebLinks), was presented to Jennie Bales from Tasmania for her professional practice that has had a positive impact on student achievement and information literacy particularly at Summerdale Primary School.

Development of Teacher Librarian Innovation Award for Media Literacy Enhancement, sponsored by EnhanceTV. An award for actively promoting media literacy through the use of film and television in schools.

Winner, in conjunction with ALIA, of the International Association of School Libraries LinksPlus Library Commendation Award for the development of the Standards of Professional Excellence for Teacher Librarians.

Thank you to all Council members and ex-officio members for your contribution to ASLA during the past year. Special thank you to the Executive for your support. All your work is valued and important to the Association and the Teacher Librarian profession.

Thank you also to those who have retired from Council and from other positions associated with ALSA.