Library

The school library is open from 8.15am to 5.30pm each school day. The full-time Head Librarian is supported by two Assistant Librarians (part-time).  The library is welcoming, well-stocked and efficiently run. It is an excellent place for students to undertake study, research and reading for pleasure.

The Assistant Librarians support the Librarian in all aspects of school library work taking particular responsibility for the DVD collection, displays, pupil librarians and much of the day-to-day administration. In addition, one of the Assistant Librarians is also Literary Events Coordinator, arranging visits from leading authors for both pupils and the wider community to enjoy. Inviting authors in on a regular basis underpins the positive reading culture emanating from the library. The wide and exciting range of literary events has become one of the unique hallmarks of life at BGS.

All Year 7 classes have a six week library activity session during which they learn how to become autonomous library users and develop their information skills. Each six week course includes a session with the School Archivist and another with a local author. Lower Sixth library refresher sessions are being introduced in the Summer Term to ensure that students feel confident about using resources for research purposes.

The library is regarded as an essential part of the learning process; teachers are encouraged to make use of its resources in promoting independent learning. Comprising some 40,000 books, videos, DVDs, CDs, audio cassettes and a variety of journals, the collection is kept up-to-date and relevant to students’ needs. ICT plays an important part in the Library: there are two dedicated terminals for library searches and 28 wireless laptops.

In addition to the three staff members, a dozen pupil librarians and two adult volunteers (one a BGS Governor) help to run and maintain this thriving hub at the centre of school life.