What's new

Date: 
Saturday, 2 April, 2016

Today is not only World Autism Awareness Day but also International Children’s Book Day. And following research showing that more than 9 in 10 people with autism would use their library more if some autism friendly adjustments were made, the Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians (ASCEL) is to offer training and support to all 3000 of the nation’s public libraries.

The research, conducted by social care organisation Dimensions, showed that whilst people with autism are already more likely than other people to use a library, a few changes could lead to 92% increasing their use of their local library.

Lisa Hopkins, Managing Director of Dimensions, said, “Dimensions already works in partnership with the UK’s 4 major cinema chains to offer autism friendly cinema screenings every month and we are delighted to be able to extend our expertise to the libraries network through the partnership which we are announcing today.”

Sarah Mears, Chair of ASCEL, said, “Libraries are at the heart of our communities and I am deeply proud that this initiative will encourage individual libraries to help more people to visit by adopting autism friendly approaches.”

The project, which was supported using public funding by Arts Council England, will lead to a training video for librarians, fact sheets, signage and social stories. The training will be launched at the Society of Chief Librarians seminar in June.

Hopkins added, “The research told us clearly that the major barrier is awareness of autism, amongst library staff and library users alike. Respondents didn’t want much: a little kindness, to be not judged, and for a few simple adaptations to allow for sensory sensitivities. All parts of the community could learn something from that.”

Download full press release

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

For more information, interviews, and case studies contact Duncan Bell, PR Manager at Dimensions, on (e) [email protected] (t) 0300 303 9062 or (m) 07506 663 793.

Dimensions is a specialist provider of a wide range of services for people with learning disabilities and people who experience autism. We are a not-for-profit organisation, supporting around 3,500 people and their families throughout England and Wales.

We have been providing support packages for families for almost 40 years. We offer a range of support services to adults of all ages, including those with complex needs or challenging behaviour. We enable people to be part of their community and make their own choices and decisions about their lives.

We are proud to be a not-for-profit organisation, not here for commercial gain. This means we're able to invest all our efforts and resources into helping us achieve person-centred processes with positive outcomes for everyone we work with.

Date: 
Wednesday, 23 March, 2016

ASCEL and the Schools Library Services UK will be exhibiting at Peters Books, Love Literacy 2016.  Please come and see the full range of value for money resources and services that Schools Library Services across the country can offer.

Love Literacy 2016         #/loveliteracy2016

Downloadable SLS resources

Your School Library

Reading Skills

Curriculum Resources

Digital Information Skills

Aretfact Resources

SLS Bookmark

Date: 
Friday, 11 March, 2016

 

ASCEL and the Schools Library Services UK will be exhibiting at the Education Show.  Please come and visit Stand B89 to see the full range of value for money resources and services that Schools Library Services across the country can offer.     Education Show website

Downloadable Schools Library Services leaflets and information

Your School Library

Reading for Pleasure

Curriculum Resources

Digital Information Skills

Aretfact Resources

SLS Bookmark

 

Date: 
Wednesday, 3 February, 2016

Join us to shape and develop the library offer for parents-to-be

During the last year we’ve been working with Arts Council England to identify the library journey children should experience from the time they are born onwards. We’ve identified key points in the journey where public libraries should have some kind of special offer to children - for example Rhymes Times for the under-fives, Summer Reading Challenge for primary age children.

One of the areas that we have not tackled nationally is the pre-natal time - and engaging with parents to be around the importance of sharing books with tiny babies, singing to your bump etc. 

We think there is a lot we could do, so join us on 21st March at our free, one-day workshop to shape and develop the library offer for parents-to-be.

Programme

Date: 21/03/2016

Location: CILIP, 7 Ridgmount Street, London WC1E 7AE

This event is open to open to all library staff who have experience of managing children’s library services. Contact Sarah Gregory for booking information.

The event is now fully booked, but we are keeping a waiting list if you wish to be added.

Date: 
Monday, 1 February, 2016

To celebrate National Libraries Day 2016, the ASCEL committee have chosen their favourite books about libraries, old and new!

NLD ASCEL Booklist

Date: 
Friday, 27 November, 2015

Report of the ASCEL Chair 2015, as presented at Confernce on 14th November 2015.

 

Date: 
Thursday, 5 November, 2015

Today SCL and ASCEL, along with the Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy, Ed Vaizey and ACE Chief Executive, Darren Henley, unveiled new ways for people and communities to learn in public libraries across England. The Universal Learning Offer is available in all library services across England and brings together hundreds of unique self-directed learning opportunities for library users, and broadens the range of learning opportunities on offer in local libraries.The Learning Offer will provide libraries with “Code Green”: a detailed Digital Making Kit, a how-to guide to give customers hands-on experience in computer programming (coding), designing and making 3D objects, building robots, creating apps and many other creative activities for all ages. The Learning Offer resources will build on SCL’s Digital Skills Training programme that reached 14,000 library staff.

Further details

Code Green

Date: 
Friday, 25 September, 2015

Library leaders across England and Wales confirm the welcome offered to refugees and asylum seekers from public libraries

The Society of Chief Librarians (SCL), along with colleagues in the Association of Senior Children's and Education Librarians (ASCEL) have confirmed that public libraries are safe, trusted spaces and are able to offer a range of vital free services for new arrivals in local communities across the country. Libraries enable people to connect in new communities and remain connected to the communities and loved ones that they left behind.

Read the full statement

 

Date: 
Monday, 21 September, 2015

The Children's Promise Self-Assessment tool will enable library services to measure their children’s provision against the statements in ASCEL’s Children’s Promise.

This assessment can either be used service-wide or for specific libraries. Version 1 is intended for Service-wide assessment and Version 2 is for specific libraries.

You will need to decide how frequently it should be carried out. We suggest annually.

Date: 
Thursday, 23 April, 2015

The Children’s Library Journeys report published today sets out a national framework for the “Library Journey” highlighting the key interactions public libraries should have with children as they grow.

“We are delighted that this work has highlighted so clearly the significance of library services in children’s lives. It has revealed exciting opportunities for new digital engagement and has also emphasized the importance of the library as a rich and welcoming space for children within the local community”. Sarah Mears Chair: The Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians.

Children's Library Journeys report

Children's Library Journeys: Background research report

Children's Library Journeys press release

The research behind the report was carried out by Laura Crossley for The Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians (ASCEL) on behalf of Arts Council England and The Society of Chief Librarians (SCL). It followed recommendations from the Arts Council England funded Automatic Library Membership Pilot (Siddall, 2014) that there should be a universal offer that “positions the enrolment of each child within a series of staged interactions between an individual and the library service, with regular repetitions of the library message”.

Pages

X