Library Opening Times – 2019 – 2020
Monday-Thursday: 8.50 – 4.00 pm
Friday: 8.50 – 1.30 pm
Library Information
Library Staff
Librarian – Mrs Masterman, MA, MCLIP
tessa.masterman@teignmouth.devon.sch.uk
Library Assistant – Mrs Booker
rebecca.booker@teignmouth.devon.sch.uk
Accelerated Reader Supervisor and English Teacher – Mrs McKeeman
michelle.mckeeman@teignmouth.devon.sch.uk
The School Library is an inspiring space which is managed by a professional librarian and dedicated library staff, passionate about encouraging reading for pleasure. The Library offers students a large learning area for group work or quiet study, which is light and airy with lovely sea views. Our school has a wide range of books supporting different abilities and reading levels, 24 flat-screen computers with internet access, and a printer that is available for students’ use. All these resources and facilities are available to students during registration, at break time, lunch time, and at the end of the school day. Students can complete or undertake independent research to find books via the library catalogue Oliver. (A web based library management tool available on the library computers and 24/7 via the library quick link on the school VLE). The Library subscribes to a selection of good quality monthly periodicals that provide up-to-date information and accessible articles on a range of subjects. (BBC History, BBC Science Focus, BBC Wildlife, Digital Camera, National Geographic, Q – a high quality popular music magazine). Moreover a collection of Online subscriptions are available for KS3, 4 and 5 students via the school VLE. (Churchill Archive, Issues Online, Complete Issues, A ‘Level Magazine Archive)
The Library offers a welcoming and safe supervised area that aims to be at the heart of learning at our school. Staff briefings are held here two mornings each week. Students are also offered a range of enrichment activities throughout the year – including an annual author visit for Y7 and Y8 – which increases their interest in reading the author’s novels and boosts the confidence of any aspiring writers. There are a variety of book promotions and reading groups supported throughout the year (Such as Drop Everything and Read, World Book Day, Bookbuzz and the Carnegie Medal Shadowing), and also seasonal craft activities during lunch time – which are very popular.
Teignmouth Community School has been running Accelerated Reader since 2008. It is fully embedded into our strong reading culture – supported by Library staff and the whole English Department. At present it is provided for Y7 and Y8 and Y9 students and it enables us to encourage and monitor student reading progress. (See AR section below for more information).
Resources and Book Stock
The Library has over 19,000 books to support reading for pleasure and the curriculum. Fiction titles are arranged by genre in the spinners, by author’s surname and by book level so that students are able to find titles that engage them. Non-fiction stock is organised by the Dewey Decimal Classification – and also by AR book level where appropriate.
Teignmouth Community School encourages all students to be active readers of a wide range of literature. The stock is regularly reviewed and updated and chosen to support the school curriculum and leisure interests. Fiction stock includes popular authors, and novels that are diverse and multicultural in scope. It is at different levels which explore varied and diverse subjects, some of which are of a more teenage/adult nature. The explosion of Youth Adult Literature has led to the publication of texts which are often thought provoking and are frequently enjoyed by students enabling them to think critically and with an open mind. Books are available for all students to select and library staff are often able to guide student choices by offering more information about the content. A recommended reading age is also provided on the majority of fiction stock to assist students to make appropriate choices. As part of supporting our students to select reading material which they will enjoy and engage with, we operate a ‘no censorship’ policy, however we recognise that in some cases parents/guardians may not want their own child to read content that is potentially sensitive or contains adult themes. If you wish to guide your own child away from borrowing any particular type of material, please let Library staff know.
Wellbeing Corner
Are you stressed? Looking for help? Check out the new section in the library that includes a variety of resources – many of which were identified by the Reading Well / Shelf Help initiative.
The core of the collection is 35 high quality books about common mental health issues and related conditions that have been chosen by young people and health professionals. The books provide advice on specific topics such as anxiety, depression, stress, OCD, self-harm, bullying, eating disorders, autism and Asperger’s as well as general topics to do with adolescence. Shelf help books are carefully labelled in the section and there are some other additional new informative book titles and downloads that the Librarian has added. A few of the books are for reference only, but the majority of them can be borrowed by students and staff…
Student Library Volunteers
There are opportunities for students to help in the library through-out their time at school, whether that is as part of the formal Duke of Edinburgh scheme, or as Year 10 or Sixth Form work experience, or as a regular younger library helper. The Library team provides training and would not be able to be as efficient and responsive without their valued contributions and enthusiasm. The Librarian is then able to help students with any references or personal statements needed at a later date.