Meet NAO – the humanoid robot!

Kingston Libraries is running a free coding/robotics event as part of our ‘Readz’ teen series of events on Thursday 25^th May 4-5:30p at Cheltenham Library.

NAO – the humanoid robot – will also be visiting Cheltenham Library at this time.

Suitable for teens aged 12 – 16, students attending will get to see one of the world’s most advanced humanoid robots in action and learn basic ‘drag & drop’ programming with NAO’s intuitive programming interface ‘Chorégraphe’.

The event is free to attend but bookings are necessary.  Contact 1300 135 668 now!

Are you a keen Year 9 or 10 reader?

If yes – The Centre for Youth Literature is currently looking for bookish Melbourne teens in years 9 & 10 to take part in our first ever Dog’s Advisory Board (DAB).

The DAB is an after-school program that meets at the State Library Victoria once a week to discuss all things Inside a Dog, from design to content to programming, and to talk about books and writing. Weekly board meetings will involve everything from brainstorming sessions to writing workshops to author visits, and will be supervised by staff from the Centre for Youth Literature. The program will take place over terms 2 & 3, and is entirely free.

If you or anyone you know would be interested in this new program please direct them to Inside a Dog for more information! https://insideadog.com.au/ or contact Samantha Forge, Programs Officer at Centre for Youth Literature

Getting Hooked on Reading in the GFL!

From little things big things grow!

That is certainly the intention of a new program begun with some of our Year 11 students.  Hooked on Reading, a program which will build bridges through reading between our International and Non-International students is a new initiative that is having a trial run in the Gregory Fish Library at lunchtimes over the next few weeks.

Aiming to assist our International students gain confidence and improve their ability to read, write, listen and speak English, a side benefit of the program undoubtedly will be to provide an opportunity for all students to develop friendships with each other and learn more about each others’ lives, lifestyles, country and culture and in the process build a warm and welcoming community in which all students participate.

While early sessions will focus on getting to know each other, it is anticipated that future sessions will be relaxed and casual in which students will be able to interact and talk about reading and books or even share a story together.

The first session which was held on Tuesday 26^th April (see some pictures below) started with a small group of interested students, but any Year 11 students are welcome to join the next session on Tuesday May 3^rd and future sessions which will be run over the next few weeks.  Speak to GFL staff for more details.

Library Lovers’ Day 2016

To coincide with Valentine’s Day, Friday 12 was Library Lover’s Day in the GFL.  During the week we had Blind Book Date with a book, and ran a Poetry competition.  All of the entries were very good, and the judges had a hard time picking the winner.  In the end, there were two winners: Andrew Persic 12J, and Louise Solomonides 12FA and they took very different approaches to the competition, both entering genuine and warm pieces.  We had two runners up Frazer Kamp 12 Deighton and Jasmine Grey 11A, and special mention must be made of Mr Rohan Murphy’s heartfelt tribute to his wife and family.

Thank you to all students and staff who got involved in these fun activities.

Library Lovers’ Day is on its way!

There’s nothing nicer than being able to celebrate a day of love!

Library Lovers’ Day, which is traditionally celebrated on February 14th in Australia, is inextricably linked to Valentine’s Day.  This is the reason that the fun competitions run in our library are focused around encouraging students to write love poems and letters.

This year, students are encouraged to write a poem about their favourite person, pet or library!   Entries should be placed in the box on the GFL front desk by Thursday 11th February.  Include your name and House and you will be in the running to win a Village Movie pass or a small Valentine’s bear.

While visiting the GFL, check out the displays and be sure to take a Speed Book Date!   The plain paper bags scattered around the GFL are labelled to indicate the gender of the novel’s main protagonist – pink: female, blue: male and green: both male and female.

Happy Library Lovers’ Day everyone!

Book Week 2015 Day #7: Guest Illustrator Jacqui Grantford

Book week 2015 at the GFL continued today with another great guest speaker Jacqui Grantford.  Today’s talk was entertaining and engaging for the audience with so much to cram in over a short lunch break with students and staff.  One of our participating students had his portrait painted by the artist.  Caught on Canvas.

 

This concludes our guest speakers for 2015.

Speed Book Dating!

It’s Book Fortnight in the GFL!

With a whole series of activities and events including competitions and author visits happening in the GFL over these two weeks, today was Speed Book Dating in our Senior Library where staff and students had a fun one minute to ‘sell’ their book to other contestants then rank the book presented to them from ‘doesn’t interest me’ to ‘awesome’.   While competition was fierce, a great sales pitch given by English Teacher Ms Jen Yoffie of her favourite book, The Year of the Flood written by Margaret Attwood, was a clear winner!

Pictured with the winning book is Ms Jen Yoffie, Alex (Year 12), Mr Henry Kiss and Robert (Year 11).

Congratulations and thanks to all contestants for an awesome event!

Book Week 2015 Day 5 Marc McBride visit

Day 5  lunchtime visit to the GFL was none other than Artist/Illustrator of the Deltora Quest series Marc McBride.  Very entertaining and a great way to end the week.

          

 

Book Week 2015: Books light up our world

Book week 2015 at the GFL Library is here! Day 2 of week 1 and the library has had two guest illustrators – Kevin Burgmeestre and Serena Geddes. Great way to finish on day 2 with Hakuna Matata from The Lion King.

 

Love reading? Then come visit the FAL and GFL!

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Or do you just love books and reading?!

Either way – make sure that you pop into the GFL this week to see what’s new!  With Library and Information Week running throughout the week, you’ll find lots and lots of great book suggestions, along with a fabulous display which highlights this years theme:

IMAGINE!

Join in the GFL celebrations by signing up for the Quiz to be held at lunchtime this Thursday 28th May.  As we always say – you gotta be in it to win it!!