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We are back!!
It has been a while since we have posted on the Library blog, but we’re back. Over the next few weeks, we hope to consolidate what information we would like this blog to include, so we will be checking the links, adding or deleting as will be necessary. But rather than wait for us to have it perfect, let’s just get started. What have we been doing over the last eighteen months? Let’s start with our Book Fair last week. A fun time was had by all. Thanks to all students and parents, with your support we raised $770 which we have spent on books to go to Woolaning Christian School in the Northern Territory. Woolaning have been in desperate need of books for their students, so are grateful for the support of the MECS community.
Over the years, MECS Book fair has become a fantastic way for our school to support other less fortunate school communities. We have contributed books to schools in Africa, Cambodia and closer to home, schools in the Northern Territory and Marysville after the 2009 fires. So a huge thank you to the school community, we couldn’t have done it without you and also to Scholastic who provide us with great book fairs year after year.
Changes
Don’t you love the new look in the library? The new carpet seems to have made the space bigger somehow, and it feels lovely and bouncy underfoot too. There were moments when it looked like a war zone, and it was hard to see how we could get everything back in order. 
But we came back from the holidays to find most of the reorganising had already been done. With a few struggles trying to find odd things, we settled down to enjoy the new look.
Good reads for winter days
Get ready for an original ‘take’ on an old – very old- favourite, the story of Romeo and Juliet. (Well maybe not so much a favourite for some students who really didn’t enjoy studying the play!) Jackie French can make any story come to life, and that’s what she has done with this. It is still about the play set in medieval times, and prejudice between rival families, but this version is very readable . It has the expected romance, tragedy, and family drama, so older students should really enjoy it.
Benedict Cumberbatch makes an excellent Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins) a great Dr. Watson in the latest BBC remake of this famous classic.
People who enjoyed watching it might like to read some more of the famous cases, so BBC books has brought out a series of three collections of the best stories. Even the signs of the Dancing Men are faithfully reproduced. See if you can crack the code!
Welcome to a new year!
It has been lovely to welcome everyone back to our library.
Lots of students have been taking refuge here during the hot lunchtimes and enjoying the cool atmosphere and great books. Some chess fans have organised themselves already, and the Scratch kids are busy on the computers. Life is back to normal here!
Lots of new books have come in during the holidays, and we’re gradually getting them ready for the shelves. Watch the What’s hot display or speak very nicely to Ms. Scott as she covers and processes the new resources. She might let you have first look!
You might like to visit Cressida Cowell’s website on How to Train Your Dragon for loads of activities and adventures with Hiccup Horrendous III, as found in A hero’s Guide to Deadly Dragons. Hiccup is lost in the Library Labyrinth!
Book Fair
by Heather Mellow
Once again we celebrated our annual Book Fair and transformed our Teaching Room into an Aladdin’s cave full of treasures. For three days students crowded in – before school, at lunchtime and after school – to browse and buy. It was loud and lively, and many would like to have the Book Fair all year long.
As advertised, our commission was to go to Jinja Christian School in Uganda, and so we’re delighted to report that thanks to the generous people at MECS, $1500 worth of attractive and suitable new books will be heading their way soon.
New, and final, Ranger’s Apprentice
It was exciting to see a new story about Will Treaty, when we had moved on to the Brotherband series, but it was like meeting an old friend again. No spoilers here, but be ready to meet an older Will who is in some ways not quite the boy we knew and loved.
It’s a great read, and you’ll enjoy revisiting old places and meeting up with familiar characters, not to mention seeing Will in action again. John Flanagan hasn’t let us down since the first book – the quality of the stories hasn’t faltered.
Read the blurb from the publisher, and some of the reviews.
Did you know that the series has its own website? I enjoyed exploring the map of their world, and in the video section there are some fascinating interviews with the author as well as some great trailers.
Phoenix File finishes! Doomsday is here!
At last, we have the final instalment in the Phoenix Files, by Chris Morphew. Recently released in May, the story covers the last few hours before ‘Tabitha’ destroys the world. Put your name down to reserve a copy to read over the holidays , and learn what happens to Luke, Jordan and Tobias, the super-baby. Do they finally break through the wall and get help?
Chris Morphew is a young Christian writer based in Sydney, and his books have a huge following of loyal readers, mainly boys. Chris writes with lots of action and his books usually have ended on cliffhangers. Doomsday winds the series up with a satisfying conclusion – after lots of action, of course!
Hear what Chris had to say about the countdown to the final book.
What’s new?
As usual, we’ve had lots of new books to kick off the new year at school. Many of them are already on display in the library, or out on loan. You have got to be quick here! Check out our new books and put your name on the reserve list if you have missed out on the first round of borrowing.
Colin Fischer by Ashley Edward Miller & Zack Stentz is an unusual detective story.
‘Colin Fischer doesn’t like to be touched. Or the colour blue. He avoids eye contact unless absolutely necessary. Sherlock Holmes has a place of honour on his wall. When a gun goes off in the school cafeteria he isn’t scared. He’s curious… Colin Fischer is determined to discover who fired that fun.’
‘An irresistible new detective hero!’