Hello from Forster Public School Library. We are bright and colourful and a place of learning, recreation and resources for all of our school community.
Here are the people who work in the library:
Our librarian is Miss Kellie Eggins. Miss Eggins is available in the library Monday to Friday and is the main contact for any library inquiries.
We have a second library teacher, Mrs Joanne Hauritz. Mrs Hauritz takes lessons in the library each Thursday.
Mrs Karen Bousfield is the administrative officer for the library and can be found in the library each Wednesday and Thursday.
We also have a wonderful volunteer, Mrs Helen Fletcher, who has been with us for many years and is an excellent source of information for our library.
Hours:
Our library opens each day at second half lunch for quiet activities. The main activities are listed below:
Mondays: Game Day – we have a selection of board games, card games and dominoes available for students to play.
Tuesdays: Movie Day – we view films each Tuesday; some have even been made by our own students!
Wednesdays: Mindful Colouring Day – students can select and colour a positive picture.
Thursdays: Craft Day – different craft activities are on offer to students each Thursday.
Fridays: Each Friday lunchtime we welcome in students from the Support Unit for appropriate activities and social skills.
In addition to these activities, the library offers drawing and quiet reading activities each lunchtime.
Information for Borrowers:
Kindergarten students – to begin with, Kinder can borrow 1 book while they learn about borrowing and returning. When they are used to the procedure, Kinder students are then able to borrow up to 2 books each week.
Years 1 & 2 can borrow up to 4 books at a time, with 14 days to return books.
Years 3 & 4 can borrow up to 6 books at a time, with 21 days to return books.
Years 5 & 6 can borrow up to 8 books at a time, with 28 days to return books.
ALL students require a borrowing bag, and these can be as simple as the popular 15c Woolworths / Coles / Aldi / IGA bags WITH student name and class labelled on them. A recycled pillowcase is another great option.
Students who have overdue books will be unable to borrow any further books until outstanding loans are either returned or replaced.
Borrowed books can be returned to the library during break times. The returns box is located just inside the library door, and is marked with a bright, colourful sign. Keep an eye out – our returns box sometimes changes colour and shape, and sometimes becomes some very hungry library creatures who like to eat returned library books!
Premier's Reading Challenge:
Each year Miss Eggins coordinates the Premier’s Reading Challenge for our school. Students in years Kinder to Year 2 must read 30 picture books up until August, and students in years 3 to 6 must read 20 novels up until August. Students can have their books read to them at home or as part of their class learning. Record all books read and return the list to Miss Eggins by the due date (see Miss Eggins for details or the Premier’s Reading Challenge website http://www.prc.com.au ).
Areas of the library:
Our library collections include FICTION, NON-FICTION, JUNIOR FICTION, JUNIOR NON-FICTION and TEACHER RESOURCES. Some of our bigger books are soon to be housed in a new REFERENCE section, and these books will be available to enjoy in the library, but will not be available to borrow.
Our library is organised using the Dewey Decimal Classification System. This is the same system that is used by all school libraries in the Great Lakes area as well as public libraries. Students are taught how to use the Dewey Decimal System during library lessons. Each book in our Non-Fiction and Junior Non-Fiction sections have a call number on or close to the spine which tells us where to find the book in the collection. Our Fiction and Junior Fiction sections are organised by Author surname.
Some of our favourite authors in the library include:
Stephen Michael King
Mem Fox
Jackie French
JK Rowling
EB White
Emily Rodda
Eoin Colfer
Peter Carnavas
Rev. W Awdry
Michael Bond
Nick Bland
Aaron Blabey
A few times each term, Miss Eggins selects a variety of books on different themes to be put onto the display wall in the library. Keep a look out for what amazing new books can be found on display. Books on the display are not available for loan until they return to the shelves.
Students and staff can reserve books for loan when they aren’t available on the shelf. Miss Eggins or Mrs Bousfield will put the books aside and notify you when the books can be collected. Suggestions for good books are always welcome. We create a wish-list each year and add book titles or authors that our school community would like to see in the library.
Students and staff of Forster Public School also have access to World Book Online in the library, in their classroom, and at home. It works on a variety of devices and can be accessed via the link sent to all staff and students via email, or from the cards available in the library.
The new-look library is a welcome addition to Forster Public School, and is a vibrant, colourful, friendly place to be. Why not pop in some time and check it out?
And as always,
HAPPY READING!!