Choice of one each section:
Seminar 1 :Saturday 11.30 – 12.15
A. Raising Social Values through Picture Books
Smriti Halls, Author
Smriti will be talking about her new book Rain Before Rainbows, which is an inspiring poem
told in storybook form and will be exploring the potential of picture books to raise social
values. This seminar is sponsored by Walker Books
B. Newsguard
Anna-Sophie Harling, Managing Director, Europe and Executive Vice President, Partnerships, Newsguard
Anna will talk to the delegates about NewsGuard, the journalism and technology company that rates the credibility
of news & information websites and tracks online misinformation. She will highlight what it is, what it does, how
the journalists work & their funding which enables it to be free to users.
Seminar 2 :Saturday 14.00 – 14.45
C. Celebrating Difference
Shaun Dellenty
Shaun will be exploring the themes included in his inspiring handbook for LGBT+ inclusion Celebrating Difference,
aimed at all primary and secondary teachers and leaders. It is filled with practical advice to enable schools to bring
about organisational change to ensure the safety, success, mental health and wellbeing of all pupils and staff,
presenting an effective approach to LGBT+ inclusion at a whole-school level. He will also look at how school
librarians can support children and teachers.
D. Reading for Empathy
Jon BiddleJon Biddle, Miranda McKearney OBE, Sara Mears MBE, Empathy Lab
Empathy Day 2021 will be taking place on 10 th June. This seminar will explore the different
aspects of Empathy’s Lab’s work, celebration activities that will be taking place this year and
how school libraries can engage with them and how to promote reading for empathy in
school.
Seminar 3 :Saturday 16.30 – 17.15
E. Graphic Novels and Manga
Dr Mel Gibson, Literacy Consultant and Senior Lecturer, University of Northumbria.
Mel will talk about the value of using graphic novels and manga with young people and how they can be used and
their importance engaging young people in reading.
F. Promoting Reading in Schools
Scott Evans, The Reader Teacher; Mary Rose Grieve, School Librarian, Hartland International School Libraries
Dubai, Zoe Rowley, School Librarian Wolverhampton Grammar School
This will explore how two school librarians and a teacher are promoting reading in their schools, what challenges
have they been facing, how have they dealt with them and what have been their successes in terms of re-engaging
children and young people in reading.
Seminar 4 :Sunday 11.30 – 12.15
G. Mental Health & Young People
Pat Sowa, Director Starfish
Pat will talk around the theme of ‘Young People and Mental Health’ – how do we think about, treat and
respond to mental illness , what are the issues, what skills do we need to spot mental distress, how do we
raise awareness and understanding through education and within communities and what role can school
libraries play in this. She will also talk about the work she does in this area, particularly around suicide
prevention and awareness.
H. Effective Display
Pauline Carr – The Alternative Display Company
Pauline will demonstrate how to create really effective displays using fairly simple materials, offering delegates
practical tips for creative and inspirational displays on a shoestring.
Seminar 1 :Saturday 11.30 – 12.15
A. Raising Social Values through Picture Books
Smriti Halls, Author
Smriti will be talking about her new book Rain Before Rainbows, which is an inspiring poem
told in storybook form and will be exploring the potential of picture books to raise social
values. This seminar is sponsored by Walker Books
B. Newsguard
Anna-Sophie Harling, Managing Director, Europe and Executive Vice President, Partnerships, Newsguard
Anna will talk to the delegates about NewsGuard, the journalism and technology company that rates the credibility
of news & information websites and tracks online misinformation. She will highlight what it is, what it does, how
the journalists work & their funding which enables it to be free to users.
Seminar 2 :Saturday 14.00 – 14.45
C. Celebrating Difference
Shaun Dellenty
Shaun will be exploring the themes included in his inspiring handbook for LGBT+ inclusion Celebrating Difference,
aimed at all primary and secondary teachers and leaders. It is filled with practical advice to enable schools to bring
about organisational change to ensure the safety, success, mental health and wellbeing of all pupils and staff,
presenting an effective approach to LGBT+ inclusion at a whole-school level. He will also look at how school
librarians can support children and teachers.
D. Reading for Empathy
Jon BiddleJon Biddle, Miranda McKearney OBE, Sara Mears MBE, Empathy Lab
Empathy Day 2021 will be taking place on 10 th June. This seminar will explore the different
aspects of Empathy’s Lab’s work, celebration activities that will be taking place this year and
how school libraries can engage with them and how to promote reading for empathy in
school.
Seminar 3 :Saturday 16.30 – 17.15
E. Graphic Novels and Manga
Dr Mel Gibson, Literacy Consultant and Senior Lecturer, University of Northumbria.
Mel will talk about the value of using graphic novels and manga with young people and how they can be used and
their importance engaging young people in reading.
F. Promoting Reading in Schools
Scott Evans, The Reader Teacher; Mary Rose Grieve, School Librarian, Hartland International School Libraries
Dubai, Zoe Rowley, School Librarian Wolverhampton Grammar School
This will explore how two school librarians and a teacher are promoting reading in their schools, what challenges
have they been facing, how have they dealt with them and what have been their successes in terms of re-engaging
children and young people in reading.
Seminar 4 :Sunday 11.30 – 12.15
G. Mental Health & Young People
Pat Sowa, Director Starfish
Pat will talk around the theme of ‘Young People and Mental Health’ – how do we think about, treat and
respond to mental illness , what are the issues, what skills do we need to spot mental distress, how do we
raise awareness and understanding through education and within communities and what role can school
libraries play in this. She will also talk about the work she does in this area, particularly around suicide
prevention and awareness.
H. Effective Display
Pauline Carr – The Alternative Display Company
Pauline will demonstrate how to create really effective displays using fairly simple materials, offering delegates
practical tips for creative and inspirational displays on a shoestring.