Library

Year 7 Inductions

Our Year 7 students have officially been introduced to their amazing school library!

During their induction, they discovered everything the library offers, from its genre-organised book collection to the exciting makerspace area, where creativity thrives during lunchtime.

Students explored the Sandringham College Library Website and learned how to search the catalogue to find a book.

Students also explored the quiet reading space, perfect for relaxing with a good book in a peaceful environment.  They learnt that the Bluff Road Library is a device-free zone during recess and lunchtime, encouraging board and card games for social interaction.  Most importantly, they learned that their library is a safe, inclusive space for everyone.

It has been wonderful seeing the year 7 cohort embracing the library and filling the space during their breaks.

Makerspace Area

Our lunchtime program includes an exciting makerspace area where students can engage in craft and freestyle art activities. Throughout the term, we will offer bookable events that require students to register ahead of time to guarantee adequate resources and space. This term, we successfully hosted a bookable event for heat bead keyrings that ran for two weeks and was fully booked each day, resulting in a total of 160 bookings.  

If a bookable event is not running, craft items such as paint, scissors, glue, paper, will be set out for students to create.  The paintings on the banner are an example of Year 7 creations during lunchtime.  They have been framed and placed in various parts of the library.  

Students at Holloway Road have a creative space, with paints set up for students to create.  We are currently organising a student-led makerspace area in the Holloway Road Library.

Lunchtime

Reading News

Top 5 borrowers and last book borrowed (in no particular order)

• Elliot Law Year 8 - The Fire Ascending (Book 7 The Last Dragon Chronicles) by Chris D'Lacey

• Nrip Prajapati Year 7 - Big Shot (Book 16 Diary of a Wimpy Kid) by Jeff Kinney

• Hazel Thien Year 8 - The Hunger Games (Book 1) by Suzanne Collins

• Sofia Boiciuc Year 9 - Eleanor Jones Can't Keep a Secret (Book 2) by Amy Doak

• Lucas Bolanos-Bulla - The Serpent's Shadow (Book 3 Kane Chronicles) by Rick Riordan

Celebrating 50 years of Holloway Road Library

This year marks a remarkable milestone - the Holloway Road Library is celebrating its 50th anniversary!  Since opening its doors in 1975 thanks to a generous government grant, the library has been a cherished hub for learning, discovery and connection within the Sandringham College community.

As former staff member and historian Jeremy De Korte has noted: 

In 1969 when Federal Minister for Education and Science, Malcolm Fraser announced extensive funding for the building of school libraries all over Australia.  The initial funding was $27 million but by 1977 this funding had grown to over $400 million as the Commonwealth and State governments had contributed more funds.  By 1977 it was reported that 65% of secondary schools serving 85% of school students had substantial libraries.  Out of these schools, Sandringham Technical School was one of the beneficiaries of a new ‘Commonwealth Government Resource Centre’ – otherwise identified as a school library.

Constructed in 1975 at a cost of $120,000, the new library building gave the students of Sandringham Tech a dedicated space in which to work, research, and access books and other materials.  And the location of the library adjacent to the recently constructed school hall, was in a central part of the school.  Admittedly, like most schemes of this type, the library was built to a generic design and similarly designed school libraries can be found in secondary schools all over Victoria, with the building material being mainly brick.

Though the familiar brown brick walls still stand as a timeless reminder of our origins, the information, aesthetics, and services inside have evolved to meet the changing needs of our school community.

Fifty years ago, in 1975, the cultural landscape was as vibrant and transformative as our library.  Music lovers rocked out to AC/DC's "It's a long way to the top (If you want to rock 'n' roll), Living in the 70's by Skyhooks hit number 1, ABBA had us singing along to "Mamma Mia", Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" reigned over the airwaves and the Bay City Rollers brought sung a catchy song with "Bye Bye Baby".  In the movie theatres, audiences were captivated by the suspense of Jaws, the profound storytelling in One flew over the cuckoos nest, and the quirky humour of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.  Television screens lit up with classics like Welcome back Kotter, Starsky & Hutch, Fawlty Towers, and The Don Lane Show.  Trevor Barker debuted for St Kilda, North Melbourne won the VFL Grand Final.  Our world turned to colour as colour TV was introduced to Australia.

1975 also saw the birth of future stars, Drew Barrymore and Bradley Cooper.  While iconic companies such as Nike, Starbucks, and Apple began their journey.  Additionally, Microsoft was founded and VCRs were developed, setting the stage for a digital revolution that continues to influence our everyday lives.

As we celebrate our library's golden anniversary, we honour our past and look forward to the future.  We remain committed to being a welcoming space for exploration, creativity and lifelong learning - just as we have for the past 50 years.

Access and Operating hours

Students can access the Sandringham College Library Website 24/7.

Library operating hours for both campus Libraries

8 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Thursday 

8 am to 3.00 pm Friday