Even though I'm only casual in a teaching sense, it does give me a very good opportunity not just to meet those within the profession but also be informed on what schools are doing and what we can do.
Being new, I had to introduce myself to the group and provide a few lines on my teaching background.
Paul Macdonald of The Children's Bookshop at Beecroft provided us with an overview of the books that teens should read in 2015. Already I'll admit I have recommended some of those titles to one school where I was doing relief work last week (St Pauls Catholic College, Greystanes).
The Library team at Our Lady of Mercy College at Parramatta provided us with an overview of their wide reading program and I was quite impressed with some of the activities that they do during their wide reading sessions which I would not have thought of in the first place including speed book dating (examining covers, blurbs etc), and using QR codes to access author websites. The readers group is a good strategy as well as it allows students to discuss books in a more relaxing manner. There was also an overview of how library services are promoted including orientation for year 7 students, staff morning teas and a book trivia contest.
Thanks to Our Lady of Mercy College for making me welcome and for their presentation along with Ruqqiya Dean (Pymble Ladies College) for organising the meeting.
Also some photos I took on my Ipad of the school library. Some had proper cameras with them which was a nice idea and hopefully I can do it next time.
