The Booklegger
Rick Susman: library consulting
The Booklegger was founded by Rick Susman in October 1977, with a vision of creating independent learners and providing library reference and non-fiction books, based on curricula, to schools in Australia.
By 1985, Rick was providing support to school library & subject associations and curriculum writers and created bibliographies for 6 subject areas with the introduction of the VCE (new year 11-12 curriculum in Victoria, Australia) from 1987.
He started a unique consulting service in 1986, building library collections from scratch on behalf of librarians, starting with the initial collection, chosen entirely by Rick, at the Broadmeadows College of Technical & Further Education (start-up budget of A$170,000.
Rick spent 2 years building an entirely new collection for Wesley College, Melbourne, after a fire destroyed their library (27,000 titles, sourced in Australia, USA & UK with a budget of A$1,000,000).
International school collection development includes
PORT MORESBY INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL: Supply of books for 3 years including recommendations based on curriculum
QUEEN SALOTE COLLEGE, TONGA: School visit for 7 days, interview of academic staff and selection of books supplied to the value of A$100,000
PREM CENTRE, Chang Mai, THAILAND: School visit for 7 days, interview of academic staff and selection of books for establishment of library collection, PYP, MYP & IB to the value of A$150,000
UTAHLOY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Guangzhou CHINA: School visit for 7 days, interview of academic staff and selection of books for library collection development, PYP, MYP & IB to the value of A$120,000
CHINESE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, HONG KONG: 2 School visits, interviewS of academic staff and selection of books for library collection development, MYP & IB to the value of A$150,000
UTAHLOY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, Guangzhou CHINA: School visit for 7 days, interview of academic staff and selection of books for library collection development, MYP & IB to the value of A$100,000
DISCOVERY COLLEGE, HONG KONG: After consultation with the librarian who had been appointed but not yet begun at college, Rick spoke with the Vice Principal, who supplied MYP curriculum and requested immediate supply of books to the value of $100,000, required within 14 days.
Rick has also worked extensively with major IB schools around Australia, such as: MLC Melbourne; Kardinia College, Geelong; Carey Grammar, Melbourne; Geelong Grammar; PLC, Melbourne; St Paul’s Grammar, NSW; St Peter’s Lutheran College, Queensland; Woodcroft College, South Australia.
Rick has just completed a consultant’s report on collection development & the future of the library for Bialik College in Melbourne.
Updated October 2010
Sample of book mailings you can sign up for: May 2010 PDF (NB: Prices in Australian dollars)
Article by Rick which will be published in Australia this year: Libraries setting the agenda for research [See attachment below which you can view or download]
Contact Rick at rick@booklegger.com.au or sales@booklegger.com.au