We all like a good story: school libraries are places to discover stories
In 2026, the 5th year of our symposium series, we have 18 like-minded organisations sitting under our umbrella, which provides greater reach and greater impact. Our 2026 focus is We all like a good story: school libraries are places to discover stories.
We are campaigning to ensure every Australian community has richly resourced public and school libraries with professional library staff and is funded equitably whether regional, remote or metropolitan. Sadly, many regional and remote schools do not have qualified library staff in their library. We know that qualified teacher librarians play a big role in curating collections, promoting reading for pleasure and in teaching important information literacy and critical literacy skills.
We invite you to view the short partner videos, the research, articles and interviews and join these 18 partner organisations to highlight the benefits of a well-resourced and appropriately staffed school library wherever children go to school in Australia.
Please share widely.
Watch our Partner Videos and find out more about the important role libraries and librarians play in our schools and communities:
Partner Video
Discovering Our Own Voices in the Library
An interview & presentation with Helen Velikans
Teacher Librarian,
Catholic College in Wodonga
Partner Video
Knowledge About Language in the Library
Libby Baker, Language and Literacy in Education Network (LLEN)
Partner Video
Perspectives from
Far West NSW
A conversation with local librarians Kate Renna and Helen Beedles.
Big Sky Stories
Partner Video
Getting Books into the Hands of Our Students
Australian School Library Association
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
Explore the
Curated Resources Collection:
ALIA RESOURCES
ALIA, the Australian Library and Information Association has information and key research that promotes the value of school libraries and qualified library staff.
UK: Special Blog Issue
The Heart of Learning: Spotlight on School Libraries in the UK and Ireland.
Part of the UK Literacy Trust's National Year of Reading.
Reading for Pleasure
Read research from New Zealand on the benefits of reading for pleasure.
Part of the Pūtoi Rito Communities of Readers project.
Podcast
Are Australians giving up on books?
In this podcast Robyn Ewing talks about the need for all of us to keep reading fiction.
In the Media
The case for reviving school libraries
Cathie Warburton, Andy Griffiths and Hajnalka Molloy discuss the importance of School Libraries on ABC Radio National.
Picture Books
Readers Who Ponder:
The Case for Developing Ethical Understanding Through Picture Books in The Primary Classroom
Bianca Bertalli examines how children’s literature can be used to develop ethical understanding and to address complex issues.
Meet the 2026 Symposium Partners ...
