About Us

We at Okehampton College value our school library and all it has to offer.
We opened a newly refurbished Learning Resource Centre in November 2009. This centre houses an extensive range of library books to cater for all year groups. The books currently include fiction and non fiction as well as books for emerging and reluctant readers. A new sixth form and staff shelf is now available and more competent younger readers may borrow from this shelf with parents’ permission. We are also adding to our general teen fiction regularly and hope to stock all the current trends throughout the year to keep students coming back for more.
Students are encouraged to contact the library via the Contact us button with any requests or suggestions they may have. We also have a silent study room and a reprographics service for any photocopying needs.
The LRC is open and staffed throughout the week and is open during break times and lunchtimes. We have invested in the Eclipse.net library software which enables students to search for books in our on line catalogue and browse and reserve books whilst at home. They can also see at a glance what books they have out and when they are due to be returned. Book reviews and book recommendations are also part of the site along with linked websites and resources for a complete research facility. We hope this interactive software will encourage more students to access the library and become part of a whole new reading experience.
​Presently, students are allowed to borrow up to three books for a maximum of three weeks, at which time those books need to be returned promptly to allow other students to access the wealth of books we have on offer. If books are overdue then an email is sent to the individual as well as regular tutor notes to encourage the safe and speedy return of the overdue book.
We look forward to seeing all of you visit our library!
THE LIBRARY IS:
  • A facility for teaching staff to book for research-based lessons or to bring their class down to promote wider reading and reading for pleasure. Staff may send small groups of students for the changing of books. Students sent in small groups or individually for research or for catching up on coursework or Mock exams during lessons must bring the green corridor pass from the teacher responsible for them, stating the purpose of the visit and the information required. This ensures that the visit is legitimate, purposeful and productive.
  • An area where the whole school community can expect to find and maintain a quiet, not silent, working environment, which is conducive to learning and recognizes the needs of all library users. Noisy or disruptive students will be asked to leave. A more relaxed atmosphere operates at break and lunchtimes to encourage the more recreational aspect of the Library.
  • The place to encourage a love and enjoyment of reading in all its forms and by all members of the school community by:
  • A place which provides a range of resources aimed at encouraging and challenging students to develop their literacy skills through reading for pleasure. Fiction stock is selected to support the recreational reading of all members of the school community at all reading levels. Non-fiction resources are selected to support and extend students’ leisure interests, and to widen their knowledge and understanding.
  • A place for organizing events, activities and competitions to promote reading and raise awareness of books, authors and genres, as well as local and national events, issues and themes.
  • An area where we can recruit and train students as pupil librarians and reward their contribution accordingly. Students also play a major role in the Open Evening, running activities and talking to parents and new pupils about the library, what it does and how it supports them.
THE LIBRARY IS NOT:
  • A ‘dumping ground’ for unsupervised or badly behaved students.
  • A detention area.
  • A classroom (other than for research or independent learning lessons).
  • An alternative computer room.
  • A sixth form recreation area.
ROLE OF THE LIBRARIAN:
  • The Librarian has an essential and unique specialist role to play in supporting pupils’ learning and their development into effective, independent learners and readers.
  • She/he is professionally qualified in Information and Library Management and a Chartered Member of CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals) or equivalent teacher status.
  • The role of the Librarian is to work closely and proactively with teaching staff to provide professional services and facilities in support of learning across the whole school.
  • To lead the development and promotion of the Library.
  • To be responsible for the strategic and day-to-day management of the Library.
  • Manage the Library budget effectively in accordance with school procedures and principles of best value.
  • To support the curriculum across the school in order to enhance the learning experience of every student.
  • To exploit every opportunity to promote the Library, its stock and services.
  • The Librarian is line managed by the Head of English with responsibility for learning.
  • The Librarian can be invited to curriculum planning meetings, learning and teaching and literacy-related meetings where appropriate.
  • The Librarian and the Library Assistant are included in the school’s own INSET, as well as having regular access to external training opportunities, as appropriate. The Librarian is an active member of professional organisations such as Devon Library Services and attendance at regular Slims meetings for CPD and sharing good practice is encouraged.
  • The Librarian supervises the Library Assistant in his/her duties, supporting him/her fully in his/her role and carrying out his/her performance review.
SELECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF RESOURCES:
  • The Library plays a central role in the life of the school and adopts a proactive approach to providing services, striving to respond to current needs and anticipate and address future needs of the whole school community.
  • The Librarian is familiar with the courses offered by all departments, liaising with teaching staff to identify resources to support these courses. Staff from each department is responsible for recommending and requesting items for purchase. Each department should have a nominated library representative who works closely with the Librarian to ensure that mutual knowledge and expertise is fully exploited for the benefit of all students.
  • Resources should form part of a balanced collection, providing differing perspectives and information, helping students towards an understanding of cultures and ways of living different from their own.
  • Library resources include a range of alternative formats to support each topic studied and to support students’ individual learning styles:
  • General and subject-specific books for loan and reference.
  • General and subject-specific magazines and journals covering a broad range of topics
  • Sufficient funding needs to be available to allow for the replacement of out-of-date or worn stock and for the selection of new stock to reflect changes in the curriculum and meet users’ needs at all levels of ability.
  • CILIP recommends replacement of 10% of stock every year to ensure adequate provision.
  • The Book Trust document Recommended Spending in Schools 3 states that a minimum spend on library stock per pupil should be £17.50 per secondary school pupil.
  • The SLA recommends a stock of 13 -18 items per pupil aged 11-16 and 17-25 items per pupil in the 16-18 age range.