Elizabeth Hutchinson Shares: Continuing Professional Development for School Librarians

Continuing Professional Development for School Librarians 

At Softlink Education, we believe in the crucial role that school librarians play in fostering a love for learning. To support your continuous growth and development, we have partnered with Elizabeth Hutchinson to create a framework and actionable strategy designed to increase your professional effectiveness and impact on your students and staff.

Meet Elizabeth Hutchinson

Elizabeth Hutchinson is a Chartered librarian and Fellow of CILIP. With nearly 20 years of experience in school libraries she is now a trainer and adviser and an advocate for FOSIL- Inquiry based Learning. She was awarded the BEM for services to libraries in 2020, is an international speaker, podcaster, blogger and author of a number of published articles.

The Importance of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for School Librarians

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is essential for school librarians to stay updated with the latest trends, tools, and methodologies in education and library science. It empowers librarians to:

• Enhance their skills and knowledge
• Stay current with emerging technologies and practices
• Better support the educational needs of their students and staff
• Foster a culture of lifelong learning within their school communities

Insights from Elizabeth Hutchinson's Whitepapers

We are excited to introduce these whitepapers authored by Elizabeth Hutchinson, where she shares the importance of CPD and provide practical guidance for librarians looking to enhance their professional development journey.

1. Insights from My Ongoing CPD Adventure in School Librarianship

   In this whitepaper, Elizabeth shares her personal journey of professional development, highlighting the lessons she has learned along the way. Her story is an inspiring testament to the value of CPD and the positive impact it can have on one's career and professional growth.

2. Your CPD Journey

   The second whitepaper serves as a practical guide for school librarians to begin or advance their CPD journey. Elizabeth provides actionable steps, valuable resources, and insightful tips to help librarians take charge of their professional growth and make meaningful improvements in their practice.

3. Strategic Collection Development

   Strategic collection development for school libraries is a crucial aspect of librarianship which serves as the backbone of how our school’s access and interact with information. Innovative strategies that can transform your library into a dynamic, inclusive hub tailored to the needs of your students, teachers and your community.

4. The Role of School Librarians: A Framework for Success

   Elizabeth shares how school librarians often struggle with undefined roles, highlighting the IFLA School Library Guidelines and FOSIL as essential frameworks to provide clarity and support professional growth.

5. Embracing Enquiry 

   Elizabeth shares how the FOSIL framework empowers school librarians by providing structured resources for inquiry-based learning, enhancing their existing skills and supporting student development from Reception to Year 13.

Stay Tuned for More

This is just the beginning. We will be releasing new whitepapers every fortnight, each offering valuable insights and practical strategies for school librarians. Be sure to check our website regularly for the latest updates and resources.

Stay connected with us for more resources, updates, and opportunities for professional growth.