“You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book!” Dr Seuss. 
Welcome to the enchanted world of books – or the ELC library – just one of our beautiful havens for bibliophiles at St Stephen’s School!
Both campuses have a dedicated space for our youngest readers, and the Duncraig Early Learning Centre (ELC) Library has undergone something of a transformation in the last 12 months thanks to Robyn McLoughlin, Terri Mykytiuk and Kylie Eddy.
“We have created a magical library space,” explains Library Officer, Terri.
“Somewhere the students can come to explore, wonder and learn. It has a very peaceful, welcoming atmosphere with soft and natural colours creating a calm space that encourages students to stay a while.”
“It’s been a team effort,” continues Librarian, Robyn.
“What began with a nice new rug evolved into ivy, a fairytale castle and a toadstool or two – because everyone knows that libraries are magical places! Seamstress-extraordinaire, Terri, even made some custom cushion covers and my lovely husband helped hang hundreds of fairy lights to give the space an extra sparkle!”
We are truly blessed to have library spaces especially for our students from Pre-Kindy to Year 2.
“Having a space that caters specifically to young students means that we can target books and themes that resonate with them,” said Terri.
Robyn echoed these sentiments, saying “We are as responsive as possible to the interests of our students, while also introducing some renowned authors, rhyming stories and non-fiction text that link with their learning inside and outside the classroom.”
All our students from Pre-Kindy to Year 2 at the ELC visit the library once each week to share stories, learn about books and discover new books to take home and enjoy.
“We genuinely love books, reading and sharing stories and that enthusiasm encourages our young learners to love reading too,” said Robyn.
“When a child is having trouble finding a book that interests them, it’s wonderful to be able to have a chat, delve deeper and find books that resonate with them, amuse them or spark a new interest!”
Our libraries are open every morning and students are always welcome to return and take out new books before the day starts. Our library staff definitely encourage parents to read with their children at home, too.
“Reading is a life skill,” says Terri.
“It develops comprehension, imagination, social skills, language and confidence in learning.”
“Reading books together can be such a special time and a wonderful way to connect,” continues Robyn.
“It’s so important to keep it enjoyable and model reading for pleasure. Put on silly voices! Talk about the pictures and characters and make it a time to have fun together. If your child prefers non-fiction, share facts you’ve discovered and encourage them to do the same. While there will always be reading homework, creating a life-long reader involves seeing it as an adventure, a way to have fun and to discover interesting things.”
Full details of all our library opening hours, together with a range of resources can be found on the Collinson Library website
