Behind the Shelves
By Vlotina Souflias

Over the course of ten enriching days, I had the privilege of completing a professional placement at the National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature (NCACL). As a Master of Education (Teacher Librarianship) student, this experience allowed me to step into the world of information professionals and contribute meaningfully to the centre’s important work.

The NCACL is more than just a library: this unique archival institution is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and celebrating Australian children’s literature. It is a space where stories are not only stored, but also carefully curated for education, research and cultural appreciation.

I was fortunate to be immersed in a variety of activities during my placement, gaining valuable experience and knowledge not only in the role of information professionals and how they curate their many resources, but also the role NCACL plays for educators, researchers, and students. As part of this experience, one of my main responsibilities was to continue and manage a research file on Jessica Townsend, author of the beloved Nevermoor fantasy series.

Research files at NCACL are detailed records that gather press articles, interviews, reviews and promotional material, all categorised for ease of access. I sorted, labelled and preserved materials into themes like book launches, author interviews, promotions and critical reviews. This involved printing/photocopying the material, using archival materials like plastic paper clips, and applying a classification system which involved labelling the author’s surname and a letter to represent the category it falls into, before the file is stored. This file is then used for any future information on the author, which would be added into the file.

It was fascinating to see how much thought and precision goes into building an author’s profile not only to record their achievements, but to give future researchers and educators a clear lens into their literary journey.

Alongside this I also worked on creating annotated bibliographies for a range of picture books, including titles featured in the centre’s cultural diversity database. This task involved reading each book closely, summarising the story in clear, accessible language, and reflecting on how the text and illustrations support themes of inclusion, identity, celebration, and cultural understanding. Another enriching perspective was the rare books collection. Yet another was the amazing ephemera collection, and the process to document, describe and store the collection so it is accessible and easy to find when needed.

Two standout titles I worked with were Just One Bee by Margarete Lamond, a beautiful metaphor for resilience and environmental change, and What Do You Do to Celebrate? by Ashleigh Barton, which explores global celebrations and traditions through the eyes of children. Writing annotations for these books was both a creative and analytical task. It pushed me to consider how each story could be used in the classroom to support both literacy and social understanding.

Being surrounded by thousands of children’s books, original artworks, and the dedication of the NCACL team was inspiring. I gained hands-on insight into the kinds of behind the scenes work that support teacher librarians, educators, and researchers across Australia.

My placement reinforced what I have been learning in my studies, that teacher librarians play a vital role as curators of knowledge, literacy leaders, and advocators of diversity. I am incredibly grateful to the NCACL team for welcoming me into their world of stories, books, artwork and other resource materials. This placement has not only deepened my professional skills but also my appreciation for the continual power that Australian children’s literature and authors bring to the world of books, and the tireless work that goes into the resources in the collection.

Vlotina Souflias: Master of Education (Teacher Librarianship) student and a primary school teacher for eight years. Vlotina has worked in several industries and has four other degrees. She enjoys promoting reading for pleasure and encourages children to appreciate the world of books and the role that libraries have in our society.

NB the Selby dog toy in the feature image is unique to the NCACL.

Posted by: NCACL | Published: 03 Oct 2025