Semester 2 2022.

Welcome back - Semester 2 and here we go again. 

The new timetable is out and I have updated the booking sheets - hopefully I have it right.    Any extra bookings that teachers may have had last semester are now cleared, so if you need something, it is a first come, first served basis. 

A reminder that the keys to the laptop trolley in the Science lab need to be booked/checked out through me so that they don't grow little legs and disappear. 

Also a reminder that if you are looking for anything that may have screened on TV, I can have a look and see if I can access it from our TV4ED system and download if possible. 

Any questions, please ask.  

You've got this!!

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. 

TV4ED system

I have sent through an update of all staff to TV4ED (AKA Functional Solutions) so you should be getting a welcome email with information re logging on and using the system - hopefully very soon.  For those of you new to the school, this is a video streaming system we subscribe to - that allows you to login and stream whatever documentary or film that you need for your class.  Whatever you download will be under your name and stored on your 'bookshelf'.  

However, I can still download requests and put it onto our system for you if this is easier ... and sometimes this is the better option, as depending on the Internet and the day, it can hiccup and stagger all over the place.  Most of the time, the items I have downloaded and stored on our network don't really seem to have this problem.  

Just let me know what you are looking for, and if it is there, I can often get it down in a few hours and have it ready to go.  Anything that has been screened on TV is usually available to access - unless it is something brand new being screened - that takes at least a couple of days.  All adverts are cut out as well, which is a bonus. 

RAKs bring smiles!

I think that maybe the highlight for this week was the small, yummy RAK gift in our pigeonholes when we all came into work Monday morning.  What a lovely thought - and thank you to whoever came up with the idea.

I have sent through an update of all staff to TV4ED (AKA Functional Solutions) so you should be getting a welcome email with information re logging on and using the system. They are also hoping to organise an all curriculum Webinar to help you to use it to your best advantage - so if you would be interested in doing this, please let me know.
However, I can still download requests and put it onto the system for you if this is easier.

Ms Squires is updating the Student reward system - with lots of ideas, comments and input from the students so we'll keep you updated with any changes to that.

So - carry on being AWESOME - and enjoy your weekend!!  Obviously with lots of reading involved. 

2017 and a new school year.

New Year, new start - isn't that the phrase?  Certainly a new start here in the Library - or it will be once we get everything sorted after being flooded due to the heavy rains during the holiday break.  We have had a large part of the carpet ripped out due to mould and the rest will go soon, when the new flooring goes down.  
I had been talking about a revamp of the Library space and it appears that the Universe decided to help out. 

Books and resources are scattered in various places at the moment - and although I have a fair idea as to where to find what - please don't expect miracles.   
There are also a few issues with printers, phones and so on - again probably to do with the flooding, so please be patient.

For the new staff some information about the Library and what we (usually) offer is below, but if anyone has any queries, please come and see me.  I will need to get all your names and details anyway to add you to the library system so you can borrow. 

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.  (Although maybe no challenges just yet till the Library is running the way it should)

• 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, Board games, Chess sets, Kits........
• IWB area and a bank of computers, as well as laptops that are available to be booked for classes.  The Library 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 for subjects/classes
• Booking sheets for: Library areas, F Block Laptops, Headphones, Ipads.

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.

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 can find it and put it on the school system for you to access.  
However, the subscription was recently upgraded so you can access a wide collection of YouTube materials that have been collated for schools and following the National Curriculum Framework.  Hopefully we can organise a training through TV4Ed soon, so you can all do your own searching.

So ... wishing you all an awesome term with lots of books and reading involved.

TV4ED, LMS and Holiday break.

The new LMS system is running quite well - although keeping the student data up to date is an 'interesting' exercise. However, so far, we are on top of it and all is good.

The trial period for the new TV4ED plus has been extended, so I am hoping that you manage to get an hour or so to give it a whirl during the holidays - although I do realise that is probably a bit unfair - asking you to work on our last short break before Term 4.  
So, on that note - I'll just wish you a VERY relaxing, albeit very short break and hope you make the most of it doing as you wish.

Aside from that - just carry on being your awesome selves as always.

Trial Period for TV4ED

Well, this week sees us start a 2 week trial period on using the new version of TV4ED, with all it's bells and whistles.  Hopefully, it will save you all much valuable time and effort in searching for the right resources for your classes.  

I know it already saves me a massive amount of time - I don't have to tape the program, then re-tape it while cutting out the ads and then prepare the DVD case - while doing the rest of whatever I do as well.  I can't imagine not having it!

Please make the time to log on, search, add and just generally play with the system - and let us know what you think.  If anyone is interested, I can try and organise a Webinar training? If you have any questions, come and talk to me - I am still learning my way around the new version,  but I do at least have phone numbers to call and ask questions. Remember - it should be available on any device, any time, anywhere.  If you can access a browser, you should be able to access this system. 

I know some have been playing - I have seen new stuff added to the 'bookshelf'.  

Aside from that,  have an awesome weekend folks.