Over many years the collection of books in the school

library has grown and are all placed together in the

heart of the building - a very significant site : where

the Infant corridor and the Junior corridor meet, and

straight ahead of you as you enter the school.

 

In 2010, we began the redevelopment of the school library. 

The books were sorted, mended, catalogued and re-arranged on shelving. Money was spent on investing in new book stock and subscriptions taken to monthly/weekly periodicals.  A library loans scheme was introduced to enable all children to borrow one item for one week.

We purchased display boards - which are always imaginatively

decorated with stimulating displays, book related themes and news about regular library competitions. 

The school library is designed to be a place for enjoyment where both children and staff can benefit from a wide selection of books, both fiction and non-fiction and multi-media resources.

Through the use of our school library, we aim to :

- improve reading skills

- promote independence

- promote the enjoyment and use of books and other reading resources.

The books in our school are kept up to date and relevant, relate to the topics studied in class and provide for the pleasure of the children.  Amongst the new books purchased for the library are those recommended by children and staff.

We purchase books on a regular basis - the funds for this comes from the commission we receive from selling books from the travelling Book Fairs held throughout the year.

We also gratefully receive donated books from parents whose

children have outgrown their books.

 

Our school library is open on Monday, and Friday dinnertimes and after school for Reception until 3.30pm on a Wednesday.  Every child is entitled to become a member of the library. As a member of the library each child agrees to look after the item they borrow and return it in the same state.  An individual library card is issued to each child which enables that child to borrow one item for one week.  The item is recorded and the membership card kept in the library.  The card is returned when the item is returned.

The influence of the library extend very much into the classroom.  In the Reception and Infant classes there is a 'Kinderbox' (a wooden, often colourful, partitioned box on legs) containing books.  In the Junior classes these are Browser Boxes/Shelves, one for fiction and one for non-fiction books.  These books are changed each term, to ensure a variety of books is available for the children to read - or when a new topic begins.

 

The use of 'Kinderboxes' and Browser Boxes/Shelves provide the children with daily access to a library environment.  Also, the children will have access to books when they are unable to change their books in our school library.

 

 

Children first experience library skills sessions in the Reception Year and these continue throughout the Infant and Junior Years. All year groups have use of the library and class teachers plan imaginative and creative learning experiences which involve children practising and developing their library skills.

 

During each academic year, we arrange special events in our school library.  We believe that the children's education can be enriched by inviting guests into school.  We have over the years, invited a number of writers,poets and illustrators to the school to share their inspirations for writing and enthusiasm for books, whilst entertain the children at the same time!

 

This year we were visited by the author John Mallam.  We had our fundraising book fairs, World book day activities, and library competitions.  In the Autumn term the children had to draw their favourite character from Dr Who, whilst in the Spring term we had our largest response to any competition - 'Fabulour Facts'.  The facts were so interesting and presented so well that it was decided to bind them all and keep them in the library!