SARAH PAVEY MSc FCLIP FRSA
Consilium Education library specialist, Sal Flint continues her column – School Readers – in which she talks to educators about their favourite books. This month’s Reader is Sarah Pavey.
Why ‘School Readers?’
We all urge kids to read, but how has reading shaped our own personal and professional lives? I want to know which four books have most influenced the people I talk to – an unforgettable children’s book, a novel, a work of non-fiction and a ‘go-to’ book about education.
This month’s School Reader is Sarah Pavey – renowned author, consultant, and professional musician. Over the years, Sarah is an educator I have greatly admired and respected. She speaks her mind, shares her expertise generously, and holds a wealth of knowledge about literacy and education. It’s a real privilege to share her four School Reader’s Choice picks with you.
After more than 20 years as a professional school librarian, Sarah launched her training and consultancy business, SP4IL, full-time in 2014. With a background in Biochemistry (BSc Hons) and Information Science (MSc), she is currently undertaking a PhD by prior publication at Napier University, Edinburgh, exploring the impact of curriculum changes on the role of school librarians.
She has authored numerous books for the school library sector – most recently The Networked Librarian and Playing Games in the School Library, both published by Facet.
Outside of her educational work, Sarah performs in ceilidhs and themed musical evenings, from medieval to music hall, with several bands – most notably the wonderfully named Dove’s Vagaries.
Although she doesn’t consider herself a natural reader, Sarah’s insatiable curiosity and love of playing with information shape her quirky and engaging approach to literature. Her book choices reflect that perfectly!
Sarah Pavey’ ’s ‘four books’
(Click the book cover to follow the link to Amazon)
1. Mike Jay: The Air Loom Gang
I have to say I am more a fan of “faction,” I also have an interest in psychology and psychiatry. I read this book over 10 years ago, and now it seems relevant again in an age of conspiracy theories. I love the intertwining of history with the science of mesmerism that was popular then and the international slant. You are left at the end questioning yourself about factual evidence and reasoning.
What it’s about:
The Air Loom Gang tells the true story of James Tilly Matthews, one of the most complex and bizarre ever recorded in the history of madness. Confined in Bedlam, the world’s most notorious madhouse, Matthews believed his mind was being manipulated by an ‘influencing machine’ called the Air Loom, operated by a sinister undercover gang of French Revolutionaries who were controlling the minds of politicians and generals and plunging France and England into war. But his case was even stranger than his doctors realised, for many of the seemingly incredible conspiracies he claimed to have been involved in were, it transpired, all too real…
2. Janelle Shane: You Look Like a Thing and I Love You
This wonderful book is now 5 years old but still represents a great read about Artificial Intelligence and the beginnings of it reaching a wider audience. It was a comfort read in times of COVID for me and very funny in parts. The title refers to an AI bot writing chat-up lines! It got me hooked on playing around with the chatbots when they became available.
What it’s about:
This book explores the quirks and limitations of artificial intelligence in an engaging, humorous way. The author explains how AI learns and makes decisions and often fails spectacularly due to its narrow understanding of the world. She highlights how AI can generate bizarre outputs, like impractical self-driving car strategies, using entertaining real-world examples. The book emphasises that AI lacks true comprehension and common sense, despite its impressive abilities in pattern recognition. Ultimately, Shane demystifies AI, making it accessible and showing why human oversight is crucial in AI applications.
3. Annemaree Lloyd: The Qualitative Landscape of Information Literacy Research: Perspectives, Methods and Techniques
As part of my PhD studies researching information and digital literacy competencies teaching in schools, one area I investigated was the use of terminology. Through this, I understood that the evolution of these skills was influenced by information literacy developed through a cross-curricula approach, unlike the discipline structure of information technology. I came across this book in my literature search and found it so insightful and helpful in understanding the questions I needed to answer and the methodologies I needed to use.
What it’s about:
This book explores qualitative research approaches within the field of information literacy. It discusses key theories, methodologies and methods that have shaped our understanding of information literacy and its investigation. It covers situating and informing information literacy research, framing information literacy pedagogy, qualitative methods, data collection techniques, research planning, and evaluation. Each chapter includes examples illustrating the application of theories, pedagogical frameworks, methods, and tools. It is an excellent introduction to exploring information literacy as a discipline.
4. Norton Juster: The Phantom Tollbooth
I love this book. I could read it over and over again. It is so funny, yet it has deep meanings and important lessons. I read it to my daughter when she was about 7, and she was rolling about with laughter at the Awful Dynne and loved the bit about the half–boy too (who looks after averages as he is the 0.58 of the average 2.58 children in a family). It is a glorious and clever read about words, numbers, and life lessons. I still pick it up and re-read it when I am on holiday.
What it‘s about
The story follows a bored boy, Milo, who unexpectedly receives a magical tollbooth that transports him to the whimsical Kingdom of Wisdom. He embarks on a quest to rescue the banished princesses, Rhyme and Reason, alongside his companions, Tock the Watchdog and the Humbug. Along the way, he travels through lands like Dictionopolis and Digitopolis, encountering eccentric characters that personify concepts like knowledge, language, and numbers. Through his journey, Milo learns the value of curiosity, learning, and seeing the world with a sense of wonder. The book is filled with clever wordplay, puns, and thought-provoking lessons. By the end, Milo discovers that adventure and knowledge exist all around him—even in his ordinary life.
What Sarah is reading at the moment:
Fiction: A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa
Non-Fiction: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
Sally Flint, is a Senior Consultant specialising in school library development at Consilium Education.
If you would like to share your four School Readers, write to ITM on –
FEATURE IMAGE: from Pixabay
