Shadowing Site

		MEET THE JUDGES The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Judges 2011
			Ferelith Hordon Chair of Judges, 2011 I have been a Children’s Librarian now for more years than I care to count – and have never regretted this choice. I started as a Trainee in Hertfordshire and was appointed to Hitchin Library. From there, I moved to Wandsworth – where I have been ever since, working my way round the Borough, watching innumerable children move from Board Books to Picture Books and on. My passion is reading and I firmly believe that there is at least one magical book for everyone. The challenge is to find it. I am committed to the value of great books and storytelling, the power of words and pictures and the difference they can make. I am also a firm believer in professional Children’s Librarianship and being involved in YLG is one of the best ways to achieve this. The icing on the cake is to be a Carnegie judge – and now Chair of the Judging Committee. I am looking forward to the reading – the thinking – and the debate.

			Elizabeth Ryder North West I read English Literature at the University of Leeds where I maintained special interest in children’s fiction, particularly the role of fairy tales in early educational experience. After graduating I spent a couple of years temping in office jobs before taking a place on the MMU Libraries graduate trainee scheme. It was during this time, while working in the Acquisitions department and processing the stock destined for the Children’s Collection, that I had my eyes opened to the incredible variety of children’s literature that exists; not only the wealth of “classic material” but also many marvellous, and often innovative, contemporary works. A stint working at MMU’s Education Library in Didsbury cemented my desire to work with children and young people and I have been lucky enough to be employed as the Librarian at Bury Grammar School for Girls since qualifying in 2007. I seek to run a library that functions both as a well-equipped learning resource and as an environment that encourages pupils to read for pleasure while hopefully exposing them to a wider cross-section of material than they would otherwise be. Needless to say we have always shadowed the CKG medals...

			Rosemary Woodman South East My career with the Berkshire Education Library Service began shortly after I moved to England in the mid-seventies from the USA. With a background in university library work, I was fascinated by the breadth and depth of British children’s literature and relished the opportunity to discover old classics and explore new favourites. The school library service accelerated my immersion into English life. As my family grew, my own three children became in-house barometers for the success of the books I brought home to read. For the past twelve years I have been coordinating ELS’ very popular Carnegie Greenaway Shadowing programme. Over 70 primary, secondary and special schools throughout the Thames Valley joined this year. The children and young people particularly enjoy shadowing because everybody has a voice. I am always encouraged that each year they discover details unnoticed by the adults. My current post as reader development librarian involves leading termly promotional programmes for schools, organising the annual Berkshire Book Festival, providing book talks and inset training, and stock selection. Working with authors, illustrators, publishers and schools to create book events for pupils is particularly rewarding. My special interests include teen fiction, poetry and picture books. I regularly review books for The School Librarian journal and the ELS Online website and am an active member of the South East YLG committee

			Sarah Hillier South West I have worked in Wiltshire for 20 years now, 15 of which I have been County Children’s librarian, firstly on a part time basis alongside being a branch librarian in Trowbridge, then full time since 2003. As County Children’s librarian I manage many promotions, activities, events and training, usually challenging, always rewarding. Since 1994 I have been involved in organising special Wiltshire Carnegie/Greenaway days – where library staff come together to discuss and vote for their favourite books of the year. I have been on the YLG SW Committee for 10 years and have been Chair and Secretary as well as helping to organise many courses. I’m also on the Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians SW Committee. I’ve been reading books for children and young people for many years now and still love it! There are always exciting new authors and illustrators to discover as well as old favourites still producing top class books. Helping children and young people to develop a love of reading is so important and very rewarding. I have a great job, and I‘m lucky to have a hugely passionate and creative team of librarians working with me. Being a Carnegie and Greenaway judge is also a huge privilege and I’m really looking forward to it.

			Steve Palmer West Midlands I have worked in public libraries for 20 years and for 5 years as the Manager of Solihull’s School Library Service and also the Bookstart Co-ordinator. I am now back in public libraries as part of the children’s services team, continuing to work on Bookstart, and organising family learning events. I am also part of the panel that organises the Solihull Children’s Book Award and offer reading choices to teenagers and children using our Book Doctor service. I love reading children’s and young adult books and I am really looking forward to the challenge and reward of being part of the panel of judges for the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals.

			Gabrielle Spillman North East I qualified in 2003, but have only been working in public libraries since 2008 – until then I worked in the library at the Royal Northern College of Music. I joined Gateshead Libraries’ Youth Services Team in 2009, and I’m really enjoyin it – there’s a lot of variety in my job. One of my favourite parts of the job is going out to schools to do ‘book workshops’, which are all about reading for pleasure. I’ve become an avid reader of children’s literature, and can be found with my nose in a book most lunch times! This will be my first year as a judge and I’m really looking forward to being involved in these awards.

			Tracey Acum Yorkshire and the Humber The first 10 years of my career were spent working with teenagers as the Librarian in a sixth form college in Hull. I then became a Community Librarian for Hull City Council Library Service, a role I have now been in for 7 years. This means that I work with a wide range of people, young and old. I enjoy the variety, but particularly enjoy working with children and families. For children my work includes delivering Chatterbooks reading groups, story times, and class visits for schools. I also take part in the selection of children’s books for the library service in Hull. I am on the working group that runs the Hull Children’s Book Awards which involves me reading and reviewing children’s books, as well as leading discussion groups prior to, and as part of the city’s voting event. What with this and my monthly reading group for adults my pile of books waiting to be read never seems to get any smaller, but the reward comes through finding new favourites every year. I am Treasurer of the Yorkshire and the Humber branch of YLG. This provides a valuable insight into the Library World outside of Hull, and I have made friends across the region in the process. I am really looking forward to the experience of being a judge for the Carnegie and Greenaway Medals. It will be a challenge, but an enjoyable one I’m sure.

			Sioned Jacques Wales I have worked at North East Wales Schools Library Service for the last 13 years ever since graduating in Information and Library Studies at Aberystwyth and have book selection responsibility for literacy and Welsh language stock. I've always been interested in children books especially picture books and have taken part over the years in many regional selections for the awards and enjoyed the experience immensely. I have been one of the judges for the Tir Na-n-og Welsh Children's Book Prize. I look forward to a second year of intense judging.

			Sean Edwards London I started work at CABI (Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International) Institute of Parasitology in 1986 in St Albans and have always been a book worm. I have specialised in children's work for the past 19 years and in the last five years I have managed the Children's Library Service in the London Borough of Haringey. I am passionate about all aspects of children's library work and have enjoyed meeting many authors and publishers over this time. I met J.K. Rowling in 1998 when she was presented with a runner-up prize at the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway ceremony - you can see my head in clips of the event. I am looking forward to participating in great debates over this year's CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Children's Book Awards.

			Lesley Martin Eastern Since chartering in 1986 have worked in a variety of roles including college, school and public libraries and have a lot of experience with young people. I have been in my current post as Librarian at an independent school in Suffolk since 2001, working with pupils from Reception to Sixth Form, and have been shadowing the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals with Years 4-8 for several years. I also review books regularly for the School Librarian journal. I have been an active member of the Independent Schools Librarians Group (South East) since 2001 and am a School Library Association Board Member. I am a firm believer in the value of reading for pleasure and love to see the excitement on the children's faces when a book Ôclicks' for them.

			Kate Lister East Midlands I have worked in public libraries for the last eight years and undertook an MA in Library and Information Management in 2005. My current role as Customer Service Librarian at Market Harborough Library, which I have been doing for the last five years, involves contact with children from 0-18 years on a daily basis from tiny babies at our weekly Wriggly Readers, work with primary aged children via school visits to supporting my monthly teen reading group. I am currently Chair of the East Midlands CILIP Youth Libraries Group committee, previously holding the role as Vice-Chair and Treasurer. This will be my second year as Carnegie/Kate Greenaway judge and am very much looking forward to putting my previous year’s experience into this year’s judging.

			Eilidh McDonald Scotland I finished my Masters degree in Librarianship in 2008 following an Honours Degree in English studies, and began my first professional post in August the same year. I am now in my second year at Dollar Academy, one of the largest private schools in Scotland. I have always been an avid reader - my Gran gave my first book when I was three days old and I have loved books ever since. I am very excited about being a judge for the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals. I am certain it will be an interesting two years!