McAULEY LIBRARY

The library was named after Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Mercy nuns. When the school was founded in 1983 there were members of this order on our staff for the first few years.

The library is well stocked with thousands of reference books for students to use in research for their projects and is open each day from 8.30 am and on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday until 5.30 pm , when the Homework centre is open for after school assistance. A wide range of fiction books is available, from the classics to the most recent books published each year. The audio-visual section of the library is extensive, most of it being for teacher reference; however, the videos and DVDs that are used in classroom viewing, can also be borrowed by senior students when revising their work. Computers are extensively used in the library and the adjoining L1 computer room. There is also a small selection of books on parenting, recently purchased, that parents are welcome to borrow, either at P & F meetings, or any time that the library is open.

Students are issued with an I.D . card from the school, which is used to borrow library and text books. Students need to be aware of the high cost of books and the need to treat the books issued to them with care. Badly damaged or lost books will have to be paid for.

Six computers in the library and twenty-six computers in the adjoining computer lab, allow ready access to the school's intranet, the internet and computer programs. The automated catalogue is accessible throughout the school. Printing paper is provided in the printers. Students are given a credit at the beginning of the year, which is monitored and charged at 10 cents per page. When this has been used up, students have to buy more credit, by payment in dollar amounts to the front office. The receipt should then be taken to the librarian, who will top up the student's account.

An important research tool is elibrary , This computer database allows access to over 700 periodicals and 300 newspapers world wide, including Australasian content, twenty-four hours a day. [See the link]

Link: http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/au

Username: johnpaul

Password: elau

HOMEWORK CENTRE

This is available for all students from 3.30pm until 5.00pm three days, (currently Monday, Tuesday and Thursday) per week in the College Library. Assistance from a teacher and access to resources is available at these times.

HOMEWORK

The role of homework is vital as a link between home and the College and can provide a bond of common effort between students, parents and teachers. If a worthwhile student educational programme is to develop, homework is an essential element.

The following suggestions for the minimum hours for homework and study are offered:

Year 7	Minimum 1 hour each week night
Year 8	Minimum 1 hour each week night
Year 9	Minimum 1.5 hours each week night
Year 10	Minimum 2 hours each weeknight, with some weekend homework
Year 11	Minimum 3 hours each weeknight, with weekend homework
Year 12	Minimum 3 hours each weeknight, with weekend homework

When students receive homework it should be recorded on the appropriate pages in the Homework Diary for the information of both parents and students. The College encourages students to develop self-discipline, motivation and sound study habits thus ensuring that all students receive the benefits of the educational opportunity extended to them. Organisation is essential to ensure the workload is spread as evenly as possible, rather than having to complete a lot of work under pressure. There is provision at the bottom of each page of the Diary to assist communication between teachers and parents.

Parents are urged to check regularly on homework set and to use the Diary as a means of communication with teachers. They are also asked to sign the Diary each week and indicate if they received notes and newsletters.