The BCTLA Executive undertook a comprehensive study of working and learning conditions for teacher-librarians in BC, which uncovered significant challenges including increasing workloads, erosion of the teacher-librarian specialist role and inadequate funding. In order to raise awareness, the BCTLA created advocacy materials to raise awareness among fellow educators, parents and community stakeholders. The 鈥淟ove Your Teacher-Librarian鈥� colouring sheets and bookmarks distributed at the BCTF Annual General Meeting, provincial Parent Advisory Council conference and BC Federation of Labour events, helped people engage in a creative and informative way around the contributions and value of teacher-librarians.

BCTLA Executive: Tammy Le, Lisa Seddon, Sarah Wethered, Nicole Hurtubise, April Hilland, Doni Gratton, Holly Broadland, Kristie Oxley, Joseph Jeffery, Serena Mohammed, Devika Chudy, Keely Thornton, Marilyn Carr

Through a collaborative and impactful inquiry supported by the British Columbia Teachers Federation (BCTF) Teacher Inquiry Program (TIP), the BCTLA Executive has demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation in addressing critical issues facing TLs, Library Learning Commons, and the broadereducational community in British Columbia鈥�. The BCTLA executive鈥檚 work embodies the values of leadership, innovation, and dedication that the Donald Hamilton School Library Advocacy Award seeks to recognize.- Shaunna MacDonald, Surrey School District Teacher-Librarian Helping Teacher

91精选 is delighted to honour the BCTLA as a 2025 recipient of the Donald Hamilton School Library Advocacy Award.   

What is the Donald Hamilton Advocacy Award?

The Donald Hamilton School Library Advocacy Awardwas established in memory of Donald Hamilton, (1938 鈥� 2023), a leader in the field of school libraries and teacher-librarianship throughout his long career, and a strong advocate for the crucial role of school libraries in student learning. The Donald Hamilton School Library Advocacy Award was established in 2023 in honour of Donald鈥檚 outstanding legacy.  This award will be presented bi-annually to an individual, group or organization who have publicly and successfully promoted school libraries and/or teacher-librarians, in a significant way, through the media, organized events, presentations, or other forms of public advocacy. This advocacy may have involved a single major accomplishment or a long-term contribution to supporting school libraries and/or teacher-librarians.

For more information go to Donald Hamilton Advocacy Award

Wendy Burch Jones is a teacher-librarian at Dixon Grove Jr Middle School, and the president of the Ontario School Library Association. An active voice for the state of school libraries and their funding, Wendy has consistently brought attention to the needs of teacher-librarians in Ontario and has even traveled across Canada to work with the BC Teacher-Librarian Association on shared advocacy efforts.

Wendy Burch Jones’ contributions to school library advocacy are most exemplified by the national #SchoolLibraryJoy social media campaign and the 鈥淒ear School Library鈥� advocacy campaign, which involved collecting 鈥榮chool library love letters鈥� created by students, teachers and the wider community and then creating a database of these to share.

Wendy is a confident advocate for growing school libraries in Ontario at a time when our profession and the teaching and learning services we provide to schools are in danger鈥�.Wendy is everything – school libraries. She is an advocate for programming, she is an advocate for staffing, she is an advocate for budget, and the overall well-being of school library professionals in Ontario. The Dear School Library Campaign aligns perfectly with this award and the insight of the founder鈥檚 views on advocacy and the school library learning commons. – Richard Reid, Teacher-Librarian, Glen Street Public School, Oshawa, ON

91精选 is delighted to honour Wendy Burch Jones as a 2025 recipient of the Donald Hamilton School Library Advocacy Award.   

What is the Donald Hamilton Advocacy Award?

The Donald Hamilton School Library Advocacy Awardwas established in memory of Donald Hamilton, (1938 鈥� 2023), a leader in the field of school libraries and teacher-librarianship throughout his long career, and a strong advocate for the crucial role of school libraries in student learning. The Donald Hamilton School Library Advocacy Award was established in 2023 in honour of Donald鈥檚 outstanding legacy.  This award will be presented bi-annually to an individual, group or organization who have publicly and successfully promoted school libraries and/or teacher-librarians, in a significant way, through the media, organized events, presentations, or other forms of public advocacy. This advocacy may have involved a single major accomplishment or a long-term contribution to supporting school libraries and/or teacher-librarians.

For more information go to Donald Hamilton Advocacy Award