April 28, 2009
by Mrs Sinclair
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To take the library forward over the next fews years we would like your views and ideas.
The surveys will help the librarian to evaluate library use, and by way of finding out about your reading interests, help her to purchase new stock for the library that is relevant to your needs and interests.
S1 – S3 pupils will be asked to fill out the surveys during their library periods.
April 24, 2009
by Mrs Sinclair
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The blog is going through a wee bit of a redesign as your Librarian is learning more about Web 2.0 applications and how to integrate them into the blog.
In the first instance, in the right hand column, you will find Internet Bookmarks for your Projects which will supplement the internet hotlists you can access through the library website. The bookmarks are collated using a Web2.0 application called Delicious which allows you to access your own bookmarks from any computer. It also allows you to share your bookmarks with other people.
The internet was once just a reference tool which you used to search for infomation. Now, many websites are much more than a source of information and you can interact with them. Web 2.0 sites allow you to communicate, share and interact with information and people in a virtual environment. It is how the internet is now developing and growing.
Some interesting Web 2.0 sites:
Bubbl.us: Brainstorming
Survey Monkey: Create online surveys
Wordle : Word clouds
Social networking sites such as Facebook & Bebo, blogs, and wikis are all part of the Web 2.0 family
Social Bookmarking: Diigo; Delicious; Furl; StumbleUpon
Media Sharing: YouTube; Flickr; Dumpr
Social cataloguing (eg. of your books): Librarything
Virtual World: Second Life
Massively multiplayer online games are also part of the Web 2.0 generation. A good list of some of these MMOs can be found on Wikipedia
April 1, 2009
by Mrs Sinclair
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Contrary to popular belief, a school librarian will work some of the school holidays. It is usually an ideal time to catch up on all the jobs you can’t get done in a busy term time: give the library a good tidy, checking stock and planning for the coming term.
Now, coming back to the ‘tidy’ bit! Why is it that before you tidy the place becomes a whole lot messier? Everything appears to spill out of the peedie office and issue desk space onto the big tables. It is a means to an end as it helps one to take stock of the situation and also to sort out tasks that require a lot of space, which can be difficult to find when classes are coming to use resources six periods a day.
So, what is happening for your erstwhile school librarian this Easter Holidays? There is a big list of things to do but the priorities are:
Plenty enough to be doing with for the moment. I look forward to seeing the pupils and staff back in school on Tuesday 14th April and hope that you will all be refreshed and ready for another term. FS
April 1, 2009
by Mrs Sinclair
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March 26, 2009
by Mrs Sinclair
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It is nearly the end of another term and as is traditional, small Easter eggs have been ‘hidden’ around the library. Pupils finding an egg should report to the Librarian and they will then be entered into a different raffle for a chocolate Easter bunny.
March 26, 2009
by Mrs Sinclair
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As all pupils should be aware, they are unable to borrow books from the library unless they produce their library card, or the back-up label in the planner. Note: “back-up”. The label in the planner should only be used when a pupil has forgotten or lost their library card. It was never intended to be a substitute. Lost or damaged cards should be reported to the Librarian.
To encourage pupils to use their actual library cards, a raffle for an Easter egg and mug has been running over the last week or so. Pupils borrowing books from the library using their card are entered into the raffle.
March 18, 2009
by Mrs Sinclair
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Since the February break, S1 pupils in History have been carrying out investigations into ancient civilisations. Prior to starting their research, pupils did a one period information skills course, which introduced them to some of the resources available in the library and to the internet hotlist on The Ancient World. They were also shown the planning process which would enable them to produce a good investigation.
Four classes have been coming to the library twice a week to carry out their research. The pupils 
have used the library very effectively, showing a good working knowledge of how to find information both in the library and on the internet. The extensive collection of books on this vast topic have been well used, as have the books borrowed from The Orkney Library. The pupils are encouraged to spend 1 – 2 periods using the book resources only, not going anywhere near the internet. This means that by the time they come to search the vastness of the information superhighway, they will have some understanding of the topic they are researching and the keywords they will need to use.
The current info skills and subsequent investigation is a far cry from 15 or so years ago when the pupils only investigated Romans, Greece or Egypt. Pupils are given a fairly wide remit in terms of the topics they choose to research include: Ancient Rome, Vikings, Ancient Greece (with one pupil focussing on Sparta), Ancient Egypt, Aztec, Inca, Maya and Ancient China. Several pupils are also looking at the history of the Australian Aborigines, New Zealand Maori and Canadian Inuit.
It is a real delight to see the pupils getting on with their work independentaly with little input from myself or the History Teachers. Part of the success of this particular department / library liaison is down to the fact that over the years, the info skills booklet has been tweeked and developed until it is now at the stage that it provides an effective short course / introduction to the research and that the teachers have been supportive of the role the library has in such work.
S1 History and S3 English Class
March 18, 2009
by Mrs Sinclair
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The following pupils received their reading challenge certificates last month. A big thank you must go to them all for being brave enough to take part in the ‘lucky dip’ back at Christmas time.
James Gunn; Keri H; Ailish H; Elisha F; Mark M; Charlotte L; Nikki C; Kimberley C; Shannon F; Ewen H; Laura W; Danny J; Abigail J; Sophie W; Chantelle B; Craig M; Eva P; Matthew M; Murray C; Megan F; Vicki I
March 12, 2009
by Mrs Sinclair
1 Comment
I was sitting at my desk and thought that I heard the patter of tiny rodent feet in the suspended ceiling above me. Imagination? During the course of the period, I heard it another couple of times. I called the Janitor, who came and we had a look but no sign of anything. Ten minutes or so later there was a very distinctive cheep! Mice don’t cheep. Lifting a roof tile, I peered in to see a bird.
The other Janitor came with a step ladder and after about 20 minutes we had ‘persuaded’ the bird to drop into the library. After some fluttering about it perched a plant, then dropped to the floor. The Janitor caught it and it was safely released, although somewhat tired looking outside. FS
March 5, 2009
by Mrs Sinclair
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Here is a list of recent additions to the Senior Fiction book collection. These were donated to the library by a member of staff and are a welcome addition to the collection. Thank you.
Bad Blood by Lorna Sage
The Birth of Venus: Love and Death in Florence by Sarah Dunat
The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
Mercy by Jodi Picoult
Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen
No Time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan,
The Road Home by Rose Tremain
Second Chance by Jane Green
Showdown by Tilly Bagshawe
So Super Stylish by Rose Wilkins
A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon
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