Improving Graphic Novel Collections in schools

In the latest issue of INCITE magazine by ALIA (Australian Library and Information Association), I read a case study on Barker College Library’s efforts to expand and update its graphic novel and manga collections. In 2024, the library undertook a review to ensure those collections align with student interests and to encourage diverse reading experiences. The process involved forming a committee, gathering data and consulting students. 

As a result, they made informed decisions to refresh displays, shorten loan periods (two weeks to one week) and introduce new, age-appropriate titles.  

One of the changes implemented by Barker College has been reducing the loan period from two weeks to one week. At my school, graphic novels are loaned for two weeks, and to encourage greater engagement with graphic novels, I should consider whether a shorter loan period would work for them.

Selecting age-appropriate manga is a challenge that confronts school libraries. While manga titles have a rating system, some of the themes may not be consistent with the rating, so it does need to be scrutinised. It also needs to align with the values and ethos of the school, whether it is a public or private school. 

Devices eroding teens' reading attention (Newspaper feature)

Recently, The Sydney Morning Herald published a feature on the 2024 What Kids Are Reading Report by Renaissance Education, based on data from the Accelerated Reader Program, used by 440 schools across Australia.

Source: Harris, C. 2024. "Devices eroding teens' reading attention. The Sydney Morning Herald, October 26: 9. 

A table towards the top right of the article lists the top 20 books read by students in Years 9 to 12. While the number of books read by students has increased, concerns were raised about the difficulty of reading texts—students opting for easier rather than more challenging reads.

Diana Wing (Renaissance Education Australia) attributes this to a preference for social media and, hence, a preference for literature that does not require sustained focus. 

The challenge for me, as a Teacher Librarian, and for every Teacher Librarian, is to encourage and provide access to more challenging texts that require a more sustained focus. This adds to the challenge of just getting a person to read.

The second half of the article focuses on the role of school libraries in advocating for reading. Author Andy Griffiths stated that "libraries were essential to building a school's reading culture and ensuring that students, teachers and parents had access to and knowledge of a panoply of books". 

School Libraries: Improving the Literacy and Wellbeing Outcomes for Young People

I am currently undertaking the Flexible Blended Learning Course provided by the School Library Association of NSW (SLANSW) focusing on the book publishing by Margaret Merga - School Libraries Supporting Literacy and Wellbeing.

So far, I have worked through two modules, both of which have required me to reflect on my role but also my role as a literacy educator.

Sometimes, I feel that I may not be fulfilling all aspects of the role of the teacher librarian, but having to review tables published in the book, I found that I was fulfilling my role, even if I did not notice it. It gave me assurance that I am doing my job, but also the depth at which I am doing it. 

It has also given me an opportunity to reflect on my professional growth in recent times and should I wish to seek employment elsewhere in the future, I will have a guide to help me reflect on the skills, experience, qualities and attributes that I can use to explain to employers why I am the most suited person for the role. 

The decline of Newsagents - What it means for school libraries?

Last term, I provided some thoughts on the decline of newsagents focusing on their closures and how is a source of information is being taken away from us, especially access to newspapers and magazines.

But what does it mean for school libraries?

Firstly the closure of newsagents has taken away a source for where schools can acquire newspapers and periodicals. In Sydney, it was possible for schools to arrange for delivery of newspapers directly through the newsagent and could control when it could be delivered, e.g. weekdays. This is no longer possible as newspaper delivery is arranged through the publisher. For the newsagent, it has meant the loss of commissions and revenue through delivery fees (One paid extra on top of the cover price to have it delivered). If a newspaper is not delivered on a particular day, you miss out, and there is no option to have a copy delivered. You get an additional delivery tacked onto the existing subscription. With newsagents, one could call or attend in person if a newspaper was not delivered and it resolved on that day. 

Schools could arrange standing orders through newsagents, even if it came at the sacrifice of saving money on a subscription, but it gave the school library control of when they could purchase a magazine. Newsagents could once rely on the standing orders customers made. Not anymore.

Magazine publishers largely control subscriptions and can also be purchased through online distributors such as isubscribe.com.au or Booktopia. While this may bring the cost of purchasing the magazines lower (good for schools), one has to question the reliability at times, especially if it is lost in the post or overseas in transit. The downside is that control of subscriptions for the customer drops. What if a credit card is lost or log in details for the account are lost? Does it mean subscribing forever? Note that subscriptions cover a time period, and you may not be entitled to a pro-rata refund. You have to let the subscription time period end. Some subscriptions auto-renew. If you don't terminate before the end of the current subscription, you may be stuck forever.

Even in this age of technology and access to apps like PressReader and RBDigital, which open us up to countless magazines from around the world, I still will become aware of titles by simply browsing at a newsagency and seeing what they offer. The ones in the Sydney CBD have introduced me to international titles, along with larger or reputable newsagencies in the suburbs. Without newsagents, how will I become aware of good magazines that students can read?

In recent times, I have purchased a copy of titles merely to see their relevance to the students, and this was through a newsagent. If they close, I lose that option. Reading magazines online is not the same.

School Libraries and Pre-Service Teachers

I have done some reading on this topic lately and have been encouraged by some of the readings that I have read in recent times because it gives school libraries a great opportunity to begin engaging with our future teachers and help them appreciate and value the role that school libraries and teacher librarians have in supporting student learning. 

But the big challenge arises from the universities themselves as they coordinate the professional experience programs that education students undertake at either a undergraduate or postgraduate level. I reflect on my practicums and it was left to us, the pre-service teacher to engage with the library. We were not educated on their role nor the role or importance and staff that manage school libraries. 

Marlene Asselin, Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia has provided a number of papers on school libraries and their roles in supporting pre-service teachers but has also engaged in pre-service teacher programs through introducing inquiry-based intergrated unit planning and information literacy pedagogy. 

As part of their practicum they had to engage in collaborative experiences with teacher librarians including the planning of and delivery of lessons to develop information literacy skills. 

On the Advocacy Committee of the School Library Association of NSW (SLANSW), my fellow member Vicki Bennett and I have been collaborating with a lecturer at the University of Wollongong to provide presentations focusing on the role of the teacher librarian and their importance as educators. At the moment, Vicki has engaged in online presentations but is envisioned that it would be delivered face to face We also envision embedding a requirement for pre-service teachers at the University of Wollongong to engage with the library and even deliver one lesson in collaboration with the teacher librarian. 

After the holidays, I shall answer the question of what we can do right now to support our pre-service teachers.