Library
The library is very much the heart of the school. It is open every day from 8.15 am and closes at 4.30 pm Monday to Thursday and 2.30 on Fridays. It’s a vibrant and dynamic place with a steady stream of students visiting it throughout the day.
The primary role of the library is to support independent learning. It is a place for students to read, study and collaborate on homework. We also welcome students wanting to engage in more peaceful activities away from the hustle and bustle of break and lunch times. The library is zoned to accommodate these different activities. The ever popular ‘Book Nooks’ give students a quiet corner for reading or reflection and our dedicated Wellbeing Area is there to support anyone who may need to use it.
We have a wide range of resources on offer to challenge, inspire and focus our students’ learning. There are PCs and iPads available for study and research which are bookable a day in advance. We also have everything you need to put together your homework projects including glue, scissors, paper and a guillotine! During the day, as well as regular lessons, the library provides a silent study space for our sixth form students.
The display areas showcase topical themes and books throughout the year as well as providing a platform for student driven projects and initiatives. We also have a range of lighter activities available such as origami and colouring.
Our students really appreciate our extensive, fiction selection which is always kept up to date with new and popular titles. The YA selection includes a wide range of genres and has reading levels to suit all abilities. Some of the most popular sections are the Graphic Novel and Manga books. As a result, due to popular demand, this is a constantly expanding collection! We also have a well-stocked Adult fiction section for our older readers and staff. The non-fiction collection includes books, DVDs, magazines and periodicals. We also have a variety of reference materials to support different aspects of the curriculum.
All our collections are supported by our catalogue system Access-it. This provides a powerful interface to our physical and digital collections. It is accessed through a Web application which is available on multiple platforms including, ipads, android and Apple phones.
Our librarian Mrs Craig, and her assistants Mrs O’Brien and Ms Gregory, are always on hand to support, advise and help students in whatever way they can. They run library clubs such as ‘Book Babble’, our informal book review group. They also supervise our student librarian team and run various literacy themed events and reading challenges throughout the year.
This year is also a time of big changes in the library as phase one of our exciting refurbishment has been completed. We can’t wait for phase two.
We’re active online, so please follow us on Twitter @RPS_Library.
