School Libraries - Diverse, Inclusive and Agents for Change

Just Like Us

Ambassadors from Just Like Us

This session will explore the work of Just Like Us, who organise School Diversity Week, the annual UK-wide celebration of LGBT+ equality in primary, secondary schools and colleges, produce free LGBT+ inclusive educational resources, run student-led Pride Groups and an Ambassador Programme which trains LGBT+ volunteers aged 18 – 25 to share their stories in schools.

Lit in Colour

Victoria Elliott, Associate Professor of English and Literary Education, Deputy Director, Grand Union DTP, University of Oxford

In this session Victoria will discuss the Lit in Colour programme developed by Penguin Books UK and The Runnymede Trust which aims to find innovative and practical ways to give schools the support and tools they need to introduce more books by people of colour into the classroom, for all ages. She will explore the research and its findings and highlight ongoing learning and developments for schools.

The SLG StoryFest with MC Philip Ardagh

An evening of poetry and storytelling, with plenty of mirth and mayhem

with special guests including

• Poetry from Alex Wharton, Children’s Laureate Wales 2023 – 25
• Storytelling from the magnificent Mama G

Raising Boys Achievements

Gary Wilson, Education Consultant

Gary is one of the leading country’s leading experts on raising boys’ achievement. In his session, he will explore why some boys under achieve, what can be done to start solving the problem and how schools can help raise boy’s achievement. He will also explore the role that the school library can play in this.

The School Library: The Empathy Heart of the School

Sarah Mears, Jo Cotterill and Graham Fairweather

Sarah, one of Empathy Lab’s Founders, author Jo Cotterill and school librarian Graham Fairweather will discuss why the school library has such a strong role in promoting empathy, highlight empathy practices in the school library and for Empathy Day and reflect on their own involvement, followed by a Q & A

Engaging Internationally through IFLA

Annie Everall & Colleagues from the IFLA Children & Young Adults Section

There are many opportunities for school librarians to engage with international colleagues. This session will highlight some of the Children & Young Adult Section programmes – The World Through Picture Books, Safer Internet Day, Best Practices and Sister Libraries

Publishing for Diversity and Inclusion

A panel of publishers will explore publishing for diversity and inclusion, what achievements have been made and what are the challenges and barriers and how can school librarians promote these materials in their schools.

Supporting and Promoting Diversity and Inclusivity through the School Library

Olivia Edmonds, Learning Resources Manager, Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College

Olivia will share her approach to promoting diversity and inclusivity in the college, what she has done, what the impact was and what she feels role of the school librarian should be in supporting and promoting diversity and inclusion in their school.

Let’s Roll: Using Dungeons and Dragon in a School Library Setting to Teach Empathy and, Understanding and Promote Wellbeing

Lucas Maxwell, Librarian Glenthorne High School

Lucas will share what he has learned from sharing this programme and then there will be a hands on opportunity for participants to try the game for themselves.

The Ordinary Adventurer

Bex Band, Founder of Love Her Wild and Entrepreneur

Bex will share her story of how she set up and developed Love Her Wild a UK-based non-profit women’s adventure community. She will explain how she goes about organising an event like the End2End Relay, the techniques she used, how she approached getting sponsorship etc , giving tips and suggestions that could be useful for school librarians planning their own events.

Creating Inclusive School Library Spaces

Barbara Band

This session will consider why a diverse and inclusive school library space is important. It will explore how you can ascertain the needs of your school community and apply these to your resources to determine gaps in your collection. It will also look at the physical attributes of your library and how these can be used to create an inclusive environment that supports your students.

Coaching Skills

Dr Carol Webb, Head Librarian, Portsmouth Grammar School & Charlotte Martin, Coaching Lead and Drama teacher.

Coaching skills enhance our professional practice when supporting others and have the potential to enrich us personally too. In this session we will define coaching, demonstrate a session, and give delegates the opportunity to do some coaching in pairs. Please come to the session with two images: the first to represent where you are now in your life and the second to represent where you would like to be in the future. These will assist you in the paired coaching activity. You will not be asked to share their meaning with the whole group, only with your coaching partner.

Ethics and Censorship

Alice Leggatt, school librarian, and Simon James Green, author

Simon James Green and Alice Leggatt view the rise in book challenges and censorship through the lens of their own experience with this issue in a UK school; they will discuss the lessons they learned through being caught up in a public challenge, and how these lessons have informed their advocacy and work as an author and school librarian since.  The seminar will include time for questions and advice on how to ensure your school library is well placed to respond to book challenges.