A Moray librarian has booked herself a place in the final of a national competition.
Shelagh Toonen, who works at Elgin Academy, is the only Scottish contender to be named the UK school librarian of the year.
She was nominated for the prestigious award by her counterparts in Moray’s seven other secondary schools after being seen to inspire pupils into reading.
Mrs Toonen said: “I feel honoured and privileged that my school library colleagues felt they could nominate me. It’s very humbling.
“We work as a group and I believe the work we do can help with literacy and attainment.
“All the staff are so supportive – they see the library as a dynamic and diverse centre within the school. The whole school values it and uses it really well.”
The region is one of the few in Scotland to have a fully qualified librarian in each of its secondary schools.
They get together at least once a term to come up with exciting new ideas to encourage reading amongst pupils.
Mrs Toonen has been based at Elgin Academy for five years after spending 20 years as librarian at Buckie High School.
Just last month she gave a passionate presentation to Education Secretary John Swinney when he visited the school.
Students support her in her work by acting as volunteers to help younger pupils build confidence in their reading skills.
A panel of judges from the School Library Association will visit the Mrs Toonen at work next month to see the activities she has developed through the year groups before the winner is announced.
Elgin Academy head teacher David Barnett praised Mrs Toonen’s enthusiasm as “inspirational” in providing a range of experiences for pupils at the school.
He said: “Shelagh has ensured that the library is central to the school’s work and the impact that she has had on literacy cannot be underestimated.”
