Library

Ten Thousand Books Borrowed!

...And counting! The buzz of activity in the Library continues as we reach the midpoint of the school year—and what an exciting milestone to celebrate! Last week, we marked our 10,000th book loan for 2026, an achievement that puts us ahead of schedule and reflects the incredible enthusiasm our students have for reading. 

It’s been inspiring to see such a wide variety of books heading home in students’ bags each day. Well done to 3K who have borrowed 557 books so far this year! Special recognition goes to our most enthusiastic borrowers so far: Raphael P (5M) on 102 books in the Junior School and Aaron N (7.4), and Issy K (8.7) in the Secondary School. Well done on your outstanding reading efforts!

What’s New on the Shelves? 

Our collection continues to grow, with plenty of new titles capturing students’ attention. Senior readers have been particularly drawn to the thrilling City Spies series by James Ponti, which follows a group of talented kids from around the world who are recruited by MI6 and trained as young spies. Each child has a special skill—hacking, languages, mechanics, acting—and together they take on high-stakes global missions. 

In the Junior School, we have several new series of books. The Accidental Minecraft Family series is a fun and imaginative adventure that brings the world of Minecraft to life through storytelling. The books follow a family who unexpectedly find themselves inside the Minecraft universe, where they must learn to survive, build, and work together to overcome challenges. 

Another new series is Pages & Co., a magical and imaginative set of books that celebrates the joy of reading. Following Tilly Pages, a girl who discovers she can step into the worlds of books, the stories blend adventure, mystery, and literary references in a way that appeals to both keen readers and those just discovering a love of books.

We have also purchased The Restorationists series, a creative and engaging blend of art, history, and adventure. The story follows Vincent, a boy who discovers he can step into famous paintings and help “restore” what has been lost or changed within them.

Meanwhile, our Faith section is seeing wonderful engagement, with students exploring thought-provoking questions and ideas—an encouraging sign of curiosity and reflection among our young readers. Recent purchases have included  Science and God, do you have to choose? by John Lennox and Katy Morgan, while Being the Bad Guys by Stephen McAlpine is also of interest to our older students.

Welcoming Our Littlest Readers 

A delightful new initiative this term has been the fortnightly visits from the 4-year-old Kinder groups at Oxley Kids. These young visitors have quickly become valued members of our library community. Each visit includes a Storytime session followed by the chance to select books to take back and enjoy. 

We are thrilled to welcome this new cohort and extend a heartfelt thank you to the Oxley Kids staff for making these visits possible.

Holiday Reading Matters 

As the holidays approach, we encourage all students to keep reading. Research shows that reading skills can slip if they’re not practised regularly—but the good news is that even a little reading each day can make a big difference.

 Tips for a Reading-Filled Holiday 

• Visit the library before the break: Borrowed books have extended loan periods and won’t need to be returned until after the holidays. 
• Share a favourite book: Parents and carers, revisit a book you loved as a child and share it with your child—talk about the story, the characters, and why it mattered to you. 
• Read and watch: Choose a story that’s been turned into a movie and enjoy both! From The Cat in the Hat and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day to classics like Anne of Green Gables, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Babe, there’s something for everyone. Add popcorn and a cosy spot, and you have the perfect winter activity! 

• Try digital reading options such as ebooks or audiobooks.

   

Don’t forget, Secondary School students can also access Sora, our eBook app, or explore the Oliver catalogue for book reviews and recommendations—both of these can be found on SEQTA.

Reading for pleasure is one of the most rewarding habits we can build. Let’s keep the pages turning over the holidays and return next term ready for more literary adventures! 

Mrs Jenelle Coote

Library Manager