Queensborough Middle School teacher-librarian named Librarian of the Year
New Westminster, B.C. 鈥� Queensborough Middle School鈥檚 teacher-librarian Lisa Seddon was named 鈥淟ibrarian of the Year鈥� this month by the BC Teacher-Librarians鈥� Association (BCTLA) and honoured with a plaque for her outstanding work in the field. She received the Diana Poole Memorial Award at an October 25 ceremony in Victoria.
Seddon was nominated by her New Westminster Secondary School (NWSS) colleague and fellow teacher-librarian, Sarah Wethered, who wanted to spotlight her contributions and believed the efforts deserved recognition.
鈥淟isa is an amazing educator and friend,鈥� said Wethered. 鈥淚 believe I have become a better, more thoughtful teacher-librarian through my work with her and mini传媒 is a better place because she works here.鈥�
Seddon has worked as QMS鈥檚 teacher-librarian for seven years and now temporarily divides her time between the middle school and NWSS. Her work includes an effort to decolonize the QMS non-fiction library catalogue by switching from the Dewey Decimal Classification to a modified version of the Brian Deer Classification. The initiative began in mid-2023 and marks a change to a more flexible and equitable way to organize information and resources at the school鈥檚 library. Re-cataloguing the QMS non-fiction collection finished in June of this year.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a lot of hard work, but it鈥檚 honestly a labour of love,鈥� said Seddon. 鈥淚 get such a sense of satisfaction when I shelve the books and can put Indigenous content front and centre where it belongs.鈥�
In addition to her teacher-librarian duties at QMS and NWSS, Seddon is vice-president of the BCTLA and has served in its executive for the last six years.
The BCTLA鈥檚 Diana Poole Memorial Award is the organization鈥檚 highest honour. It recognizes practicing teacher-librarians who make outstanding contributions to teacher-librarianship at and beyond the school level in British Columbia.
According to the award鈥檚 criteria, nominated individuals must 鈥渄emonstrate planning and implementation of a school library program of such exemplary quality that it [serves] as a model and inspiration for others.鈥� Other requirements may include leadership, commitment to professional growth, and/or sharing of ideas and resources.