Library
Verulam School Library is centrally located in the main block of the school and adjacent to the Canteen. We are open from 8am to 3.30pm, including lunch and break times. Students can also use the library for quiet reading and study before and after school. Our aim is to promote a love of reading and to encourage lifelong learning for all students.
Our Library Web App also gives users access to our full catalogue and search facility, plus news items and other articles of interest.
What you will find in the library
Resources
Verulam school library offers a wide range of resources to support and encourage learning across the school curriculum.
Fiction
We currently have approximately 4000 fiction books catering for a wide range of reading abilities including an extensive selection of short books to engage more reluctant readers. The fiction collection is colour coded for ability range to enable students to select books at the appropriate level.
Non-fiction
We currently have approximately 3500 non-fiction books. These are selected to support all the subjects taught in the school.
Magazine
We subscribe to a number of magazines to support students in a number of A-level subjects; these include Geography Review, English Review, Sociology Review, Economic Review and emagazine (also for English students).
Computers
The library has a suite of twenty-five Chromebook computers which can be used in the library during study lessons, and at lunchtime and break.
Supporting learning
In years 7 and 8, all students have a monthly Library lesson. During this lesson students have the opportunity to change/renew their books and take quiz for Accelerated Reader. All students in these year groups are enrolled on the Renaissance Place, Accelerated Reader (AR) programme. AR is a computer programme that measures each students’ reading ability and thus enables them to select books at a suitable level. AR categorises books into levels of difficulty, based on the complexity of the text. By monitoring students’ progress on AR teachers can monitor individual student progress and make interventions where necessary. The programme offers encompasses a comprehensive catalogue of book quizzes which measure student’s comprehension and allow English teachers to monitor their independent reading practice and progress.
Students can access the Renaissance Reading Accelerated Reader programme in the library which is a powerful online tool designed for monitoring and managing independent reading practice and motivating students to read for pleasure.
Contact
If you have any queries about the library or reading generally please do not hesitate to contact the Librarian – Mr Smyth: dave.smyth@verulam.herts.sch.uk.
