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For the love of libraries - an ALIA Schools podcast
Leading with Values: Cathie Warburton on School Library Impact and Advocacy
In our first episode, Cathie Warburton, CEO of ALIA, joins Rosie from the For The Love of Libraries team to explore the core values that shape school libraries and the professionals who lead them. Cathie shares her unique path from a career in law to her role at ALIA, emphasising the importance of aligning personal values with professional roles. Together, they discuss the vital contribution that school libraries make to the educational experience of all students and staff, the ongoing challenges in staffing school libraries, and the importance of sustained advocacy to ensure that the value of school libraries is recognised as essential to all schools.
Additional resources
- ALIA Schools
- ALIA CEO – Cathie Warburton
- 50 years of ALIA Schools (1964 - 2016)
- The history of ALIA
- ALIA’s strategic plan
- ACSL resources for School Libraries
Further Reading
- Dr Margaret K. Merga – Why are teacher librarians an excellent investment in contemporary schools?
- Softlink – 2024 Australian School Library Survey
- Carol A. Gordon - Making your school library essential: A guide to advocacy for Teacher Librarians
ALIA Schools aims to facilitate networking, support, professional development, and resources for the Information sector with a focus on Schools group practice. Subscribe to the ALIA Schools newsletter and keep up to date with professional development opportunities.
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2. Building a Nation of Readers - a conversation with Anna Burkey
33:04||Ep. 2In this episode, Anna Burkey, CEO of Australia Reads, joins Lily from the For the Love of Libraries team to explore how a national, collaborative approach can strengthen Australia’s reading culture. She shares insights from the Understanding Australian Readers report, focusing on the reading journey, and highlights practical and innovative ways schools can support diverse readers while also addressing challenges around access, equity, and advocacy. The conversation emphasises the importance of visibility, choice, and community partnerships, and introduces the Lit Up program, which brings authors into schools to spark engagement and connection with reading. Additional linkshttps://schools.alia.org.au/research/Children’s and young people’s reading in 2025Understanding Australian readers: Behavioural insights into recreational readingDiscovering a good read: Exploring book discovery and reading for pleasure among Australian teensReading for pleasure: scrutinising the evidence base – benefits, tensions, and recommendations
For the Love of Libraries - Trailer
02:30||Season 1Welcome to For The Love of Libraries, the official podcast of the ALIA Schools Special Interest Group.As Australia's first podcast dedicated to the school library sector, we are here to connect you, inspire your practice, and share the untold stories from the stacks. Discover practical insights and celebrate the vital role of library professionals and educators in making the library the essential heart of every school community.