THE LIBRARY
The Library is a very spacious and well-used area in the O'Rourke Building. Our aims are:
- to provide a welcoming atmosphere and a well-resourced collection for students
- to enable our students to become information literate by teaching them the skills necessary for research at all levels and in all curriculum areas.
- to encourage and instill an appreciation of reading and literature
The collection is extensive, with new material continually being purchased to fulfil current curriculum requirements and to keep up with the latest in fiction for adolescents.
Library hours - The Library is open from 8.00am until 4.30pm, except Friday when it closes at 3.30pm. Students are encouraged to use the facilities to do homework or to read before and after school.
The Library automated cataloguing system is Bibliotech. Students and staff can access the catalogue from around the College.
Library Collection - The book collection has over 50,000 titles including a wide-ranging section for teacher reference and professional development.
The aim of the Library collection is to support the curriculum by providing resources to complement the teaching program in both the fiction and non-fiction areas.
Library Layout - The Library has 3 separated areas. One area is for computer research and instruction. The central area is for general research purposes. The other is a comfortable space, with armchairs, designed to encourage our students to relax and read.
Electronic Resources - There are 33 student computers in the Library which are part of the school network. In addition to the material on the general network, students have access to online encyclopedias, indexes to journals and subject-specific databases, including newspapers online. There is also a range of CD-ROMs available on the Library computers. Students may use the internet for school-related purposes during class time and also in their own time.
The Library Homepage is a dynamic resource where students can find information on such matters as resources for their assignments, on research skills, or on the latest fiction news. Students are encouraged to contribute their own recommendations in the form of book reviews which are then published on the homepage. This is a valuable way to promote reading among our students. We subscribe to periodicals which such interest areas as current affairs, recreation, sport, hobbies and professional journals. Most of the magazines are available to students for borrowing. The Library subscribes to each of the daily papers for student research or for general reading.
Book Club
Students in Years 7, 8, and 9 and 10 have the opportunity to join our Book Club which meets fortnightly to talk about new purchases or favourite titles or perhaps enter competitions with a literature focus, especially around Book Week time.