Engaging and Empowering School Libraries

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Kay Odonne, Education and Research Leader, and teacher librarian Hajanlka Molloy, as we discuss why networking matters for school librarians, especially those working alone. We cover how social media, local hub groups, mentoring, and face-to-face events build confidence, professional skills, and advocacy power. Practical tips include joining professional associati...

In this episode, I’m joined by Lara Price and Rachel Huskisson to explore what happens when school library management goes wrong. We discuss the consequences of poor leadership and redundancy, the emotional and professional toll it can take, and how reflection, resilience, and lifelong learning can turn challenging experiences into opportunities for growth. Our conversation offers practical advice...

Helen Rimmer joins us in this episode to discuss the pressures facing school librarians, including isolation, expanding workloads, and compassion fatigue, and how kindness, clear boundaries, and self-care are professional strengths that enhance wellbeing and effectiveness. We explore practical approaches to advocacy, creating inclusive, safe library spaces, and examples of lightening teachers’ loa...

In this episode, we consider the transformative role of inquiry-based learning education. Tune in as we discuss the exciting updates in the FOSIL Group, explore the success stories from the Teen Tech Awards, and look at the essential role of school librarians. Discover how libraries can bridge the gap between teachers and students, supporting inquiry in a way that enhances educational outcomes. Jo...

In this episode, we are joined by Lucy Pearson, a researcher passionate about the Carnegie Medal's impact on children's literature. Lucy guides us through the medal's history, exploring how it reflects our shifting societal values and the evolution of children's books over the decades. Discover how the Carnegie Medal has shaped reading habits, promoted social issues, and mirrored historical contex...

In this episode, I'm joined again by Mary Rose from Hartland International School in Dubai to discuss the often-overlooked importance of school libraries and librarians. The conversation delves into the wide-ranging impact that school libraries have on student success, literacy levels, and overall social justice in education. Join us as we explore how the presence of a library and a dedicated libr...

In my latest podcast series, I continue my conversation with Mary-Rose from Hartland School in Dubai  In this episode, we discuss the striking omission of libraries in recent UK Government, Department of Education Reading in Secondary Schools documents and delve into the systemic misconceptions about the roles and capabilities of school libraries and librarians. Listen in as we propose actionable...

In this episode, Ruth Maloney and I are joined by school librarians Jenny Toerien, Matthew Rose to explore the evolving role of AI in education. The discussion focuses on the challenges and opportunities of teaching AI-related skills in schools, highlighting the importance of critical thinking, ethical awareness, and the preservation of foundational inquiry skills. Our guests share their diverse e...

In this episode, school librarians Donna Baird, Jennifer Horan, and my regular co-host Ruth Maloney join me to discuss the current trends in teenage fiction, whether books today gravitate more towards heavier themes rather than humour, and how these trends impact young readers. The conversation touches on the challenges and opportunities faced by librarians in curating collections that both engage...

We continue our conversation with Mary-Rose from Hartland International School, exploring the evolving role of school librarians. In this episode, we discuss the significant challenges faced by school librarians, including funding, resources, and professional recognition, while highlighting the impactful Great School Libraries campaign. Discover how advocacy and strategic alignment with school goa...

In this new short podcast series, I'm joined by Mary-Rose Grieve, the experienced librarian from Hartland International School in Dubai. Mary-Rose shares her insights on the state of school libraries in the UK and globally, highlighting key challenges such as funding, recognition, and the unique role of librarians in education. Together, we explore the differences between public and school librari...

In this episode we welcome Merve Lapus from Common Sense Media, who shares insights into empowering children and families to navigate media and technology responsibly, providing resources and curricula for digital, media, and AI literacy from ages 5 to 18. We explore the instrumental role of school librarians in teaching digital literacy and supporting inquiry-based learning, and the importance of...

We are delighted to introduce our guest Lucy Roper, author of "The Solo Librarian." Lucy shares her journey, from navigating the professional landscape as a solo librarian to writing her book that guides others in similar positions. She discusses the challenges solo librarians face, including workload management and isolation, and offers strategies for overcoming them. The conversation also explor...

Please ignore the poor internet connection at the beginning. It does get better so please push through that bit!  In this episode, I have an insightful conversation with Adam Barry , Development Manager at Technology for Sage. Together we explore the expansive impact of school libraries beyond their walls, emphasising the need for advocacy and showcasing the indispensable role of librarians in edu...

Engaging and Empowering School Libraries, a general school library podcast, and FOSIL, Education and School Libraries, a podcast that focuses on teaching through inquiry, came together this month. This session brought my two co-hosts together, Ruth Maloney and Darryl Toerien, to discuss how school librarians can move on from teaching single research lessons to inquiry lessons, even if that is all...

Welcome to "Engaging and Empowering School Libraries," where we elevate the role of school libraries by addressing pressing educational topics. In this episode, we chat with Lauren Asprey about an innovative online resource developed by Newcastle University to ease the transition from sixth form to university. Lauren, a project coordinator at the university's library education outreach department,...

In this episode, we discuss how artificial intelligence is impacting school libraries and education. We were delighted to be joined by Jason Gulya , an AI consultant and professor with a unique perspective on AI's role in educational settings. Jason shares his intriguing journey with AI, from initial scepticism to a balanced viewpoint that acknowledges both the potential and pitfalls of AI in scho...

In this episode, we unpack some amazing ideas about how to create a good library induction with our special guests, school librarians Hayden Gigner, Susan Merrick, and Rachel Chavez, along with my co-host Ruth Maloney. Discover the diverse approaches to library inductions, from simple introductions to more elaborate programs. Learn why these inductions are pivotal for enhancing students' reading h...

My guest today is Rachel Huskisson, a founding member of Engaging and Empowering School Libraries, who shares her journey from working in science labs to becoming a school librarian. She discusses how she discovered my membership and the impact it has had on her professional growth. Rachel recounts her initial steps in the library world, from her flexible relief library assistant job to her role a...

In this episode, we announce the separation of our podcast into two distinct platforms, allowing for a more focused discussion on school libraries and their impact. FOSIL, Education and School Libraries can now be found here - https://elizabethhutchinson.substack.com/s/fosil-education-and-school-libraries  I catch up with co-host Ruth, who shares her recent experiences both in and out of the schoo...

Welcome to another episode of our podcast, "Engaging and Empowering School Libraries". In this episode, we explore the emerging trend of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into school libraries and the overall curriculum. Our guests, Linda Hoiseth, an international librarian, and Anthony Copeland, a technology integration specialist, offer their invaluable insights into how AI is shaping con...

Tonight we revisited our discussion around non-fiction collections in school libraries which we started back in July 2022. It seemed the right time to come back to this important topic as the conversation around reading for pleasure seems to focus more and more on our fiction collections. Many of my recent conversations have been about the balance between fiction and non-fiction when you are build...

In this episode we decided to start the year by introducing you to the hosts of this podcast, telling you a little bit about ourselves and our journey within the school library world and why we think this podcast is important. It is probably something we should have done at the beginning but we were just so keen to get started that this seems to have been missed.  We managed to cover quite a bit d...

We decided we would like to talk about book clubs on this podcast due to the fact that we had heard that Blue Peter Book was launching a book club on the 9th September. There was and probably still is much excitement around being able to get your hands on a Blue Peter badge created by Sir Quentin Blake. Unfortunately for those of us who would love to get our hands on a much coveted Blue Peter Badg...

The Updated DfE Reading Framework has been talked about a lot over the summer, Elizabeth and Cathi even wrote a blog about it so this week we are turning things around a bit, Ruth Maloney interviewed Elizabeth Hutchinson, trainer and advisor for school libraries and Cathi Woods, School librarian. We were also delighted to welcome back to our podcast English and History teacher, literacy coordinato...