"It isn't just a library. It is a space ship that will take you to the farthest reaches of the Universe, a time machine that will take you to the far past and the far future, a teacher that knows more than any human being, a friend that will amuse you and console you - and most of all, a gateway, to a better and happier and more useful life." Isaac Asimov

Books hold a whole world of knowledge and imagination stimulates our curiosity and our creativity. We can escape to other worlds, times and places. We can visit other lives and develop our understanding of complex emotions.

The Bryan Marsden Learning Resource Centre is an excellent resource for both pupils and staff. The Library section has a stock of over 7,000 paper resources, with over 450 being added in the last year. The Dewey System, as in all major libraries, classifies the non-fiction books.

The fiction titles are organised first by genre and then by author.  A strong emphasis is placed on providing resources to develop reading for pleasure,  with a wide range of reading ages and text accessible for those with dyslexia. We also have a large section of fiction for our Sixth Form students, both to widen their reading when studying English Literature at A level and to read for pleasure.

We have a comprehensive collection of e-Books on the Wheelers eBook platform, which can be read on any computer in school and are accessible out of school on students' phones.  Included is the abiltiy to use the inbuilt translation function to read a book in the student's home language or use to support their learning of English.

Students have access to the library catalogue from any computer at home or school using the 'Oliver' database, and they can view their books on loan and make a reservation.

The Library is open before school (8.25 – 8.35am), and after school (2.45 – 3.45pm) for students to study and borrow books on most days. Exceptions are updated each week and displayed on the door.  During the school day, classes are booked in to use the facilities to support their learning.

The main Library area has tables and seating for a full class plus 12 computers, an interactive whiteboard and a digital display screen. Adjacent to the main space is the Mezzanine – an impressive  computer area with 60 computers.  This is widely used throughout the school day by different groups, including our Sixth Form students.

The library supports sessions on research skills, and we have access to JSTOR.  We are actively involved in running whole-school reading initiatives such as our Y7/Y10 Reading Partners, Readathon and Bookbuzz.  We create displays with information and books linking to national/international events, and share the books in the student bulletin:

• Holocaust Memorial Day
• Remembrance Day 
• VE Day
• the King's Coronation
• Pride Month
• Mental Health Awareness week
• Poetry Day
• World Book Day
  
  As well as highlighting the many book awards centred around young people:
   
• Jhalak YA prize for an author of colour
• Branford Boase debut author
• Carnegie Medal
• Waterstones Children's book prize
• YA Book Prize
• Indie Book Awards
• Laugh out Loud Book Awards (older readers)

Around the time of World Book Day in March, we run a Scholastic Book Club -  we earn commission to buy more books for the Library and there is no commitment for students to keep buying books - just one order is fine!  An invitation link is sent out to our parents, but at any time you can support us by choosing Meadowhead School on the Scholastic website.

We also have a weekly 'Book of the Week' which all students see via the student bulletin

 

Bryan Marsden was Deputy Head from 1989 until his sudden death in 2000. He was an inspirational teacher of History, held in great esteem by his pupils. He travelled extensively in the USA, experiencing incredible landscapes and absorbing the history of the West. He loved literature and learning – the Library/ Learning Resource Centre is dedicated to his memory.