1. The International Association of School Librarianship (IASL) has declared the month of October to be International School Library Month (ISLM). During October 2008, school libraries across the world and in South Africa will celebrate and promote library and information services at schools using the theme: Literacy and Learning at your School Library.
2. International School Library Month will allow those in charge of school libraries around the world to choose a day in October that best fits their specific situation in order to celebrate the importance of school libraries. The 2008 ISLM posters and bookmarks can be downloaded from the ISLM resources web page: http://www.iasl-online.org/events/islm/islm-resources.htm.
3. Please refer to the accompanying attachment for a range of suggestions as to how WCED schools could celebrate International School Library Month 2008, some useful websites to visit, and the official version of the ISLM logo to use in your promotional materials. Note that this logo is to be used for publicising International School Library Month and is not for commercial purposes.
4. In view of the increasingly essential role played by learning and teaching support material (LTSM) in outcomes-based teaching and learning, teachers should be aware of the availability of library and information resources for this purpose. As part of the celebration of International School Library Month 2008, and the promotion of the library and information services of the WCED, you and your staff are invited to arrange a visit to the EDULIS Library or to the District Resource Centres listed below for orientation and information regarding these services and the available specialised library and information resources.
5. The EDULIS Library in Bellville and the District Resource Centres in Kuils River, Mitchells Plain, Paarl, Worcester and George have the following LTSM available for individual loan by teachers, principals and WCED officials, or as block loans by schools:
  • a wide range of curriculum support material
  • learner-focused materials (including picture books and novels for learners of all ages to use during reading periods), which have been specially evaluated and reviewed to help teachers select materials for their school libraries
  • inspiring activity-based ideas for lesson plans, and for literacy and numeracy development (many of which can be photocopied)
  • a vast collection of recently published books on management and leadership
  • thought-provoking material in support of educational research and policy development
  • material covering current critical issues, e.g. literacy and numeracy, inclusion, discipline and behaviour problems, differentiation, HIV/AIDS, and foetal alcohol syndrome
  • videos, DVDs, audiocassettes, CDs, CD-ROMs and multimedia covering a wide range of topics to enrich and support classroom teaching and learning.
6. The following librarians/resource centre co-ordinators may be contacted for information regarding the above:

Susan HanekomEDULIS Library, Bellville021 957 9618
Cheryl JosephMetro East Resource Centre/EDULIS
Branch Library, Kuils River		021 900 5111
Ntombi MngxumaMetro South: Brian O'Connell
Resource Centre,Mitchells Plain		021 370 2084
Ina HeibergWest Coast Resource Centre, Paarl021 860 1229
Janine OntongCape Winelands Resource
Centre, Worcester		023 348 4657
Sam WebberEden and Central Karoo Resource
Centre,George		044 803 8328
7. In the absence of a functioning resource centre at the Metro Central Education District and in response to numerous requests from educators at schools in the district, a collection point has been established at EDUMEDIA in Mowbray for school block loans borrowed from the EDULIS Library. This interim measure will be applicable until a resource centre has been established at the Metro Central Education District Office.


SIGNED: S.M. NAIKCER
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2008:09:22

Suggested activities for International School Library Month  (size: 48 KB)