The Library

Here at SGHS, the library is the heart of our school. Our intent is simple: to get students reading. Both academic enrichment and reading for pleasure are priorities, and we send our young people out into the world as readers.

We collaborate with all faculties to ensure there is interesting, relevant and challenging material available to support the current curriculum and enhance the learning experiences of our students. Wider-reading lists are regularly updated and are easily accessed via our online catalogue. We have a broad selection of fiction and non-fiction that represents the diversity of the modern world and our own students’ lives, and we regularly change our stock offering and our book displays to tie in with key areas of focus both in and out of school.

Our library is always open and welcoming. Students of all year groups may use the library space for reading, working or relaxing before school, during break and lunch times, and after school by attending our Homework Club (Mon–Thurs 3:40–5:00pm). Sixth formers may additionally use the library during their study periods as a quiet study space (or a silent study space during exam periods).

We use a library software system called Accessit, which gives students remote access to the library via their laptops. Accessit Library is an online catalogue and web app for which all students have their own personalised dashboard and borrower profile. When logged in, users can browse, check availability, reserve, renew and review books, view school reading lists and recommended wider reading from teachers and exam boards, and access specialist online resources such as JSTOR (a digital library of academic journals, books and primary sources). Our guest dashboard can be viewed here. 

The library is an active part of school life. As well as curating library-based displays and promotions to reflect and extend the themes that are being explored in school (e.g. via lessons and gatherings), the library goes out into the wider school community. We run inter-house competitions, fundraisers and events (recent examples include a book bake-off, a literary escape room and a book disco!), as well as regular book sales/swaps, story times, and reading clubs (such as the Carnegie shadowing scheme, a national reading for pleasure initiative). Year 7 students receive fortnightly library lessons as part of their timetable.

We also invite the outside world in, by arranging talks and workshops in the library to give students the opportunity to extend their knowledge and experience beyond their academic subjects. For example, we have hosted a series of Life Stories told by friends and relatives of school members, a story writing workshop by a Young Adult novelist, and a poetry workshop by a local poet.

Students are invited to volunteer in the library and help with its day-to-day running and events planning. We have a team of Year 7 and 8 junior librarians (who receive a training day at Skipton Library) and an enthusiastic group of Year 12 literacy leaders.

Our Careers Corner provides valuable resources to help students progress to their next stage of education, training or work. These include academic and vocational prospectuses and practical guides to applying for specialist courses such as medicine, dentistry, law, nursing and midwifery, physiotherapy, veterinary school, as well as Oxbridge entry. Our careers advisor is also based in the library, giving easy and inclusive access to further education and careers information for all our students.

Our librarian, Mrs Walkden, is available every day to help students with their research and to offer tailored reading recommendations, as well as for a friendly chat (book-related or not!) when students want a short break from studying.