Library

Mrs A Hallissey – Library Manager, EPQ Co-ordinator, More able Co-ordinator and Pioneer Reading Improvement Partner
Mrs K Davis – Assistant Librarian

The Library is the heart of Desborough College and a hive of activity where all year groups mix and enjoy a collaborative atmosphere. Every visitor that comes to the Library comments on the positive “feel” of the place and is also a “safe” space.

Students are encouraged to use the Library to read for both pleasure and to widen and deepen their knowledge. It is also in use every break and lunch-time for students to study, play board games or read or take part in our many clubs.

The dedicated and professional team supports both staff and students in a variety of ways:

Years 7 & 8 enjoy a weekly Library reading lesson to improve their reading skills and to read for pleasure. This is important for attainment as well as for empathy and knowledge and understanding of others. We also teach information literacy lessons on how to research, fake news, organising and analysing information and encourage critical thinking, problem solving and digital literacy which are vital life skills.

We use Access-It as our library catalogue and web app. This has e-books, audio books, podcasts, videos etc as well as extensive reading lists. We have a range of periodicals and we also subscribe to online research tools including J-STOR.
We support all subjects on the curriculum across the school and have a dedicated area for sixth form students to study. We also take care to have many resources to support the super- curriculum and wider reading.

See attached document from the SLA on the importance of libraries.

We use the Accelerated Reader programme which has proved incredibly popular with students and we have been recognised as a Champion school by Renaissance. We assess students 3 times a year to measure progress. Measuring comprehension, vocabulary, literacy and inference. Students quiz on books that they read and this totals up the numbers of words read. Students are rewarded for passing quizzes, Reading bingo and becoming word millionaires. Students of all abilities make good progress on the programme.

We have regular events in the such as book groups, celebrating book awards, author visits and other activities to support reading both for pleasure and academic interest.

We also have a Trust staff reading group

We are members of the School Library Association

Mrs Hallissey is working with the Open University and facilitates a Teacher Reading Group across Berkshire to help educators use research evidence to support reading in schools and libraries.
We are also piloting “Shelf-Help” to support students well-being and mental health through a book on prescription programme.

Library

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