INTERVIEWS
Every librarian has access to a network of authors, artists and advocates. For your pleasure, we've interviewed some of our favourite speakers in this curated collection.
What larks: a life with books
Jane Walker from the publisher Barrington Stoke talks about books that empower reluctant readers to get to the end of a story are a big win for all readers. Interview by Nicola Baird Barrington Stoke is known for its super-readable, dysl...
Interview
Sarah Mears: finding empathy-boosting books
November is Empathy Action Month. Here Sarah Mears shares the many ways that EmpathyLab is helping tackle a societal empathy deficit by promoting reading....
Interview
Matt Dickinson: Everest reading challenge
Author, film maker, lecturer Matt Dickinson loves squirrels and libraries. Here he shares tips on using adventure – and in particular climbing Everest, the world’s highest mountain - to help students learn to love reading....
Interview
Eileen Armstrong: Angel of the North East
Even working as a librarian at a busy school can be a surprisingly lonely professional experience. Alongside career highlights here’s how Eileen Armstrong, librarian at a large secondary school in Northumberland, uses SLS to save money...
Interview
Gillian Harris: A new chapter for a towering force
Thinking like a librarian is second nature for Gillian Harris from Tower Hamlets SLS. As she’s due to retire in autumn 2023 we asked for the standout moments helping the right books and collections get to children, and the adults who...
Interview
Nina Simon: The Coronation, the King and Me
It was just another workday, when an email popped into my inbox from ‘Honours Mailbox’ inviting me to the King’s Coronation. My first reaction was “is this a scam’? On confirming its authenticity, my next thought was “why me?’ ...
Interview
Francis Gerard: The Global Storyteller
Author, film maker, museum creator and raconteur Francis Gerard has definitely lived an “adventurous life”. Here he shares his love of books, Chinese culture, the San bushmen of South Africa and sci-fi....
Interview
St Mary’s Primary School: Shelf Life
When Year 6s from St Mary’s Primary school asked for a library where they could relax and enjoy books, Deputy Head Amanda Bishop sought advice from Wandsworth Learning Resources Service. Amanda and librarian J Lythgoe meet to discuss...
Interview
Adam Bushnell: The pun is mightier than the sword
How reading bedtime stories to children on a school trip to Michael Morpurgo’s Devon farm helped primary teacher Adam Bushnell become a polymath author....
Interview
SF Said: Love cat library
Author SF Said talks about the ways libraries are important for his writing life and introduces his new book, Tyger....
Interview
Lucy Brandt: Nothing is impossible if you use your imagination
There’s a new, super inventive science series on the fiction shelves for six to nine-year-olds with diverse characters - Leonora Bolt. Here author Lucy Brandt talks about her inspirations and hope to highlight the joy of STEM subjects...
Interview
Shelfie Love
Preston-based Jake Hope has found all sorts of ways to bring the best reading to children, especially those living in the north of England. Here he discusses how children’s books and libraries make life better....
Interview
Teachers Perspective: Why we buy a subscription service
Short film exploring how and why Teachers and Head Teachers are buying a SLS UK learning resources subscription from Wandsworth Council....
Interview
Caroline Bilton: Good, better, best practice in Primary Schools
In Northumberland Deputy Head Caroline Bilton’s push for better reading skills, especially amongst children from disadvantaged backgrounds, has seen her take up an extra training role helping teachers use best practice. Interview by...
Interview
Miranda Mckearney: What’s your empathy superpower?
Where did the idea of book-based empathy building come from? And what are the highlights of Empathy Day on June 9? Miranda Mckearney from the EmpathyLab explains. Interview by Nicola Baird...
Interview
David Pullar: Scotland’s Traveller legacy
“Let me tell you a little story…” is the way author David Pullar starts many of his answers....
Interview
Victoria Williamson: Lessons from The Ugly Duckling
Long stints working teaching with Voluntary Service Overseas, and a travel habit, have inspired Scottish teacher and author Victoria Williamson’s strangely magical adventures which show readers how it feels to be someone else, ranging...
Interview
Alan Gibbons: For the many
Find out more about the author who launched National Libraries Week....
Interview
Nina Simon: Recognition of a career bringing libraries to life
Just how much do you need to love books to be a librarian? Manager of Redbridge SLS Nina Simon explains to Nicola Baird....
Interview
An interview with Sonia Blandford
Sonia Blandford is the founder and CEO of Achievement for All. A prolific author, Sonia’s titles include the brilliantly honest Born to Fail? Social Mobility, A Working Class View....
Interview
An interview with Chitra Soundar
Chitra Soundar is the author of more than 40 books for children who identifies as a “dreamer, bookworm, writer, author, storyteller” and has a real passion for picture books with stories you want to read aloud....
Interview