This year, a focus was on updating and augmenting the non-fiction collection. When the senior and junior collections were merged in Beerarlem, each book was examined and assessed and anything irrelevant, out of date, or soiled was withdrawn. This was a messy and time-consuming activity but then came the fun part – purchasing fabulous new ones.

We’ve targeted key areas that are curriculum driven to assist the students with their assignments, I even sought consultation with staff at the Catholic parish office to find a new Catholic Bible Concordance, which I managed to source from the St. Paul Center in Ohio. (I decided to order an extra one and donated it to the Catholic office as a gift from Shalom College).

We’ve also listened to the requests for particular topics for leisure reading as well. Fishing, surfing, cars, jokes, and sport are favourites with the boys, who we know from studies conducted on reading habits, are much more responsive to non-fiction style reading.

Last week we took delivery of some beautiful books from the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA). These cover textiles, art movements and their artists, design, natural science, and writing. Next term I will be looking at other cultural pursuits like music and dance.

I invite staff and parents, as well as students, to feel free to come in for a look, and also to suggest topics that you would want to see covered. With so many quality publications available from a wide range of suppliers, we will be sure to find something perfect for you.