Library News
Dear Students, Parents and Staff,
I hope you have all been having a great term and it’s been lovely getting to see you all around the library and school campus.
Early this term I had some Learn 2 sessions with Year 10 students focusing on the resources available for you all in regards to research, referencing and your personal reading. It was great to get to work with the Year 10 classes. As the year progresses you may find you have more essays and assignments with which you will be needing to do further research. If you have any questions I am very happy to help up at the library or if you send through an email.
I thought that in this newsletter I would do a very quick summary of some of those resources I touched on in Learn 2 sessions and their uses.
When starting out you can access most of the resources related to the library and research from the student portal in a cluster. I have highlighted the resources I will discuss here:
For personal reading:
The Library catalogue – Accessit Library
Clicking on the link to the library catalogue allows you to see what resources are available at the library as well as manage your own account. You can renew resources here, browse the collection and see new resources. Link to catalogue here
We have recently updated our catalogue to include deep integration of our eBooks- you can now see which eBooks and physical copies we have in one search:
You can see the availability above in green (available) and red (on loan no copies available).
The items with the little Overdrive symbol indicate eBook and we can also see a few ClickView videos and physical resources.
Overdrive eBooks
Overdrive is our eBook platform where you can find great eBook and eAudiobooks to read and listen to. You can do a simple search and have access to lots of resources from home to borrow straight away. Link to eBooks here
Remember eAudiobooks have the little headphone icon next to the cover image and you can borrow or place a hold by clicking into the resource you like.
Starting out your research:
Research and Reference Skills site
The Research and reference skills site has been put together to help you in getting started with your research. There are lots of areas you can find information on here such as using different databases, referencing practices and tips to get you on the path with your research. It’s not all written either, you can find lots of quick videos to watch. Link to site here
Issues in Society Publication
The Issues in Society publication is a great place to start when looking for up ideas for research projects. This Australian focused publication is very current, can be accessed easily online as well as new copies in print at the library. Link to site here
You can see current issue topics and covers and access them directly as a pdf file by clicking on the cover. You can also browse the list of topic areas in your search:
Britannica School
Britannica school is a great place to start when researching new areas of interest. You can find articles, images, dictionary definitions and videos which are all easy to cite using the inbuilt citation tool. To access Britannica School please use the link on the student portal as it is set up with automatic sign on.
Main database access:
The State Library Victoria (SLV)
Signing up to the State Library Victoria (SLV) is a really helpful resource and beneficial for your research. Signing up is free, can be done online and you will have access to all their databases and journals online.
Sign up to State Library Victoria (SLV) to become a member: Sign Up
1. free to join
2. access academic journal articles
Video 'Get to know State Library Victoria's online resources'
Please note that using these academic journal databases takes practice and patience. It is best to really have a search and practice refining your results- remember that some of the search tips for using academic journal databases can be found on the Research Skills website and a direct link here.
New Resources at the Library:
We have some great new books at the library as well as Lamont book reviews:
Lamont Reviewed books:
Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker
Violet black by Eileen Merriman
Crossed Spaces by Lynne Stringer and R.A. Stephens
Other titles (lots of Fantasy, Sci Fi and Contemporary):
The Duke and I by Julia Quin (Bridgerton bk 1)Gingerbread by Helen OyeyemiThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (a Hunger Games prequel) by Zuzanne CollinsLight of the Jedi (A Star Wars High Republic novel) by Charles SouleBoy Swallows Universe by Trent DaltonDune (The classic Sci Fi epic) by Frank HerbertMagician by Raymond E. Fiest
New eBooks and eAudiobooks to Overdrive eBooks Now: Link to pdf
Book Review March ’21: A focus on young female protagonists
‘The Hate You Give (THUG)’ by Angie Thomas
The Hate You Give was released in 2017 and received critical acclaim. This young adult novel follows sixteen-year-old Starr after she witnesses the fatal police shooting of her friend. The novel tackles themes of gun violence, racial identity and racism but with warmth and compassion through the eyes of a strong female protagonist. Starr is a narrator you can empathise with on her journey of personal identity, acceptance and understanding. Going to a new school in a well-to-do suburb, she makes new friends and strives to hold on to connections in her own neighborhood. When she witnesses the police shooting of a long-time friend from her neighborhood her life is changed as she struggles to accept the events as well as people’s reactions to what has happened. Throughout the novel Starr tackles her own ideas of justice and belonging as she comes to new understandings about the world and her place in it. It is heartening to witness her development throughout the novel as she comes to realisations about what is really important to her in her life and how she can move forward in a flawed world. The novel touches on racial, social and political topics in a fresh way and from multiple perspectives.
‘The Things We Promise’ by J.C. Burke
‘The Things We Promise’ is set in the early 1990s. Gemma is a senior school student when she is given the difficult news about her older brother’s positive HIV status. Written from Gemma’s point of view we are given insight into the stages of dealing with difficult news as a senior in high school and all the pressures that go with it. Gemma tackles stigma and loss with strength and courage even when facing stigma from unexpected places. As a narrator Gemma exhibits a resilience and strength but is also vulnerable and empathetic.
Have a great holiday break to all students and staff!
Kind Regards
Ms Veldsman