MESC LEARNING COMMONS
Welcome to the MESC Learning Commons
The MESC Learning Commons comprises the Library and ICT Team who support both staff and students.
Librarian - Mrs Lynn Swannell
ICT Manager - Mr Kevin Hunter
ICT Technician - Mr Sam Karagiannis
Opening Hours
The Learning Commons is open from 8.00am to 4.00pm each day, including recess and lunchtime. However it is closed at recess each Friday.
Please DO NOT bring in food or drinks and we ask that you tidy up after yourself.
The Learning Commons is now a 'Devices Free Area' - this means no bringing in your phone or other ICT devices to play on during recess and lunchtimes. Instead we encourage you to read a magazine, play a board game, talk to your friends, join in activities and/or even read your books.
A Reminder About The Dangers of Free VPNs
There are a number of people now that choose to use a VPN as a method of protecting their online privacy or to access services not available in their country. There are a large number of free VPN services available, however “free” isn’t completely free when it comes to accessing blocked websites through free VPNs. These services may actually allow malicious third-parties to snoop through your personal data, or, even worse, let others use your internet connection to conduct illegal activities on the web.
Free VPNs can log and keep track of all your content, your IP address, the types of sites you visit, etc.- the exact thing VPNs are meant to protect you from. In addition to privacy issues you would want to hide your IP, you may experience slow browsing speed, unstable connections, data usage caps, and outdated encryption.
Worst of all.. Many of these “free” services will sell your personal information to third parties, with some even going as far as placing extra advertising (sometimes malicious). They may even distribute your IP address, welcoming criminal activity that is traced back to your machine, not theirs.
Always take care, know the facts about something you install on your device and be aware that popular free VPN servers aren’t always as safe as they claim to be.
Thank You Library Leaders and Team 2019
Thank you to Mrs Helen Brosche who filled in for me during my 'long service leave' and to all members of the Library Team for their work during my absence. Once again our Library Leaders Belle and Bella worked with the team to ensure students' library needs were met. We encourage you to talk to them about any issues, suggestions, ideas you may have relating to our Library and to ensure we continue to keep this important element of our college running smoothly.
"Reading is My Secret Power"
Each year across Australia, the CBCA brings children and books together celebrating CBCA Book Week. During this time schools, libraries, booksellers, authors, illustrators and children celebrate Australian children's literature. We have some very talented members in our Library Team and they have created these wonderful characters for this year's display. The CBCA Book of the Year Awards will be announced on Friday 16th August.
New eBooks and Audiobooks
New titles are added to these collections each month and it is also a great way to find suitable reading for your year level, as well as browse titles within the Premier's Reading Challenge levels. Some of the latest additions include 'Impossible Music' by Sean Williams, 'I hold your heart' by Karen Gregory, 'Graveyard Shift in Ghost Town' by Michael Pryor, 'The Kingdom' by Jess Rothenberg and 'Call it what you want' by Brigid Kemmerer.
These are availble for students and staff to access via the app 'ePlatform' by Wheelers Books (download it via your app store for use on multiple devices). With over 1600 eBooks and over 600 audiobooks to choose from there really is no excuse not to be reading Check out the hundreds of titles available - remember that you can 'customise' the settings to suit and also 'reserve' titles already in use. If you can't find anything on the ePlatform app then pop into the library and we can give you 'the real thing'!
Overdue Library Books
Please remember to check the 'due dates' of all items borrowed and ensure that they are returned promptly. General overdue reminders are sent via Compass news to all students and individual notices are sent out via students' school email which should be checked regularly. If there are any concerns regarding late and/or lost items then please contact me asap.
Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge 2019
This is nearly finished with students involved adding and checking their reading lists. Once these have been confirmed and 'signed off' they will receive their completion certificates in late October. This challenge involved reading a minimum of 15 books between March and September.
