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Head of Library Services
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From the Head of Library Services
Again, it has been a year of changes and challenges for the Redeemer Library Services. Firstly, we welcomed Ms Theresa Cumming as our Junior School Teacher-Librarian, and her enthusiasm, creativity and experience has been such a welcome addition to our team. In addition, our valued support team, Miss Burkitt, Mrs Kung and Miss Leibinger, commenced greater cross-campus participatory roles in both Library spaces. This has been a wonderful initiative, not only in increasing skills and connections, but has allowed for the students to engage with a variety of staff. Both Libraries have continued to provide quality services and experiences for our College community.
SECONDARY RESOURCE CENTRE
This year saw our established groups of ChocLit and Potterheads grow and flourish, with new members and frequent, fun get-togethers. We also introduced our Lego Engineers group, and have a dedicated core group of builders who have put together some very impressive pieces. Our newest venture is launching a Dungeons & Dragons group which we hope will grow over time.
The success of TechFree Thursdays, introduced last year, was so obvious that we have also begun TechFree Tuesdays! The focus of these days is to encourage more social interaction, particularly via table-top games, with a range of great new games on offer – some of these very much in demand! To satisfy the thirst for some digital gaming, we kicked off Minecraft Mondays which has been a runaway success, particularly with our younger cohorts.
We continued to celebrate and mark special occasions via displays or in-house events, such as: Sorry Day/ Reconciliation Week, Battle of the Books: Dystopian Edition [with The Hunger Games the clear winner!], 75th Anniversary CBCA Book Week, visiting author Dee White, Write a Book in a Day, and the real stand-out – Harry Potter Night, which blended Junior and Senior students together for a wonderful magical happening.
Two programs were completely new initiatives for the Senior Resource Centre (SRC). The first is our 4R Program for Year 7, which is designed to equip our incoming students with the basic skills and knowledge they will employ in Senior School. Secondly, was the establishment of a transitional program for Year 6 students, with classes taken by myself, and also introducing them to the Senior School Library. Both have been well received and clearly successful.
JUNIOR RESOURCE CENTRE
Ms Cumming has brought a lot of excitement and many new ideas to the Junior Resource Centre (JRC), including the introduction of ‘Celebrity Visits’ where guest staff members conduct read-aloud sessions, Writers Club, Years 5/6 Book Club and Minecraft Mondays, following the success of these in the Senior Resource Centre, in addition to the ever-popular crafts and games. Special events included National Simultaneous Storytime, Premier’s Reading Challenge, Readers Cup, Book Fair and CBCA Book Week during which authors, Natalie Jane Prior, Richard Newsome, and Pat Flynn provided inspiration for students’ writing adventures. All of these were received with great enthusiasm.
Aside from Library lessons across all the year levels, the Junior Resource Centre continued to be a popular place to spend break times and enjoy a variety of activities. It continues to be a vibrant and dynamic part of the Junior School, and a place where staff and students are always warmly welcomed.
To conclude, many thanks go again to my wonderful Library team for your support and hard work this year as well as our amazing College leaders who recognise the importance of the Library as an integral hub of the College and strongly support our endeavours.
On behalf of the Library team, may you all enjoy a safe, blessed, and happy festive season.
