Great Western MARC
today..
The Great Western Mobile Area Resource Centre is based at the Great Western Primary School. There are nine schools participating in the scheme. These are:
 |
Concongella Primary School Glenorchy Primary School Great Western Primary School Halls Gap Primary School Marnoo Primary School |
 |
Maroona Primary School Moyston Primary School Navarre Primary School Pomonal Primary School |
The scheme was established in 1979 to provide a service to children and
teachers in schools too small to support a central library. Initially the
emphasis was on recreational needs; however, this has been developed and
extended to include materials to meet information and educational needs of both
children and teachers.
Visits to each of the schools are made fortnightly, either for a full day or half day, depending on enrolment and the teacher numbers. Books, charts, picture packs, videos, big books, computer CDs and kits are available for loan through the Bookmark Computer Borrowing system which is maintained by the teacher librarian, using a laptop computer.
The teacher librarian conducts lessons for the children covering such areas as information and research skills, library skills and children’s literature.
Each participating school provides funds for the purchase and maintenance of
the materials in the
MARC. Currently schools pay a subscription to the MARC
comprising a flat rate of $200 per year per half day served per fortnight plus a
per capita rate of $9 per student.
Originally, Barkly, Rossbridge, Landsborough, Landsborough West and Callawadda Primary Schools were in the scheme. In 1984 Barkly school was closed due to lack of numbers. In 1988 The Callawadda Primary School closed, due once again to lack of numbers. The same fate befell the Landsborough West Primary School in 1989. Around 1993 Rossbridge Primary School closed and Landsborough Primary School was taken over by the Elmhurst MARC in 1996 to assist with distribution of schools between the two schemes.
The Department of Education supplies and maintains the van. The original Bedford Van was replaced in 1985 by a Daihatsu Delta 3000, followed in 1992 with a Ford Trader, then in 1996 a Mitsubishi Canter, in 1998 a Ford Trader, and in 2001, a Mazda T4600. The original box section was replaced in 1996, with a long wheelbase box. The unit has been refurbished/repaired in 1998/99, and 2001.