St Joseph’s has a welcoming, well-equipped library with an extensive amount of wonderful resources for our students and staff. Students may borrow during their whole class borrowing time or during lunch times on Monday to Wednesday. Library bags are available to buy or students may bring their own suitable bag.

Each class participates in a formal weekly lesson, facilitated by a qualified Teacher-Librarian, where enjoyment of reading is a large focus. During these lessons they are engaged in activities that promote critical and creative thinking; research and problem solving: information-literacy skill acquisition and reading for pleasure.

Our Library is complemented by our up-to-date Computer Lab, where students are engaged in a range of research and learning opportunities. They are encouraged to use digital technologies to communicate, create and investigate, increasing their Information Communication and Technology skills. In addition, our STEM resources such as bee-bots, Makey-Makey, Sphero’s, Edison’s and children’s Engineering and design sets are used during various lessons.

Ashton Scholastic Book Club operates within the school, providing families with opportunities to purchase books and encourage reading at home.

Book Week is celebrated extensively at St Joseph’s. Activities such as a Book parade, author/illustrator visit, shared-reading sessions and activities to compliment the Children’s Book Council of Australia short-listed books are enjoyed by the school community. During Book Week we hold a book fair which enables students and families to purchase quality books. Sales commission from the Book Fair provides additional resources for our library collection.

Students participate in the Premier’s Reading Challenge annually. They are encouraged to read-for-pleasure and log their books onto the PRC website. The library has a large number of PRC books for all student levels and provides many opportunities to enjoy these books individually or in groups.

Lunchtime in the library is very popular as many students choose to spend their time reading or drawing, or playing: Lego, chess, jigsaw puzzles, board games or the computer.