Research
Database
Facilities
ClubsLibrary
Teacher Librarian
Sheryl Devers
- Bachelor of Teaching
- Masters of Education - Teacher Librarianship (currently studying)
- Assist students in becoming information literate
- Assist students in using a range of resources and technologies
- Collaboratively plan and teach units of work with subject and classroom teachers
- Collaborate with teachers and curriculum leaders
- Demonstrate practices that reflect current educational directions
- Contribute to the professional development of staff
- Demonstrate strategies to foster a reading culture
- Organise procedures and systems for delivery of educational services, including flexible timetabling and learning spaces
- Develop and administer resource budgets and ordering within state purchasing policy guidelines
- Management of the library management system (Oliver)
- Management of ClickView
- Management of School Cataloguing and Information Service (SCIS)
- Marketing the library and its services
- Develop and document library resource centre polices
Library Technician / Aide
Dianne McInnes
- Certificate III in Early Childhood Education
- Certificate III Library/Information Services
- Monitoring of loans and returns
- Assisting with loan and reference queries at the counter and by phone
- Working as part of a team in a library and information service environment
- Maintaining SMS records of multimedia loans and returns
- Identify and correcting minor faults with multimedia equipment
- Repairing and recovering of resources
- Shelving returned library resources
- Showing students and teachers how to use information services e.g. OPAC
- Use electronic information management and cataloguing tools for data entry and editing
- Subscription management
- Textbook hire management
- Staff and student identification card management
- Extra duties as requested
Opening Hours
Borrowing and Research
Monday - Thursday 8:00am - 3:30pm
Friday 8:00am - 3:00pm
Year 8 - 12 Lunch Hours
First Break - Assignment and Research Use Only
Second Break - General Library Use
Year 4 - Year 7 Lunch Hours
Second Break - Monday and Friday
Please listen to notices for special activities and library club times.
Library Vision, Mission, Priorities and Programs
Vision
The resource centre is the hub of the information literate school community. It is an innovative and flexible use of space, resources and expertise and can be viewed as an extension of each classroom, where students can work in authentic learning contexts to develop information processes and skills that contribute to the development of lifelong learners.
Mission
The Resource Centre’s vision is to be regarded as a quality service provider supporting learning, teaching and research by:
- supporting teachers and students in developing the information and digital literacy skills required for effective use of technology
- the provision of resources and services to support the professional needs of teachers
- building a reading culture and students’ literacy capacities
- facilitating an awareness campaign for ethical behaviour in a socially networked world for the cyber safety of students
- providing flexible learning spaces to meet the needs of learners
- maintaining a responsive, well organised and accessible collection of resources with a combination of print, multimedia and online resources
- continually enhancing our services through emerging technologies
Priorities and Programs
Technology
The WCC Resource Centre accommodates the use of new and emerging technologies such to suit 21st century learning requirements.
Building a reading culture
It is vital to focus on the development and enjoyment of reading as research evidence clearly demonstrates the strong, positive link between reading enjoyment and student achievement. The reading culture of our school will be supported by Book Fairs, Book Club, Book Week and librarians selecting resources, providing guidance and developing environments that promote reading motivation.
Improving Literacy Outcomes
Research clearly demonstrates that students attain higher levels of achievement when there is an effective school library. The WCC Resource Centre offers a selection of appropriate fiction and non fiction resources to promote reading and enhance resource based learning programs.
Integrating the development of information literacy and digital literacy skills for both teachers and students
Information and digital literacy skills are required for the effective use of computers and internet access and these are skills that are taught by teacher librarians in collaboration with teachers (ALIA 2010).
The growth of digital resources is increasing the need for information skills training. These skills give individuals the ability to:
- define information needs
- locate information
- select information
- organise information
- create and share information
- evaluate information
(Source: ALIA/ASLA, 2001)
Cyber safety
Students need to be taught about the appropriate use of a wide range of digital resources and technologies, including cyber safety, cyber bullying, privacy and identity thief (Hutley, 2010). School and parents need to work together on this.
Developing online resources and databases
The resource centre needs to be proactive in developing, evaluating and accessing online resources and databases suitable to the needs of students.
Supporting Teachers
The resource centre staff play a key role in supporting teachers reference needs along with the collaborative planning, teaching and evaluating of resource based and inquiry based learning activities
Collection Development Policy
Statement of Purpose
This library collection policy will:
- facilitate the effective management of the library collection
- support the curriculum and teacher reference information needs of the school
- demonstrate financial responsibility
- be shared with all members of the learning community
- be reviewed by annually by the Teacher Librarian and collaborative partners.
Goals
The library’s collection goal is to provide a range of resources to enhance learning and teaching by:
- supporting teachers and students in developing information and digital literacy skills
- the provision of resources to support the professional needs of teachers
- building a reading culture and students’ literacy capacities
- maintaining a responsive, well organised and accessible collection of resources with a combination of print, multimedia and online resources
Nature of the Collection
The collection will support the library’s vision of creating an information literate school community, where students can work in authentic learning contexts to develop information processes and skills that contribute to the development of lifelong learners.
Types of resources
The library will maintain a responsive, well organised and accessible collection with a combination of print, multimedia and online resources.
The school library collection is made up of three areas;
- In-house collection of physical resources
- For e.g. print books, periodicals, newspapers, posters, DVDs, computer software
2. Online resources
- For e.g. identified websites, online databases and reference tools and eBooks
3. Digital collections
- For e.g. The Le@rning Federation, Trove, EdNA
Access to digital and online resources
The library will improve user access to digital and online resources over the coming years by increasing its database subscriptions by two each year up to 2014. The library will also investigate the use of eBooks and add these items to the collection by the end of 2012. Digital learning objects and websites will be continually reviewed and added to the collection. As Johnson (2010) describes post literate, ‘as those who can read but choose to meet their primary information needs through audio, video, graphics and gaming,’ we do need to continue to expand our digital collection to ensure the needs of our learners are met.
Funding the collection
The teacher librarian in collaboration with members of the learning community will submit a budget proposal to fund the library collection to the Head of Educational Services on an annual basis.
Sources of funding
The school will fund the library budget on an annual basis. Funding opportunities from a range of other sources (e.g. Parents and Citizens Association, special grants, access to federal money) will be investigated and sourced wherever possible.
Budgeting
The teacher librarian will manage the library budget. All expenditures will be carefully monitored and accounted for. Funds will be spent in areas of identified need essential to the vision and goals of the collection.
Selection of resources
Responsibility
The selection of materials for the library is the responsibility of the teacher librarian. Collaboration with members of the school community is undertaken when appropriate in order to ensure resources are pertinent to the needs of the school community. Collaborative practices may include: weblogs; interest inventories; sharing review journals and bibliographies with teachers; and the teacher librarian attending departmental meetings. Resources will be selected for inclusion only if they reflect the purposes and goals of the library. Resources are selected according to the principals of intellectual freedom.
Selection Aids
A range of selection aids will be used to identify resources relevant to the information needs of our users. These include:
- Bibliographic tools
- Review journals
- Catalogues and promotional literature
- Standing orders
- Staff and student suggestions
Selection aids used will examine resources analytically and make comparisons to other materials of the same genre, format or subject. The range of resources used for selection will be broad.
Selection Criteria
A combination of: appropriateness to learner characteristics; the teaching and learning context; and general selection criteria and will be applied to all resource formats to determine if an item should be included in the collection. Further criteria are applied to the digital and online materials. Contribution to student outcomes is the ultimate resource selection criteria (Learning for the future, 2001, p.29).
Learner Characteristics and Teaching and Learning Context
In order to cater for our specific school situation, resources selected for inclusion in the collection must:
- Meet the characteristics of the learners
- Be suitable to the teaching and learning context
General Selection Criteria
General selection criteria are applied to all resources under consideration.
Consideration needs to be given to:
- Appropriateness - is content suitable for intended users?
- Scope – does is support the curriculum and resource based learning?
- Accuracy – is it up to date / are credible sources cited?
- Treatment – does it appeal to intended users / does it reflect diverse learners?
- Arrangement and organisation – is the content easily accessible?
- Authority – is the author qualified and/or experienced?
- Comparison to other works – is it the most suitable format / is it available in digital format?
Digital and Online Resource Criteria
Further consideration to the selection of online and electronic material is a collaborative partnership between the teacher librarian and the schools’ ICT Reference group. Consideration needs to be given to:
- Existing or predicted user demand
- Support required from library staff
- Licensing arrangements
- Devices and readers
- Ease of access (home and school)
- Cost of access
- Searching capabilities
- Hardware and software
Censorship
The library promotes access to information to support the development of informed and responsible students.
The library operates within the policy statements outlined in the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) - Statement on Free Access to Information and the Australian School Library Association (ASLA) - School Library Bill of Rights.
For further information refer to http://www.alia.org.au/policies/free.access.html
http://www.asla.org.au/policy/p_bor.htm
Copyright
The library will only consider items for selection that meet copyright laws and regulations. Copyright allowances for educational purposes will be displayed in key areas throughout the school and shared with staff on a regular basis.
For further information on copyright requirements, refer to www.smartcopying.edu.au
Classification of material
The library will abide by classifications applied to videos/DVDs and computer games by the Office of Film and Literature Classification.
For further information on classifications, refer to www.classification.gov.au
Acquisition of resources
All resources acquired by the library must meet the relevant selection criteria.
Before the order is placed, the teacher librarian is responsible for:
- ensuring all bibliographic information required to acquire resources is identified and recorded
- identifying an appropriate supplier
- ensuring the acquisition falls into the appropriate budget
All new resources follow set procedures for receiving goods and are processed appropriately prior to being accessed by the school community. New resources will be catalogued following the standards set by School Catalogue Information Service (SCIS).
Suppliers
Library suppliers used will demonstrate strong customer service, speed of supply, range of supply and provide specialist services to assist with problem solving. Local suppliers will be given preference whenever possible.
Acquisition of digital resources
All digital resource acquisitions require consultation with the ICT Reference Group and Network Manager. Digital resources meeting selection criteria will be catalogued following the standards set by SCIS.
Negotiating Licences
The Teacher Librarian in consultation with the ICT Reference Team and Network Manager determine the suitability of licensing conditions. The library adheres to all site licensing regulations. Licensers with an understanding of the educational context will be given preference.
Donations and Gifts
Donations and gifts are subject to the same selection criteria as new resources. No remuneration will be paid to the donor. An acknowledgement label will be affixed on the inside of the front cover.
Outsourcing Acquisitions
ClickView has been selected as the provider of digital video content within our school through it primary and secondary digital video libraries. All digital video content is catalogued through SCIS.
Weeding of resources
Weeding of resources is a continuous process carried out by the teacher librarian to improve the appearance of the collection to ensure users have access to the most relevant and up to date information. Weeding is of equal importance in all areas of the library – in-house collections, online resources and digital collections.
General Weeding Criteria
The main criteria for discarding resources will be:
- Lack of use (as determined by Library Management System data)
- Obsolete or inaccurate material
- Lack of current interest in subject matter
- Poor physical condition
Extra consideration needs to be given to weeding resources that may be part of a multi-volume set or series.
Digital Resource Weeding Criteria
Digital resources will be subject to the same general weeding criteria as other resources. In addition digital resources will be discarded when:
- Content is not updated regularly
- Alternative and richer information sources become available
- Content has changed in an undesired way or lost relevance
- Broken and/or dead links
Disposal
Resources weeded from the collection will be removed from the library management system and disposed of by:
-
- donation to other organisations
- disposal at the local tip
Preservation
Resources that are rare, of historical value or of local value will not be discarded.
Evaluation of the collection
Annual evaluation of the collection will be undertaken to ensure that the collection remains current and relevant to the information needs of its users. Any collection evaluation undertaken will focus on how well the collection meets the needs of the users and supports the teaching learning context (Hughes-Hassell and Mancell, 2005, p.40).
Collection centred and user centred measures will be used to determine the scope and breath of the collection and whether, how often and by whom resources are used. Measures may include:
-
- analyse of curriculum to ensure sufficient resource based learning resources are available
- list checking holdings with holdings of other libraries
- citations checks
- seeking feedback from users about how well the collection met their information needs
- studying circulation records to see what resources are being used
- observation of materials being used ‘in-house’
- analyse of usage reports generated by online databases
Information gathered through this evaluation will be used to:
- Determine funding priorities
- Determine the feasibility of new initiatives
- Create and revise collection management policies
Challenges to resources
The library attempts to resolve and clarify any challenges to resources through discussion which will include making the challenger aware of the library collection policy. If a satisfactory resolution is not meet the Principal is advised of the matter and the complainant is asked to complete a request of consideration form (see Appendix A). This form is then submitted to the Learning Resources Selection Advisory Group to determine recommended action for approval by the principal.
Challenged resources will remain in circulation during the reconsideration period.
For further information refer to http://education.qld.gov.au/library/resource/eval/evalg-challeng.html
Western Cape College – Resource Centre
DISPUTED MATERIALS FORM
Request for reconsideration of School and Library Resources
Author_______________________________________________________________
Title_________________________________________________________________
Publisher (if known)____________________________________________________
Request initiated by____________________Telephone________________________
Complainant represents:
Self________________________________________________________________
Organisation (please name)_____________________________________________
Other group (please identify)____________________________________________
Please answer questions 1-10 in spaces provided or on a separate page if necessary.
1. What do you object to in this material? (please be specific: cite sections/pages)
2. What do you feel might be the result of using this material?
3. For what age group would you recommend this material?
4. Is there anything worthwhile about this material?
5. Did you examine the whole item?
If not, what parts?
6. Are you aware of the educational/literary assessments of this material?
7. Are you aware of the Departmental commitments to values and equity in education?
8. What do you believe is the intention/theme of this material and its place in the
curriculum?
9. What would you like your school to do about this material? (please indicate)
- Reconsider its suitability for inclusion in the school library
- Reconsider its suitability for inclusion in the teaching program
- Do not give it to my child
- Use it with teacher support only
- Withdraw it from all students as well as from my child
10. If you wish it to be withdrawn, what item would you recommend to replace it in
the collection?
Signature of complainant__________________________Date___________________
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Office use only
Follow up action:_______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Principal or delegate______________________________Date:__________________
NSW Department of Education and Training, 2005
Expected Library Behaviours
(to be developed)
FAQ
How many items may I borrow?
This varies depending on your year level.
Prep - Year 1:1 item
Year 2 - 3: 2 items
Years 4 - 7: 3 items
Year 8 - 9: 5 items
Year 10 - 12: 10 items
Am I charged if I lose a book?
Yes, students are charged for items which are not returned. Further borrowing may be denied until the overdue items are returned or paid for.
How can I renew a loan?
Bring the borrowed item to the circulation desk. The item will be renewed provided no other student has reserved it.
How can I reserve a book?
Ask the staff at the circulation desk to reserve it for you.
Can I borrow magazines?
Yes, all issues apart from the current issue may be borrowed.
Where is the OPAC?
The OPAC is available through the Library website and can be accessed from home, or any computer in the school via the shortcut link. 2 specific OPAC computers are available for staff and student use in the library.
Can I use the library databases from home?
Yes. Email the librarian or WCC member site for access passwords.
Can I use the library computers?
Library computers are available for students to use for assignment and research purposes.
Can I print in the library?
Yes, a black and white printer is available - please check with library staff prior to printing.
Does the library keep newspapers?
The library keeps The Courier Mail, The Cairns Post, The Western Cape Bulletin and the Koori Mail for 2 weeks. Newspapers are not available for borrowing.