Preps at the Library (PAL)
Become our PAL
Mackay Regional Council Libraries would like to extend an invitation to your school to participate in our Preps at the Library (PAL) Program.
What is the PAL Program?
PAL is a partnership with local schools and invites students in Prep to become active members of the public library community. PAL provides students with a library membership card and a promotional pack to support early language and literacy development and establish a lifelong love of reading and the use of public libraries.
What are the benefits of PAL?
For schools and their teachers:
- Establishes a sustainable community approach to education and enhanced student wellbeing.
- Allows free access to a wide range of resources and databases for teachers, students, and their families to utilise for education and leisure.
- Offers teachers/educators access to an Educators Membership which provides additional borrowing rights to ensure they have access to the huge range of material in our collection and sufficient time to share stories and the love of reading with their students.
For students:
- Encourages students and their families to access alternative reading resources, services, and programmes all of which encourage early language and literacy development.
- Provides a sense of community belonging and ownership for students.
- Encourages responsibility by providing students with their own library membership card.
- Provides class groups the opportunity to attend in-house library tours or alternatively book school/classroom visits
- Provides students with the knowledge that local libraries are safe, welcoming, and supportive environments available for access 7 days a week.
- Provides a space within the community where students and their families can explore ideas, exchange opinions, and expand potential.
PAL has run as a successful program at Mackay West State School since 2000. Teacher-Librarian Mrs Margaret Spillman has been at the forefront of this program and has provided this testimonial.
View the Preps at the Library Factsheet here.