Celebrating student librarians

Whangarei Libraries, school libraries and National Library Services to Schools collaborate to acknowledge the Whangarei district’s “golden student librarians”.

As the term and year draws to a close, many school libraries will be doing something to acknowledge, celebrate, and reward their special student librarians who have worked in the library over the year.

In Whangarei, Northland, there is a collaboratively organised event for the “golden librarians” (students who have reached the Gold level of their training programme or are simply “worth their weight in gold”) from schools in the wider Whangarei area. This year was our third such celebration, which is held at Whangarei Libraries and run by Sue Scott, the Children’s Librarian there. It is organised collaboratively with National Library Services to Schools, and about a dozen primary and intermediate schools from the Whangarei district take part with two or three students from each school being nominated.

The programme includes icebreaker activities and then games (a treasure hunt around the library, or a library / literature quiz) and a special “behind the scenes tour”. After a bountiful shared lunch of party food, this year we all went over to the neighbouring Whangarei Council Chambers by special arrangement, where the Deputy Mayor, Sharon Morgan, presented the certificates in the formal surroundings which lent weight to occasion. Some school Principals attended, lots of photos were taken, and the event was reported in school newsletters and hopefully on the schools’ websites too.

Along with the sporting triumphs and other prizes, it is great to acknowledge the service to the school provided by hard-working student librarians. What’s happening at your school to give those students that public recognition, provide some fun and treats, and raise the profile of the library in the wider school community?

Read more about student librarians.

Image: Jeannie Skinner