DescriptionThis interview consists of one audio recording and transcript (in progress). John Gassner was interviewed on 13 November 2012 at the Whitlam Library, Cabramatta by Pru WirthInterview SummaryJohn is a school librarian at Bossley Park High School. He started at the school in 1988, after several years as a teacher in regional NSW. Bossley Park High School Library was established under a new government policy by which school libraries were granted funds to purchase the supplies they needed.
John enjoys receiving requests or book orders from both teachers and students, and he encourages students to go to bookshops and see what books they would like to have ordered. In 1988, he also put together a time capsule that has been buried on the school property. He has also put together a small archive at the school, and desires that the archive be expanded to include more objects. The library took four years to become fully operational.
John believes that the school library is available to everyone, whether for research or as a quiet place for students. He believes that Bossley Park High School is a focal point of the community.
John is concerned that there is too much academic expectation of students; he believes that it is more important for students to be responsible, respectful members of the community. In addition, many students have other talents such as sport which should be encouraged.
Bossley Park High School Library has only two categories of books, fiction and non-fiction. John wants to make sure that all books are accessible to all year groups without restricting their usage to particular grades.
Bossley Park High School Library was one of the first school libraries in NSW to use a fully automated library system. All books have full bibliographic entries which help students and teachers find appropriate material quickly. John greatly appreciates the role of technology in school libraries, but is concerned about the rise of social media and how it might impact students.
John is concerned that ancillary school services such as libraries will one day be phased out due to lack of funding. This is a shame because John firmly believes in the great services that school libraries provide to schools, students and teachers. He is worried that the rise of technology will replace human services in libraries. People and their services provide answers that technology cannot.
John Gassner Oral History. Fairfield City Heritage Collection, accessed 07/04/2026, https://heritagecollection.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/2553
