Parkhurst State School

Parkhurst State School, 11 Mason Avenue, Parkhurst, North Rockhampton Q. 4702

SLAQ region: Capricornia
Education Sector: Govt, Primary
Library: Parkhurst State School Resource Centre
Library Contact: Meg Hatfield
Date: July 2002

School Profile

  • Population: 320
  • Year levels: P-7
  • Co-Ed
  • Year school and library established. The school celebrated its centenary in 2000, but our new stand-alone resource centre had its official opening 24th April 2002. I am its first teacher-librarian, and commenced work here part-time in 1997. At the time, and up until late last year, the library coexisted in a small classroom space with the Principal, two teacher aide workstation and the school photocopier! (Less than ideal conditions but great fun, and conducive to co-operation and flexibility!)
  • Curriculum description: KLA, moving towards outcomes-based

Library Profile

Staff:

  • Professional: one full-time teacher-librarian with IT responsibilities in addition to the TL role
  • Support staff: one teacher aide for approx 12 hours per week

Facilities - Spaces

  • Bookable class spaces (for over 20 students) – one
  • Three computers with LAN and Internet access, A3 colour inkjet printer networked, Scanner, CD burner, digital camera
  • Casual reading areas - one

Management system software – BookMark

  • Student access points - one
  • Staff access points – one (Have not networked the management software yet – may consider it in the future)

Library opening hours: All school hours, plus lunch-hour for 30 mins per day

Special features

  • New library building with air-conditioning – very popular in hot lunch hours

Information and reading resources: book stock, periodicals, electronic material

  • Approx 8500 items, of which 300 are computer software and nearly 2000 are teacher resources. We have over 100 big books (a storage nightmare) and a good collection of videos and posters.

Library Programs

Reading promotion – never a problem, as interest is high. We have a Book Fair each year, a classroom teacher does a wonderful job of promoting and administering a monthly Book Club, and we participate in Children’s Book Week and the BILBY Awards. I award prizes on parade each term for consistent and responsible borrowing and reading.

Information Literacy – Working with teachers to integrate with class programs/topics. Learning about planning for outcomes, lots of small group research guidance.

Integration of information and communication technology – Beginning to implement the Techworks program which is designed to integrate technology seamlessly into the curriculum.

Promotion and public relations activities – Involving parents in the practicalities (book covering etc). Items in the school newsletter. Providing venue for fundraisers, meetings etc.

Others – Library assistant scheme, skilling interested children in aspects of library management. Games and puzzles. Planning to run a lunch-hour stamp club.

What is most satisfying about your job?

Most challenging? My greatest satisfaction comes from working in almost all aspects of the school. Information literacy is about everything, the whole gamut of learning, so I feel I have something to offer in whatever outcome is being sought.

The biggest challenges are time management, and change management. There are days when I find that the interruptions are in fact the job. I often find myself in a reassurance role when colleagues are feeling beleaguered by change, even though I often feel the same. You can teach an old dog new tricks!

Last updated July 2002