National Competitions Library News

Ijoinedthe School at the end of Novemberas School Librarian and have enjoyed working with students in both the Main and Sixth Form libraries.

The Main Library is open during morning and lunchtime break periods and caters for students in Years 7 – 11, however over the year, it has also frequently been used as a classroom and for Year 7 Library Inductions and book talks. The Sixth Form Library is open throughout the school day until 4.30pm and has been visited and utilized regularly by upper school students. I have been assisted very efficiently in the running of each library by a team of Student Librarians to whom I am very grateful.

The vast collections of fiction and non fiction in both libraries have been maintained and added to regularly by buying new academic text books and recently published fiction including copies of the 2014 Carnegie Award winner and the other shortlisted titles. There is currently a Carnegie display in the Main Library from which students and staff can borrow the winner, Bunker Diary and the other shortlisted books. There has also been other book displays in the Main Library this year celebrating events and favourite authors such as Chinese New Year, Christmas, World Book Day and Anthony Horowitz.

World Book Day in March was celebrated in various ways with quizzes and competitions including a ‘Design Your Own Book Cover’ competition where students redesigned covers of their favourite books! I also carried out a ‘My Favourite Book’ Survey in which all students and staff were asked to write down the title of their favourite childhood book. The results were very interesting and were displayed in the Main Library ranging from ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ to ‘Rebecca’ by

Daphne Du Maurier!

In February I introduced two new library clubs which both run lunchtimes in the Main Library for students in Years 7 to 9. The first is Bookbusters at which members take part in book related activities and the second is Young Writers which encourages members to write creatively. These clubs have both been successful so far and it is hoped that they will continue to be so during this academic year as well.

The Main Library also welcomed a new exhibit which is being overseen by two Year 9 students Sam Richards (9C) and Shaun Sanu (9B). The project was started in June and they are building a model of the school out of

Lego. I would like to wish them every success in the continuation of this project this year.

My first year has been a very happy and rewarding one. I have settled into my role and look forward to working in and developing both libraries throughout the coming year.

Catherine Beck Library and Learning Resources Manager