From the Library
NAIDOC Week - Heal Country
NAIDOC Week 2021 will be held from Sunday 4 to Sunday 11 July.
It is an opportunity for all Australians to come together to celebrate the rich history, diverse cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the oldest continuing cultures on the planet.
The NAIDOC 2021 theme – Heal Country! – calls for all of us to continue to seek greater protections for lands, waters, sacred sites and cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration, and destruction. Healing Country also means finally resolving many of the outstanding injustices which impact on the lives of indigenous people.
The 2021 National NAIDOC Poster, ‘Care for Country’ was designed by Gubbi Gubbi artist Maggie-Jean Douglas. Using the 2021 NAIDOC Week theme Heal Country as inspiration; ‘Care for Country’ is a bright and vibrant artwork which explores how Country has cared for and healed First Nations people spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially and culturally. The artwork includes communities, people, animals and bush medicines spread over different landscapes of red dirt, green grass, bush land and coastal areas to tell the story of the many ways Country can and has healed us throughout our lives and journeys.
This year, the John Cain Library has a focus on improving the indigenous components of our collection. Next term library staff will undertake a Masterclass on Enriching Collections: Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives. In term 4 the library plans to engage a consultant from the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation to assist us to evaluate existing resources. Using protocols around indigenous collections endorsed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Library, Information and Resource Network (ATSILRN) those parts of the collection related to indigenous history, culture and thinking would be assessed for accuracy and cultural sensitivity. The library will then move to purchase items that fit these criteria when looking at indigenous related resources.
The library currently has a NAIDOC Week display prepared by staff and student assistants with a particular focus on indigenous art. There are also several new books by First Nations authors available to borrow.
Managing our collection sustainably
The John Cain Library has joined The James Bennett Sustainability Project (TSP). The Sustainability Project is a green initiative created to assist libraries in disposing of all weeded items.
Around 30 million printed books are held in Australian Libraries. If libraries are weeding at the recommended rate that would equate to 4.5 million books or 1,800 tonnes going to landfill each year.
By joining The Sustainability Project the library will be supported to meet the UN, IFLA and ALIA Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), place fewer books into landfill, redistribute used titles to communities in need, save costs associated with weeded book disposal, save valuable staff time not having to research donation options and donate funds raised from the project to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
James Bennett (a major library supplier in Australia) will provide materials for weeding such as boxes, collection service, freight, and recycling of material.
The Library Team are currently weeding the fiction collection and look forward to participating in this project.
Extended book loans for holiday reading
Students are reminded they can borrow up to 10 items for holiday reading.
The loan period for print resources will be extended over the term break. Any books borrowed this week will have a 4-week loan period and be due back the first or second week of term 3. Students have time to choose some great books to take on holidays.
Please remember to return any books you no longer need by the end of term 2, so others can have access to them.
eBooks and Audiobooks available 24/7 online or download to your device
Didn’t have time to borrow a book for holiday reading?
Checkout our extensive collection of eBooks and Audiobooks, aligned to our print collection and selected specifically with YA readers in mind. These titles are available 24/7 and are a convenient option for holiday reading. You can loan two titles at any time for 14 days.
Go straight to the Wheelers icon on the John Cain Library homepage (available from the star menu on Compass) and log in using your NHS email and Compass password or by using the QR code here.
You can read e-books or listen to audio books online via your internet browser or download the Wheelers App to your device.
Once you borrow a book it will stay on your record for two weeks and then automatically drop off at the end of the loan period. It will never be overdue! It is also possible to renew your books and make reservations.