The Resource Learning Centre (including the Baumberg Library) was opened in October 2001 and has been an integral part of the learning process at the college ever since. Over 900 students and staff have access to a wide range of materials in a warm and inviting setting. The high ceilings make it a light and airy place to study and the walls are covered in bright and colourful works of art by students and staff alike – ranging from paintings to quilts to past school productions’ props and exquisite wearable arts pieces. Plants are also dotted around the library to give it a more homely feel.
Library Hours and conditions:
Generally the library is open between 8.30am and 4.00pm every day of the week – with a short interlude at 2.00pm to enable the students to have some fresh air outside and eat their lunch before commencing the last lesson of the day. Break time and lunch time sees the library full of students reading, quietly, discussing work, playing chess and draughts and during winter there is even a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle laid out for anyone who wants to attempt to add their bit. During the third term of each year there is a strongly-fought Chess Tournament. Three books are allowed out at one time and they are issued for a period of 3 weeks. Students are not able to borrow new books until old ones are returned.
Library Staff:
Teacher in Charge : Sandra Roberts
Librarian : Alyson Murray
Library assistant:: Kay Andrews
At break time and lunch time the library is ably assisted by two of our college students. This year we are very fortunate to have the help of Jasdeep Aujla and Harmin Kaur. Their help is invaluable and we appreciate the time they spend doing their tasks. Various other helpers and teachers are also rostered on at lunch times to help with the running of the library.
Facilities:
The Resource Centre comprises the following :
- Reading Room (where Mrs Roberts encourages her students to read from the wide variety of genres available in the library),
- Senior study room for Year 13 and correspondence students,
- Computer suite containing 15 computers,
- Baumberg library – which is itself split up into different areas,
- Stack – a room where old Classics, extra back-up copies and mostly un-read books are stored, allowing more space in the library for more popular books
Library sections:
A large Fiction section houses Short Stories, Graphic Novels, Picture Books and two stands containing New Arrivals (which is updated very regularly) and Quick Reads for those who don’t have time or don’t like to read long novels. This section also includes a large coffee table surrounded by easy chairs for comfortable relaxation.
We are currently up-grading our ‘Graphic novel’ section – good quality, informative and fun reads that include mythology, non-fiction, movies made into books (eg. Indiana Jones), modern novels turned into graphic novels (eg Strombreaker), popular oldies such as Tintin and Asterix & Obelix and much more …
We now have a ‘Teen Issues’ corner and of course the ever-useful Information or Vertical file filled with local newspaper articles on current topics of interest.
The Non-fiction section is separated from the Fiction books by the Reference collection – containing up-to-date reference material including many dictionaries, atlases and the 2008 World Book Series. Six tables, each surrounded by 6 chairs are available in the Non-fiction area for study purposes. Teachers often bring their classes here to research topics.
A colour photocopier is stationed in this area for easy printing off the computers and for photocopying material. Each student has an allocated sum of money on their Photocopying/Printing account and when they have used up their funds they are then required to go to the office and top up their accounts. Not only does this method save money but also teaches the students to be responsible when using school resources.
Useful links:
http://www.natlib.govt.nz/services/get-advice/school-libraries/olympics-websites
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