Library skills and the same old problems!

Started to do some actual Library skills work with some year groups now and it's quite frightening how much there is to do. I've started with a very basic alphabetical sorting exercise to get the Yr3 and 4 students thinking about how Fiction is organised. The second step is having them solve some hieroglyphic puzzles to work out Author names and then find books by that Author.

The puzzles are very popular and it has been interesting to see how they make connections to the Fiction section, or how they don't! Year 3 are slightly ahead and are onto their second week of solving. The second week was much better - we had a short review session and this time they stopped and thought about where they were going to look before rushing off in a mad dash around the Library.

For Year 5 we have started to discuss Dewey - who was he, what is DDC all about etc. The plan is to split them up into teams next time and start an adapted version of the "Dewey Idol" game I used to run at Kowloon Junior School.

For Year 6 we have been talking about research and introduced the Big 6. Also had some very frank discussions with them about why they don't come to, or borrow from the Library. No real surprises - lack of variety; lack of new books; many series that aren't complete; they have a better selection of books at home etc etc......... It has provided some more ammunition to push again about purchasing.

None of the PRs raised in Dec/Jan have actually been placed with suppliers. I sent copies of everything to the whole school Principal this week and stated my case that it is impossible to offer the library services we should be able to offer without new books. Many of our students have reading levels below where they should be and this really isn't helped by a Library which can't offer attractive reading material; current authors, AV materials to support EAL students; graphic novels .....the list is growing all the time!

The only new books we have had since I came are those from the Scholastic Book order credits, and donations from parents. Without those there would be nothing new.

Also lost our chance this week to bring Nury Vittachi from Hong Kong. I had arranged with two other schools to bring him during my Book Week but they have had to withdraw. A shame but it would be too expensive to bring him just for Rego. Will need to focus on bringing Margaret Read MacDonald next year and hope that works out.

Oliver Plus is still not operational. Really getting beyond a joke now. We have had the system installed for 6 weeks and have not been able to do very much. I am experiencing continual time out errors so can't even get on to the system. Once I get on, every time I try to change something there is another time out. I was able to import some catalogue records from Athena and add some student photos but that has been it.

Frustration and de-motivation are the words of the week. I am finding it increasingly difficult to keep positive when there is so much that can't be done.

Parent helpers have been brilliant, coming in to help with a wonderful Dragon for Book Week and new displays. Staff and students are also fantastic, so supportive and interested in Book Week plans and competitions. It's just such a shame that the owners seem more interested in making money than honouring the budgets that are supposed to be available to develop the school properly.

Work seems to have stopped completely on the outdoor facilities and new auditorium/gym. If I am feeling frustrated, I can't imagine how the PE teachers feel, working in a tiny space, around the size of a classroom while looking out the window at an almost finished football field and running track!