I have loved working for Schools' Library Service (SLS) in Guernsey for the last 16 years, this included 2 years as school librarian at Ladies College and the last 5 as head of SLS, but my personal life has changed dramatically in the last 5 years. My husband has changed jobs, all 4 children are now living away from Guernsey and 3 of them are now married and I have one grandchild and another on the way. I have started writing and presenting more and when I looked at the balance and what I enjoy I realised that my interests had expanded away from 9-5 work and it is time to pass on the baton to someone new.
Looking back over the years I am really proud of what the SLS team have achieved under my leadership. They have been open and ready to try new ideas and take on new challenges. We always provided a good service to schools but over the last 5 years we have worked on increasing our offer. We now have:-
An ever expanding online collection
A vibrant e-book collection
Tools to offer support for literacy
A Channel Island Children's Book Award for yrs 5,6 and 7 (ready to expand)
Introduced FOSIL (Framework of Skills for Inquiry Learning) from yr 1 - yr 13
Every year 7 visiting the Guille-Allès library (to start September 2019)
World Book Day quiz
Non-Fiction November event
and more that I am sure I have forgotten!
We have also worked hard at enhancing some of our regular services:-
Amazing craft and story sessions that brings 1000's of school children into the Guille-Allès Library.
Author packs for our book week in February to help teachers engage with our authors more.
Carnegie and Greenaway lunch
I leave knowing that SLS Guernsey has a great reputation and will continue to play a significant role in our schools in Guernsey.
So what next?
I am delighted to say that I will still have some involvement with SLS and the Guille-Allès Library as they would still like me to be an advisor especially relating to FOSIL.
I am loving the writing, blogging, speaking and training and I will now have more time to do this. Here is where I announce that I am open for business. I plan to become an independent trainer and advisor specialising in school libraries so if you are interested in working with me fill in a contact form and I will be in touch.
On to the next chapter! Come and join my journey.