Library

Our library program complements both the traditional literacies of reading, writing, speaking and listening, with emphasis on reading, and information literacy (which also encompasses media and digital literacies).

Lesson content reinforces the ongoing literacy programs in classrooms, by directly supporting students in the early years as they learn to read. The program fosters a love for reading through exposure to outstanding literature and award winning authors and illustrators renowned for their high literary and artistic qualities. 

Students borrow regularly and are encouraged to choose books that meet their individual reading needs. 

As they move through the school to the senior years, students are supported as they read to learn, using fiction and non fiction texts to meet their learning needs. Reading for pleasure is emphasised as an important life long skill and habit. There is value in readers being able to recognise themselves and others in books. The characters and circumstances of stories provide a wonderful opportunity for individuals to reflect on, make sense of, and grow their personal understanding of the world around them. 

Student borrowing in the senior years is further enhanced through a deepening understanding of genre, text types and formats, author’s purpose, and their own personal needs as they develop as competent readers. 

Information literacy is embedded into our library program. It is explicitly taught in students’ first years of schooling as they begin to understand how to locate, select, and use books and other resources to meet their reading needs. These skills are built upon in the senior years. Students are taught to recognise their information needs as researchers and thinkers using the inquiry process to pose questions, access and evaluate information and information sources, and use information to create new understandings, knowledge and products. This process is particularly prevalent throughout the senior school iTime cycle in which the library program plays an integral role.  

Students enjoy ‘book-tasting’ new books, including graphic novels, picture books, chapter books, and non-fiction. They examine new and established authors and illustrators, they analyse text and illustrations, plot, setting and characters and they are taught to make meaning of a variety of text modes, including sketches, photographs, graphs, video, animation and posters.

Various extra-curricular activities are incorporated including author visits, book fairs and lunchtime activities.