It’s no secret, that here at StoryBox Hub, we LOVE and champion libraries wherever possible. Did you know that the annual ‘Students Needs School Libraries’ Day, will be held across Australia on Wednesday, 21st of August. This year’s theme is ‘School Libraries Build Brighter Futures’.  Recently, we had the pleasure of interviewing Raffaela Grasso, the SNSL Campaign Coordinator. Raffaela gave us insight into her own invaluable experiences with her school library as a student, and the important work that SNSL does to promote their mission; that all students should have access to high quality school library services.

How do you think School Libraries Build Brighter Futures ?

School libraries help to build brighter futures for students by providing an inclusive space, where students are welcome, at any stage of their reading and learning journey. 

Whether they are at the learning to read stage or at the reading to learn stage, knowing they have a space to come to and that they have choice in and can have a voice in, to make their school library space an even better space for the next generation of bright faces.

School libraries help to build brighter futures for students, providing windows of learning, about other cultures, languages, traditions and settings.

School libraries provide opportunities to deepen the values of respect and empathy to give hope for a future world which is bright and peaceful to live, study and work in.

School libraries help to build brighter futures for students to see literature that resembles themselves in, knowing they are valuable and important and can be inspired to pursue their goals and dreams, just as they see others in books that are visible in their school library.

School libraries are a safe haven for students to be able to make their own decisions about what they wish to read, learn, research and develop skill in.  These are the building blocks for a brighter and literate future.

How does the 'Australian School Library Day' help to bring awareness to the importance of school libraries?

Australian School Library Day -The day has arrived... It is time to shout out to the leaders, decision makers and  politicians and to those looking at the next stage of schooling.

Principals, parents, teachers and students too. It's your opportunity  to 'step inside' your school library, you just never know what is there, right in plain sight, avaliable right now, for you!!

Australian School Library Day, it is the day to pop on in, say hello, stop and imagine... you are a visitor for the very first time. 

Take a slow look at all that is available, all that is possible for the students, for children and parents and staff... but...who makes this all possible, it is time to ask.
Today is the day to discover the amaziness of the school library staff, it is time to let them know just how much you value all they do each morning, noon and night.
Australian School Library Day - Slow looking, stepping inside, it's your turn, go for a walk in your school library, what will you discover.... see... and notice what is provided?

Shout it out, promote it loud, time to say hip hip hooray, its Australian School Library Day, we are proud of what we have and proud of all who work here. Shine a light on their skills, knowledge and expertise, so incredibly needed.

What do you personally love about school libraries?

On a personal level, I love school libraries as they are the heart of a school. They ooze happiness and joy, they spill laughter and chatter as well as enable oooooh and ahhhh moments when a new discovery is made or a new skill is learnt or a new character is met, plot shared and setting analysed.

I love the 100's and 1000's of questions, sprinkled throughout the school library, as the different pathways to discovery are explored.
I love the morning rush to find the comfiest sport to snuggle right in and just absorb the fresh morning light, curled up with a book, a friend, a chat  aaah looks just right.

I love the opportunity to connect with 4, scrabble some more, master the mind or simply observe for the ride.

I love excitement and thrill deep down inside when the discovery of the next book in the series is right there in plain sight. 

I love the opportunity to find a book for students, staff and myself that is 'just right'

How did your own school library shape your future?

My school library was a walk, a hop a skip and a jump. A weekly journey that enabled my very first library card.

That special piece of card, which, to this day, is still held in my purse and with such high regard. It gave me power, it gave me choice, it gave me the strength to ponder, search wonder, even if I felt down, sad or hurt.

It  led me to a path of becoming a teacher, to start my own 'home library' which is still growing as I'm still learning, so many places to visit, learn and discover.

So I now stop, ponder, reflect and wonder, if I had not had the opportunity of a school library all those years past, what would my path have become, maybe not one with 3 degrees nor my own home library nor any new passions, or dreams or life skills learnt.

But oh well, luckily it's not a fantasy, am so very lucky, that I have had school libraries in my past, which now I enjoy all over again as I help to make the future brighter for these little sparks of sunshine that I have the pleasure to work with and teach, yet, who are growing up so very fast.