Library
The impressive and well-stocked Library in Queen’s Wing offers pupils at Queen Elizabeth’s convenient access to a wide range of reference and reading material.
It provides a tranquil haven from the bustle of everyday activity and houses a stock of over 17,000 items including online resources – comprising of traditional books, daily newspapers, magazines, academic journals, audiobooks and other much needed reading material. We wish to encompass all areas of information use and retrieval, including digital, whilst at the same time maintaining the tradition of the printed word; offering pupils and students the very best of both worlds. QEGS Library uses the Dewey Decimal system.
The Library also offers access to the internet for pupils and students wishing to expand their research. The Library is open from 8.30 until 16:45, which includes the after-school Homework Club. Pupils and students are encouraged to use the Library at lunchtime for extra help in selecting co-curricular reading.
The Library catalogue can be accessed across the school and beyond, including from home via an internet connection, click here to access Eclipse.net. Our eBook platform Sora is available to download to mobile and tablet devices – available free from the App Store.
The Library has an essential role to play in supporting pupils’ and students’ learning and their development as independent learners. Library Skills are taught by the Librarian to all Year 7 pupils during timetabled Library lessons. All faculties are encouraged to book the Library for research – the Library is used extensively throughout the day. The Library also strives to develop a love of reading, reading for pleasure and reading for information. Bedrock Learning the vocabulary and grammar programme is successfully used across all Years 7, 8 & 9.
An induction period is set aside for Year 12 where all students are introduced to the Library and its resources. All students in Years 12 & 13 are strongly encouraged to use the Library which stocks an excellent selection of fiction aimed at Sixth Form. The Library also holds an excellent stock of Classics/Literature and other reading material suitable for AS/A level studies. Many of our resources have been recommended by Heads of Faculties and Subject Leaders, encouraging students to read widely around their chosen studied subjects.
Authors and speakers are regularly invited into school to help generate a real sense of excitement of literature and learning. The Library celebrates key events and celebrations, such as Roald Dahl Day, Non-Fiction November, Libraries Week, Harry Potter Day, National Storytelling Week, National Poetry Day, The Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, World Book Day and The Yoto Carnegies Book Award … just to mention a few. There are also many Library clubs to join including the Carnegie Book Club, our popular Bookmark Club for those who love to create and craft and our after-school Homework Club. The Library is particularly popular during lunch and break times for book exchange, quiet reading and schoolwork.
A team of Year 8 pupils follow the Pupil Librarian Training Programme (endorsed by the School Library Association) and assist the Librarian daily at lunchtime. A Pupil Librarian of the Year award is presented annually at Prize Giving. Year 7 are encouraged to become Library Assistants, working closely with the Year 8 pupil librarians.
Mrs VB Dewhurst
Head of Library