LIBRARY

From the Library

While we will all cope with this ‘Brave New World’ in different ways, now more than ever this saying rings true:

Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are. Mason Cooley (American aphorist, 1927 - 2002

While we are all isolating don’t miss the opportunity to visit, or revisit, some of these famous places:  Panem, Narnia, The Hundred Acre Wood, The Inkworld, Middle-Earth, London Below, Hogwarts, Mars, Lansquenet-sous-Tannes and a galaxy far far away!  Go to our home page and click on the image below to borrow an eBook or an audio book to begin your travels!  (House points to those who can name all the book titles.  Email your answer and child’s name to: library@trac.nsw.edu.au)  Login when prompted, details below.

Perhaps you are not after an escape, but inspiration in these trying times! Why not read Room by Emma Donoghue.  Five year old Jack tells of his life in a secured single-room outbuilding, containing a small kitchen, a basic bathroom, a wardrobe, a bed, and a TV set.  It is the only world he has ever known and leaving it is unthinkable; or read The Martian by Andy Weir, where Mark Watney finds himself stranded on Mars and completely alone, after his crew leave him for dead with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive; or read the classic Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank which tells of 7 people who lived for 761 days in a space 42 m2.  That’s about the size of one average lounge room plus one average bedroom!   Spoiler Alert…………they all survived their isolation (it was the outside world that turned out to be dangerous)……..and we will too.  Type these and other titles into the search bar on the home page link above.  Click on the cover image to borrow. Login when prompted.

During the coming weeks some support and coping strategies might be welcome for students and parents! Please explore our Wellbeing eCollection, designed to empower students’ personal and social capabilities, their mindfulness and resilience.  It is available online for students, parents (use a student College email address) and staff.  Click on the home page link above and type “Wellbeing” into the search bar. Click on the cover image to borrow. Login when prompted. See image below for details.

These are interesting times and answering our children’s questions truthfully and reassuringly can be a challenge. We are in uncharted territory. This blog post from Maggie Dent gives some ideas on ways to go about this.  Also make sure you have reliable information sources.   The Conversation and The Guardian are authoritative free online news sources and regular checking in on the NSW Health site is essential.

 I, of course, am retiring with a book in the extra hours I now have in my day.  A book that has taken me to a new place, ocean swimming with cuttlefish near Manly beach; has offered inspiration, ways to build a sense of community; as well as how essential a sense of awe is to our wellbeing.  

The book:

Phosphorous by Julia Baird. (An award winning journalist and host of ABC’s The Drum.)

“A book on awe, wonder and things that sustain you when the world goes dark!”  review  It is available as an ebook to buy online, but email me if you would like to borrow a hard copy.

Sue Graffen | Teacher Librarian