SchoolIntroduction to the Library
The Library is a fantastic resource where both students and staff can work and learn effectively as well as undertaking reading for pleasure. It is run by a Chartered Librarian, Mrs Cooper, and is open at the following times during term-time:
Monday 8.30 – 4.30pm
Tuesday 8.30 – 4.30pm
Wednesday 8.30 – 4.30pm
Thursday 8.30 – 4.30pm
Friday 8.30 – 3.00pm
Library Mission Statement
The Library aims to provide a user-friendly multimedia resource center for the school community. In order to respond to the needs of both the school and the curriculum, we are committed to an on-going programme of improvement, providing equality of access to a variety of resources, including books, books on kindle, journals, newspapers, online databases and DVDs for students and staff. We aim to provide a welcoming and inclusive learning environment, one in which a passion for reading and a positive attitude to learning is actively promoted.
Library Resources
There are three main areas of the Library set up for reading, research and class sessions. In addition to a large choice of fiction, there are also around 17,000 non- fiction/reference titles in the Library, covering a multitude of subjects. With the exception of reference books, most resources can be borrowed. There is also access to ebooks on Kindle; a good selection of journals, (both online and print editions); newspapers and magazines, which are kept in support of curriculum topics, as well as for general interest.
Students may search for books or information via any school networked computer using the ‘Oliver’ library management system. They are also able to check their own records for current loans and both reserve and renew books this way. The Library also has its own computer area with access to 21 work stations.
Library Activities and Events
We encourage students to join in our many reading-related events and lunch-time activities. These include:
- Regular author visits
- Book based competitions
- A range of clubs including:
- Creative Writing Club
- After school Film Club
- Student Librarian Training
- Chess Club
- Burford Short Story Competition
- An annual Reading Week filled with an array of fun book-related events, including a World Book Day celebration
- Participation in the Oxfordshire Book Award, which runs from September to August, with attendance at the OBA ceremony to meet many top UK children’s authors
- Participation in Shadowing the Carnegie Medal with attendance at Carnegie Day – a day of reviews, presentations, discussions and celebrations with students from other West Oxfordshire secondary schools.
- Book fairs and book sales
Accelerated Reader
The school has invested in the Accelerated Reader program, for the past five years. This is a proven reading program to help progress students’ literacy levels. Burford is targeting Year 7 students, who will be reading for 20 minutes each day at school. Students sit a preliminary test to establish their reading level and then select a book from the Library which is at the right level for them; something that challenges their current skills, but not to the extent of being off-putting. Whenever they read and finish a book, students sit a test to assess they have understood what they have read. If they achieve 85% or above, they can then move on to the next level. Their names are displayed on the Star Reader board and entered into a draw to win an Amazon token. This has proved to be a great motivator.
Library Lessons
Library skills lessons are currently being offered to all Year 7 students by the Librarian. Students learn all about fiction and non-fiction, as well as how to use the Dewey Decimal System and our Library Management System, ‘Oliver’; how to research homework projects and how to reference their sources correctly. To put all their new skills into action students are finally required to undertake a research project and present it as a leaflet or poster. Lessons are normally completed before the October half term.
Year 8 Library Lessons
New for 2019-20, we are introducing monthly library lessons for Year 8s to carry over the enthusiasm for reading and the library built on in Year 7.