Have you heard of the Libraries Change Lives Award?  This is for UK libraries, and the criteria specifically mention that school libraries are welcome to enter.  The website states that ‘The CILIP Libraries Change Lives Award highlights and rewards partnership work that changes lives, brings people together and demonstrates innovation and creativity. Our judges, from the CILIP Community, Diversity and Equality Group, are keen to promote social justice through the use of library, information and knowledge services to empower people and improve their quality of life.’   

This is the very thing that school libraries are good at, and I think that it is time that we considered putting school libraries forward for this award.  I know that many of you run reading schemes to help pupils who have difficulty reading, we use differentiation, we include and encourage Looked After Children and EAL pupils; and some of you even run Adult Literacy classes, or Computer Literacy classes.  Our main work usually consists of promoting social justice through our libraries.   So have a think – entries have to be in by the end of April.  If you would like to discuss this further, CILIP President and School Librarian Barbara Band is very keen to include a school library in this year’s submissions, and is happy for you to contact her to discuss your eligibility further.  Contact Barbara on: barbara567band@hotmail.com. Or use the contact button on Heart to contact me. Please do think seriously about this – what better way to promote school libraries and the reason we desperately need them in schools, than to win a national award like this!