Library Online

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.

written by Mrs Robinson \\ tags: assessment, development, Librarian, Library, reading, resources

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!

written by Mrs Robinson \\ tags: books, development, Librarian, Library

Just a quick post to update readers with the current situation.

Over May Half Term, the library was virtually emptied out. All of the stock had been boxed up during the term and was then taken to Room 9, together with any equipment that we need for the new library. Mrs Robinson will be working in Room 9 until the end of August, getting new resources and equipment ready, planning the new library and developing web-based services.

The old wall between the library and Room 8 was removed and the honour boards taken down and stored safely. These have been carefully photographed to ensure that we have a good record of the names. Eventually, we will re-create the boards in a new format and we are planning on making a very special book with the photographs.

Furniture that is not needed for the refurbishment is being taken away and used in other parts of the school.

The work will begin on the floor on the very first day of the summer holidays – exciting times!

Mrs Robinson will continue to post here during the summer with updates on the development and some “tasters” to show you some of the new resources that she is purchasing for the library.

Watch this space!

written by Mrs Robinson \\ tags: development, Librarian, Library, news

Service for Staff and Sixth Form Students

Do you have an important piece of research you are trying to do?

Are you stuck and having difficulties in finding information?

Then ask your Librarian!

Mrs Robinson will do her best to find web pages for you and put links to them on this site. You could leave your query as a comment on this site.

What have you got to lose?

Image from the Flickr website:

devaymarie

written by Mrs Robinson \\ tags: delicious, Librarian, services, sixth form, staff, students, weblinks

After a term in the school, it is again time to look at what progress we have made:

(1) Establish a baseline for future assessment – complete

(2) Learn how to use the Eclipse 2 Library Management

(3) Start to get-to-know the school community and systems

• Attend staff meetings, special events and assemblies – on-going
• Talk to staff and students both formally and informally – on-going
• Begin to recruit and train Student Library helpers - after February Half Term to ensure that they are trained in readiness for September 2009
  
• Deliver a presentation to the whole school in assembly – done

(4) Library management and administration:

• Library Procedures Manual setting out all library administrative systems – on-going
• Library Handbook gathering evidence of the Library and Librarian’s impact on teaching and learning in the school – on-going
• Monitoring reports for the Senior Management and Governors – on-going

(5) Library resources:

• Weed, re-catalogue, clean, mend and label Fiction stock – done
• Weed, re-catalogue, clean, mend and label Non-Fiction stock – on-going but not much left to do!
  
• Begin to purchase new stock items after consultation with staff and students – on-going
• Put up new signage and guiding – done

(6) Library use and impact on curriculum:

• Re-organise physical layout of tables etc – done
• Open at lunchtimes and after school – every day
  
• Publicise Reading Champions group and begin meetings – done
• Library Induction for Year 6 students – took place on the afternoon of International Day – very successful according to student feedback
• Helping students and staff to choose suitable reading material – developing
  
• Supporting students and staff with range of research queries – developing
  

(7) Library development:

• Attend relevant planning meetings – on-going
• Liaise with school staff to support co-ordination of the project – on-going
  
• Continuing to develop a wish-list for the development – on-going
• Plan a series of visits to other suitable school libraries – on-going
• Open discussions with suitable library furnishing companies – done
• Consult with school community – on-going
• Survey students – done – Year 7-13 Survey see results and comments/feedback, Year 6 Survey see results, comments and feedback
  
• Create plan for library as a result of these consultations - on-going
  

(8) Use of ICT and developing technologies:

• Create the Library Online website – done
• Continue to develop the site to be a support for teaching and learning in the school – on-going

(9) Enjoy my new job:

Definitely! And this is continuing…

Many thanks are always due to my school librarian colleagues, particularly those on SLN who have given me so much support, ideas and good cheer during these first few weeks in a new post.

written by Mrs Robinson \\ tags: administration, assessment, development, ICT, Librarian, libraries, Library, Library_Online, management, monitoring, resources, staff, students

Well, I have now been at the school for seven weeks, so I think that it is time to look at what has been achieved so far – sorry, this is a long post but I have livened it up with a few fun images:

Dixie Library as a Rubik's Cube

(1) Establish a baseline for future assessment:

• Inventory all furniture and equipment – done
• Stock-take and count all resources – done
• Take statistics from the Library Management System to assess past borrowing – done
• Work out previous patterns of use – done
• Photograph library – done
• Write assessment report for Senior Management – done

(2) Learn how to use the Eclipse 2 Library Management System for:

• Updating and enrolling students and staff – done
• Cataloguing – on-going
• Creating reports - on-going
• Searching for resources – on-going

Dixie Library as a Polaroid

(3) Start to get-to-know the school community and systems:

• Attend staff meetings, special events and assemblies – on-going
• Talk to staff and students both formally and informally – on-going
• Begin to recruit and train Student Library helpers - on-going
• Deliver a presentation to the whole school in assembly – after October Half Term

(4) Library management and administration:

• Begin to write a Library Procedures Manual to set out all library administrative systems – on-going
• Begin to compile a Library Handbook to gather evidence of the Library and Librarian’s impact on teaching and learning in the school – on-going
• Plan a series of monitoring reports for the Senior Management and Governors – on-going

Dixie Library as an Amazing Circle

(5) Library resources:

• Weed, re-catalogue, clean, mend and label Fiction stock – done
• Weed, re-catalogue, clean, mend and label Non-Fiction stock – on-going
• Begin to purchase new stock items after consultation with staff and students – on-going
• Put up new signage and guiding – on-going

(6) Library use:

• Re-organise physical layout of tables etc – done
• Open at lunchtimes and after school – on-going
• Publicise Reading Champions group and begin meetings – done

Wordle based on the tags in this site

Image made using Wordle

(7) Library development:

• Attend relevant planning meetings – on-going
• Begin to create a wish-list for the development – on-going
• Plan a series of visits to other suitable school libraries – on-going
• Open discussions with suitable library furnishing companies – done
• Consult with school staff – on-going
• Start the consultation process with students – after October Half Term

(8) Use of ICT and developing technologies:

• Create the Library Online website – done
• Continue to develop the site to be a support for teaching and learning in the school – on-going

(9) Enjoy my new job:

Definitely!

Many thanks are due to my school librarian colleagues, particularly those on SLN who have given me so much support, ideas and good cheer during these first few weeks in a new post.

written by Mrs Robinson \\ tags: administration, assessment, development, ICT, Librarian, libraries, Library_Online, management, monitoring, resources, staff, students

The Dixie Grammar School

Welcome to the new Library Online website for The Dixie Grammar School. Your new Librarian, who started on the 1st September, is Mrs Anne M Robinson. I am a Chartered Librarian, really experienced in running school libraries.

I am going to use this site for a range of things:

• To track the development of the Library during its transformation over the coming years.
• To give the staff and students of the school a taste of what a Chartered Librarian can do – explore the site as it develops to find lots of help!
• To create useful advice on how to research – look at the Subject Links pages.
• To talk about books and reading – tell me what you like to read so that we can make the Library relevant to you.

written by Mrs Robinson \\ tags: books, Librarian, links, reading, research, subjects