Love Your Library

The magic of reading

Last week we processed a very diverse selection of new novels for our Library. From Ernest Heminway’s A Farewell to Arms to Robert Muchamore’s latest in his Robin Hood series, there is something for every reader from Year 8 through to the most discerning staff member. All these books feature in Oliver, displays on our shelves and e-boards around the school.

For the final week of term Mrs Sykiotis prepared resources for English teachers. Teachers of Year 7 were given resources themed “winter holidays”. In preparation for next term, Year 8 teachers were provided with books with a Japanese connection. In Term 3 students study Miyazaki’s film Spirited Away. Year 9 teachers were provided with resources in relation to “Banned Books”. This relates to their study of The Giver in Term 3.

We also spent time working on LibGuides to support English teachers and their students. LibGuides for Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler and A Doll’s House were published. These are now available for students and teachers. Since the beginning of May we have published 6 LibGuides. We are continuing work on NAIDOC Week resources and will start research on more resources for HASS.

Week 6 next term is Book Week. The theme for 2024 is “Reading is Magic”. Book Week is an exciting time for us. We have started to plan activities and are already curating from our collection to resource the theme. Much of what we are planning and doing is designed to make our students curious about the Library and reading. We hope to lure students, who would not usually borrow a book or visit the Library, in to browse. The theme is one that can readily be adopted by learning areas to interest their students in the wonders of mathematics, music, science, humanities, physical education, art, drama, computing and languages – there is always magic in learning.

In between everything else going on I have been trying to read a few of our new titles. I read a dystopian novel by local author Brendan Ritchie. Eta Draconis, set in Western Australia, explores a world struggling to survive an on-going meteor shower. As the Earth is bombarded by constant explosions and shockwaves that level cities and destroy the countryside, two sisters try to live with some sort of normalcy. I always enjoy reading work by local authors. That the setting is familiar makes the novel even more engaging. While the context of an uncertain future in a world blown apart could suggest that novel would be harrowing, that is not the case. Focussed on two young sisters, it is a coming-of-age road trip that is a gentle, enjoyable and ultimately optimistic novel about the power of art.

 We have a very special collection of “Quick Reads” for our reluctant readers. Several of our new books are destined for this collection. One such read is Jason Reynolds’ Sunny. While the novel is quite literally a quick read, it is not simple. The book is published by Knights Of. This is a small but dynamic publishing house foregrounding underrepresented voices. They understand that seeing yourself in the pages of books from a young age is vital. Their publications meet the diverse needs of their, and our, readers and open a space for marginalised voices. Reynolds’ short novel is a very welcome addition to our library. Meanwhile, at home, my son gave me a new novel on Sunday morning. Butter, by Asako Yuzuki, is a perfect read for me. Food and murder, irresistible. I started reading it immediately and kept picking the novel up for the rest of the day. This novel is satisfyingly long and beautifully written. While the plot hinges on a killer, it revolves around food, hunger and our relationship with food and our bodies. 

We wish all members of our St Georges’ community a restful holiday filled with the magic of reading.

Together, let us read.

Dr Annette Pedersen

Library Coordinator