Primary and Secondary School Librarian of the Year 2023 finalists announced

The School Library Association has announced the shortlist for their 2023 School Librarian of the Year Primary, and the Honour List for the 2023 School Librarian of the Year Secondary.

In schools all over the UK, dedicated staff are working hard to bring reading and learning alive for pupils. The SLA School Librarian of the Year Award recognises the best of the excellent work that is carried out in school libraries every day. Alongside their work in developing a school's reading culture, school librarians "are also unsung heroes of supporting pupils' wellbeing", the SLA says.

The winners of the School Librarian of the Year awards (Primary and Secondary) will be announced at a ceremony on 11th July, alongside the winners to the SLA's Community Award and Enterprise of the Year. Find out more at the SLA website. 

2023 Primary School Librarian of the Year Nominations

Primary schools across the UK have nominated staff members that deserve recognition for the impact they are having on reading. The SLA's panel of judges has selected three outstanding librarians as this years Primary School Librarian of the Year shortlist.

Chair of the Judges, Ros Harding said "The shortlist for the Primary School Librarian of the Year is testament to the difference that the right person can make to a school. The three shortlisted candidates are all committed to diversity of reading experiences in terms of representation and of being challenged beyond their comfort zones. They have all created libraries where pupils can feel safe, nurtured and creative."

The shortlist for School Librarian of the Year Primary, in alphabetical order of first name, is as follows:

Natasha Delaney - Westwood Primary School, Cambridgeshire
Natasha's passion for reading and her care for the pupils in her school, shines through. She ensures that pupils have access to a wide variety of books and that reading for pleasure is paramount within the library. Since starting at the school, she has introduced author visits, different challenges and competitions and linked to nationwide book awards. The impact of this work on reading in the school is clear to see.

Sally Hamerton - Two Mile Hill Primary School, Bristol
Sally's previous experience in libraries has allowed her to have an immediate and effective impact on her school. She is passionate about every child seeing themselves in a book and her extensive book knowledge has led to a diverse book collection that achieves this aim. She has also had an impact on the reading habits of the staff, and through delivering staff CPD sessions, has ensured that the whole school shared her vision for the library.

Sarah Cross - Whitwick St John the Baptist CE Primary School, Leicestershire
Sarah's role as Reading Ambassador sits alongside her work as a TA in the school, and yet in only 8 hours a week, she has transformed the library and put reading for pleasure at the heart of the school. As well as ensuring that the library collection is diverse, she has been able to have an impact on the choices of texts for class reads too, ensuring that all children in the school are being exposed to the very best books.

The Secondary School Librarian of the Year Honour List

The Secondary School Librarian of the Year highlights the achievements of staff in secondary school libraries who have gone above and beyond to make reading the heart of their students' education and support learning across the school. After a rigorous process of interviews and school visits the judges have named three librarians as this year's Secondary School Librarian of the Year Honour List.

Ros Harding, Chair of Judges, said, "Out of a very strong field of candidates, the three Honour Listed librarians showcase the very best of school librarianship. They are all fully committed to their school community and providing a library service that serves the needs of their individual schools perfectly. Each of them is at the heart of their school, championing reading for pleasure, but also working with teaching staff across the curriculum. They each show that while a library can provide a safe and valuable space within a school, a great librarian can have impact far beyond this."

The Honour List for the School Librarian of the Year Secondary, in alphabetical order of first name, is as follows:

Bridget Hamlet - Rushey Mead Academy, Leicester
Bridget has not only had a huge impact on the library at Rushey Mead, transforming it into a welcoming, vibrant space, but has also set up libraries in other schools in the Academy Trust. She ensures that these libraries are established according to each school's needs and that the librarian is fully trained and supported to take it over. She is clearly hugely respected by all the staff within the Academy Trust, and the responsibility given to pupils in helping to run the library at Brook Mead school is having a huge impact on their self-esteem. Within her own school, she has used various activities and challenges to establish a strong reading culture amongst pupils and staff, and her passion for reading and the value of libraries is clear and infectious.

Jacqui Hale - St Hilda's CE High School, Liverpool
Jacqui has worked at St Hilda's since 2010, and yet her enthusiasm and creativity still shines out. She has dealt with a reduced library space in a positive and resilient way, ensuring that the pupils still have the same experience in the library and that the collection is still diverse and challenging. She is passionate about reading for pleasure as a force for good and everything she does is underpinned by this belief. She is able to blend her role as Literacy Co-ordinator with her role as Librarian perfectly, and helps to manage her time by having a particularly effective and committed team of pupil librarians. Her impact on the school as a whole is clear to see.

Saffron Williams - Haberdashers' Monmouth Schools, Monmouth
Saffron is in charge of two secondary school libraries in schools that are preparing for a big change to a fully co-educational setting. She manages her team perfectly, using their skills to best effect and leading the plans towards the change with care and a clear strategic vision. In her time as Head of Libraries, she has transformed the library, ensuring that all staff and students feel welcome and developing a culture of reading for pleasure through her 'Book Breakout' reading challenge. She ensures that both libraries serve the varied needs of the school, whether this is for a 'Happy Café', to help promote wellbeing, or for EPQ lessons.

Alison Tarrant, CEO of the School Library Association said, "All the staff named in these Awards deserve celebration for the impact they are having on pupils and on colleagues. We know that reading is a foundation to learning, but the work being showcased here also highlights the positive impact on wellbeing and work across the whole curriculum, including developing independent learning skills. Huge congratulations to them all."