MAC Mag 06

Library corner
Towards MAC LIC, Mount Aspiring College Library Information Centre
2006: New Librarian (footnote 1), new orientation! This year, the library (fortnote 2) has evolved into an
effective user-friendly reading and learning centre. You will use this place more often, more successfully and
with more pleasure so that you become a life-long learner.
Search Computers: Two computers have been added on the left at the entrance of the library. They are your
first stop when you enter the place. You can search the OPAC (Library Catalogue) with author’s name or title,
word or keyword and then find the book in the shelves. On these computers, you can also search Encarta
Encyclopaedia, where you will find useful information for your research.
Magazines: New display in the centre of the library, presenting recent magazines. New organisation (to be
completed) of magazine collections kept in folders in the Reading Corner. New Subscriptions include: New
Scientist, New Zealand PC World, New Internationalist and Kiwi Conservation Club. Magazines must be read
within the library. They are NOT FOR LOAN, except 4 bar-coded magazines which can be borrowed like books
(footnote 3).
Reading Corner: Research has shown that a home-like reading corner enhances the reading experience
both at school and at home! Worth trying the experience… Hence the $10 armchair and carpet from
Wastebusters and it does create a nice atmosphere! Here, story reading times are held twice a week, when
a reader reads a story to students. We will continue to offer you the possibility of simply sitting and listening…
and dive into fantastic, weird, moving or funny… Check out MAC LIC notice board, on the library window!
References: They have been set up and organised along the Dewey classification in the centre of the Library.
They are your second stop when commencing research. Finding definitions in dictionaries, keywords in a
thesaurus, articles in encyclopaedias…
Knowledge Section: Renamed from Non-fiction (negative notion, although common). It is organised along
the Dewey classification, which is widely used in English speaking countries. It is the most important system for
finding your way around as most libraries you visit will be organised this way. So I have adapted it and colourcoded
it, to help you along. Shelf labels will also be colour coded (to be completed).
The Rainbow: Violet/blue/green/yellow/orange/red is happy and full of symbols so it was chosen as the
colour code of the Dewey classification. It is the theme of the decoration of the library, which, together with
more than 200 paper chains created by the students with much fun (well done guys!), creates a cheerful &
favourable learning environment. Internal managerial practices have been developed to ensure the best
staff liaison and information acquisition, but the least number of book losses (you are now closely tracked for
those overdue books!).
As you can see, there are several things still “to be completed”, and so 2007 will see new developments,
such as leaflets to find your way in the information landscape, games to re-enforce these and another MAC
LIC week, with a session for parents… Always check out MAC LIC Corner in the newsletter!
Florence Micoud, Your Librarian Information Manager
Footnote 1) It’s been an accomplishment and a privilege for me to be employed as Librarian in Mount
Aspiring College in January 2006. Being qualified and experienced, I have been rapidly operational and I
enjoy it all, although my English is sometimes quite laughable!
Footnote 2) Place at the heart of the college which holds a very good and abundant collection of both
Fiction and Knowledge books and Magazines.
Footnote 3) New Scientist, New Internationalist,
National Geographic, New Zealand Geographic. Those
magazines are indexed (they are added to the Catalogue
with key-words) because they contain interesting features that can be useful for your researches.
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