Asquith Girls High School Library facilitates the inquiry needs of its school as a learning community by providing an excellent multimedia resource centre that enhances the rich teaching and learning opportunities available within our school.
Access to an extensive collection of print and online resources is facilitated by a quiet, stimulating learning environment and teaching programs that guide critical engagement with the curriculum. The Library provides opportunities for students to continue to develop the literacy and information skills necessary to nurture the curiosity, persistence and creativity essential for developing a lifelong love of reading, learning and independence.
Hours
Monday, Thursday and Wednesday- 8.15 - 4.15pm
On Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons the Learning Centre operates in the Library until 4.15pm
Lunch– Open every day
The Library Staff |
Role of the Teacher LibrarianMs C. McLeod, Teacher Librarian With expertise as both a Teacher and a Librarian, the Teacher Librarian is able to support students to critically engage with research tasks. The Teacher Librarian assists students to develop their unique response to research enquiries by guiding students to interpret, select and use appropriate resources in order to reflect and build knowledge and understanding. Mrs. M. Hyde, Library Assistant
|
Library Monitors |
Students are encouraged to participate in the everyday activities of the library through involvement as Library Monitors. Students receive important training in the operation of our library lending system, are introduced to shelving and resource management and are invited to help decorate the library to add to its student appeal. These students also have direct input into buying resources, by advising the librarian of the texts that inspire and excite them. A valuable leadership opportunity is offered here that will not only allow students to participate more fully in the life of the school, but will also enhance their skills in information management and help to inspire a life-long love of reading. |
Facilities
The Library offers a range learning spaces to complement different learning styles and contexts.
These include:
The Learning Centre
The Learning Centre was established to support the range of choices by which students engage with the curriculum.
The Learning Centre operates as a flexible learning opportunity for students who wish to extend their learning beyond the regular school day. Students' individual and group learning focuses are supported by access to teachers' expertise, quality resources and services and extended operating hours of the Library until 4.15pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Help with homework, research tasks and study skills is available.
Three class areas downstairsare each equipped with access to networked information and internet services and provide flexible learning spaces. These downstairs areas provide many computers available to support a variety of ways of learning, where depending on inquiry need, students can work individually, in pairs or small groups. Students' learning is supported by access to a mobile smartboard, data projectors and wireless internet connection.
The computer resource roomupstairs provides access to 24 computers and a data projector. This facility is primarily available for classes and senior students' individual research lessons. It is also available to the school community before school, at recess and lunchtime and after school on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.
The senior study Areaon the Library's mezzanine level supports quiet, independent study and research for senior students and has easy access to the Computer Resource Room.
The senior study room at the rear of the library adjacent to the Senior Study Area, provides seniors with the opportunity to engage in small and large group learning activities.
Four seminar roomsare available at the back of the library and can be booked for individual study, group discussion, viewing and listening activities.
The careers roomprovides open access to an extensive range of journals, books and pamphlets about current courses in tertiary institutions, trends in careers and finding employment. The room can be booked by individuals and small groups.
My Library
The Library Catalogue, My Library, is available from every computer in the school and is also available from home once logged into the DET Portal. As well listing all Library items in the collection, it provides direct access to online resources selected by subject experts to support the NSW curriculum. Sites include excellent support for research, study skills and homework.
Equipment
Students' engagement with the curriculum in a discerning, creative manner is supported by a choice of equipment and accompanying technology available for use within the Library and the school.
This includes a combined colour photocopier and printer (CHECK THIS OUT), a colour printer, a black and white printer, 4 scanners, data projectors, screens, digital and video cameras, TV and DVD player, CD and tape players, headphones and microphones.
Resources
Asquith Girls High Library provides access to a wide range of quality print and electronic resources responsive to the educational and recreational needs and interests of the school community. As the Library is a shared place of learning for its school community, students are encouraged to request resources to be included in the collection.
The Fiction Collections
Asquith Girls High School is very much a reading community. The scope of the collection aims to sustain creative thinking and nurture voluntary engagement and a continued love of wide reading. The Fiction Collection includes an extensive choice of current titles and well-loved classics and is complemented by the rich Picture Book Collection and the newly established Graphic Text Collection . The Library offers the Premier's Reading Challenge as an opportunity for students to explore individual reading interests while continuing to develop independence as critical readers and users of information.
The Non Fiction Collection
The Library offers an extensive collection of current print and non-print resources to support the research and study needs and individual interests of the students. The scope of the collection and associated services facilitate access and enhance individualised learning and higher order thinking.
The collection consists of over 53,000 items and includes print, visual and electronic resources.
The main print collections include Non Fiction, Reference and Current Journals and Magazines as well as a Hanging Picture File and Flat Picture File consisting of maps, posters and archival materials. Vertical files and Literature Vertical Files comprised of journal articles selected by the State Library of NSW support the HSC curriculum.
Students are assisted to access online databases to locate appropriate information from current newspapers and journals. Individual membership of the State Library of NSW will also allow students to access commonly used university databases which will enhance both their current and tertiary learning practices. The ClickView Digital Library provides access to an extensive video library. The Audio Visual Collection provides DVDs, CD-ROMs, Kits, Video Kits and Audio Cassettes which are available for loan or for use within the Library.
Borrowing
Most Library resources are available for loan with the number of items able to be borrowed depending on year level.
The standard loan period for Fiction and Non Fiction resources is two weeks with other information resources and resources in heavy demand available for a shorter loan periods.
Resources may be reserved and renewed if not required by another student.