Library

The library as a social justice space

When visiting the State Library as a teenager I was struck by the regular presence of an elderly man who spent his days reading with great gravitas and concentration. He was homeless, I eventually realised, but under the library roof, he had found a home of sorts. Indeed, he was granted the licence for extended conversations at the librarians’ desk, a site of speedy dispatch for other customers (such as me). Some years later I was shown the broad column at the back of another city library where homeless clients might nap without the fear of being mugged. These encounters were striking because they provided powerful snapshots of the way that a library might function as a hospitable and inclusive space - the flipside of ‘no room at the inn’. 

There are many ways that a school library can make a contribution to the social justice ethos of a school. On the most basic level, the school library aims to help bridge literacy gaps by connecting students with books that inspire reading effort. The library fosters connections through clubs and provides a space for occasional retreat. Many friendships have been forged in our library.

Write a Book in a day - a competition with a social justice ethos

On September 15, during the last week of Term 3, a group of ten talented students from Years 7 to 10 spent almost ten hours writing and illustrating a book for the purpose of raising money for kids’ cancer research and providing joy and solace to kids in hospital. It was a wonderful day, conducted via zoom! Although I had the pleasure of supervising the girls, they barely noticed I was there. They were, after all, thoroughly engrossed in meeting the challenge of writing a book of 5,500 words that had to include the following characters, setting and issue: bricklayer, stockman, scarecrow, art gallery, missing teachers. In addition, there were a number of compulsory words. The blurb below gives you a taste of their linked book which is titled A Gallery of Wonders.

A field trip gone wrong in a gallery of wonders.

When Jonno Jones dragged his brother Davo to the art gallery, he expected their trip to be relaxing, light and uneventful. He certainly didn’t expect a scavenger hunt for a group of missing teachers, led by three headstrong children with personalities far bigger than their tiny frames. But when duty calls, one has to do their part.

Their quest will take them on a journey through worlds, each one more bizarre than the last.  

Perfect for children under the age of 15.

Trish Kennedy

Teacher Librarian