May 17
Mrs Robinson, the Librarian, recently wrote an article for SecEd magazine about the development of our Library. You can read it online here:
Apr 01
The new Michael Parker Library has now been open for five months and it is time to look at how far we have progressed. This report will take a different format to the ones produced in the previous academic year in order to focus on how the library is beginning to have an impact on teaching and learning in the school. More detail will be included in the Annual Report, published at the beginning of September 2010.
Collection of Creatively Dyed Easter Eggs from around flickr by Dot D from the Flickr website.
1. Library use and impact on teaching and learning
1.1. Inductions
Year 6: triple lesson used for induction, including orientation using a “Clue Hunt” and “Dewey Detective” covering non-fiction. Finding and choosing Fiction, using “Reading Game”, took place during English lessons in Spring Term.
Years 7 and 8: basic inductions during weekly English lessons covering Fiction and Non-fiction, using similar materials. Will change next year as only new entrants will need this kind of induction.
1.2. Reading development
Years 6-8: from January 2010, weekly English lessons in Library. Working with staff, Librarian covered range of induction lessons, mentioned above. Sessions also used to develop reading for pleasure – will continue in Summer Term. Some evaluations and observations made in order to discuss development of structured reading programme for academic year 2010-2011 with English Department.
Year 9: visits by one class using “Reading Game” and “Speed Dating” to develop reading.
Reading Champions: Reading Group met regularly. Many students developing their wiki pages to show books they enjoy. Planning to meet weekly during Summer Term to work on Carnegie Shadowing with group of up to 10 students.
Book Week: range of events held in Library including Book Trailer Show, Book Swap, Year 6 Book Quiz and “Caught Reading” competition. Varying levels of success. Excellent visit by Dave Cryer on World Book Day – worked with Years 6 and 7 classes on creative writing. Some activities took place during lessons.
Impact of improved stock and professional staffing can be seen on increased borrowing figures and response of students. Many students now asking for books to be purchased. Some parents have also reported improved reading levels amongst students.
1.3. Progress in Information Literacy
Year 12: two presentations delivered – “Working Independently: Being Organised” and “Effective Research: Avoiding Plagiarism”. Handouts distributed and presentations and resources uploaded to Library Online for students to access in their own time.
Librarian acquired excellent booklets produced by Ofqual on plagiarism for teachers, parents and students – should be distributed next term.
From April, school subscribing to Leicestershire Library Services for Education – enabling borrowing of resource collections to supplement library stock. Also number of e-resources available as part of LSE package. Can be used in classroom or library and will facilitate development of IL lessons. Support needed from SMT to enable Librarian to begin working collaboratively with departments to plan whole school progression of IL/research skills teaching.
Librarian has been observing students’ use of ICT and book resources for research in order to assess needs for support and formal teaching of skills. Ad-hoc support with range of research queries by students and staff continuing to develop.
2. Meeting the needs of the school community
2.1. Extra-curricular activities
Lunchtimes and after school: open every day for whole lunchtime session and well used by students. Librarian supported by small Student Helper Team. Library open after school until 5.15 every day. Range of activities on offer during Book Week etc.
2.2. Provision of resources
Old library stock: All weeded, re-catalogued, cleaned, mended and re-labeled.
New library stock: “Normal” library plus Development budgets for 2009-2010 almost all spent – resources all processed and added to stock. Feedback from subject teachers essential to ensure purchases from 2010-2011 budgets meet and extend needs of school curriculum. Development of multi-media resources, including online subscription databases, could be included.
2.3. Provision of services and facilities
Information services: Library Online Services developing as virtual library with range of Web2.0 sites including Delicious, Flickr, LibraryThing, Netvibes and YouTube. Some of these demonstrated to HODs and other staff. Notable uses: Netvibes with MFL, Animoto with Music (to be completed), Flickr with Marketing Manager.
ICT facilities: laptops used extensively during day by range of students and staff. Students bringing in own laptops can re-charge using floor sockets. Screen & projector very useful for lessons, meetings and events.
3. Library management and administration
Procedures Manual setting out all library administrative systems continuously updated. Handbook gathering evidence of the Library and Librarian’s impact on teaching and learning in the school was shown to inspectors. Annual Report for 2008-2009 submitted in the Autumn Term. Development Plan written in Autumn Term. Library Policy still in draft version and will be sent to SMT for comments as soon as possible.
Librarian continues to attend school INSET and meetings, local school librarians’ meetings, CPD (including Literacy Forum and online training from YSL) and has contributed to wider profession through presentations and online collaboration.
Nov 09
Mrs Robinson has made this video to show you how the Library was created during the Summer and Autumn of 2009!
Oct 29
During Half Term we have been working to finish off our new library!
Have a look at the latest pictures below. The Library staircase has also been decorated and there will be new things to see there very soon!
Oct 13
Watch this photostream from Flickr to see the latest photos of our library refurbishment taking place now!
Mrs Robinson has been taking photographs every few days – these can be seen on our Flickr site.
Sep 09
We have reached another great milestone!
All of the boxes of books from the old library have now been unpacked on to the new shelving. Also, loads of new Fiction has been added. Have a look at the pictures below and also at the slideshow lower down this page for the latest photos!
Non-Fiction books
Fiction
Graphic Novel collection
Don’t these look great! Mrs Robinson and the rest of the Library Committee are working hard to get the new Library open as soon as possible – it won’t be long.
By the way – thanks for the speedy shelving are due to Mrs Robinson’s sons, Luke and Mark, who came in to help during the summer holidays and also in the last couple of weeks!
Sep 03
The new furniture has now been fitted – apart from a few finishing touches! All who have seen it say it looks fantastic – thanks to Tom & Richard from Tarver’s!
Today, Mrs Robinson tried out the first book on the shelves:
First book on the new shelves!
Sep 02
Exciting times! All of the library equipment, books and resources was moved into the new space on Friday so that Room 9 could be cleared for use again. The furniture fitters are now finishing off the last touches – cupboards, worktops, desk and so on. Then Mrs Robinson will be able to get in and start unpacking!
Pile of boxes to unpack!
There are huge piles of boxes across the library, consisting of all the old stock plus loads of new books. All of these will be put on the shelves as quickly as possible with new signing and guiding to help everyone find what they are looking for.
Lots of new furniture and equipment is also being delivered. It will be great fun unpacking this and putting it all into place!
Staff are welcome to pop in at any time to see the progress. Students will be shown around as soon as possible.
Aug 18
The final plan is now ready!
As you can see from the photographs in the previous post, the Library is now being decorated and the woodwork made. Very soon, the new carpet will be laid and blinds fitted. The furniture will be laid out according to this plan.
Exciting days!
The plan below shows you where the old walls have been removed and new ones built.
Note: the Librarian’s Desk shown here is not the correct version.
Library Plan showing changes
Jun 25
Here is a rough version of the plan for our library refurbishment. There are still some areas to be “tweaked” and improved, but at least it will give you an idea of what it will look like:
Library Plan
If you click on the image above, you will be able to see a larger version. Please add comments on this post as I would like to have feedback from the school community and other visitors to the site!
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