For Primary School Students
Question
Are you in years 4 to 7 and ever wondered what the big building in the city next to the museum with a pond, strange bird noises and an amazing glass elevator is?
Answer
The State Library of Western Australia
PS. If you haven't ever wondered, or have no idea where we are, perhaps you should check it out next time you're in town... good luck guessing what the strange bird noises are for!
What the ?!? News from SLWA
Over the next few months we will be having a M-A-J-O-R makeover. Aside from baking blue eyed gingerbread men, we've all been busier than bees in a bee hive creating a new web-site, updating our computers, getting a new logo, designing the Discovery Lounge and best of all, building a space for you on the Mezzanine.
SO, it's time to check out your page...
- Can't find anything! - Top 10 quick and dirty search tips
- Random Facts - about your State Library
- Quick Quiz - What do you get when you cross a mosquito with a quokka?
- Free Web Resources
- Snippets - Weird and wonderful items from our collection
Can't find anything!
Top 10 tips for getting useful search results!
- Keywords
Write as many words down that relate to your topic or question. Think laterally. Use the thesaurus to get synonyms (words with similar meanings).
Handy Tip Open a Microsoft word document and type a keyword in Eg. 'homework' , use the cursor to highlight the word, then press 'Shift + F7' - Phrase searching
Use quotation marks " " to keep search terms together. For example "Gold mining" will only find information where the words 'gold' and 'mining' are together. - Truncation
Unsure of spelling, or wanting to expand your search results? Use the * Asterix to truncate your word! For example cens* will find all words starting with the letters 'cens' including censer, censor, censured. - Location, location, location!
Do you need to restrict your search within Australia only OR should you do a world wide web search? - NOT -
Using the minus sign - in your search box excludes words that you don't want to appear in your search results.
For example; gold mining -jewellery, will excluded results with the word jewellery. - Publishers
Who do you think would publish or create the information you are looking for? For example; Federal or State government?; newspaper article or journal?; private business or non government organisation? - Subject headings
Use the subject headings from the library catalogue to expand your search, or find topics that might relate to what you are looking for. - Electronic resources
Electronic resources offer you a wide range of full text articles, images, journals, and maps on-line. You can access a host of articles from home using your public library card. - Ask Now
Australia's National, State and Territory libraries have joined together to provide this online reference service. Available Monday to Friday from 7:00am to 5:00pm WST. - Find a Library!
Visit your local library or come into the State Library. Don't forget to bring all your research with you.
Random Facts about your State Library
The State Library has digitised over 45, 000 images.
There are 232 public libraries in Western Australia!
Last year the State Library purchased and processed 57, 000 new items for WA Public Libraries.
LUX is the measurement used to measure light levels, 1 LUX roughly equates to the light from 1 candle.
50 LUX is the recommended light level used to display items.
Top of page
Quick Quiz
- Have you seen a quokka mosquito in the woods? Use keywords to unravel the mystery. Here's a sneak peek!
- How many results do you get for 'Silverchair' from the Music Australia website?
- What is the Freycinet Collection and how much did it cost?
Fantastic Free Web Resources
Tumble Books
An extensive collection of animated, talking picture books and novels with options to read-along with or without sound. Suitable for students in Kindergarten to year 7. Great resource for reluctant readers.
This subscription service has been provided through Better Beginnings.
Much more than an encyclopaedia! Includes photographs, maps, animations, audio clips, videos and links to student friendly websites.Three versions available; Junior (yrs 1 to 3), Student (yrs 4 to 5), Standard (yrs 6 to 7).
Please be aware that access to online databases from other than the library or home, that is, schools and universities, is not permitted under the licence agreements held between the Library and Vendors. Call your local public library to find out how you can join and get free access to these resources. Its easy and free! Something missing from this web page? Let me know at ed@slwa.wa.gov.au
Page last updated: 05/11/2009 07:09:08