Australian Teacher Librarian of the Year of Award 2007

Past awards: 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009

Pledger Consulting Pty Ltd (LinksPlus/WebLinks)

The Australian School Library Association Inc. (ASLA) and Pledger Consulting Pty Ltd (LinksPlus/Weblinks) have pleasure in announcing the winner of the 2007 Australian Teacher Librarian of the Year Award – Helen Reynolds from The Southport School, Southport Queensland.

This national award recognises and honours an exceptional Australian teacher librarian in a school setting whose professional practice has a positive impact on student achievement and information literacy. ASLA describes the role of a teacher librarian as having three key professional specialisations: Curriculum leader, Information specialist, and Information services manager.

The Australian Teacher Librarian of the Year 2007 is awarded to a teacher librarian who demonstrates a high level of achievement in each of these three components of their role and thus provides a library and information service that improves student learning.

Helen Reynolds
The 2007 Australian Teacher Librarian of the Year, Helen Reynolds, manages a diverse library service at The Southport School, Southport Queensland. TSS is a large Anglican boys’ school with students from Prep to Year 12. It includes a prep school (P-7) and a senior school (8-12). Helen is responsible for meeting the needs of all boys (boarders and day students), parents and staff of TSS.

Her Principal and colleagues comment on her abilities to meet the selection criteria of the award.

“Ms Reynolds [is] operating at a “world-class” level in terms of Information Literacy, the Boys’ Reading Program, and her dedication and enthusiasm in the professional development of colleagues – not only at The Southport School, but within Queensland and interstate as evidenced by her being regularly invited to other schools and to conferences to share her knowledge and experience”
(Mr Greg Wain Headmaster The Southport School)

““Helen Reynolds is an effective leader in the Senior Library of The Southport School.  Helen leads by example, where no task is beyond her … she sets a positive, professional example for all staff who work in the Library.  ”.

“The Library under Helen’s leadership is certainly the academic focal point of the School.  It has regular displays which interest all stakeholders.  Regular parent in-service courses are held to let parents become familiar with how their children are learning today.  The Library works closely with the Boarding Houses to make sure that these students’ needs are looked after fully.“

“Helen has done an outstanding job in developing the information technology in the School.  She is dedicated to the process and generous in her time.  She is a very worthy contender for this award.”

“Helen’s reading programme is astonishing.  With clear guidelines for both staff and students we have a wonderful reading culture inculcated in all levels of the School.”

“Helen coordinates Readers’ Club.. Further, Helen holds the Annual Readers’ Cup… Writers’ Club – a club where a group of students come together to develop and further extend their writing abilities.  To engage and support literacy levels, Helen invites guest authors to the School to discuss their novels and writing experiences… Matthew Reilly, Archie Fusillo and James Moloney.”

“The Library at The Southport School is lead by a teacher-librarian [Helen Reynolds] who creates a helpful learning environment – in every essence of the word – and is a haven for all School community members to celebrate learning.”


The judges commented:

“Helen’s nomination provides evidence of a dedicated, passionate and professional teacher-librarian who works hard to ensure that the library is the major focus for learning in her school.  Her role in leading the integration of information literacy into school programs, in making the school ‘a reading school’, and the broad range of services provided have all contributed to the level of excellence.  Her outstanding work with the whole school community, including both staff and parents, which has led to these achievements, is to be commended - a most worthy Australian Teacher-Librarian of the Year!”

This award carries a $1,500 cash prize from Pledger Consulting Pty Ltd and $500 Weblinks-LinksPlus products.

The award will be presented to Helen Reynolds by Patricia Pledger at the Australian School Library Association 20th Biennial Conference in Adelaide.

We congratulate all the state and territory nominees for this award:

Carol Javes of Canberra Grammar School	Anne Lockwood of Tara Anglican School for Girls
Dr Christopher Riley of Elizabeth College	Cathy Scott of Schools of Isolated and Distance Education

Carol Javes of Canberra Grammar School nominated by Australian School Library Association (ACT)

Anne Lockwood of Tara Anglican School for Girls nominated by Australian School Library Association (NSW)

Dr Christopher Riley of Elizabeth College nominated by Australian School Library Association (Tasmania)

Cathy Scott of Schools of Isolated and Distance Education nominated by Western Australian School Library Association
 
                                                       
For further information contact:
Jan Barnett
Secretary
Australian School Library Association Inc. (ASLA)
PO Box 155
Zillmere Qld 4034
asla@asla.org.au