Library

Cartmel School's Library forms a valued central resource within the School, providing access to reading, study and research facilities for all students and staff. The Library offers a friendly, welcoming environment.

Opening Times

The School Library is open every day during break and lunch times. During the School day the library is used by individuals, small groups and whole classes.

Loans

Students are entitled to borrow up to five books and one DVD at a time for up to three weeks. Any item required for longer can be renewed as long as another person has not reserved it. Items borrowed from the library remain the responsibility of the person borrowing them. Although it is hoped that this will not happen, should items be returned late a fine of 15p per week (3p per working day) will be charged. Lost items will be charged at cost price.

Library Assistants

The Librarian is supported at break and lunch times by a team of Student Library Assistants. Each Library Assistant has their own shelf area to look after and they primarily assist the Librarian with shelving, and loaning and returning books at the desk. Anyone interested in becoming a Student Library Assistant is welcome to have a chat with the Librarian who will be able to explain what the job involves.

Library Lookup

From any computer within the School all students and staff can use the web-based library management system, named Oliver, to search all of the titles held in the School Library. This facility is accessible from the School’s Intranet by clicking Links then Library Lookup. A search can be performed without entering any login details however all students and staff are given a library card and a borrower number which they can use to access their own account to view current and overdue loans and any reservations; items can also be renewed.

The Oliver homepage provides library news, information and activities including new and popular books, student borrower of the month, and library events.

Resources

Multi-function Media Area – To support the use of ICT resources and to enable the marketing of authors and books as well as enhancing the Library as a teaching space and a more effective meeting area.
Fiction books – stories/novels written by an author; the people and the things that happen are imaginary although it could be set in a real place or time. New and popular titles are regularly purchased to keep the stock up-to-date although many classics are still well read and are repeatedly and frequently loaned. Popular authors include: Malorie Blackman, Cathy Cassidy, Barbara Catchpole, Michael Dahl, James Dashner, Joseph Delaney, Jeff Kinney, Michael Morpurgo, L Pichon, Chris Riddell, Rick Riordan, Paul Stewart, Jacqueline Wilson.
Non-Fiction books – true facts, things that happened in the real world. Subjects include: Animals, Art, Biographies, Computing, Geography, History, Languages, Mathematics, Music, Poetry, Psychology, Religion, Science, Sport, Travel.

Both of the above lists are by no means exhaustive; just too many to mention.

Reference books – limited facts about a lot of subjects. Reference books include encyclopedias and dictionaries.
Computers – ten PCs running Windows 7 are available for use by students and staff, together with two black and white laser printers. All PCs have access to the Internet and to the School's network, with Microsoft Office 2010.
Weblinks – having searched the Oliver system for a specific topic some of the resources listed may be websites. The School is fortunate that the Oliver system, described above, holds a catalogue of useful electronic resources. From the Library Lookup search facility users may click the hyperlinks which will take them directly to appropriate and current websites.
Issues Online – the School subscribes to this valuable resource for schools and libraries www.issuesonline.co.uk. It provides safe and reliable information exploring today’s social issues. Contact the Librarian to get the School’s username and password for accessing the site.
Kindles – six portable devices pre-downloaded with a selection of e-books.
DVDs – films based on books and novels.
Newspapers/Magazines – specific to children of secondary school age filled with fascinating stories and topical information. These are funded by kind donations from local businesses including Holker Group, Hadwins (Lindale) Ltd, Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding Company Ltd, Higginsons Butchers of Grange.
Games – a selection of word games are available to use by request and a book themed challenging jigsaw is put out in the Library for students to collectively contribute.
Careers' Library – material to read and take away on a wide range of occupations categorised into career areas. Examples include: Administration/Business, Building/Construction, Catering/Hospitality, Computing/IT, Engineering, Financial Services, Healthcare.

Accelerated Reader (AR)

All Year 7 students are registered on the AR programme and can access it here using this link:
Click here to access Cartmel's AR site
It is a computer based programme that helps teachers and the School Librarian to manage and monitor each student’s independent reading practice. AR is a rewards programme; students will work through a series of targets and many prizes and incentives to read can be gained from their progress. Students will select a book at their own level, established beforehand by an online reading test, and then read it at their own pace. By selecting their own books to read; rather than having one assigned makes reading a much more enjoyable experience. When a student finishes a book they will take a short computerised quiz that will acknowledge their understanding of the book. Need help finding out if your book has an AR quiz?
Click here to access AR Bookfinder.

Achievement and Rewards

Library prizes are presented at the School’s annual Speech Night which acknowledge services to the Library as well as reading achievement and progress prizes. As part of the AR programme the School awards many prizes to acknowledge achievements including VIP reward breaks, raffle ticket draws for successful quizzing, book vouchers and millionaires shortcake for those students reading in excess of a million words! Outside of the AR programme readers of the term are also acknowledged.

Events

It has already been mentioned that the School is committed to encouraging all students to read for pleasure; the Library is all about fostering a love of reading and broadening reading horizons. One way of promoting this is by exposing students to exciting and new authors and illustrators which is done by supporting various celebrations, events and challenges such as National Storytelling Week, World Book Day, Cumbria County Council’s secondary schools’ book award – Spellbinding and national book events such as the Harry Potter Book Night and Roald Dahl Day. School events and competitions also include a Story Relay, Reading Triathlon, Book Swish/Swap, Bumper Book Quiz and 'Currently Reading...' Illustration Competition.

School Library Service

The School maintains a service level agreement with Cumbria County Council’s Library Services for Schools which allows the School to keep up-to-date with issues relating to education and library work. It also provides access to local and national initiatives which support reader development.