Lochaber’s Shelagh named top librarian
Elgin Academy librarian and Lochaber native Shelagh Toonen has been named Scotland’s Library and Information Professional of the Year at the annual conference of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIPS) in Scotland, held in Dundee.
It follows Shelagh’s achievement in November when she became the only Scottish member of the three-strong shortlist for the final of the UK School Librarian of the Year award. Although she missed out on the top prize in that particular award, Shelagh’s work with pupils was singled out as exemplary by judges.
On her latest award, Shelagh, a former pupil of Banavie primary and Lochaber high schools, whose parents Mike and Mairi Cameron live in Fort William’s Achintore Roard, said she was delighted.
‘Winning this award and being recognised by my profession is thrilling. I really enjoy being a school librarian,’ she said.
David Barnett, head teacher at Elgin Academy, paid tribute, saying: ‘Shelagh is an inspirational professional who makes a major contribution to the very good levels of literacy attainment in the school. There is always something happening in the library to capture the imagination of our young people.’
Shelagh, a school librarian for more than 25 years, was nominated for the award in recognition of her development of the library as a welcoming productive learning environment. Shelagh has an infectious love of books and reading, and is a passionate believer in the power of literacy to change people’s lives and open more doors to opportunities for youngsters.
‘Being a school librarian is about working with people. I always wanted to work with young people and have had a lifelong love of books,’ Shelagh told the Lochaber Times in November.
‘School libraries have a pivotal role in helping develop literacy skills and developing a love of reading. There’s also a critical role in school libraries helping more vulnerable children, who have no access to reading, to develop into readers.’