Bridging the Gap in School Library Staffing - Building Volunteer Capacity with Courtney Nolan-McLeod

In this episode, Courtney Nolan-McLeod, teacher of Library and Information Services at TAFE NSW, joins Lily from the For the Love of Libraries team to explore how targeted upskilling and community partnerships can breathe new life into under-resourced school libraries. Courtney shares the story behind the Primary School Library Skill Set Short Course, an innovative program developed in partnership with Community Hubs Australia to empower parents in Greater Western Sydney to support their school library. The conversation considers the realities of the decline in library staffing, the power of paraprofessional training, and why getting books into the hands of children must always remain at the heart of what we do. Further resourcesSoftlink 2025 School Library ReportIFLA-UNESCO School Library Manifesto (2025)ALIA ACSL Statement on School Library StaffingALIA ACSL Statement on School Library Funding and Resource ProvisionDymocks Children’s Charities – Underfunded school libraries Landing page for resources and guides relevant to NSW DoE libraries - some links will require a DoE login Professional development through ALIA, School Library Associations of all states, and SCISTAFE NSW Library and Information Services Courses - Certificate IV and DiplomaCommunity Hubs AustraliaLibraries Tasmania -resources for school librariesALIA Schools aims to facilitate networking, support, professional development, and resources for the Information sector with a focus on Schools group practice. Subscribe to the ALIA Schools newsletter and keep up to date with professional development opportunities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.