https://www.slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/issue/feedSynergy2023-10-19T20:46:01+11:00Dr. Susan La Marcasynergy@slav.org.auOpen Journal Systems<p><em>Synergy</em> is published twice annually (May and October) by the School Library Association of Victoria (SLAV) . Its aim is to bring to members a wider view of the world of school librarianship with particular emphasis on current research, directions and ideas in educational practice.</p> <p><em>Synergy</em> is recognised as a partially refereed journal. That is, only those articles acknowledged in the journal as such have been part of the referee process. <em>Synergy</em> appears on the Register of Refereed Journals of the Research Programs and Policies Unit of the Australian Department of Education, Science and Training (2006). By providing both refereed articles and general material from within the teacher-librarianship community within Synergy, the journal hopes to bring quality research and discussion to the field whilst also publishing practical, timely and detailed material. Synergy also has a focus on providing in-depth reviews of recent publications of relevance to the profession.</p>https://www.slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/727Horizons2023-10-19T20:07:20+11:00Rosemary Abbottcontact@slav.vic.edu.au<p><strong>Professional Learning Opportunities – Local and Beyond</strong></p>2023-10-19T00:00:00+11:00Copyright (c) 2023 SLAVhttps://www.slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/715Making space in the library: Considerations for design and furniture choices to support student wellbeing2023-10-19T19:43:45+11:00Chin Ee LOHcontact@slav.vic.edu.au<p>Chin Ee Loh, Associate Professor and Deputy Head (Research) at the English Language and Literature Academic Group at the National Institute of Education of the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, explores the ways the library space can support reading, student wellbeing and learning.</p>2023-10-19T00:00:00+11:00Copyright (c) 2023 SLAVhttps://www.slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/725Shelftalkers at Salesian!2023-10-19T20:04:59+11:00Lauren Kytecontact@slav.vic.edu.au<p class="p2">Lauren Kyte, and the team and Salesian College, Sunbury, have embedded the SLAV student review website – Shelftalkers – in their wider reading program. Their work offers their students a wider audience for their reviews and authentic recognition of their reading and their opinions. This is an excellent example of encouraging student agency in an effective school library wider reading program.</p>2023-10-19T00:00:00+11:00Copyright (c) 2023 SLAVhttps://www.slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/723Research to practice: How it can happen and why it really matters2023-10-19T20:00:57+11:00Carol Gordoncontact@slav.vic.edu.au<p class="p2">Dr Carol Gordon reflects on her valued colleague, Dr Ross Todd, and his impact on our profession. She champions his belief in the crucial link between research and practice in school librarianship and the ongoing relevance of his evidence-based practice trilogy: evidence FOR practice, evidence IN practice, and evidence OF practice. Dr Gordon, in this article, charts the progression and development of Dr Ross Todd’s ideas across his various projects.</p>2023-10-19T00:00:00+11:00Copyright (c) 2023 SLAVhttps://www.slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/728Reviews2023-10-19T20:09:20+11:00Joy Whitesidecontact@slav.vic.edu.auMargaret Sinnottcontact@slav.vic.edu.auRosemary Abbottsynergyreviews@slav.vic.edu.au<ul> <li class="p2">ChatGPT Resources</li> <li class="p1">Leading for School Librarians: there is no other option</li> <li class="p1">The School Library Toolkit</li> </ul>2023-10-19T00:00:00+11:00Copyright (c) 2023 SLAVhttps://www.slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/716The mentoring stars align in Vermont2023-10-19T19:45:10+11:00Judith Kaplancontact@slav.vic.edu.auNancy Daiglecontact@slav.vic.edu.au<p class="p2">Judith Kaplan and Nancy Daigle describe their wonderful journey with the Vermont School Library Association as they implement the Mentoring School Librarians Matter Grant from the NEA Great Public Schools Fund. The Mentor Program offers fantastic opportunities for Vermont school librarians to learn and grow together.</p>2023-10-19T00:00:00+11:00Copyright (c) 2023 SLAVhttps://www.slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/718AI bots: Our secret weapon for information literacy, info smarts and global thinking!2023-10-19T19:50:07+11:00Sarah Paveycontact@slav.vic.edu.au<p class="p2">Sarah Pavey clearly explores the possibilities of Artificial Intelligence for how we educate students in information literacy arguing that exciting developments in AI can complement and enrich traditional practices. Pavey details how AI chatbots have the potential to make a significant impact on information literacy of all kinds, providing accessible and interactive support and empowering students to make informed decisions, and contribute positively in school, to the workplace, and in society.</p>2023-10-19T00:00:00+11:00Copyright (c) 2023 SLAVhttps://www.slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/726National Library’s framework for school library development2023-10-19T20:06:53+11:00Miriam Tuohycontact@slav.vic.edu.au<p>Our regular contributor from New Zealand, Miriam Tuohy, outlines the National Library Services to Schools framework for school library development, originally created in 2019. The framework provides school libraries with a basis for development, exploring their role, purpose and priorities and encouraging advocacy and evaluation as ongoing activities.</p>2023-10-19T00:00:00+11:00Copyright (c) 2023 SLAVhttps://www.slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/714What a school library can do for you2023-10-19T19:36:58+11:00Mary ManningFYI@slav.org.au<p>The SLAV infographic - What a school library can do for you - has been transformed to create a wonderful advocacy video. The team at Emmanuel College, Warrnambool, have shared this development to enable others to customise the material for their own school library.</p>2023-10-19T00:00:00+11:00Copyright (c) 2023 SLAVhttps://www.slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/719Reading for enjoyment and Australian fiction2023-10-19T19:52:51+11:00Edwina Westcontact@slav.vic.edu.au<p class="p2">Edwina West describes her <em>Reading Australia Fellowship for Teachers of English And Literacy </em>project that engaged with why, and how, teachers and teacher librarians can work to improve reading for enjoyment, and the reading of Australian fiction, amongst young people.</p>2023-10-19T00:00:00+11:00Copyright (c) 2023 SLAVhttps://www.slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/721Transformative Learning: the impact of deeper learning approaches in enhancing the transversal competencies2023-10-19T19:57:56+11:00Dianne Rufflescontact@slav.vic.edu.au<p class="p2">Dianne Ruffles describes her research, currently underway, that focuses on guided inquiry learning and how this pedagogical approach enhances the transversal competencies, including critical and creative thinking, in young adult learners. Of particular focus is how these approaches can contribute to student achievement and engagement and how as educators, we can better design student experiences.</p>2023-10-19T00:00:00+11:00Copyright (c) 2023 SLAVhttps://www.slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/724The power of accountability: Strategies for building credibility and support 2023-10-19T20:02:36+11:00Anita Brooks Kirklandcontact@slav.vic.edu.au<p>Our regular contributor from Canada, Anita Brooks Kirkland, shares valuable and practical strategies to enable school libraries to build credibility and support. With a focus on the value of evidence-based practice Brooks Kirkland clearly offers a path to ensuring we are accountable, valued and positioned for a cycle of success.</p>2023-10-19T00:00:00+11:00Copyright (c) 2023 SLAVhttps://www.slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/730Editorial2023-10-19T20:43:40+11:00Susan La Marcaslav@slav.org.au2023-10-19T00:00:00+11:00Copyright (c) 2023 SLAVhttps://www.slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/717The importance of a collection development policy for the school library2023-10-19T19:48:08+11:00Kumari Macdougallcontact@slav.vic.edu.au<p>Kumari Macdougall, a librarianship student at Charles Sturt University, explores the importance of creating a collection development policy to assist in the smooth running of the library service. Kumari describes the impact of a CDP and its relevance to all areas of the library’s operations.</p>2023-10-19T00:00:00+11:00Copyright (c) 2023 SLAVhttps://www.slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/720Reclaiming Resilience: Fact-checking in the classroom with Wikipedia2023-10-19T19:53:10+11:00Mathieu O’Neilcontact@slav.vic.edu.auRachel Cunneencontact@slav.vic.edu.auAndrew Rosscontact@slav.vic.edu.au<p>Adapting a Civic Online Reasoning (COR) framework for analysing websites the authors, from the University of Canberra, explore how Wikipedia can play an important role in fact-checking within student research as it is non-partisan, quick, and displays transparent processes. Their work considers the important role of information literacy and media literacy</p>2023-10-19T00:00:00+11:00Copyright (c) 2023 SLAVhttps://www.slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/722Diversity audits and catalogue records2023-10-19T20:00:05+11:00Renate Beilharzcontact@slav.vic.edu.au<p>This article explores the value and the challenges of undertaking a diversity audit of a school’s collection.</p> <p>Diversity audits are critical for ensuring that library collections represent a wide range of perspectives and voices. However, traditional school library catalogue data, like School Catalogue Information Service (SCIS), are not often used in these audits. While these catalogues have some limitations, they can still be valuable for initial collection assessments. As we strive for more diverse libraries, we must consider how these catalogues can be updated and better utilised for the future.</p>2023-10-19T00:00:00+11:00Copyright (c) 2023 SLAV