The FSI Blog
ShelfLife
News, guides, and thinking on the future of school libraries and education — for teacher-librarians, principals, and educators across Australia and New Zealand.
Featured Article
TV4Education Now on NSW Government EdBuy Catalogue
NSW government schools can now purchase TV4Education directly through the NSW Government EdBuy catalogue — 180,000+ ad-free, curriculum-aligned videos for under $3 per student per year, with no separate tender required.
The FSI School Library Toolkit: Free Resources for Every Australian School Library
Five free resources for Australian school librarians — a research report, benchmarking tool, reading list, principal conversation guide, and 30 Quick Wins. Built through two years of field research with real Australian librarians.
A Book Has Never Had a Dead Link
A book has never had a dead link. It has never been blocked by a proxy. This is the case for physical books AND curated educational video — and why SmartSuite and TV4Education together deliver the best of both worlds.
SmartSuite's Discovery Page: Like Netflix for Your School Library
SmartSuite's Discovery Page surfaces the best books and videos to your borrowers automatically — they don't need to search, or even know what's in your collection. Trending titles, new arrivals, and curriculum-relevant content appear on their own. With TV4Education integrated, educational videos are surfaced right alongside physical books.
How to Justify Your Library Budget to Your Principal
Getting library funding approved starts with having the right data. Here are five research-backed arguments for library value, plus how to use the free FSI Library Self-Assessment Toolkit to generate benchmark data your principal can act on.
TV4Education vs YouTube: The Definitive Classroom Guide for Australian Schools
Both TV4Education and YouTube are used in Australian school classrooms — but they are not equivalent tools. This guide covers every dimension that matters: safety, copyright, curriculum alignment, pricing, and IT compatibility. The verdict is clear.
Michael Rosen Wins the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award: A Complete School Library Guide
Michael Rosen has been awarded the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award — the highest international honour in children's literature. A guide for school librarians: five essential titles, curriculum connections, and how to find his books and video content.
Community Library Boxes: A Complete School Project Guide
A simple idea that turns weeded school library books into a community resource — built by students, stocked from your library, and connected to your SmartSuite Discovery Page via QR code. Free building schematic available from FSI.
FSI 2026 School Library Toolkit
Six free resources built for Australian school libraries — launching soon. Register your interest and we'll email you the moment it's live.
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