Here we go - 2022!

Welcome to 2022 - and whatever that will bring for us all!   It has been an interesting couple of years so far! 

A big welcome to our new staff as well.  And please don't listen to any scary stories that the other staff tell you about me - it's all fibs!  I am truly the sweetest person around here!  

Please see below for a brief run through of what is available/offered through the Library.  If you have any questions, please just ask and any suggestions would be appreciated as well. 

"Below is a list of some of what we can help you with. I put this list up each year, so if you go back through the posts, it is all there. Anything else? If there is something that you think we can help with, just come and have a chat. We have learned to be fairly good at pulling rabbits out of hats and we also like a challenge - most days anyway!  

• Looking for a particular book or resource? Come and talk to us. We can organise an Inter-library-Loan or help you find where to purchase it.
• Resources: Books, DVDs, Magazines and Newspapers, iPad sets, Digital Cameras, Video Recorders, Computer Mice sets, Data Projectors, Teacher Reference, Chess sets,.. 
• IWB area and a bank of computers, as well as laptops that are available to be booked for classes.  The B3/B4 laptop trolley is only to be used in the Library area, however.
• Help with research, proofreading of assignments, suggestions for books to read - we are your people.
• A place to display your amazing class work.
• Collation of websites and ideas for subjects/classes
• Booking sheets for: Library areas, F Block Laptops, Headphones, iPads and now for the Computer Room as well. 

Students have a 3 week borrowing period while staff have a month. For most of the resources, we can adjust the loaning period for whatever is needed - at least till the end of term. However, this doesn't include the AV materials - that is a 1 week loan period only.

The school also subscribes to the TV4Ed system so if you are looking for something that has been screened on TV at some point, let me know and I will do my best to find it and put it on the school system for you to access.  This often solves the problem of staggering and buffering while streaming the program.  I can usually have the required programs up on the system within 24 hours - assuming that they are available on TV4ED, of course. "

So ... here's wishing you all an awesome term/year with lots of books and reading involved.  Let me know any way that I can be of help to you this year. 

Library Displays Term 3

Well, after a lengthy run of no posts for various reasons, let's try to get this back up and running. 

We are into Week 4, Term 3, and with grateful thanks to a couple of teachers, we have some displays up in the Library. 

Octopus

Ms Squires Science class has put up one on Biomes, with 3D Dioramas attached to the wall!  Pretty impressive - the octopus makes me feel like he could reach out and grab me if I'm not careful.   

Solar System Poster

There is also a display on the Solar System - again by Ms Squires and her Science Class.  This includes a couple of posters by Felisha and Meshack about the planets they were researching.  Well done guys - they look great!

 

Ms Juliet has taken over a window for a regular display about her Special Education class and their Library activities.  So far, they have learnt about books and how to handle them and made personalised corner bookmarks.  They have also had a session on the Olympics, and then made an Olympic Torch and had a Torch Run around the Library.  

See below for a few more photos .... 

Poster about Mercury by Felisha

Poster about Mars by Meshack

Middle Years Science

Middle Years Science classes have been working with Miss Squires on Biomes and Ecosystems, with a focus on Human Impact and Environmental Issues.  

For this, they have chosen a creature and made a Diorama of it along with its habitat.  To go with this display, there is also a booklet about their creature and the lifestyle, and where it fits into the food web.  

Below are photos of a few of the gorgeous creations that the classes have done - and these will all be on view in the Art Display that opens tomorrow night.  

Kingsley - Wedge-Tailed Eagle

Nathan - Orca

Jet - Saltwater Crocodile

Estella - Black Flying Fox

Shaun - Black Panther

Displays in the Library

Well, we're into week 2 of term 3 - where has the year gone??  It just seems to have flown by, maybe because of the strange new world that we seem to living in at the moment. 
It has definitely been a odd sort of time so far, but we are all still cruisin' along here.  

Currently we have a couple of new displays in the Library from some of the classes.  

There is one about Volcano's by Year  8 Science where they have made models of various parts of the volcano as well as presenting posters with the relevant information.

and .....  

One from Year 7-9 Science who have been working on the Rock Cycle.  They have made up posters with the information they have learned and these are all up on display.

Along with these, there is a small display of brand new Goosebumps books which have recycled around and become some of the most borrowed books again. These are currently being snapped up .. good thing I have extras to refill the display.

Displays and so on.

Currently I have a small mini display happening in the Library that I am planning to update each week (or so) covering various Genres in the Fiction area.

The one out at the moment is a collection of SPORT titles, and my plan is to try and work my way through most of the Genres in the hopes of catching students interest - as well as giving an understanding of what the pictures on the spines of the books actually mean, and how it can make it easier to choose a book. 

Mr Eckart also has a variety of display boards and posters that his class have done on Indigenous Language and Culture that he updates regularly, and Nurse Beck also regularly updates her board depending on what is happening in her area.  Huge thanks to both of you for keeping it current - and for saving me lots of time.  

We also have a small display of books concerning India tucked in a corner near the magazines which has proven popular for students wanting to flick through stuff - especially the Graphic Novels about Indian myths and legends.  

QR Codes with year 7s.

As some of you know, I have a fascination for QR codes, and using them for learning activities with students.  I think they could be used for most classes...well, I am still trying to apply them to Maths, but I am working on that one.

The last couple of weeks I have had 2 of the year 7 classes come in for a Library Orientation lesson, using QR codes to learn about each area of the Library and it seemed to go well.  At the end of the lesson, in most cases, they could show me all the various areas, and talk about the Library rules and why we have them. 
(I got a lovely thank you card from Mr. Lutwyche's class, which was awesome. Never had that before.) 

Congratulations to Flynn on winning the Swimming Carnival.  Well done!

Currently we have a display up in the Library with a Twitter theme - lots of birds and very short book reviews.  All the books to match are on the display shelf and ready for loan so come borrow a few, or more.  If anyone would like to get their class involved with writing short book reviews to be added to the display, that would be great. 

Also, if anyone would like to have class work displayed here in the Library, please come and see me - I would love it.  (Displays are not my forte, I must admit)

Semester Two

Welcome back to Semester 2, and it is end of week three already.  It is amazing, and a little scary,  just how quickly this year is flying by, isn't it?

All of the new magazines have started arriving and are out on the shelf.  Hyper and Wacky but True seem to be the most popular with the students.  Come and check them out.

I have managed to scrounge up a few 'Choose your own adventure' books to add to the collection as some of the students are right into them.  At the moment I am trying to keep hold of them long enough to catalogue them, while students are hovering, asking 'are they ready yet?'  I think I have had a win this time around, but we may need more to keep everyone happy here.

Quick question- does anyone have any work or similar that they would like to put up on display here in the Library?  If so, please see me, as we have a blank canvas here at the moment.  (And I am a little worried that I may have to get creative myself.  Scary thought.)

Also, if there is anything that you think we may be able to help you with, please come and have a chat.

Wishing you all a nice, lazy weekend - preferrably with lots of reading thrown in.

Random Stuff



A big thank you to Miss Mckenna and Ms McDonald along with Miss Jeanny who have taken over the display board this week.  Looking good ladies. 

Each week there should be a 'new' book on display under the 'Book of the Week' label.  These are not necessarily new books, but ones that I think are well worth taking the time to read.  And with a number of our students reading their way through the Library, especially the series, it seems like a good method of introducing them to authors/genres that they may not  come across otherwise.  This weeks offering was 'Slice' by Steven Herrick, which was borrowed almost as soon as I put it out and next week will be 'Obernewtyn' by Isobelle Carmody, which should satisfy the series lovers in our midst as there are another six books there to be read.



 

This cartoon tickled my librarian sense of humour when I saw it.  But really so true.  Does anyone remember the story? 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and make sure you spend lots of time relaxing and READING!!   Now carry on being your awesome selves.

Counting Down!

Well, 2nd last week of school and counting down! All down now to shelf checking, locating resources, sorting out AV equipment and chasing up staff and students for their last bit of borrowed items.

Miss Mckenna has put up a grand display of students life plan goal boards which were designed and made during PLP classes this term.  They look great and thank you Miss Mckenna for taking care of the displays this semester!

We have had a few new books arrive for the Lee Cook Collection which are now catalogued and on display.  The one which has become popular with students is all about different types of papercrafts - everything from origami to making gift boxes.

A gentle reminder inserted here to please return your borrowed items sooner rather than later so there isn't a mad dash on the last day.

Enjoy your holidays and make sure to spend some of your well-earned break kicked back, relaxing and READING! 

Wishing all of you an awesome Christmas and all the best wherever you plan to be next year.

Update from the Library

It has been a while since I posted on here.  Everything has been on hold for various reasons, but it is good to be back posting again.

I am not sure how long this blog will run for, at least in it's present format, as my postition has been deemed unnecessary by the Department but, I figure, why not go out on a high note?

I have had a fairly easy semester of it, with Miss Mckenna and Miss Jeanny keeping the displays current for me, with all their students work.  Thank you, ladies, it is much appreciated.

We have a number of new  Fiction books that have now been catalogued and are on the display shelves and ready for loan.  Everything from Horror to Mystery and Science Fiction, so come and have a look.  Feel free to take one or two home for closer inspection. 

All the usual plans are underway for the end of the year, which is a bittersweet feeling this time around.  So a reminder that I will be chasing down all resources to be returned by the end of week 8.  Count this as your first (polite) reminder.

If there is anything that you think the Library can help you with, please just ask.  Libraries do a lot more than most people may think and we are no exception.

So have a great day and carry on being awesome!

Happy Library Lovers Day

Happy Library Lovers Day.  I hope you make some time today to gain some of that work-life balance we need and spend some time READING.

Mrs Spina's StepUp class spent some time making posters and bookmarks for our 'Love Your Library' display, and have done a wonderful job.  Come and take a look.

We have a new book in the library that I couldn't resist when I read the blurb.  Check out the details below.

'Breathe'          Genre: Science Fiction

'Oxygen is essential for most living beings.  For 2.5 million years, it was the most abundant chemical element on earth.  Until the Switch.
When oxygen levels plunge in a treeless world, a state lottery decides who will live inside the Pod.  Everyone else will slowly suffocate. 
In a world with NO TREES, NO AIR and NO TRUTH - there is NO CHOICE but to FIGHT BACK'

Well worth a read if you like dystopian stories and there will be more to come as this is the first in a series.

It is on the shelf and ready to borrow.

United Nations & Library Lessons

Lots of work has been happening in the Library recently - especially with the end of Semester 1 on the horizon.  Even though 4 weeks break is coming up fast, there is lots still to do and some very busy little bee's working hard.

 After a visit from the UN Youth delegation, the Year 10s have been learning about the United Nations as well as Human Rights issues and have begun to put together a display in the Library. Their task is to have an in depth look at human rights ledgers.

Coming up next semester is a display on the 2012 Olympics, and we are also in the throes of creating a brand new and improved Year seven library lesson program. QR codes, Wordles, the Dewey rap song and playing around with Prezi. Carrie and I are both very excited about things that are coming up in the next couple of months.

We will do our very best to keep this blog updated with the things that are going on. Next week will be a post about stocktake, and a report on how many people we have had to hound to get items back. It would be good to make it a complete return of items with nothing outstanding. We are happy to tag anything and re-issue it next term.  You just have to ask!

Have a great weekend - and week 10 next week.  Bring it on!