Welcome Back
This is our first post for 2014. Our library continues to develop our services to staff, students and the wider community. We welcome back the Duke of Edinborough group who work weekly in our libary in addition to all our academic staff and students. You will notice a few differences. Our electric stapler over in the copy centre is a hit! We like to watch unsuspecting first time users jump out of their skin as they gingerly insert their papers to be stapled. Who said there was no glee to be had in teaching?
With heaps of new books coming out this is a good time to reinforce the value of reading. Although some seniors tried last year, you can’t borrow 10 books a month to cram for your Core Skills Test. Yes, yes of course WIDE READING IS THE BEST PREPARATION FOR UNSEEN TESTS, but it makes more sense to spread them out right from the start in grade 8 and read one or two or our excellend young adult books every month.
We are focusing this year on our INFORMATION PORTAL This is no ordinary online Library Catalogue. Using our portal can get you into lots of free databases and tips for doing research. You can still use Google but in a much more efficient way.
February Theme
This month we are focusing on “others”. Our Valentine’s Day competition saw us matching book/movie titles to their images. But we also focused on “OTHER LIBRARIES”. Last week Mrs Sivan Bolger visited from Smithfield Branch of Cairns Libraries to demonstrate how their free tutoring service works. It’s called YOUR TUTOR. All you need is a public library card to access a tutor qualified in your subject between 4-8pm every week day. Visit our information portal and click on the YOUR TUTOR tab. Best of all, we consumed lots of pikelets and scones and were thoroughly entertained.
Listening to Cairns Library Librarian Sivan Bolger
But wait, there’s still more. Mrs Bolger returns this Tuesday to speak about the free databases available online through the Cairns Libraries. All students can benefit from these services especially our Senior Learning Academy students. Both talks focus on services which can be accessed remotely. We still have to learn about all the resources and items in-store at the local Smithfield Library and Mrs Bolger alerted us to the FREE HOUR, yes you heard right, free hour of internet available to library patrons each day. We even got the early tip that free WifFi is coming later this year.
Reader’s Cup Team
On June 6th we take a team of 4 annually to a reading competition in Malanda. If you’d like to apply to be in the team, you need to be in Year 8 or 9. See Mrs Robins or send an email to drobi34@eq.edu.au to apply.
Stay Tuned…
We haven’t arranged all our guests and displays yet, but here’s a hint for our March special event below. This is a good time of year to revise the 16 Habits of Mind. With these in our minds, we can really do our best work. We hope you join us in exploring all that our local libraries have to offer – and best of all, it’s free!
