Welcome To Our Online College Library
Online Virtual Library

Mission Statement

The Library strives to provide a resource centre and a welcoming, inclusive learning hub which is central to the school. It also aims to actively support teaching and learning and recognising and valuing each individual as a lifelong learner. We also wish to foster a love and enjoyment of reading in all its forms. We are committed to equality of access and aim to offer opportunities for all students to take responsibility for their own effective learning and enjoyment of reading.

Our Aims

  1. To support teaching and learning within the school.
  2. To support and encourage, in partnership with teaching staff, the development of independent learning skills, helping students to be critical and creative users of information.
  3. To provide a welcoming and supportive, stimulating and structured learning environment.
  4. To encourage a love and enjoyment of reading in all its forms and to encourage use of the Library by all members of the school community.
  5. To create opportunities for students to develop their self-confidence, self-respect and sense of responsibility.
LIBRARY FACILITIES INCLUDE:

  • A computerised catalogue of the Library – currently held on Eclipse. This enables users to search for items on the designated networked machines within school and at home, to check whether an item is available, to make their own lists of resources for further reading, and to view the range of resources available to support a particular project or topic.
  • A colour photocopier and scanner.
  • Five computers for homework.
  • Staplers, hole punch, paper and stationary.
  • Work desk and quiet study area.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION:
Picture
It is essential that the Library constantly examines critically and reviews the quality of its provision and identifies areas for improvement. Only then can it be in a position to respond to current needs, anticipate and address future needs and ensure the highest levels of satisfaction.

P Griffiths
LRC Manager

STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION

  1. Providing access to a wide range of targeted and differentiated materials, in a variety of formats.
  2. Consulting with Heads of Department and other teaching staff regarding appropriate resources to support curriculum work.
  3. Ensuring that all resources are of excellent quality by applying a standard selection policy.
  4. Editing stock on the basis of the following criteria: physical condition, currency of information, relevance to current curriculum, and frequency of borrowing, duplicates of popular material, receive requests for books not currently stocked, keep up to date on serial book collections.
  5. Implementing the following loans procedure: To ensure the best possible access to resources, the borrowing limit is currently set at three items for all year groups and four items for student librarians. The standard loan period is three weeks.
  6. The borrowing limit for staff is unlimited.
  7. Ensuring Topic boxes are advertised to support a particular topic or genre within faculties. These will be chosen by Devon Library Services to target the appropriate age and ability levels. Bookings for topic boxes should be made in advance, stating topic area, length of loan, size of group, age of group and ability.
  8. To support and encourage, in partnership with teaching staff, the development of independent research and learning skills by developing and creating help sheets and guides, such as the eclipse support sheets.
  9. Provide opportunities for staff training and INSET, including the induction of all new staff.
  10. Continuing and developing the programme of visits to the Library by all pupils in Year 6 on Taster days to help ease the transition and emphasize their new Library’s role in supporting their learning and recreation.
  11. Ensure maximum access for the whole school community to resources and services, with the Library open before, during and after school.
  12. Maintaining that the librarian is present every lunchtime and morning break in order to maintain a safe,  purposeful, and relaxed environment.
  13. Shelving non-fiction items according to the Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme, and shelving fiction items in alphabetical order by author’s surname.
  14. Ensuring that displays are up-to-date and preferably designed with yearly events in mind such as World Book Day. Displays are a powerful tool for highlighting library resources, services and activities and improving literacy and stimulating students’ intellectual curiosity. Students’ work, especially when resulting from library-based research, is displayed where appropriate to boost confidence and showcase examples of work.

Contact The Library

01837 650910 - OKEHAMPTON COLLEGE
pgriff@okehamptoncollege.devon.sch.uk
Monday 8.30 - 5.00
Tuesday 8.30 - 4.45
Wednesday 9.00 - 3.30
Thursday 8.30 - 4.30
​Friday 8.30 - 4.00