MGS Book Club with past Victorian CBCA Book Judge Mrs. Farquharson

In our June meeting MGS Book Club members listened to our very own Head of Library, Mrs Farquharson, CBCA Victorian Judge in 2007 and 2008, for the 2008 and 2009 awards, who was able to share with us her experience of having read 760 books nominated in categories from ‘Picture Book’ to ‘Older Readers’ as part of the process to decide which books would win the prestigious Book of the Year awards. She also talked about her experience as a judge for the Aurealis Book Awards in the genre of speculative fiction. The students were encouraged to look at the ‘Inside A Dog’ website where they could apply to be judges in the Inkys Awards: a book award decided by a panel of young readers.  The only two criteria for their applications being that they are under 20 years old and live in Australia. Hopefully our next generation of book judges will take on the challenge.

Clayton’s Short List Night Presentation

An enjoyable and informative night was had on March 21^st when our three Teacher Librarians from the Gregory Fish Library attended the 2011 CBCA (Children’s Book Council of Australia) Clayton’s Short List Night.   This annual event, which focuses on the best of children’s literature, is a time for Teacher Librarians and others working in the field of children’s literature to come together and consider the extensive number of Australian books that have been published in Australia during the preceding year for younger to older readers.  The highlight of this event is listening to selected ‘specialists’ of children’s literature speak about and present their ‘picks’ of the best that has been published.

It was with much pride that attendees this year were able to listen to Miffy Farquharson, Mentone Grammar’s Head of Library, address them on her selection of the best in the category of books for younger readers.  It was clear to all present that Miffy has a deep passion for children’s literature as well as an extensive understanding and appreciation for the elements that denote a book as outstanding.   We join with those attending this event to congratulate Miffy on her excellent presentation and celebrate the fact that her leadership of our Library Staff is forging new directions for the love, value and place of literature in the lives of both our students and staff.