IASL2001

IASL CONFERENCE

Auckland, New Zealand
9-12 July, 2001

In Words and Pictures

Auckland, 12th July 2001. The first conference to be held in New Zealand specifically for those involved in supporting children's learning through the provision of information services reached its conclusion today. Several organisations have collaborated in hosting the 30th Annual Conference of the International Association of School Librarianship at Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre and have set the scene for future collaboration. The conference theme was Inspiring connections: Learning, libraries and literacies.

Keynote speakers included Dr. Ken Haycock (University of British Columbia), Dr. Carol Kuhlthau and Dr Ross Todd (Rutgers University), Dr. Russell Bishop (University of Waikato), Dr Gwen Gawith (consultant) and Dr Penny Moore (consultant).

Maureen Trebilcock & Carol Kuhlthau
Maureen Trebilcock, Program Chair for the conference, with Keynote Speaker, Dr Carol Kuhlthau (USA)

Ross Todd
Keynote Speaker Dr Ross Todd, celebrated his 50th birthday during the conference

Frances, Penny, Blanche
Frances Kelly (Ministry of Education, New Zealand) with Dr Penny Moore, (New Zealand, IASL Executive Director) and Dr Blanche Woolls (USA, IASL President 1999-2001)

Peter Genco
The new IASL President, Peter Genco (USA)

Nearly 90 presentations were offered by practitioners and researchers, covering topics ranging from children's literature, censorship and Internet use, to information seeking, story telling and professional development for teachers and librarians.

The conference included the 5th International Forum on Research in School Librarianship, the proceedings of which have already been published.

The conference ran from 9 to 12 July and proved to be of high interest, in fact registrations exceeded expectations to the point that a waiting list of would-be delegates had to be created. More than 400 delegates from 21 countries took part in a lively conference, with a further undisclosed number taking part in a parallel virtual conference based on Dr Ross Todd's keynote address. Highlights of the virtual and face to face conference can be accessed through http://www.iasl-slo.org

A key purpose of the conference was to support the formation of the School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (SLANZA) and it was apparent that local delegates appreciated the opportunity to meet each other, as well as those from overseas. The success of this conference has prompted SLANZA to begin planning its first stand alone conference. Those presenting papers were evenly divided between New Zealand and International delegates.

The International Association of School Librarianship comprises personal and association members from over 80 countries committed to enabling young people to develop literary and cultural appreciation and to use information effectively through the improvement of school libraries and school library programs as a vital component of education. A key objective of the organisation is to promote the development of school library associations around the world.

Information about membership and the awards program is available from the IASL Secretariat.

CONTACT: Dr. Penny Moore (Executive Director)

Delegates attended from around the world. Countries represented at the conference included:

Australia
Botswana
Canada
Denmark
Hong Kong
Iceland
Israel		 Japan
Malaysia
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Portugal
Singapore		 South Africa
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Tonga
United Kingdom
the USA

The IASL Awards for 2001: This year IASL received thirty applications for its award programme, most being for the UNESCO book project and the Jean Lowrie and Ken Haycock Leadership development awards. The award panels did not have an easy task making their independent selections, but were unanimous in their decisions. They are sincerely thanked for their efforts. Congratulations go to the following IASL Award winners for 2001:

  • Jean Lowrie Leadership Development Award: Solomon Zewdie, Ethiopia
    The Jean E. Lowrie Leadership Development Award has been made to Solomon Zewdie, Executive Director of the Committee for the Development of School Community Libraries for Children in Ethiopia. In making the award, President Blanche Woolls noted that the recipient is a leader in the development of a library service for children spread across Ethiopia. The service aims to provide special programmes for children in low socio-economic areas and to those who are unable to continue formal education, as well as setting up libraries in kindergartens and schools.
  • Ken Haycock Leadership Development Award: Joe Pereap, Papua New Guinea
    The recently established Ken Haycock Leadership Development Award has been made to Joe Pereap, a staff member of the National Library Service of Papua New Guinea who organises and runs the Schools Mobile Library Service as part of an outreach program to schools in and around Port Moresby. Teachers and schools rely on this service in the absence of established school libraries. The outreach program aims to establish library collections in schools in remote areas and is the first of its kind in the country.
  • Unesco Book Project: Academy of Jesus (Herminigilda Salazar), Philippines
    The Academy of Jesus is situated in Las Pinas City and this year has 559 students. Its library must support learning in classes from pre school to high school ages. Enrolments at the school are increasing rapidly and school library development is essential.
  • SIRS Commendation: Jenny Stubbs, Australia
    Jenny Stubbs, a leader in the Ipswich District Teacher-Librarian Network, has been awarded the IASL/SIRS Commendation Award for 2001. The Award panel noted that the range of resources produced in support of Book Week each year and the activities developed over 11 years to support the biennial Festival of children's literature and young writers' camp is impressive. Feedback from the participants, children, authors, illustrators, teachers and parents, indicates the success of the program in the local community. Members of the network are also provided with on-going professional development.
    This year an "honourable mention" was made of a project, led by Olga Gromova, Editor-in-Chief of Bibliotek v shkole. This project is developing with similar aims, and provides professional development for school librarians in Moscow, Russia and has strong potential for success in influencing the ways libraries are used to support children's learning.
  • IASL/Softlink Alice Research Award: Jennifer Branch, USA
    Dr. Jennifer Branch, of the University at Albany, New York, has been awarded the IASL/SOFTLINK Research Grant for 2001 for her proposed study of information seeking processes of 10-15 year old students. The award of US$500 is made in aide of attracting additional funding for research in school librarianship. Findings will be presented at a future IASL conference.
  • IASL/Concord School Library Web Page of the Year Award: Joyce Valenza, Librarian/Webmaster at Springfield Township High School, USA
    The aim of the Concord School Library Web page Award is to promote the involvement of school librarians in the development of the web and to promote excellence in school library websites. The overall winner this year is the website of Springfield Township High School, created and maintained by Joyce Valenza, librarian and webmaster.
  • Softlink Alice School Library Automation Award: Sue Butler, Okaihau College, New Zealand
    SOFTLINK International produce the award winning school library automation system known as ALICE which is specifically designed to meet primary and secondary school library needs. This year and for a further two years, SOFTLINK is donating a school library automation system to a school in the country hosting IASL's conference. Teaching staff and students at Okaihau College will be able to access information and resources from their library much more effectively with this system.

Jenny Stubbs
Jenny Stubbs (Australia), received the IASL/SIRS Commendation Award for 2001

Maori performers
Maori performers at the conference dinner

Conference Exhibition
Part of the conference exhibition

IASL Board
IASL Board

The 2002 IASL Conference will be held from 5-9 August, in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. The theme will be School Libraries for a Knowledge Society.

Malaysia invitation to 2002
The Malaysian delegation welcome everyone to the 2002 IASL conference in Malaysia.

Photographs courtesy of the Centre for Studies in Teacher Librarianship, Charles Sturt University

More photographs
from Peter Genco, Karen Bonanno, Lyn Hay and Gene Cady are also available!

Last Updated 9 April 2003 (LAC)