INTRODUCTION

The library is a place where the children and staff of Kenton College can read, study, browse, fact-find, relax and research. It also accommodates children who need a quiet place to do their prep.

AIM

Our aim is to develop in the children a love of books and to encourage reading, which will, in turn, improve literacy skills including the skills needed to do research. The library works on the Dewey Decimal System which is used world-wide so children leave Kenton equipped to use similar library facilities elsewhere.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this document is to guide members of the school community in the use and care of the library and its resources.

POLICY IN PRACTICE

Library Open Times

1. The librarian is in attendance between 9.00am and 2.00pm from Monday to Friday during the school term. Books may be borrowed during these times.

2. The library is open from 7.30am for children to use the facilities with their teachers.

3. Between 2.00pm and 4.00pm it is used by staff  and pupils and , after school, by pupils wishing to do there prep there.

4. The library is closed during the holidays except for the first Wednesday in August, when it is open from 10.00am to 12 noon for children who want to change their library books.

Using the Library

1. The librarian works closely with the English Department, both on the regular use of the library and on special projects such as World Book Day.

2. All junior classes have a weekly timetabled library lesson to learn library skills, including the most important which is how to treat books. In addition, they have an assigned time once a week during the afternoon reading time when they can change their library books. Senior classes change their books during breaks and come to the library with teachers to do research tasks.

3. Every pupil is encouraged to read and to understand the importance of improving vocabulary and comprehension skills. Books are categorised by colour according to level of understanding, vocabulary and story line. The level of difficulty is indicated by colour, yellow being the easiest, followed by red, then green, then blue, which indicates the most difficult.

4. Every pupil leaving Kenton is familiar with the Dewey Decimal System. For ease of reference the system is colour coded to facilitate easy identification of the various sections.

5. Pupils are taught to use the reference section through understanding indices, contents pages, glossaries and so on.

Borrowing Books

1. Pupils may borrow two books for a week or longer, depending on individual needs. Voracious readers may be allowed more books at the librarian's discretion.

2. Research material may be borrowed for one to two weeks.

3. Under special circumstances a pupil may borrow a book from the reference section for a night.

4. Depending on the length of the holiday and individual needs, pupils may borrow up to ten books for a holiday period.

5. Videos and story tapes are for school use only and may not be borrowed by pupils.

6. Board games are housed in the library and may not be borrowed by pupils.

7. Teachers may borrow resource materials for a term on the understanding that they are returned at the end of term.

8. Children wishing to return books may place the books in the assigned pigeon holes. This system works well and encourages the early return of books.

9. The library also houses information about senior schools in Kenya, the United Kingdom and South Africa. Parents are allowed to borrow this material on the understanding that it is returned promptly.

Stock

1. The librarian vets library material for suitability and sensitivity. New stock is purchased on a regular basis during the school year with input from other members of staff.

2. The librarian regularly "weeds out" books which are in disrepair or which are no longer read by pupils. Old books which are still relevant to the interests of today's pupils are replaced with new reprints when this is possible.