This year has been a season of exciting transformation in our my school library at Yamba Public. My focus has been on making the collection easier to navigate, more visually engaging and better aligned with student interests. These changes have not only reshaped the way students use the space but have also led to a remarkable surge in borrowing across all grades.
One of the biggest shifts has been genrefying our Senior Fiction collection. Instead of browsing endless alphabetical rows, students can now explore clearly labelled genres such as fantasy, action, mystery and humour. This has empowered students to find books that truly match their interests and has sparked richer conversations about what they enjoy reading. Browsing feels more natural and far less overwhelming, especially for reluctant readers who benefit from a more intuitive layout.
Another major change has been the introduction of front-facing tubs for popular series and well loved authors. By giving these high interest books a prominent, visual presence, students can immediately spot titles they recognise or discover new ones within a series. This simple shift has dramatically increased the visibility of our collection and has encouraged students to return to the shelves more often and more confidently.
Our efforts to modernise the collection also included purchasing a wide range of new graphic novels, now one of the most in-demand formats in the library. These titles are constantly borrowed by students from Years 2 to 6. Graphic novels offer an accessible entry point into reading and support comprehension, visual literacy and sustained engagement. Their ongoing popularity has reaffirmed the importance of providing formats that reflect student preferences.
The impact of these changes has been extraordinary. Borrowing improved significantly in 2025, with the library recording a new all-time high of 13,312 loans. This surpasses our previous record from 2014, when 11,790 books were borrowed. Not only does this reflect increased student engagement, it also highlights the value of thoughtful, student-centred collection design.
These results show that when students can easily find books that excite them, they read more. The library has become a space where browsing feels inviting and discovery comes naturally. I am proud of the growth we’ve achieved this year and excited to continue refining our collection so that every student can experience the joy of finding the right book at the right time.
