National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is celebrated annually across Australia between May 27 and June 3.

On May 27, 1967 Australians voted in landslide referendum to give the Commonwealth power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as well as recognising them in the national census. June 3, 1992 saw the High Court of Australia deliver its landmark Mabo decision, which legally recognised the special relationship Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the land and that this relationship existed prior to colonisation and continues to exist today. It was this recognition that paved the way for future land rights and Native Title movements. So it is most fitting that we celebrate NRW between these two milestones in the reconciliation journey.

This year's theme is "Let's Talk Recognition," to help inform your interpretation of the theme check out the NRW website, there are loads of ideas and resources including downloadable posters, factsheets and activity guides. It is easy to get involved, events are held all across the country or you can host your own!

At Syba Signs we have placed the reconciliation week poster in the foyer of our office. We are going to share some of the fact sheets at our weekly meeting and in keeping with the theme ‘Let’s Talk Recognition’ we will share stories and recognise the contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have on our lives!

What have you got planned in your school?

This seminar “School Libraries Making a Difference: What is your evidence, and how do you get it?” could save your job and those of your fellow teacher librarians. Register now!

In this current environment where principals are cutting back on library budgets and staffing numbers, accountability and evidence based practices has become virtually compulsory to ensure that not only will students continue to benefit from the presence of professionally trained librarians but also that the role of teacher librarian does not become extinct.

Greg Lindorff, President of AISWA Libraries Inc. and teacher librarian at Christ Church Grammar in Perth, attended this same seminar in Sydney last year and has since shared the impact of the day with us:

“Before going to Sydney to attend the same seminar I used to find EBP an enormous "chore", and one that I was trying to ignore. Ross Todd and Lyn Hay are the "go to" people in the field of EBP.

I came away from the Sydney seminar with:

• The realisation that EBP was relatively easy to implement, and that in many cases all I needed to do was tweak what I was currently doing;

• A better understanding and practical knowledge of EBP;

• Simple and easily implementable strategies that worked; and

• Access to a network of library professionals (including Ross and Lyn) for advice and assistance.”

The “School Libraries Making a Difference: What is your evidence, and how do you get it?” seminar is accredited by the NSW Institute of Teachers and will be held in the following locations:

• Adelaide, June 12, 2013.

• Perth June 14, 2013.

• Melbourne June 17, 2013.

David Linke from Ed Alliance is the Major Sponsor at all three seminars. He believes strongly in the message that school libraries make a difference!

We hope you can join us!

The Syba Team

Scope of endorsement

Tomorrow, March 6, marks the fourth annual World Read Aloud Day. We often take for granted the gift of reading, its pleasures, its pains, its power, tomorrow gives us the opportunity to reflect on the marvels of reading and take action to show the world that literacy is not a privilege but a right that belongs to all people.

Pam Allen of LitWorld (the founding body) encourages librarians to celebrate in your libraries by reading aloud, giving away a book or doing anything you can to “read it forward” on behalf of the 793 million people who cannot yet read.

I plan to read aloud my favourite Austen passage, Elizabeth Bennett’s stinging refusal of Mr. Darcy’s hand. What will you be reading?

Mary Britton

Syba Signs