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In April 2012, Softlink conducted the third annual Australian School Library Survey. This paper outlines the findings from the 2012 Softlink School Library Survey into Australian school library budgets, qualified staffing levels and NAPLAN literacy results. Principal findings from the 2012 Softlink Australian School Library Survey include:  There is a positive relationship between well-resourced libraries and higher student literacy outcomes  School library resourcing is inconsistent across school type (primary, secondary, P-12) and education provider (Government, Catholic, Independent)  The majority of school libraries had no change in budgets in the past 12 months  Very few school libraries received additional resources for implementing the National Curriculum  Staffing levels remained unchanged for the majority of school libraries during the past 12 months  There is a strong intention to purchase eBooks in the coming year  Mobile technology (iPod, iPad, smart phone and tablet) use by students is widespread across all school types and education providers and is having a greater impact on the role of the school library  Access to resources outside of the library is considered important by 75% of teacher librarians  80% of all teacher librarians understand the need to integrate with their Learning Management System but only 43% have done so  Teacher Librarians see opportunities to remain relevant and current to staff and students through embracing eBooks and mobile technology  Challenges continue to be: gaining funding, finding a balance between the physical and digital collection, collaboration with teaching staff and the recognition of Teacher Librarian's skills and their evolving role The outcomes from the 2012 survey again show the correlation between school library budgets and literacy levels. This link between funding and literacy is an issue facing schools and their libraries worldwide.

The following is a guest blog post by Dr. Greg Farley. Greg is the Director of Technology at Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District and an Adjunct Professor and course developer at the Graduate Schools of Education at Monmouth University and Drew University. Greg also conducts workshops at K-12 schools and universities and mentors doctoral students and administrators in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Check out his blog Embrace, Adapt, Enhance. I visited Eric's High School on February 24th to observe Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and his implementation of a contemporary learning environment. I was impressed. I was most impressed at Eric's reflection that he was once part of the problem, banning devices from his school rather then embracing the use of the technology. That has changed and Eric trusts his students to interact responsibly with media and communication tools. These expectations are being met by staff and students.

"Citing resources is an important skill for the 21st century students and for any other learner or researcher. I have already included it in my ebook " The 21St Century Skills Teachers and Students Need to Have ". It is a fact universally acknowledged that citing resources nowadays is way harder than it used to be when technology was not a huge issue."

tables that draw together the inquiry skills sequence (F-10) in science, history and the draft geography curriculum. by Mandy Lupton Lecturer in Teacher-Librarianship School of Cultural and Language Studies in Education, Queensland University of Technology Victoria Park Road Kelvin Grove QLD 4059, Australia

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