St Hilda's School - Our Culture

St Hilda’s School Libraries support the principles of student centred, enquiry based learning over the lifetime of the individual. We share a commitment to the pursuit of deep learning experiences that engender a love of learning that connects individuals with their own community and with the broader local, national and global communities of which they are a part. We support learning experiences that allow students to both know and express themselves fully.

Library services have always been an integral part of school life at St. Hilda’s since the establishment of the first Reading Room in 1912.

Because the needs of students are developmentally different in the early years of schooling, two libraries were established:

The Senior School Library

In 1972 the Senior Library was erected and this was extended in 1992. In 1999 the Library catalogue went on-line and in 2002, one-stop networked computer workstations were installed throughout.

Two whole class, teaching spaces are available for booking by teachers. Each teaching space has access to a bank of computers as well as the full range of print book and periodical resources and research help.
A Year 12 Study is available for final year students as a priority, but is available to other students on private study.
Black and white and colour printing, scanning and photocopying is available to staff and students.
As well as print resources the Senior Library has an expanding collection of on-line encyclopaedias, media and journal databases, the internet and networked teaching and learning.
A multimedia specialist and a range of the latest equipment allow staff and students to view, create, and present audio-visual productions.
Free-to-air and Austar broadcasts are recorded and made available through the network on request.
An Archives department that is responsible for the storage, digitizing, compiling and dissemination of the history of the school was established in 2002.
A major part of the brief of the Senior Library is the encouragement of reading for pleasure and to depen the literary base of experience for the girls. A vibrant and responsive Fiction section and an open and relaxed atmosphere is successfully encouraging girls to become readers and to make reading an activity they choose to do in their own time.
A parent group, “The Friends of the Library”, provides valued support and friendship to the Senior Library and all those who are part of it. The group supports the everyday work of the Library as well special events.

The Library is a hearth in the St Hilda’s Learning community, supporting both staff and students develop excellence in curriculum practices.

St Hilda’s Junior Library provides library services to students from pre-prep to Year 6. The Junior Library is integrated into the Reading Counts Program and Literature Circles Reading Programs in Year 4, 5 and 6. These programs allow the students to select from a wide range of reading materials and develop responsibility in their choice of books.

The electronic learning centre has 8 computers, which students can use for development of research skills, word processing and Internet work. We also provide a range of educational games for early childhood.

The library has a large collection of Early Childhood resources; picture books, videos and big books. Students and teachers from pre-prep and prep classes borrow weekly from this colourful collection.

Borrowing:
Number of items at any one time- 2 books plus reading program requirements. How to Borrow- Tell the Junior Staff at the Front/Reception Desk your name and present the item to be borrowed.

Golden Rules :
Courtesy, Consideration and Co-operation will lead to a welcoming and productive Library.