Greetings from St Patrick’s Library
The first three weeks have flown by in the library. We assisted many Year 7 and new students in accessing the school’s Canvas pages, email and the all-important Wi-Fi. Meeting and chatting to the girls during recess and lunch is one of my highlights in the day. Many of the new students are surprised that they are allowed to drink and eat in our library. We know that their break time is precious and by allowing food in the library they can participate in many of the activities that are happening in the library.
Our MakerSpace Heart bookmarks
14 February is a day that Libraries Australia-wide celebrate reading and books and ultimately libraries so it is named Library Lovers’ Day. The girls were encouraged to find a book and on borrowing they were given a little gift. The Library’s windows also displayed posters of various authors explaining why they love libraries and captions about their favourite novel. In our MakerSpace, this week, the girls can make heart bookmarks, which is staying with the theme of love for Lent and Library Lovers’ Day.
Technology Focus of the Month
Our library now subscribes to the following award winning World Book Web products
- World Book Kids is based on World Book’s award winning Discovery Encyclopedia and is designed to give younger students, ESL students and reluctant readers a rewarding online learning experience.
- World Book Student forms the foundation of an expansive reference database that includes over 40,000 encyclopedia and reference articles and thousands of links to outside web sites that are selected by World Book editors and contributors. It also includes an extensive Dictionary and Atlas plus audio, visuals and animations.
- World Book Advanced is tailored content for the needs of older students, it includes encyclopedic content, integrates primary and secondary source databases and has more than 5,500 e-books. Over 700 e-books can be downloaded to e-readers and iPads, and a wealth of research tools allow students to customise and save their work.
To access World Book and the other library resources students download the Destiny Discover App and look for the Links Section. If students have any questions or queries about using this, please see one of the Library staff.
BOOK OF THE MONTH
Between Us by Clare Atkins
Clare Atkins a young Australian author whose first novel, Nana and Me, was Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) shortlisted.
The novel is set in Darwin and is based on the plight of asylum seekers. The main characters are two very different teenagers. Jono, the son of a Vietnamese single father who works as a guard at the detention centre, is a bit lost and recovering from depression. Anahita, an Iranian refugee, has just arrived from Nauru. She is allowed out of the detention centre to attend school and during this time she can be a ‘regular Australian girl’.
These two teens meet and develop a relationship at school.
Jono’s Dad, new to his job as guard at the Wickham Point Detention Centre, is struggling with the rules. He initially encourages the relationship between his son and Anahita but soon becomes suspicious about Anahita’s intentions.
This is a powerful story about the hardships that are faced by asylum seekers in Australia. This will be on our New Release bookshelf soon.
Happy Reading and Learning
Michelle Feely - College Librarian
