What are you looking for when it comes to professional learning this month? Maybe it’s just a few minutes to find time to read through an article or catch a quick podcast episode. August is the biggest month in the Australian school library calendar (thanks to CBCA Book Week), but there’s still time for you in all the celebrations. Maybe even a leadership masterclass, a bibliotherapy course, an article on supporting readers in a book slump, or a webinar on a helpful school library toolkit. Find all these and so much more in the August Professional Learning list for school library staff.
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Webinars
V.O.I.C.E.S Masterclass – Library Leaders Hub – 8 October 2026 8am – 12:30pm AEST – $180
EduWebinar, a cornerstone of professional learning for education and school library staff, is closing its online doors in September. For a limited time, you can access the massive webinar archive for $150.
Dynamic Partnerships: Citizen Science and School Libraries – ALIA – 1 August 2026, 10:30am – 11:30am AEST – free for ALIA Members, $55 non-ALIA members.
Professional Learning in Action – ASLA – 1 August 2026 9:30am AEST – free for ASLA members, $40 non-ASLA members.
Reading Platforms and Programs to encourage a culture of reading – SLAV – 4 August 2026, 3pm – 4pm AEST. $30 members, $40 non-SLAV members.
The first 25 years of the 21st Century: What the research says about student research – ASLA – 5 August 2026 7:30pm – 8:30pm. Free for ASLA members, $40 non-ASLA members.
Introduction to the School Library Toolkit – SLAV – 11 August 2026, 4:30pm – 5:30pm AEST – $80 SLAV members, $120 non-SLAV members, free if you’ve already purchased the Toolkit.
Using Informit Explore for classroom provocation, information and inspiration – ASLA – 19 August 2026, 4:30pm – 5:30pm AEST – free for ASLA members, $40 non-ASLA members.
Conference
If you haven’t yet registered for this, now’s the time. Brought to you by Australia Reads, the VOLUME National Reading Symposium is a must. Register now for your free two-day, online ticket.
Courses
Bibliotherapy in the School Library – ALIA – 7 weeks starting 31 August 2026, 6 hours a week – $550 ALIA members, $750 non-ALIA members.
Podcasts
Your Kid’s Next Read – recent episodes include How to Find a Great New Read for Your Kid
The Library Exchange – recent episodes include Policy Practice and Selection, and The Leadership Mindset.
School Librarians United – recent episodes include ALAAC26 Conference, Why Imposter Syndrome Plagues our profession and Stop Blocking AI, Start Rethinking It.
School Librarian Learning Network podcast – recent episodes include Shakespeare Faire, Cultivating Connection with Pen Pals and Arte in the Makerspace.
Videos
Essentials of Adolescent Literacy: Reading and Writing Instruction in Grades 5-12 By PaTTAN with Joan Sedita.
Articles and Blog posts
Beyond the Survey: When Student Voices Shape the Library by Siti Nurshafizah Radin Samsudin
The Atomic Habits AI Is Building While Schools Wait by Meghan Freeman
New research offers insights into Australian audiobook listeners – Australia Reads
Schools must teach the love of reading – Eva Moskowitz
SLJ Survey: Cell phone bans boost reading, Library Use – Kara Yorio
AI didn’t create the literacy problem – Gabrielle Mace
Why “book-shaming” won’t solve the children’s literacy crisis – Jessica Winter
Teens and the “book slump”: Why we should diagnose a situation rather than an identity – Gabrielle Mace
Who’s reading for your now – Kay Oddone
Library visibility is built through relationships: Lessons from managing a small academic library – Siti Nurshafizah Radin Samsudin
Want more professional learning?
Have a look through last month’s professional learning list.