FLPS School Library
The Forest Lodge Public School library has always been housed in the spacious, high-ceilinged room on the second storey of the original 1883 building.
Sora
Sora is a free student reading app. The collection of titles in Sora is an extension of Forest Lodge’s physical library, only it’s in an app with 24/7 access to ebooks and audiobooks. It’s convenient for students to check out titles at home, on the weekends or during school breaks with no worry about misplacing a book or running up late fees – these digital titles automatically return at the end of the lending period!
Sora can help students of all ages read more and improve comprehension. Struggling or reluctant readers, learning-challenged, second language learners, and gifted readers can all benefit from this service.
- Enrich vocabulary and improve comprehension and pronunciation
- Introduce students to new books at their reading level, as well as providing a challenge by introducing books above their reading level.
- Teach critical listening
- Help busy kids find time to read
- Incentivise reading with fun avatars and achievements
- Allow easy access to Forest Lodge’s collection, too! (in the Sora menu select: +Add a library)
We still value reading a physical book and will continue encouraging children to explore the world of books. This provides a great opportunity as an alternative for families and students to use together with natural texts.
How does it work?
Download the free Sora app from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store or visit soraapp.com, borrow with your student login, and enjoy anytime, anywhere on a computer, tablet, or smartphone. The student login is your child’s normal login to access their Student Portal. Please check with your child’s teacher if you are unsure what it is.
Whether a student’s interest lies in classics for required reading, or the latest popular juvenile or young adult fiction, they can find it all in Sora!
What's On
Premier's Reading Challenge
Celebrating 25 years of the Premier’s Reading Challenge
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge! Since it began in 2001, millions of students across New South Wales have enjoyed taking part in this wonderful reading journey. Forest Lodge Public School is proud to be celebrating this milestone and joining in the fun again this year!
What is the NSW PRC?
The PRC is a statewide initiative that encourages students to develop a lifelong love of reading for fun and pleasure. It is not a competition, but a challenge to inspire every student to read more books and explore different kinds of stories and information. All students who complete the Challenge and have their reading logged and validated by our PRC coordinator will receive a certificate signed by the Premier of NSW.
How many books do students need to read?
- Kindergarten to Year 2: Read or experience 30 books in total. At least 20 must come from the official PRC booklists, and up to 10 can be books of their own choice. Books can be read by the student, or shared with a parent, carer, teacher, or another student.
- Year 3 to Year 10: Read 20 books independently. At least 10 must come from the official PRC booklists, and up to 10 can be books of their own choice.
If a book is part of an approved PRC series, students can include up to 5 of those books on their Challenge list and up to 10 more from the same series as Personal Choice books. Books must be added to students’ online reading records by Friday 18 September 2026 to be validated and qualify for a certificate.
How do students log their reading?
Students can log their reading using the PRC Student Experience website, which they can access with their Department of Education username and password via the Student Portal. A video guide to help students use the site is available.
How can students find PRC books?
There are plenty of PRC books in our school library and remember, Glebe Library will also have PRC titles.
What do students get for completing the PRC?
The NSW PRC tracks student progression throughout their schooling.
- 1-3 years of completion: Standard certificate
- 4 years of completion: Gold certificate
- 5-6 years of completion: Standard certificate
- 7 years of completion: Platinum certificate
- 8-10 years of completion: Standard certificate
If your child has previously participated in the PRC but has changed schools, make sure you check their challenge history. If they have previously attended a non-government school, their accounts may need to be merged. If you have any questions or want to support your child’s reading, please get in touch!
About the library
Library Access at Forest Lodge Public School
The library at Forest Lodge Public School is open to students every weekday during the school term.
Library Sessions
Each week, students participate in a scheduled library session. During this time, they return and borrow books and engage in a Literacy lesson to complement their work in the classroom.
Book Borrowing
They are allowed to borrow up to three books simultaneously.
Library Monitors
Students in Year 5 and 6 are invited to take on the role of library monitors. In this leadership position, they assist fellow students who visit the library and help maintain an organised library environment.
Using the Library Catalogue
Did you know you can access our library catalogue from home? Students can log in to borrow e-books online. Log into the Department of Education Portal with their username and password, select “My School Library” and our school. From there students can search for books and borrow them too.
Handling Lost or Damaged Books
If a library book is lost or damaged, please notify Ben Talbot via email. We do not impose late fees but kindly request timely returns for the benefit of other students.
Contacting the Librarian
For any inquiries, feel free to reach out to our Librarian via email.
Ben Talbot
benjamin.talbot11@det.nsw.edu.au
Help us fill our library gaps
Do you have some 'as new' second-hand books that need a new home? We currently have some small gaps in our library collection that we would love to 'top up'. Your contributions can make a significant difference in providing our students with a diverse range of reading materials.
If you have any of the following titles available, please email me directly on benjamin.talbot11@det.nsw.edu.au
- Narwhal and Jelly by Ben Clanton
- Asterix and Obelix
- Wylah
Thank you for your support in helping us create a richer learning environment for our students!
Mr Talbot's Top Picks
Kindy and Stage 1
Fiction
Mr Huff by Anna Walker
'Bill is having a bad day.
Mr Huff is following him around and making everything seem difficult.
Bill tries to get rid of him, but Mr Huff just gets bigger and bigger!
Then they both stop, and a surprising thing happens . . .'
Wolf Girl by Ahn Do
'When disaster separates Gwen from her family, she must fend for herself, all alone in the wilderness. Luckily, she’s not alone for long…after a wolf puppy, a Labrador, a Chihuahua, and a greyhound save her life, Gwen discovers talents she didn’t know she possessed.'
Non-Fiction
My Best Book of Volcanoes by Simon Adams
'Explore the Earth's core, climb the world's highest peaks, and witness the dramatic eruptions of volcanoes. This enthralling introduction to one of the planet's mightiest physical forces shows how volcanoes are formed, where they are found and how they have changed the face of the Earth. Spectacular cut-away illustrations, fact panels, and a lively, informative text will keep young Earth Scientists on the boil.'
Fiction
The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien
'Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an unexpected journey ‘there and back again’. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon…'
Friday Barnes by R. A. Spratt
'When Friday Barnes solves a bank robbery, she uses the reward money to send herself to Highcrest Academy, the most exclusive boarding school in the country--and discovers it's a hotbed of crime!'
Non-Fiction
Ingenious Insects by Sarah Allen
'Step through the seasons with some of Australia's most interesting insects. Say hello to chirping cicadas, flashing fireflies, sneaky stick insects and burrowing bees in this adorable introduction to our unique and charming bug life.'
Fiction
Ruby Redfort by Lauren Child
'When an anonymous caller sets Ruby a challenge, it's not long before she finds her way into the HQ of the most secret of secret agencies -- SPECTRUM. They need her help to crack a code but her desk job soon spirals into an all-out action adventure, as Ruby uncovers the dastardly plans of the formidable Fool's Gold Gang!'
Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend
'Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks--and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.
But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.'
Non-Fiction
One Small Island by Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch
'Macquarie Island lies in the Southern Ocean, between Antarctica and New Zealand. A speck of green in the vast, windswept sea, it is a haven for many creatures that live above and below the waves.'
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