Facebook
Avondale School Case Study

Case Study – Avondale School

I’m not a real lover of change… There were teething problems in the early days, but our IT team worked with the Accessit team to sort things out… And now we’re swimming!

Jenny Litster

Librarian, Avondale School, NSW

Type  Composite School
Roll 900+
Campus Single campus
Install Cloud Hosted

Avondale is an independent composite school located in New South Whales. The school has been using Accessit Library as its library management system since the early 2000s. The library itself is overseen by Jenny Litster who, prior to starting her current role as Head of Library in 2017, joined the school as the primary teacher librarian in 2000.

As a result of her long history with the school Jenny has seen Accessit’s introduction to the school as well as its development and growth over the years to better serve her and the students of Avondale.

Avondale school library

Jenny recalls that the previous system used by the library was simple, an acceptable tool for checking books in and out but it provided little else beyond this utility. The decision to change systems came from the school’s IT department as they were shopping for a Mac compatible system and Accessit fit the bill. Jenny admits that she was hesitant about the change.

“I’m not a real lover of change… There were teething problems in the early days, but our IT team worked with the Accessit team to sort things out… And now we’re swimming.”

Despite her initial hesitation, Jenny’s use of accessit has been a huge benefit to both librarians and students alike. Jenny noted that one specific new feature that makes her life easier is the ability to see cover images in the circulation tab. Previously, Jenny had experienced issues with students forgetting books or being unable to recall what they look like, now she simply shows them the cover image on screen.

“If they say they don’t know what it looks like, well, I can easily show them”.

Jenny has also found the cataloguing system to be a big step up from what she had used previously, an important feature for her.

Jenny joked “I like cataloguing. I’m one of those strange people”.

While there are behind the scenes improvements that accessit has brought about, Jenny is also interested in how Accessit has helped to increase student interaction with the library space.

Through Accessit’s web app students can write reviews for books, as well as see reviews other students have written. Jenny has turned review writing into a twice-yearly assignment for her year four students but has found that many of them continue to write reviews even after they move onto year 5, and beyond.

Avondale library Web App

Jenny has also encouraged younger students to engage with her web app by creating a weekly competition. Each week she will showcase several books that are related through a theme.

“The students look through the books and just try and work out what the theme is, and I give the first person who tells me a prize”.

Jenny has found than this little weekly competition not only increases engagement with her web app but also helps the students to develop their searching and digital navigation skills.

Overall, Accessit has had a beneficial impact on Avondale. Despite her initial hesitancy, Jenny has been able to use Accessit to strengthen library engagement through the helpful features and efficient cataloguing that Accessit provides, with the help of our support staff and her own willingness to learn.

What Does Information Literacy Mean?

What Does Information Literacy Mean?

Substitution Rules Don’t Have To Be Scary

Substitution Rules Don’t Have To Be Scary

Embedding the Library as a Whole School Resource

Embedding the Library as a Whole School Resource

Getting Creative With Visual Search

Getting Creative With Visual Search

Starting The Year Off Right in Your Library

Starting The Year Off Right in Your Library

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

Let’s Talk Libraries: Bishop Gilpin C of E Primary School – Sally Le Marquand

Let’s Talk Libraries: Bishop Gilpin C of E Primary School – Sally Le Marquand

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

Let’s Talk Libraries: Thomas Hardye School – Jenny Stevens

Let’s Talk Libraries: Thomas Hardye School – Jenny Stevens

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Good Help (OLGH) – Sarah Olushonde

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Good Help (OLGH) – Sarah Olushonde

Let’s Talk Libraries: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

Let’s Talk Libraries: Littlehampton Primary – Barb O’Connor

Let’s Talk Libraries: Littlehampton Primary – Barb O’Connor

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Hill School (US) – Nancy Body, Catherine Clowes

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Hill School (US) – Nancy Body, Catherine Clowes

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

Let’s Talk Libraries: Richmond & Prahran High School – Karys McEwen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Richmond & Prahran High School – Karys McEwen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Croxley Danes School – Victoria Rovira

Let’s Talk Libraries: Croxley Danes School – Victoria Rovira

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

Web App of the Week: World Book Day (UK) – Free download

Web App of the Week: World Book Day (UK) – Free download

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Supporting Reluctant Readers

Supporting Reluctant Readers

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Lovett School – Robyn Martin

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Lovett School – Robyn Martin

Let’s Talk Libraries: Lloyd Street Primary School (VIC)

Let’s Talk Libraries: Lloyd Street Primary School (VIC)

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Raising the profile of your school library

Raising the profile of your school library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Christian College Geelong (VIC) – Gerradine Barry

Let’s Talk Libraries: Christian College Geelong (VIC) – Gerradine Barry

Let’s Talk Libraries: Paula Na Nagara – St Mark’s School 

Let’s Talk Libraries: Paula Na Nagara – St Mark’s School 

Let’s Talk Libraries: Diocese of Toowoomba (QLD) – Liz Newman

Let’s Talk Libraries: Diocese of Toowoomba (QLD) – Liz Newman

Let’s Talk Libraries: Peace Lutheran College (QLD) – Tanya Mills

Let’s Talk Libraries: Peace Lutheran College (QLD) – Tanya Mills

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

Accessit Library Talks – Episode 1 – Kevin Arscott of Coleg Gwent

Accessit Library Talks – Episode 1 – Kevin Arscott of Coleg Gwent

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Getting students involved in your school library

Getting students involved in your school library

Web App of the Week: Environment Day & World Oceans Day – Free Download

Web App of the Week: Environment Day & World Oceans Day – Free Download

Web App of the Week – Ursuline Academy of Dallas

Web App of the Week – Ursuline Academy of Dallas

Web App of the Week – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

How to promote your school library catalogue

How to promote your school library catalogue

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

How to approach collection development in school libraries

How to approach collection development in school libraries

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

Librarian Talk – Wendy Wright – Avonside Girls’ High & Shirley Boys’ High

Librarian Talk – Wendy Wright – Avonside Girls’ High & Shirley Boys’ High

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

Web App of the Week – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Web App of the Week – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

Librarian Talk – Sasha Roth – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Librarian Talk – Sasha Roth – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Jill Adler – St. Anthony’s High School

Librarian Talk – Jill Adler – St. Anthony’s High School

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

Web App of the Week: St Anthony’s High School

Web App of the Week: St Anthony’s High School

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

Supporting mental health in the library: Mallinson Library, Wellington College, Berkshire

Supporting mental health in the library: Mallinson Library, Wellington College, Berkshire

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

The library – a safe space for everyone

The library – a safe space for everyone

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

Building a Strong Reading Culture: St Rita’s College Library

Building a Strong Reading Culture: St Rita’s College Library

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Creating an amazing online library presence

Creating an amazing online library presence

Deepening literacy engagement

Deepening literacy engagement

Tsukuba International School

Tsukuba International School

Otago Boys’ High School

Otago Boys’ High School

Le Régent College

Le Régent College

Wesley Intermediate School

Wesley Intermediate School

Fuqua School

Fuqua School

Kamo High School

Kamo High School

Mental Health Foundation of NZ

Mental Health Foundation of NZ

Leicestershire County Council

Leicestershire County Council

Cambridge High School

Cambridge High School

Saint Kentigern College

Saint Kentigern College

Culford School

Culford School

Greenhithe School

Greenhithe School

Reynella East College

Reynella East College

Tyndale Christian School

Tyndale Christian School

Shepparton High School

Shepparton High School