The Library has been a very busy place this year, I think mainly because of some of the great changes we’ve put in place. The new layout looks great, if you ask me and we’ve had lots of students and classes using the new Fiction section. We’ve put couches, a rug and some cushions in that area to try to make it much more inviting for you all.

I’ve also got some ideas to implement in the near future so I’ll let you know once they’ve happened. I won’t say what they are now, I’ve got to keep some little surprises! We’ve also been getting a LOT of new fiction in the Library in the last couple of months so keep an eye out on the blog for information about those in the future.

As you’ll probably have noticed (if you’ve been into the Library) there have been a few changes in the Library since the end of last year. Firstly we have two new staff members in the Library. Mrs Lewis is our new Librarian, who will be replacing Mrs Stanislawski for the first half of this year and Mrs Sten is our new Library Assistant and has replaced Mrs Ryan. I hope that you’ll come down to the Library to meet them sometime and make them welcome!

You’ll also notice that we’ve changed the layout of the Library! Firstly we’ve straightened up the shelves so they look a lot neater. This has created a dedicated Fiction section on the right hand side of the Library where the class area used to be. The class area has now been moved over near the computers. I think it looks fantastic, it really freshens the Library up! I hope you’ll come down and check it out.

We’ve also got some fantastic new books in while you’ve been on holidays! Mrs Lewis and myself made a trip to Big W the other day and filled a trolley full of books (mostly fiction) that we hope you’ll like. These will be processed this week and hopefully be available for loan by next week.

A tantalizing web of deceptive artwork and wordplay lures us to play detective in this fascinating and puzzling book.  The missing letters of the alphabet on the edges of each page can be rearranged to make the name of an animal.  The reader must then try to find that animal in the artwork.

Go on – give it a go!

The book is by Paul Adshead and it can be found in the library in the fiction area under ADS.

There have been some excellent reviews on these books, check out what readers had to say here.

If you’re still not convince – have a look at this book trailer!

Did you know that 2 out of 5 women would trade 5 years of their lives just to be thin? Did you know that most women overestimate their own waist size by 30% and their own hip size by 16%? Did you know that more women are suffering from anorexia or bullemia than from breast cancer? Did you know that most young grils start to diet when they are just 8 years old?

This is why Operation Beautiful has been started. To help women (and men) to stop the ‘fat talk’ and start loving their own bodies the way they are. The mission of Operation Beautiful is to post encouraging notes in public places for other people to find and to brighten their day. The notes can be as simple as ‘you are beautiful’ or ‘you are perfect just the way you are’ but they can bring a smile or some much needed joy to someone’s life. Also once you’ve posted your notes, take a photo and send them off to Operation Beautiful (the email is on the site) and your notes will be posted for everyone to see and enjoy.

There are also some great links to articles for improving self esteem, stopping the ‘fat talk’ and overall trying to see yourself in a positive light. It’s a great site and worth having a look at! The following are some examples of notes that people have put up:

We’ve also included on there Pathfinders (there’s only a couple on there so far but feel free to recommend topics), and lists of new books in both the non fiction and teacher reference sections.

Find out more about Fruits Basket

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto (ADO)

Mirror by Jeannie Baker (BAK)

Villette by Charlotte Bronte (BRO)

Good Oil by Laura Buzo (BUZ)

She’s with the band by Georgia Clark (CLA)

The wish list by Eoin Colfer (COL)

Revelations : a blue bloods novel by Melissa De La Cruz (CRU)

The Van Alen legacy : a blue bloods novel by Melissa De La Cruz (CRU)

Magic under glass by Jaclyn Dolamore (DOL)

The silver blade by Sally Gardner (GAR)

Falling from Grace by Jane Godwin (GOD)

Swerve by Phillip Gwynne (GWY)

This is shyness by Leanne Hall (HAL)

Marrying Ameera by Rosanne Hawke (HAW)

Horse mad whispers by Kathy Heliodoniotis (HEL)

Brown skin blue by Belinda Jeffrey (JEF)

Through Wolf’s Eyes by Jane Lindslold (LIN)

Year of the tiger by Alison Lloyd (LLO)

The Dunwich horror by H. P. Lovecraft (LOV)

Paladin by Dave Luckett (LUC)

Camel rider by Prue Mason (MAS)

The ghost next door by Mark Alan Morris (MOR)

India Dark by Kirsty Murray (MUR)

Runner by Robert Newton (NEW)

Five parts dead by Tim Pegler (PEG)

Spells by Aprilynne Pike (PIK)

Demon Princess : reign or shine by Michelle Rowen (ROW)

Smiles to go by Jerry Spinelli (SPI)

The paranormal caught on film : amazing photographs of ghosts, poltergeists and strange phenomena

The Paranormal Caught on Film is a mysterious and mesmerizing collection of photographs depicting ghosts and other extraordinary phenomena from around the world. Believers will marvel at the range of unexplained activity captured on camera and sceptics will not be able to resist debating the provenance of these enigmatic images. The book covers everything from the unfathomable to the downright spooky–mediums and spiritualists producing bizarre phenomena, eery lights, fogs and auras, astonishing appearances, levitating children and flying objects. Each compelling picture is accompanied by illuminating commentary from ghost expert and psychical investigator, Dr Melvyn Willin.

We also have in the library :

Ghosts caught on film : photographs of the paranormal

Ghost Caught on Film presents an extraordinary collection of strange and unexplained photographs that offer the exciting possibility of ghosts and paranormal activity captured on film. The book features early photographs from the Society for Psychical Research of psychics and mediums producing ectoplasm, ghost pictures and other paranormal phenomena as well as celebrated modern images such as the Hampton Court ghost. Each picture is accompanied by a description of its circumstances and the steps taken by Willin, the Society for Psychical Research and the Royal Photographic Society to establish that there is no `normal’ explanation for the phenomena. The incredible photographs will stimulate the interest of everyone who sees them. Whether you are a complete sceptic or a semi-believer, you can’t help but be drawn into the mystery.

Both of these titles can be found in the non-fiction area under 133.1 WIL.