Happy new year. I know, we are already a month in, but this is my first professional learning list of the year, so it feels right to start with the traditional new year greeting. This month features Queensland School Library Week and Library Lovers’ Day and seems a fitting month to celebrate and love on all things school libraries. I hope you find some joy in these articles, webinars and posts. Many feature back-to-school tips and tricks and good routines for starting the year well. Happy learning.
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Webinars
Starting the School Year Strong – ASLA – 4 February 2026 7pm AEDT – free for ASLA members, $40 non-ASLA members.
Setting up for success in the Library – SLANSW – 17 February 2026
Time to dominate challenge: your first step to becoming a future-ready school library professional – EduWebinar Karen Bonnano – 17, 18 and 19 February 2026 7pm AEST – free.
Start-of-year essentials: Schools Catalogue Information Service (SCIS) – 24 February 2026, 3pm AEDT – free
ALIA Code of Ethics Values in Action – ALIA – 25 February 2026, 1pm AEDT – free to ALIA members, $22 non-ALIA members.
Unlocked: A teacher librarian’s toolkit for innovative library lessons – Eduwebinar with Elise Ellerman – 25 February 2026, 7pm AEST – $45
Podcasts
Your Kid’s Next Read – recent episodes include 10 mins with Kathryn Lefroy, 10 Mins with Lili Wilkinson.
School Librarians United – recent episodes include Unrestricted Checkout and Book Policies, Need to Weed???.
For the Love of Libraries – a new ALIA Schools podcast. Listen to the trailer.
Future Ready Podcast – Leading from the Library. Recent episodes include Leading with Values: Cathie Warburton on School Library Impact and Advocacy
Events
Queensland School Library Week
Awards
Nominate yourself or a colleague for the ASLA School Library Advocate Award or Early Career Teacher Librarian Award. Nominations close 27th of February 2026.
SLASA Awards, including the Library Advocate Award, Regional Excellence in School Libraries Award and Innovation in School Libraries Award. Nominations close 27th February 2026.
Resources
Library Leaders Hub – 6 modules
Two Truths and AI Game – Common Sense Media
Articles and Blog posts
The Right Tool for the Right Question: A Reference Librarian’s Guide to AI Platforms – Hana Lee Goldin
Teachers and Readers: Community, Agency and Joy – Tamara Reads, Sally Murphy, Sally Lamping
Refresh Your Library on a Budget – Catherine Hollerbach
How do schools and teacher librarians deal with books from controversial authors – SCIS
Thinking Reading Review – The Literacy Hub
Step 1: Protect the Act of Reading – Adam Lancaster
Vertical Strand Maps: A K-12 Progression for Literacy and Composition – Anthony Fitzpatrick
What AI-Literate Students Do Differently – Med Kharbach
Top tips for getting into reading – Australia Reads
Writing Australia Invests in Reading – Australia Reads
Want more professional learning?
Have a look through last month’s professional learning list.