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.

Australian History as Fiction

Another new title for our shelves - this one is part of the My Australian Story series which are historical novels for older children.  Each book is written in the style of a fictional diary of a young person living during an important time period or an event that happened during Australian history.  

We already have a number on the shelves, dealing with subjects such as Ballarat goldfields, Bombing of Darwin, Cyclone Tracy and this new one is about the Snowy River Scheme.


Blurb:
Eva Fischer has moved to Cabramurra, the highest town in Australia. Eva feels on top of the world too. Surrounded by people of every nationality, Eva makes new friends and tries strange foreign food - such as pizza. Eva learns to ski and ride, and even learns that being half German isn't so bad after all. But all around her, momentous things are happening. The Snowy Mountains Scheme is underway, huge dams have been built, tunnels constructed, homes abandoned, people lost...

 They are a great series, well written and suck you into the story.  Well worth a read.

New titles in the Library

I am often surprised how quickly time slips away - you get busier than usual and then whoosh - here you are nearly 6 weeks later and no new posts.  And it isn't as if nothing has been happening either ... Sports Day, PD Day and so on.

We have had a few new titles arrive in the Library, which are all now processed and on display ready to be borrowed.  A couple of these were requests from the students - if bitterly complaining that the next in the series they are reading wasn't available could be called a request.  (I chose to see it as such)

Ghost in the Billabong: by Jackie French
 This is the fifth title in her historical fiction series which is loosely based around the song 'Waltzing Maltilda' and follows the lives of a family through from the 1800s.  
In this book, hippies wear beads, demonstrators march against the Vietnam War, and the world waits to see the first human steps on the moon's surface. But at Gibbers Creek, Jed Kelly sees ghosts, from the past and future, at the Drinkwater billabong where long ago the swaggie leaped to his defiant death. But is seventeen-year-old Jed a con artist or a survivor? When she turns up at Drinkwater Station claiming to be the great-granddaughter of Matilda Thompson's dying husband, Jed clearly has secrets.  Set during the turbulence of the late 1960s, this was a time when brilliant and little-known endeavours saw Australia play a vital role in Neil Armstrong's 'one giant leap for mankind' on that first unforgettable moon walk.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 3: by Jeff Kinney
 Let’s face it: Greg Heffley will never change his wimpy ways. Somebody just needs to explain that to Greg’s father. You see, Frank Heffley actually thinks he can get his son to toughen up, and he enlists Greg in organized sports and other "manly” endeavors. Of course, Greg is easily able to sidestep his father’s efforts to change him. But when Greg’s dad threatens to send him to military academy, Greg realizes he has to shape up . . . or get shipped out.


Wool: by Hugh Howey 
 'Wool' is another of the dystopian books that the students seem to love and is billed as the 'next Hunger Games'.
 In a ruined and hostile landscape, in a future few have been unlucky enough to survive, a community exists in a giant underground silo.
Inside, men and women live an enclosed life full of rules and regulations, of secrets and lies.
To live, you must follow the rules. But some don't. These are the dangerous ones; these are the people who dare to hope and dream, and who infect others with their optimism.
Their punishment is simple and deadly. They are allowed outside.
Jules is one of these people. 
She may well be the last. 

 These are available and ready for loan now so come on in and have a browse.  Lots more stuff here to catch your attention, I promise.

Another Dystopian title added

It seems that stories about Dystopian societies are all the go with the teens at the moment .. Hunger Games, Divergent, Maze Runner and the like.

So to keep the readers of the school happy - we have a new title on the shelf and ready for loan - 'Matched' by Ally Condie.  This is the first in a trilogy and having read it myself, it is certainly a thought-provoking book.    

Imagine living in a world where everything is decided for you: what you eat, where you live, when you die, who you love, even which poems, stories and paintings are worth keeping. The Officials who run Cassia’s society leave nothing up to choice. It makes for a more equal and controlled world. A better world. A less cluttered world. A calmer and less complicated world.
But what happens when someone starts to question the choices made for them - and worse still, wants to make their own choices?

What do you do? How do you deal with it?

Four: A Divergent Collection

With the upcoming release of the second movie in this series, there is renewed interest in reading, or in some cases, re-reading this series.

New to our Library today is a short story collection focusing on 'Four' - one of the main characters in the series.  These stories take the reader back before the start of the 'Divergent' series, and give an insight into his motivations and plans. 

If anyone wants it - I will have to put it on hold for them ... as it has just been borrowed by a very excited student, who has left with a huge smile.  

Makes it all worthwhile, methinks!  

New Books on Display

We have some new titles on the display shelves at the moment.  A community member generously donated a collection of books by Anthony Horowitz - namely the Alex Rider series and the Power of Five series.  

These fit into the genres of Adventure and Horror respectively, so should suit a number of the students.
 
We are missing an odd one here and there from the series - but that's OK.  
If people want to read them, I can get them!  We can do Inter-library-loans here - and there is always the Public Library, who have a great collection of titles ready and waiting to be borrowed.  

So come in and check them out!  If these are not your 'thing' let me know what is - and I will do my best to try and provide it for you.  

Latest Books in the Library

Just a quick post to let you know about two new books in the Library this week, already catalogued and ready for loan. 

The first title is a book that has been donated to the school by our Chief Minister and has been written by two local NT Historians who are based in Darwin.  The book is titled  'Battling: Territorians and their War" 
From the blurb on the back of the book:   This is the story of the Territorians war, of how  they battled for their country and then had to battle for the right to come home and rebuild their lives.  Eventually they triumphed and, out of the ashes of war, they created the modern Northern Territory. This book gives all Australians the chance to know and understand the human consequences of what happened to ordinary people during Australia's sternest test.


The other title is one that was requested by a student, and is actually not yet available in Australia.  Yay us!!  It won't even be released for publication here till the beginning of April.

It is number 5, and is the final one in the Virals series, written by Kathy Reichs and is called 'Terminal'.  It concludes the story of Tory and her Virals pack as they battle against another pack - The Trinity - who appear to be stronger than they are and are intent on handing them over to a mysterious government agency.  One Pack, One Territory! Who will win?

Come in, have a look, borrow one - or a few.  Then maybe write me a review that I can post on here.  Easy as!

New Books in the Library

We have some new books available for loan in the Library.  There is a range of different titles that, hopefully, will appeal to a variety of people. Most of them are fiction books with a few non-fiction in the mix. Below is a brief review of a few of the books on display.

Computer Coding for kids:  Computer coding is firmly back on the agenda as a key skill for children to start learning. Computer Coding for Kids is a unique step-by-step guide, perfect for kids interested in computer programming and how computers work. 

Lone Pine:  A story not well known about the Lone Pine Battle at Gallipoli during World War One, is told through the tale of the pine tree which stands in the gardens at the War Memorial in Canberra. This is a Picture book and is based on a true story.

Animal heroes:    Animal Heroes is a collection of 21 short stories in which Anthony Hill remembers just a few of the many gallant dogs, horses, pigeons, donkeys, pets and mascots who have served with Australia's armed services from the First World War to the present day.

There are also a couple of 'Choose your Own' stories in both adventure and horror genres along with science fiction and sports titles as well. 

All worth a look, so come on in and see what we have to offer.

New Series on the Shelf

For those who loved the 'Hunger Games' trilogy, we now have the 'Divergent' series on the shelf and ready to be borrowed.  The movie of the first book has just been released to mixed reviews, but as it is going up against the wildly popular 'Hunger Games', that is probably not all that much of a suprise.

Below is a brief review of the first book:

 In the dystopian Chicago setting of Roth's novel, the population is divided into five factions. Upon declaring allegiance to one of them, 16-year-old Beatrice will decide her future. Beatrice and her brother, Caleb, grew up in helpful, unassuming Abnegation, always putting others first. During her aptitude testing, a simulation probes her suitability for Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless, and Erudite. Rather than getting a clear reading of her strengths, Beatrice's result is disturbing and dangerous: she is Divergent. At the choosing ceremony, the teenager impulsively joins Dauntless, the tattooed "hellions" whose value is bravery, and who protect the community. Beatrice, now called Tris, finds she feels brilliantly alive in Dauntless, even during the brutal training. She enjoys seeing her muscles harden, testing her courage, protecting the underdog, and working her way up the ranks of recruits. Making both friends and enemies, she moves through simulations tailored to trigger her Fear Landscape. Gradually, her Divergence shows itself, allowing Tris to see that the faction-dominated world isn't as wonderful as she has been told.

The follow on books in the series, 'Insurgent' and 'Allegiant' are also available to borrow as well. 

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!

Battle of the Red, Green and Blue

Today is our Sports Carnival AKA the Battle of the Red, Green and Blue. Lots of people running around with war paint, costumes and fingernail polish in their team colours.  If the cheering and yelling is anything to go by, a good time is being had by all. 

Latest update on scores as the day ends indicates that Stuart (Red) have won.  That's my team - AWESOME.

Well Done everyone!  Now go and enjoy a long weekend.

Now back to our regular library stuff.  Just about all of the books ordered for the Lee Cook Collection have arrived, been catalogued, processed and are now out on the shelf waiting to be borrowed.  Actually, quite a few have already gone out on loan, which is wonderful. 
If you get the time, drop  in and have a look and see if something interests or inspires you.  Lee was like that as well - a beautiful and inspiring lady.

New Books

Welcome back to Term 2 - which has been already been as busy as Term 1 was.  Which is a good thing.  Our enrollments are up and we have lots of enthusiastic students and teachers.

Things have been busy in the library as well.  A new selection of fiction books has arrived from Standing Orders and are now ready for loan and most of the new books have arrived for the Lee Cook Collection and are almost ready to be borrowed. 

The Lee Cook Collection came about when one of our staff members died and left the library a legacy in her will.  The decision was made to have a small, separate collection stocked with books covering Lee's interests, which were diverse.   So we have books on cooking, cake decorating, gardening, paper crafts, costume making and so on.  We have just finalised the purchase of these books and they should all be out and ready for loan in the next week or so.

We received a wide selection of books from Standing orders this time - mystery, horror, war, family...... lots to choose from.

Below is a small blurb about a couple of the books.  Come in and have a look, maybe borrow a few.

'Inheritance' by Lisa Forrest:   Genre: Horror

"Will an ancient gift determine her future?"

Tallulah has always known that she was different.  She can communicate without speaking, a secret she shares only with her childhood nanny, Irena - who warns her that gifts like hers are not always welcome.

When Tallulah starts training at the prestigious Cirque d'Avenir school it soon becomes clear that the troup is not at all what it seems to be.  As she is drawn deeper into a world of dark ancient powers and centuries old greed, she must call on all the skills she has been taught - and on the protection of a mysterious bracelet she was given. 

But what is the secret of the power of the bracelet - and why are people prepared to die to keep it?

'Evan's Gallipoli' by Kerry Greenwood:     Genre:  War

" An unlikely friendship and an incredible journey"

Fourteen year old Evan Warrender travels with his father to the Dardenelles, when they intend to provide help and suport to the Allied soldiers.  When they are captured by the Turks, they are launched into an epic journey - living on their wits and the kindness of strangers as they escape through Turkey, back to Greece and finally home to Australia.

Along the way they meet unlikely friends and companions, some of whom have deep secrets - and when Evan's own secret is revealed, we realise just how truly incredible the whole journey has really been.

I have placed this one into War genre - but it could just as easily be put into Diary genre, as it is written in diary format.

Speechless and QR Codes

Library Lessons for the Year 7s have started and will be running for the next few weeks.  This week was all about where to find things in our Library - and a QR code Hunt using the ipads.  The class really seemed to get into the idea of a 'treasure' hunt using iPads and scaning the bright yellow and black little squares that had been stuck up all around the area. 
This idea is one that would work for most subjects, I think and is very easy to put together with all the free on-line sites for generating QR codes - and can be anything from text to URLs.


New title in the Library this week:

‘Speechless’    -    Genre:  Issues

"Saying she’s sorry isn’t enough.  Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can’t keep a secret – until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast – and nearly got someone killed.
Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence – to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting everyone else.  And if she thinks that keeping secrets is hard, she has no idea how hard not speaking up when she is ignored, ridiculed or even attacked is going to be.
However, there is strength in silence and new friends coming her way. A boy she may even fall for.  If only her new friends can forgive what she has done........if only she can forgive herself."

 Well worth a read - after all communication is a huge part of our lives and talking involves at least a good half of it.

 

The School Swimming Carnival is on tomorrow, so good luck to all. 
GO STUART!!

Have a wonderful weekend - week 6 next week so almost halfway through the term.

 

 

New Fiction Titles

We have had a few new fiction books arrive and they are processed, on display and ready for loaning.  Below is a small blurb about a few of them. Come in, take a look, maybe borrow some for reading.

If there is something that you particularly want and we don’t have it, just ask.  I may be able to get it from somewhere else on loan for you.

 Life in Outer Space:  Genre: Love

 Sam is a geek and he is totally cool with that.  He has his horror movies, his nerdy friends, World of War craft and unless Princess Leia turns up in his bedroom, he doesn’t have to worry about girls.

Then Sam meets Camilla.  She is beautiful, friendly and completely irrelevant to his life.  Sam is determined to ignore her – except that Camilla has a life of her own and she has decided that he is going to be part of it.

Sam believes that everything he needs to know, he can learn from the movies – but maybe he has been watching the wrong ones.

 When We Wake:  Genre: Science Fiction

16 year old Tegan was loving life – she was joining friends to protest the wrongs of the world, she was playing the guitar and she thought that maybe she was falling in love for the first time. She didn’t plan on the best day of her life being her last.

When she wakes, 100 years in the future, she is locked in a government facility with no memory of what happened. As the first person to be cryogenically frozen and successfully revived, she is an instant celebrity. And all she wants is a ‘normal’ life back again.

When terrible secrets come to light, Tegan must make a choice: should she keep her head down and survive – or fight for a better future?

What the Raven Saw:   Genre: Family?

I dare anyone to read this and give me a definitive genre for this book.  I have made it Family, but it could be Mystery, Love, Issues, even Animals. 

Even the blurb leaves you wondering......

“The Raven doesn’t want you to read this story. What if you find the location of his hidden treasure? Or worse – learn his secret? But you should read it, even though the Raven wants to be left alone. A pesky pigeon, a beady-eyed weatherhen, a ghost boy and a lovestruck scarecrow will make sure that this book isn’t just about one grumpy raven.”

New Fiction Books

There has been some new arrivals of Fiction books in the Library in the last week or so, which are all now processed and on the display shelves for loan.

Some of the titles include:

'Vulpi' - Kate Gordon.  

This is the second one in the series and is just as brilliant as the first.  It is all about shapeshifters - Tasmanian tigers and Tasmanian devils along with foxes from England.  Lots of battles, blood and friendships.  Awesome.

'Little Manfred' - Michael Morpurgo

This book tells the story of two prisoners of war and talks about how people could help each other even when they were enemies.  At the end of the story, we move forward in time to 1991 when a dog carved from apple wood was given to the Imperial museum.  This is based on a true story.

Ned Kelly's Secret' - Sophie Masson

Hugo and his father are travelling through Australia, hunting up tales of the gold rush. But when they are ambushed on the road by the notorious outlaw, Harry Power, they decide to chase up stories of bushrangers instead.  
In Benalla, Hugo makes friends with a boy from the bush... a boy who is brave, bold and will do anything for his family... 15 year old Ned Kelly.

Rise of Nine' - Pittacus Lore

When the nine Loriens first arrived on Eaarth, a powerful charm prevented them from being killed out of order by the evil Mogadorians.  However, that all changed once Numbers Four and Six combined forces.  This partnership led to the discovery of more Loriens, Numbers Seven and Nine and in a surprise twist, Number Ten.  The fact that they are working together doesn’t mean that they will survive and it turns out that there is some unfinished business to take care of.

'Inside out and Back again' - Thanhha Lai

Readers should know that this book is written in a series of short verse poems, which are easy to read, fast-paced, descriptive, and poignant. Though it is never preachy or instructional, the short verse poems give much information about life in Vietnam, including the foods, clothing, traditions, the encroaching war, some politics, family structure, and much more. 
Readers will also learn about life as an immigrant as Ha struggles with a new language, eats new foods, meets new kids, deals with attitudes toward Vietnamese immigrants  -- and tries to blend Vietnamese customs with new American customs.

Come and give these a try - or there are plenty more new titles on display.  If there is something in particular that you would like, just ask us and we will do our best to try to find it for you.