In this episode, Courtney Nolan-McLeod, teacher of Library and Information Services at TAFE NSW, joins Lily from the For the Love of Libraries team to explore how targeted upskilling and community partnerships can breathe new life into under-resourced school libraries. Courtney shares the story behind the Primary School Library Skill Set Short Course, an innovative program developed in partnership with Community Hubs Australia to empower parents in Greater Western Sydney to support their school library. The conversation considers the realities of the decline in library staffing, the power of paraprofessional training, and why getting books into the hands of children must always remain at the heart of what we do.
Further resources
Softlink 2025 School Library Report
IFLA-UNESCO School Library Manifesto (2025)
ALIA ACSL Statement on School Library Staffing
ALIA ACSL Statement on School Library Funding and Resource Provision
Dymocks Children’s Charities – Underfunded school libraries
Professional development through ALIA, School Library Associations of all states, and SCIS
TAFE NSW Library and Information Services Courses - Certificate IV and Diploma
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