It's all happening!

I haven't posted for a while, as I've been busy with our new library. 

Firstly, we had to move all the books and resources from various parts of the school into our new space. 

Then it was a matter of arranging the furniture to create collections. 

Next, all the books awaiting accessioning and covering had to be collected, moved to the new library, sorted and labelled, ready for processing. 

In Week 3 the library opened for Homework Club before school and Library Club at lunchtimes. The faces of the students were filled with wonder and excitement as they entered our beautiful new space. 

In Week 4, I was able to invite all classes to begin library lessons, which included library borrowing. 

In addition to the 5 Student Librarians, who've been invaluable to me in preparing the new library over the past weeks, I have also appointed 2 Library Monitors per class. These students will help ensure that everything in the library is cared for and kept in place. 

Everyone who visits our new library wishes that they could stay. A sense of peace, light and joy abounds.

I have had so many volunteers assist me over the past weeks. They include parents and grandparents working in the library and many, many others working on covering books at home. 

It is certainly a whole community effort. Well done, St Brigid's!

Our new library!

On Thursday, I was able to visit our new library and Music/Drama room. They are wonderful learning spaces! Imagine how the library will look with all of our new books on the shelves. 

I took a few photos to share, since I know our students and teachers are keen to see the finished space, and school is now over for this year. 

The Aboriginal painting that our whole school helped to paint, takes pride of place. 

There are many pieces of colourful and interesting furniture in the library, it hasn't been properly arranged yet, but you'll be able to get the general idea. 

There is a beautiful white Caesarstone counter top on the circulation desk. I think I look very smart, sitting there, ready to scan books (minus my computer and scanner!), don't you?

Look at these colourful tables and chairs for our younger students - they can be arranged in many different ways. 

We even have window seats, where students can relax and read, with book storage underneath.

There are spinning book carousels that will hold our Junior Fiction (A.K.A. yellow spot books) and Graphic Texts (A.K.A. blue spot books).   

The Music/Drama room has a kitchenette (it's hidden in a cupboard!). 

I can't set up the library just yet, as there are a few more finishing touches that need to be completed. As you can see, though, I am SO excited and can't wait to turn this amazing space into St Brigid's library! 

What do you think of our new library? Leave a comment below (it'll come to me to be checked before you see it appear).

Papua New Guinea Book Donation

After the fire, we were fortunate to receive thousands of donated books from other schools, publishers, booksellers, authors, families and other businesses. 

Some of these donated books were surplus to our needs, so I contacted Michael from the Lasallian Mission Council. They are collecting donations to fill a container that will be shipped to classrooms in Papua New Guinea. We are so pleased to be able to pass on some of the generosity we received, to others. 

Inner West Council Library - Marrickville Library

During the summer holidays, Marrickville Library has many events to encourage children to connect with books. For the Summer Reading Club the Inner West Council library staff are dusting off their spandex, putting on masks and capes and diving head first into the best hero and villain books.

From Superman, Luke Skywalker to The Daleks and Voldemort there is a hero or villain hiding in every book at the library.

Take the Summer Reading or ‘Make-it-to-Win-it’Challenge to win some very cool prizes! Plus, visit the interactive superhero and villain wall at Marrickville Library, where you can dress up in cool props and strike a pose for your superhero or supervillain pic.

All entrants must be a member of any Inner West Council library to enter.

Almost done!

The new library is very close to completion. New furniture has arrived and the builders are just adding the finishing touches to the building. 

Since the huge eucalyptus tree was a striking feature outside the windows of our old library, the colours of grey and green have been incorporated into the design of the new library to create a link with our past.

New Library Books and Donations

We are still processing all the books for our new library. A huge thank you to the devoted group of parents who continue to cover books each week. Thanks also to the students who carry the distinctive blue striped bags home and back to school so reliably.

We've begun to pack all the books that are ready for the new library shelves into colourful, indigenous print boxes. 

Since we received so many generous book donations when our library was destroyed by fire, we wanted to pay the generosity forward. So we've packed boxes of some of our books to donate to the people of Papua New Guinea, through an initiative organised by De La Salle - Lasallian Mission Council in Bankstown. So great to think of others across the ocean joyfully opening these boxes!

Building Program - Week 12 Progress

The builders are busy putting the finishing touches on our new learning spaces. The classrooms upstairs have taken shape...

The painters are busy in our new library and the circulation desk has been modified, to allow our smaller students to see Mrs Rigg when they're borrowing their books next year.