Faculty News —
Library
Mazenod Library is off to a busy start with our reading, research, and recreational programs. Our specialist team of Teacher Librarians and Library Technicians aim to provide excellent learning opportunities and support for all students.
Reading classes, held once a fortnight during English in Years 7, 8 and 9, have been enjoying selecting books and reading in the quiet of the Reading Room. Students keep a Reading Record and aim to meet reading goals that they have developed as well as checking in by conferencing with their teacher/ teacher librarian. Students can select and recommend new books and we are trialling NoveList, a database of book recommendations, to engage our readers even further. The Sora eplatform is available for download to any device for access to ebooks and audio books. Year 8s will attend a poetry session with author, Steven Herrick on 15th March.
Research databases for current and reliable information are being trialled including Britannica School and EBSCO Points of View. Students will be encouraged to start their research with Britannica School which provides age-appropriate topic overviews, breadth and depth of reliable and safe content, including images and short video content as well as links to safe and reliable sites for students to use instead of relying on Google. Students are also being taught to use Mazcom Library resources to research and then reference sources used. EBSCO Points of View is fabulous for students when researching persuasive writing and oral tasks, including for debating.
Recreational use of the Library provides a safe and inclusive space for students to read, study and relax before school, recess, lunchtime and after school. The Library has been extremely busy with students playing chess, solving puzzles, and attending Book Club on Tuesdays, Kerbal Space Program on Wednesdays and Tech Club on Thursdays. In Term 2 we will be surveying students to find out what they love about the Library and to suggest improvements that they would like to see.
