Library
GBHS Students use the School Library to…
- Nurture a lifelong love of reading.
- Develop as effective independent learners and researchers.
- Understand how to pose questions and find answers for themselves.
- Work, read and participate in activities within a safe environment.
GBHS Library offers:
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A wide range of fiction books for all ages and abilities to promote literacy and create an enthusiasm for reading.
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An extensive range of information books, plus computer access to support all areas and levels of the curriculum and stimulate individual interests.
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Newspapers, magazines and journals, both print and online versions, to ensure students can be aware of current issues and thinking.
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A Sixth Form gallery for private study which has subject-based resources, computers and University and College Prospectuses.
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A dynamic environment in which to develop reading and information gathering skills.
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Clubs and activities to help develop literacy and communications skills as well as meet new people.
To support reading for pleasure
“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” Walt Disney
Enjoying reading has numerous benefits, including ..
Reading gives us words and words enable us to express ourselves and facilitate well-being and better mental health. “Research by Dr David Lewis showed that reading as little as six minutes a day can reduce stress levels by 60% by reducing your heart rate, easing muscle tension and altering your state of mind. That same study showed that reading was better at reducing stress than music, drinking a cup of tea, going for a walk and playing video games." MHFA England
Reading develops curiosity, empathy and understanding of self and others’ identities and cultures.
Reading encourages creativity and imagination. It encourages us to create an image rather than being a given an image via a screen. Using imagination aids innovation.
Reading for pleasure is a powerful factor in academic and life achievement.
To encourage this enjoyment of reading amongst students and staff,
- During their active reading lessons in English, library staff talk to students and promote good reading habits and choices and encourage students to consider their reading journey and make confident decisions about the select to read.
- We encourage students to select appropriate reading material and engage with the story. We encourage students to read widely, experimenting with new authors and genres and the book stock is consistently reviewed and updated to reflect this, ensuring that is a range of diverse resources.
- Our Book of the Moment, book reviews and displays throughout the school are examples of how we promote books and reading to our students and staff.
See the Beyond the Classroom section for information about activities and events used to promote reading.
To support curriculum development:
‘Research is formalised curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.’ Zora Neale Hurston
We work closely with departments to ensure that the resources meet the needs of the curriculum. It is important that students learn how to use the resources and systems in a library, these are skills which will be required as students progress through their education and into the world of work.
- For all key stages, we lead lessons to develop research and independent learning skills, from the basic using an index to find information successfully through to the advanced citation skills.
- All students have a library induction during English lessons when they are shown the resources available and how to use the library area.
- Students are introduced to Accessit, our computerised library database, during their Computing lessons. Accessit can be used to support topic work for subject areas as well as finding books to read. Accessit contains links to a variety of age appropriate online resources. All students are encouraged to use Accessit.
- We organise author visits giving students the opportunity to listen and talk to successful published authors. Having question and answer sessions with the authors, and attending workshops led by them, encourages students to read more books and help them with their story writing skills. Recent authors include Marcus Alexander and Dan Smith and Steve Cole.
- We organise visiting speakers to talk to students about topics covered, often these are cross-curricular. For instance, a forum of representatives from three different faiths for Rp and a day with an educator from the Holocaust Educational Trust and a survivor from the Holocaust for Rp and History students.
- Word games, including a Scrabble League, are run to encourage word craft and literacy skills.
Beyond the Classroom
- To encourage a lifelong love of reading the school library holds regular book discussion groups for students and staff.
- We hold one-off events promoting books such as book launches for new books, Harry Potter Night, Chapters and Cupcakes and much more.
- We follow a number of book awards throughout the year. This year we have followed the Carnegie Medal Award and the Waterstones Children’s Book Award.
- September 2019 we were awarded Gold Level in the SLA School Library Award
- Every year the school takes part in World Book Day, a day aiming to celebrate books through a range of contests or quizzes which we organise. One of the most popular competitions with the students is the ‘Decorate your tutor door as a book’ competition.
- The Leaders Readers and Mathematicians Breakfast Club has been running in the School Library since 2013. LRM allows older student leaders in the school to work with carefully identified younger students on their literacy skills or numeracy skills. LRM has shown consistently, over the time it has run, to significantly increase reading, comprehension and spelling ages of the pupils taking part.
If you would like to find out more about Sports Readers please contact Mrs C Hawkings, Senior Librarian on haw@gbhs.co.uk.
To Support Curriculum Development:
The School Library is proud of the wide variety of extra-curricular activities on offer
- Book Discussion Groups for students and staff provide opportunities for opinions to be shared about books and authors. Expressing opinions and listening contributes to a continuing enjoyment of reading throughout teenage years and into adulthood and are skills relevant throughout life.
- We hold one-off events promoting books such as Harry Potter Night, Chapters and Cupcakes and much more.
- We follow a number of book awards throughout the year. This year we have followed the Carnegie Medal Award and the Waterstones Children’s Book Award.
- Competitions throughout the year, such as Great Baddow Bake Off and Mastermind Tribute Challenge, allow students to develop and showcase their skills, knowledge and experiences.
- Every year the school takes part in World Book Day, a day aiming to celebrate books through a range of contests or quizzes which we organise. One of the most popular competitions with the students is the ‘Decorate your tutor door as a book’ competition.
- Our Student librarians develop teamwork, leadership, time management and communication skills though their day-to-day involvement in the library as well as contributing to various other activities such as Chatterbooks, year 6 inductions and promotional events.
- The Leaders Readers and Mathematicians Breakfast Club has been running in the School Library since 2013. LRM allows older student leaders in the school to work with carefully identified younger students on their literacy skills or numeracy skills. LRM has shown consistently, over the time it has run, to significantly increase reading, comprehension and spelling ages of the pupils taking part. Volunteering as a leader at LRM gives students the opportunity to make a significant contribution to others in the school community and demonstrate their positive personal motivation.
If you would like to find out more about LRM please contact Mrs C Hawkings, Senior Librarian on haw@gbhs.co.uk.
- Displays are used to create a positive approach towards issues, eg for anti-bullying week we had a display on developing relationships and how to deal with potential situations and during Mental Health Awareness Week we advertised websites and self-help books which students could access in our library.
- September 2019 we were awarded Gold Level in the SLA School Library Award
Library Opening Times
Monday - Thursday: 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Friday:8.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
