BooksThe Information Services Centre (ISC) at QAHS provides resources for the whole school community in support of the curricular and co-curricular activities of the school. All members of the school community have access to and the right to use these resources, encouraging all to become life-long learners.

The ISC:

  • Provides access to appropriate information sources both in print and electronically, especially in support of the International Baccalaureate Program
  • Works collaboratively with teachers in providing an information literacy framework for students
  • Provides guidance on developing student research skills
  • Delivers tutorials to classes on the location of, and access to, appropriate online databases
  • Works with students either individually in the Library or as a group in the Library or classroom
  • Provides 24 hour access to Library resources via The Learning Place
  • Advises on plagiarism, referencing and copyright
  • Provides quality reading experiences that aid in the development of students’ literacy skills and promotes a love of reading

Information Literacy

The ISC, working in co operation with the teaching staff, provides a number of learning opportunities to ensure the information literacy of our students. Research has shown that students who use an explicit information literacy framework experience more success and improved results.

The ISC encourages two frameworks:
- The Information Literacy Continuum for general class work, and
- The Information Search Process, specifically for the Extended Essay

Both frameworks encourage students to work through the process in a logical manner, which includes defining the problem they need to solve, locating appropriate information, selecting specific information, organising this into an logical and accessible format, presenting this information and then assessing the success of their research journey.

Both frameworks emphasise the importance of students acknowledging their prior knowledge of a topic and involving themselves in background research before beginning focused questioning.

Students are encouraged to keep a research journal of their information searches. By doing this they are able to provide ‘proof’ of their research journey. It also allows them to track back to ensure that they are on target in their searching for information.

Student use of the ISC

Students are able to access the ISC during recreational times: before school, at morning break and after school. During class time students can come to the Library either individually or as part of a class with their teacher

The International Baccalaureate - Extended Essay & ToK

The ISC supports the Extended Essay and the Theory of Knowledge components of the IB by providing to students and staff materials and resources specific to the IB curriculum.  The ISC staff work with Mentor Learning Community (MLC) classes to ensure that students are equipped with the information skills they need in order to successfully complete all assigned tasks.  They also work with individual students assisting with research tasks and providing website support with referencing guidelines.

The QAHS Library Committee

The Library program is actively supported by the student body through the Library Committee.  Committee members work within four sub-committees: book selection, display, Library homepage development and general library duties. Members are also involved in the decision making process of Library Policy and bring to the Library suggestions from the student body.

Partnership with Griffith University

There are a number of ways in which the libraries of QAHS and Griffith University (GU) work in partnership. QAHS students are able to become borrowing members of the GU Library, accessing most print materials and many online databases. GU Library staff visit the QAHS campus, to provide tutorial sessions on accessing GU material online and also on research skills. QAHS students are able to access the GU Library catalogue online

Learning with Multi-Media

A wide range of multi-media tools are available for students to use and support student learning. Digital cameras and videos allow students to record their learning.  Digital signage units within the library promote the sharing of this information promoting the concept of collaborative student learning. The use of wikis and blogs within the Library pages on The Learning Place encourage students to share ideas and knowledge. Digital display units and static display areas within the Library provide students with space in which to display and promote their individual learning.