Vale Terry Pratchett

Sad news today with the passing of one of the best fantasy writers I know.  Sir Terry Pratchett has died following an eight year battle with a rare form of Alzheimers.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-31858156

He has long been one of my favourite authors, especially for his Discworld books with his subtle (or maybe not so subtle) satirical comments on humanity. Possibly his greatest character created was DEATH, who always spoke in capital letters.

Below are a few quotes of Sir Terry's that are favourites of mine;

*   Wisdom comes from experience.  Experience is usually the result of a lack of wisdom.

*   Real stupidity beats artifical intelligence every time.    (Hogfather) 

*   Humanity is a nice place to visit, but you wouldn't want to live there.  (Witches Abroad)

Welcome to 2014

Well, here we go - the start of 2014 and a whole new year of opportunities for books, and reading.  How awesome is that?  And I am BAACK!
(Well, yes - I know I am biased but that's okay.)

I thought I would start this post off with a quick reminder of some of the services we offer and maybe you could let your students know as well - or better yet, introduce them to this blog so they can find out for themselves.  Maybe you could get them to write a book review on a book they have enjoyed or write a report about their class.... after all the written word ROCKS, however it is used..

Yes - we do loan books out. We LOVE to loan books out. Loaning books out is our whole rationale. (And not just books, either) Of course, we do want them to come home at some point and can get a little upset if they don't.

• Looking for a particular book? 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, Kits........
• IWB area and a bank of computers and laptops that are available to be booked for classes. This 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.
• Library Skills Activities.
• A place to display your amazing class work.
• Collation of websites for subjects/classes
• 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.

Students have a 2 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.

One of my goals for this year is to try and make the library more relevant to the needs of the school. So, now... some homework for you all.  Could you email or comment and give me some ideas on what you see as the purpose of the school library and my role in it?  I'd love to be able to make this a one-stop shop type of deal for everyone.

Below are a few quotes that I think sum up to some degree, my philosopy about libraries.  Enjoy!

"Google can bring you back 100,000 answers - a librarian can bring you back the RIGHT answer".   (Neil Gaiman)

" Libraries are full of ideas - which are perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of weapons".   (from the 'Throne of Glass')

and being a fan of Albert Einstein, how could I pass up this one?

"The only thing you absolutely HAVE to know, is the location of the Library"
(Albert Einstein)
Wishing you all a fantastic school year with lots of READING involved.  Now carry on being awesome.

Quotes of interest.

I did a bit of hunting around on the Internet for a bunch of quotes to put on the blog. Here they are and I hope that some of them speak to you.

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.
Francis Bacon

Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is.
Vince Lombardi

If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else.
Yogi Berra

They can because they think they can.
Virgil

The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack in will.
Vince Lombardi

Everyone has a fair turn to be as great as he pleases.
Jeremy Collier

I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure -- which is: Try to please everybody.
Herbert Bayard Swope

Impatience never commanded success.
Edwin H. Chapin

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
William Shakespeare

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt

You can't expect people to look eye to eye with you if you are looking down on them.
Anonymous

You can tell more about a person by what he says about others than you can by what others say about him.
Anonymous

How a man plays a game shows something of his character, how he loses shows all of it.
Anonymous

I hope that you enjoy these quotes. I find that if I am having a difficult day, sometimes words of wisdom from someone can help me get through.

Carrie