Staff
Mrs A Montgomery BA DipLib MCLIP (Librarian)
Mr A J Brooks (IT Services Manager)
Outline of facilities
"The school library empowers learning : it gives access to real and virtual environments where learners can discover resources that inspire and develop them."
Source: Barrett, Lynn & Douglas, Jonathan Cilip guidelines for secondary school libraries (2004)
The ICT facility provides networked computers with filtered and guided access to the internet and electronic resources to support all teaching in the school via the BGS Computer Network. Intranet pages are maintained by the LRC staff in consultation with teaching staff to provide a subject portal to important internet resources. Subject lessons utilising ICT are conducted by teaching staff throughout the school day. Laptop computers, connected to the network via wireless connections, are available for use by Sixth and Seventh Formers.
The Library stock of 10,000 resources includes books, periodicals and audio-visual material available for loan or reference. The computerised Library Catalogue provides access to resources housed in the LRC and in some departmental collections via the BGS Computer Network. Resources can be borrowed by all members of the school throughout the opening hours of the LRC. The book issue system, including a fingerprint recognition device, is fully automated and an electronic security system is also in operation. The LRC provides a quiet working environment for study, research to support the curriculum and reading for pleasure. There are study facilities for over 90 students on the two floors of the LRC which are used by Sixth and Seventh Formers throughout the school day and are available to the whole school before and after school and at break times.
The LRC is staffed by a team comprising a Chartered Librarian and members of the IT Services staff. The Librarian works closely with members of the teaching staff to ensure that the provision of information resources reflects the requirements of the curriculum and promotes leisure reading. The Librarian is actively involved in the development of the skills necessary to access information efficiently and effectively, including running a course of 6 lessons on library use and basic information skills undertaken by First Form boys during their English lessons.
The Library Service is supported by teams of Student Librarians and Library Helpers, assisting the Librarian with essential library housekeeping routines. The Student Librarians are involved in extra-curricular activities based in the LRC, celebrating national literary events including National Poetry Day and World Book Day, and supporting charity work. The major literary prizes are publicised in the LRC and there are shadowing activities, run in conjunction with the English Department, for both the Bolton Children's Book Award and the CILIP Carnegie Medal. A BGSB Reading Award was launched in 2008 by the Librarian and the English Department to promote reading.