Madison's Library

Professional Learning: March 2026 This month marks my 5th year anniversary of sharing professional learning lists for school library professionals. It's gone really quickly and I'm honoured to be able to provide these lists to help share and promote amazing learning opportunities that help school library staff improve their practice, reflect and support each other. This month's list has some amazing webinars, podcast episodes, articles and more. 

This month marks my 5th year anniversary of sharing professional learning lists for school library professionals. It's gone really quickly and I'm honoured to be able to provide these lists to help share and promote amazing learning opportunities that help school library staff improve their…

Tweaking the school library I love the movie You’ve Got Mail. In one of the scenes, Tom Hanks tells Meg Ryan via email that he is working on a project that needs  “tweaking”. Now, the word has some different meanings in today’s world, but the basic definition of tweaking is improve a system by making fine adjustments. I think it’s the perfect word to describe my approach to my school library.

I love the movie You’ve Got Mail. In one of the scenes, Tom Hanks tells Meg Ryan via email that he is working on a project that needs  “tweaking”. Now, the word has some different meanings in today’s world, but the basic definition of tweaking is improve a system by making fine adjustments. I think…

Data-Driven Narratives I love sharing the power and impact of my school library. It’s advocacy, marketing and promotions all rolled into one. It helps justify my staffing, budget, and what we do all day, and the importance of that can never be underestimated. One of the most powerful ways to share impact is to use data. We as school library staff have access to an abundance of data to share.

I love sharing the power and impact of my school library. It’s advocacy, marketing and promotions all rolled into one. It helps justify my staffing, budget, and what we do all day, and the importance of that can never be underestimated.

One of the most powerful ways to share impact is to use data.…

Creating a marketing plan for the year Do you ever wish you promoted and marketed your library more? I certainly do. I feel there are so many opportunities I miss to promote the libraries services and resources. All those things I want to do, whether it’s update our digital screens or send a staff email with resources or host a drop-in session. But before I know it, the term has disappeared and I’ve hardly managed to make the school newsletter deadlines (and to be honest, I miss some of those as well).

Do you ever wish you promoted and marketed your library more? I certainly do. I feel there are so many opportunities I miss to promote the libraries services and resources. All those things I want to do, whether it’s update our digital screens or send a staff email with resources or host a drop-in…

Why the School Library Matters for Your Child The school library plays an important role in supporting a child’s learning, literacy, wellbeing, and sense of belonging at school. It is much more than a room of books, it is a carefully designed space and a professionally led service that helps students grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

The school library plays an important role in supporting a child’s learning, literacy, wellbeing, and sense of belonging at school. It is much more than a room of books, it is a carefully designed space and a professionally led service that helps students grow academically, socially, and…

What is a school library for? What is a school library? I’m not sure it’s a question many people ask themselves. School libraries just exist, right? As those of us who work in a school library, it’s probably something we know the answer to, very deeply and thoroughly. But what exactly is a school library? Is it a home for collections of books? A space for reading, for learning?

What is a school library? I’m not sure it’s a question many people ask themselves. School libraries just exist, right? For those of us who work in a school library, it’s probably something we know the answer to, very deeply and thoroughly. But what exactly is a school library? Is it a home for…

Professional Learning: February 2026 Happy new year. I know, we are already a month in, but this is my first professional learning list of the year, so it feels right to start with the traditional new year greeting. This month features Queensland School Library Week and Library Lovers' Day and seems a fitting month to celebrate and love on all things school libraries. I hope you find some joy in these articles, webinars and posts.

Happy February. This month features Queensland School Library Week and Library Lovers' Day and so it seems a fitting month to celebrate and love on all things school libraries. I hope you find some joy in these articles, webinars and posts. Many feature back-to-school tips and tricks and good…

Changing Spaces – Creating a Reading Area I love changing the spaces in my Library. We are regularly changing things around, moving furniture and changing the purpose of areas to suit student needs and respond to different behaviour or events. This year we’ve pretty much changed every area of the secondary library. That includes making changes to the study area, changing the layout of collections on the ground floor and creating a new reading area.

Before the term started, we made lots of changes to our library area. I love making these changes, moving furniture and changing the purpose of areas to suit student needs and respond to different behaviours.

One of the changes we've made this year is creating a reading area. This is a space…

Updating my library budget for the year ahead This is honestly a library task I love doing (okay, there are very few I don’t enjoy). Updating my budget for each year. I’m not a numbers person. Ask me to count, multiply or do a simple sum and I simply can’t, so having a good understanding of my library budget is really important. It’s something I enjoy doing at the start of each year, or late in the previous year, depending on when I get my total for the year ahead, and it helps me keep track of what funds I have, what I can spend on each area of my library service and specifically target funds towards projects as needed.

This is honestly a library task I love doing (okay, there are very few I don’t enjoy). Updating my budget for each year. I’m not a numbers person. Ask me to count, multiply or do a simple sum and I simply can’t, so having a good understanding of my library budget is really important. It’s something…

Planning Library Lessons for the Year 2026 In the summer holidays I enjoy spending time planning my library lessons for the year ahead. It’s a relaxed, more creative time and I enjoy jotting down my ideas and planning out the year. It’s an adaptable plan, that changes depending on the needs that arise during the year, but I love having a solid plan to start the year.

In the summer holidays I enjoy spending time planning my library lessons for the year ahead. It’s a relaxed, more creative time and I enjoy jotting down my ideas and planning out the year. It’s an adaptable plan, that changes depending on the needs that arise during the year, but I love having a…

Content in an age of AI As many of you know, each month I put together a list of professional learning opportunities for fellow school library staff. They might be links to video recordings, podcasts, webinars or articles and blog posts. I collect them over the month from my own professional learning network and from my favourite go-to sources of information and learning. Last month I came across a post on LinkedIn that at first glance looked great.

As many of you know, each month I put together a list of professional learning opportunities for fellow school library staff. They might be links to video recordings, podcasts, webinars or articles and blog posts. I collect them over the month from my own professional learning network and from my…

Creating my annual report 2025 It’s that time of year again. End-of-year parties, final award assemblies and the push to send students home with as many books as possible for holiday reading. That means it’s also time to sum up the year in an annual report.

It’s that time of year again. End-of-year parties, final award assemblies and the push to send students home with as many books as possible for holiday reading. That means it’s also time to sum up the year in an annual report.

I have to say, creating an annual report is one of my favourite library…

Professional Learning: December 2025 – January 2026 Well, my dear readers, we've almost made it to the end of another year. A year full of changes, challenges, successes and wonderful professional learning opportunities to grow the strength and capacity of our school libraries. I hope these professional learning lists have been helpful over the past 12 months. Here's to another year ahead of wonderful learning together. To finish and start the year, as has become tradition, I am combining the December 2025 and January 2026 list, and taking a break for the summer.

Well, my dear readers, we've almost made it to the end of another year. A year full of changes, challenges, successes and wonderful professional learning opportunities to grow the strength and capacity of our school libraries. I hope these professional learning lists have been helpful over the past…

Social Media Delay – impact on the school library If you are in Australia, you are probably aware of the social media delay that is rolling out in early December 2025 for children below 16. It’s something that all schools and school libraries should be aware of and now’s the time to take some steps to ensure you are ready. The eSafety website is a great resource for finding guidance and sharing with students and caregivers.

If you are in Australia, you are probably aware of the social media delay that is rolling out in early December 2025 for children below 16. It’s something that all schools and school libraries should be aware of and now’s the time to take some steps to ensure you are ready. As a teacher librarian…

Does the school library have a curriculum? Hang around any school, and the word curriculum is one you’ll hear a lot. It’s the roadmap teachers follow, the planned sequence of knowledge and skills that shape what students learn and how they grow. But step into the school library, and the question might be asked: does the school library have a curriculum?

Hang around any school and the word curriculum is one you’ll hear a lot. It’s the roadmap teachers follow — the planned sequence of knowledge and skills that shapes what students learn and how they grow.
But step into the school library and the question might be asked: does the library have a…

Professional Learning: November 2025 To say this is a jam-packed edition of my monthly professional learning opportunities list feels like an understatement. There are so many incredible articles, reflections, frameworks, webinars and resources to help you with your professional goals this month. From AI (and lots of it) to keeping students reading, there's something for all school library staff.

To say this is a jam-packed edition of my monthly professional learning opportunities list feels like an understatement. There are so many incredible articles, reflections, frameworks, webinars and resources to help you with your professional goals this month. From AI (and lots of it) to keeping…

Incredible presentation from Karen Eyre on how she advocates for her school library and position through the programming, events, marketing and connections she builds.
An inspiring session with lots of practical ideas and encouragement.
#SchoolLibraries #FutureLibrariesConference

Helpful sessions at the @qldsla Future Libraries Conference from SCIS, Reading Australia and SLQ with updates and resources to use in our space and to share with our departments and teachers.

#SchoolLibraries #FutureLibrariesConference

Massive congratulations to Kelly Dunham, the incredibly deserving winner of the @qldsla School Leader of the Year award and to Assunta Austin and Lizzy Dixon, dual recipients of the @qldsla Teacher Librarian of the year award.

#FutureLibrariesConference #SchoolLibraries #ProfessionalLearning

Andy Griffiths kicking off the @qldsla Future Libraries Conference with a funny (of course, would you expect anything else), but also nostalgic and provoking keynote.

#FutureLibrariesConference #SchoolLibraries #ProfessionalLearning

Excited to be at the @qldsla Future Libraries Conference.
Looking forward to a full day of learning and connecting and catching up with the amazing school library profession of Queensland, near and far.

#FutureLibrariesConference #SchoolLibraries #ProfessionalLearning

Creating a Romantasy Section One of the things I love most about having a genrefied library is that it is constantly evolving and allows us the flexibility to meet student needs and interests. So, when Romantasy became a big thing, we decided to jump on that trend and respond to the love our students have for romantasy.

One of the things I love most about having a genrefied library is that it is constantly evolving and allows us the flexibility to meet student needs and interests. So, when Romantasy became a big thing, we decided to jump on that trend and respond to the love our students have for romantasy. The…

Preparing for an author / illustrator visit Author and illustrator visits are such important and exciting events to host and organise. Not only do they support our incredible local and national book creators and promote their works, they demonstrate to students that there is a real person behind those works (important in this age of AI) and that it is a rewarding carer path. Authors and illustrators bring literature to life through engaging presentations, detail-driven writing sessions, or hands-on workshops.

Author and illustrator visits are such important and exciting events to host and organise. Not only do they support our incredible local and national book creators and promote their works, they bring literature to life through engaging presentations, detail-driven writing sessions, or hands-on…

Why Every School Library Needs a Strategic Plan If you work in a school library, I’m going to assume you do some planning. Planning displays for the term, planning events or author visits, planning what books to purchase, what collection to stocktake, what section to promote next, or planning library lessons and programs. But how often do you think about how those plans work together to form a big picture or a targeted focus or direction?

If you work in a school library, I’m going to assume you do some planning. Planning displays for the term, planning events or author visits, planning what books to purchase, what collection to stocktake, what section to promote next, or planning library lessons and programs. But how often do you…

Overwhelmed with opportunities Do you know how many times I shared a post on my website last month? Once. Just my month professional development list. Do you know how many posts I have sitting in my draft folder, either fully written, half formed or in the ideas stage? 111. That’s oddly neat. And kind of sad. What stops me from posting? Obviously there is the eternal overthinking, imposter syndrome, and self doubt.

The start of term always feels full of opportunities. New projects, fresh ideas, requests from staff and students - it’s exciting, but if I’m honest, it can also feel overwhelming.
I often find myself with more written than shared, more ideas than time, and a to-do list that grows faster than I can…

Term 3 holidays reflection and wrap up Well, it is almost the end of another term. For me, the term break is a chance to slow down, take lots of walks and naps, plan for the term ahead, and dive back into my professional reading and writing, something that I tend to drop during the busyness of the term.

Well, it is almost the end of another term. For me, the term break is a chance to slow down, take lots of walks and naps, plan for the term ahead, and dive back into my professional reading and writing, something that I tend to drop during the busyness of the term.

This holiday included a visit to…

Professional Learning: October 2025 And just like that, another month has come and gone. October 2025. It feels like a big month in the world of school libraries. The new school year is in full swing in the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere is either mid-way through a term break or just about ready to get stuck into the fast and furious pace of term 4.

And just like that, another month has come and gone. October 2025. It feels like a big month in the world of school libraries. There is an abundance of professional learning opportunities for school library staff this month, so here's your list of webinars, podcast episodes, articles and more.…

Professional Learning: September 2025 Welcome to September 2025. A month for learning, exploring, or maybe just recovering from the massive month of August. I am determined to get as much professional learning as I can this month, particularly around areas of interest and relevance to me. As always I have curated a wonderful list of professional learning opportunities for you, including webinars, podcasts, articles and more.

Welcome to September 2025. A month for learning, exploring, or maybe just recovering from the massive month of August. I am determined to get as much professional learning as I can this month, particularly around areas of interest and relevance to me. As always I have curated a wonderful list of…

Why school libraries and their staff matter more than ever Take a walk around my school library with me. It’s lunchtime and the place is buzzing. Upstairs there are students quietly studying. In the small rooms, students meet for boardgames club and Dungeons and Dragons club, forming friendships over shared experiences and interests. A group of year 11 students browse the shelves and sit and chat. They come across my pile of new books to show my younger classes and dive into the new non-fiction titles.

School libraries have always been more than just a room full of books. Today, in an age of AI, a need to support young people’s wellbeing, misinformation, and a complex and confusion online world, they are essential hubs for every kind of literacy students need to thrive, from media and AI literacy…

Don’t Judge a book by its spine: the importance of forward facing We all know the phrase, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” But in school libraries, students do it every day, and they should. Book covers are designed to sell book. They’re crafted by talented illustrators and graphic designers who know how to capture attention, adhere to trends, and entice readers. Covers are visual invitations and works of art. In a world where we compete with screens and short attention spans, using book covers as part of our reader engagement strategy is essential.

We all know the phrase, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” But in school libraries, students do it every day, and they should. Book covers are designed to sell book. They’re crafted by talented illustrators and graphic designers who know how to capture attention, adhere to trends, and entice…