Library News
Opening Hours
Our library is open from 8.30 am until 3.15 pm each day. We look forward to you coming in and spending some time in the library. Whether it is playing chess, UNO, Bananagrams, reading or quietly spending time in the library catching up with friends, you are welcome.
Come in and borrow your holiday reading
We are encouraging students to come in and borrow their holiday reading. If you need help in choosing a book, come and talk to the library staff and we will listen to what you like to read and assist you in finding something that interests you.
Reading for growth and enjoyment
At McCarthy Catholic College, the library supports the school’s reading for growth program as we continue to build our “students as readers” culture. We have an extensive collection of popular novels that are aligned with the Renaissance Accelerated Reader program for our Year 7 and 8 students to choose from during their class reading time. We encourage students to come, and we will show them how to search the catalogue or the shelves to find the right book for them.
The Premier’s Reading Challenge 2025
The Premier’s Reading Challenge 2025 for Year 7-10 has started. The Challenge is open from the 24th of February 2025 to the 22nd of August 2025. If you are yet to sign up for the PRC, contact your McCarthy College 2025 coordinators, Ms. Hannan and Ms. Laird, in the Library. If you are looking for books or SORA e-books to read for the Challenge, come to the library counter and ask the library staff.
You can also access and search the McCarthy Library from home. We have the 2025 Challenge Reading lists in our Oliver Library Catalogue for students to browse. To access these lists, you will need to: log into McCarthy Library Oliver as usual, select “Reading Lists” from the top tabs, scroll down the lists to the Premier's Reading Challenge 2025, select the lists you wish to view.
2025 Students as Authors Writing Competition
The 2025 writing competition is now open for all students in the Diocese of Armidale Catholic Schools. The competition celebrates students and their creative writing talents across four age-based categories. Winning entrants will have the opportunity to work with illustrator Trish Donald to develop their story into an e-book published for an audience of 250,000 Catholic Education students across 15 dioceses. Entries close Friday, 30th May.
From the library team, we wish all our McCarthy community a safe and Happy Easter. We hope everyone enjoys the break, and we look forward to seeing all our students back in the library and enjoying themselves again next term.
Libby Laird
Teacher Librarian
Bec Hannan
Teacher Librarian
rhannan@arm.catholic.edu.au