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Oswestry School Library
Oswestry School Library is a whole-school learning resource working in partnership with academic staff from all departments. The library aims to provide students of all ages and ability levels with access to the books, magazines and electronic resources they need for recreational reading and to support their academic work. The library is committed to the development of information literate students who are able to become independent lifelong learners.
Contact the library
Arabella Gonzalez - School Librarian
Gay Gore Browne - Assistant Librarian
The library is open 10am - 5pm Monday-Friday. Visits, suggestions for stock and donations are very welcome.
Phone: 01691 681107
Email: a.gonzalez@oswestryschool.org.uk
Books
The library has over 10,000 books on a wide variety of subjects. These include:
Subjects studied at school. There are books to help with homework and any special projects being undertaken.
Citizenship and PSHE. A range of literature is available on topical issues especially those of particular interest to young people.
Sport and other recreational interests, including hobbies and other activities that are pursued both in and out of school.
Fiction - over 3,000 books to choose from divided into Junior/Teenage and Adult Fiction
Newspapers and magazines
A selection of periodicals is available to all pupils and staff. The range on offer is constantly reviewed to reflect current interests. It currently includes academic titles such as the Modern History Review and the English Review, more serious titles of general interest such as the New Scientist and National Geographic and light-hearted or hobby-focused magazines such as Vogue, Stuff (technology) and White Dwarf (Warhammer).
Electronic resources
Resources available to members of the school include access to electronic encyclopaedias and databases of art works. A list of quality controlled web links is available to pupils to facilitate access to information available over the Internet.
Exhibitions and events
Each half term a display, based on the current work of one of our academic departments, is mounted in the library. Outside speakers give talks to support these exhibitions. Some of the most successful of these events have included:
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January 2006 |
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Hands on History |
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March 2006 |
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Book Exchange |
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March - May 2006 |
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Medical History |
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June 2006 |
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Smoking and Drugs Education |
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June 2006 |
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Jazz Session |
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Summer 2006 |
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Italian Competition |
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September 2006 |
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Shakespeare |
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October 2006 |
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Recycling |
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November 2006 |
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Road Safety |
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February 2007 |
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Romantic Literature |
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March 2007 |
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Gothic Horror |
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March 2007 |
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Book Exchange |
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May 2007 |
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1407 and all That! |
1407 and all That!
To celebrate the schools sexcentenary, the library organised a major literary and historical festival with famous authors Michael Morpurgo and Pauline Fisk and many historical re-enactors attending. Click here to find out more.
Research skills
Library staff offer advice and guidance to individuals, groups and classes engaged in research projects related to academic course work, topic research to support presentations for English Speaking Board exams or just for personal interest.
Research and information skills training for pupils are seen as an important part of the library's function. Many young people today are proficient in the use of IT but undiscriminating users of Internet based information, which can be of very poor quality. Information literacy training in the library aims to help pupils structure the process of information retrieval to enable them to:
recognize the need for information
know how to access the electronic or printed information
evaluate the information retrieved
present their results and conclusions effectively
The development of these transferable skills is an on-going process from Years 5 to 13. The aim is to equip pupils for school research projects, lifelong personal learning and for the move to Higher Education.
User satisfaction
Use of current services and levels of satisfaction with resources in the library is regularly monitored by library staff both on a personal one-to one level and by means of regular focus groups with groups of students. The library aims to respond quickly and effectively to changes in user needs.
Bellan House
Bellan House has its own separate library to suit the needs of younger pupils. The room is decorated with wall paintings showing popular book characters and children are encouraged to visit the library freely at lunch and break times. Pupil Librarians take it in turn to manage the library themselves and a record is kept of each pupil's reading choices. The books in the library include a wide variety of materials including encyclopaedias and reference books, classics like Treasure Island, Heidi and The Railway Children, traditional children's favourites like Famous Five and Secret Seven and modern authors like Anne Fine and Michael Morpurgo.
Archive
The library also houses the school archive collection. This includes school magazines dating from 1886 to the present day; information on famous old boys such as W. A. Spooner, Ivor Robert-Jones and Colonel Frederick Burnaby and maps and documents relating to the sale of land and property belonging to the school.
The collection is available to view by arrangement with Mrs Gay Gore Browne (tel. 01691 681107; email: librarian@oswestryschool.org.uk).