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aSLA school libary advocate award

2026 winner - Ela Sircelj, Loreto Kirribilli, NSW

This national award recognises a dedicated individual who advocates for their school library and has made a positive contribution to their school community and beyond.

Ela was presented with her award by the President of Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ, Martha Itcovitz, in a ceremony on June 5, 2026. 

Ela Sircelj has been awarded the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ School Library Advocate Award in recognition of her outstanding leadership, advocacy, and commitment to school libraries. Through her work at Loreto Kirribilli and across the profession, she has championed the vital role of school libraries in supporting learning, reading, wellbeing, and community connection. Her strategic initiatives, professional engagement and unwavering belief in the value of strong, well-resourced libraries have made a significant impact both within her school and across the wider school library sector.


Read Ela's acceptance speech below:


"It is an absolute honour and privilege to even be nominated for this award by Dr Kay Oddone, and to receive this prestigious national recognition is truly the highlight of my professional career here in Australia. It also brings me back to my education and beginnings in Poland, reminding me how connected and supportive the international library community really is.

Thank you to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Board for this incredible honour, and to my wonderful school Loreto Kirribilli for its ongoing support. To my current and previous principals, Dr Nicole Archard and Anna Dickinson, thank you for always championing the library and the work we do.

To the many amazing library teams I’ve had the pleasure to work with over the years - many of whom are now close friends - thank you for mentoring me (especially Lee FitzGerald, Maggie Swan and Judi Hurst) shaping me professionally, and joining me in so many exciting (and sometimes slightly crazy!) initiatives. This truly feels like our award.

To all fellow librarians doing incredible things in your school libraries: even when it feels like nobody is noticing, someone always is.

And finally, to my family: husband and two daughters - thank you for lovingly embracing life with “the librarian,” for surviving the endless book talks, library adventures, and overflowing bookshelves, and most importantly for being the steady support behind every chapter of this journey."



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