"A School Library Built for the Digital Age"

A Summary and Discussion of Key Conference Themes from IASL 2016, Tokyo

Abstract

Amy Icke, recipient of UKeiG’s Early Career award, reports on the IASL (International Association of School Librarians) Conference 2016, held in Tokyo, 21st - 26th August 2016. The theme of the event was “A school library built for the digital age” and Amy outlines and discusses key conference themes illustrated with examples delivered by librarians working in a range of countries including Japan, Australia, Sweden and Canada.

Key messages for our readers in all sectors includes:

The importance of context: knowing your organisation and your audience and tailoring your message to them;
Meaningful collaboration and relationship building: how to forge successful working relationships between staff and libraries;
The diversity of the LIS work role;
The importance of teaching digital literacies and getting students “work ready”.