Library

Opening Times:

Monday-Thursday: 9.15am – 5.00pm
Friday: 9.15am – 4.30pm

The well-stocked Library is the centre for independent learning and reading for the whole school. The Library provides a safe and secure environment to support and enhance teaching and learning, where all students are encouraged to become independent lifelong learners and to enjoy reading for pleasure. All students and staff are members of the Library.

Situated on the top floor of the Edinburgh Centre, the Library comprises two rooms, enabling simultaneous activities including individual study, reading, and class based research. The Library  is staffed throughout the day and after school by a professionally qualified librarian. We aim to meet the needs of all students by providing books, newspapers, magazines and electronic resources that support the curriculum and encourage reading for pleasure. The library stock is constantly being updated, and the librarians are always pleased to consider requests for books that the library does not have. The Librarians organise visits from authors to talk to students about their work.

All Year 7, 8 and 9 classes have a regular timetabled English lesson in the Library to enable them to choose books, to experience a range of reading related activities, to develop literacy, to enjoy a period of silent reading and to encourage reading for pleasure. The Librarian is on hand to assist students with their choice of books. Students also use the Library for subject based research lessons. Years 7-11 may use the Library at break, lunchtime and after school for quiet study, research, recreational reading, borrowing books and using the computers. The Sixth Form may use the Library throughout the day for silent private study and reading.  

The Fiction area contains a large collection of books especially chosen to appeal to students of all ages, interests and abilities; from the latest publications to established classics.

The Non-Fiction area has a comprehensive collection of books and other resources which  have been selected to support teaching and learning, and also to encourage reading for pleasure. There is an extensive collection in the foreign languages taught at school.

The Library provides access to a range of online databases to support study and research, including access to international databases of journal articles. Access to these resources is via the Student Launchpad and the DAOS Library Google Site.

The Library also runs a variety of activities open to all students , including a Student Librarians team, a Book Club which meets regularly to discuss chosen books together, and the opportunity to participate in Book Award shadowing schemes such as Carnegie Medal for Writing Shadowing and the Excelsior Award (graphic novels and manga).

The Library’s online catalogue enables students to search for items in the library from any device with internet access. Users can log into their Library account to renew issued items online, make reservations and place requests. Online reading lists are available on the catalogue.

The catalogue can be found at: https://daos.koha-ptfs.co.uk/

The Library also sells items of essential stationery for students.

The librarian welcomes help from parents who would like to volunteer to help in the library. Please contact the Library if you would like to help: [email protected] or phone 01707 643441.