Dr H James MA LIS – Librarian
Mrs K Dorling – Assistant Librarian
Mrs A Goodman B Med Sci PG Dip Lib – Assistant Librarian
Monday-Thursday: 9.15am – 5.00pm
Friday: 9.15am – 4.30pm
The well-stocked Library is the centre for independent learning and reading throughout the school. The Library aims to provide 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 and may use the Library and borrow books and other resources.
Situated on the top floor of the Edinburgh Centre, the Library comprises two rooms, which enable simultaneous activities from individual study or reading, to 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, DVDs and electronic resources that support the curriculum, and encourage reading and research for study and 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. Books on loan to other students may be reserved. The Librarians hold poetry and writing competitions, and organise visits from authors and poets to talk to students about their work, and to run creative writing workshops.
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. 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.
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 Librarians are on hand to provide suggestions and advice with the choice of books. Books written specifically for children and young people can be found in the ‘Lower School’ section. ‘Young Adult’ (YA) novels, which are often aimed at teenagers aged 14 and over, are clearly marked. Books in the ‘Upper School’ section include many standard classics and contemporary novels, which will be suitable for students in all year groups. Some “YA” and ‘Upper School’ books are restricted to older students, and lower school students will be asked to obtain parental permission before they borrow these items.
The Non-Fiction area has a comprehensive collection of books and other resources such as pamphlets, journals, magazines, newspapers, DVDs which have been selected to support teaching and learning, and also to encourage reading for pleasure. There is an extensive collection of non-fiction and fiction, in the foreign languages taught at school. All students have library projects where they visit the library as a class to do research and extend their information handling skills. The Non-Fiction collection comprises many attractive and inspiring books, which may be borrowed for study or pleasure.
Online resources: 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 Book Club meets on Wednesdays at break when members can discuss what they have been reading, choose from the newest books and become involved in national activities, such as Carnegie Shadowing, and writing competitions.
The Koha Online Library Catalogue enables users to search the catalogue for
items in the library, from any computer or 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/
There is also a link to the catalogue on the Quick Links drop-down menu on the School website homepage..
The Library has an extensive Google site with links to all the online resources available to the school community, and uses Google Classrooms to co-ordinate and publicise Library activities for students.
The Library has 11 PCs and two display screens, which enables students to access the filtered Internet and to use the word processing, and other software packages, used in school. Students may also bring their own devices, which they may use in the Library.
Students may buy items of essential stationery from the Bookshop.
The librarian welcomes help from parents who would like to volunteer to help in the library. Please contact Dr James if you would like to help: [email protected] or phone 01707 643441.
Dame Alice Owen’s School
Dugdale Hill Lane
Potters Bar
Hertfordshire
EN6 2DU
01707 643441
[email protected]
Mon – Fri 8:00A.M. – 5:00P.M.