Using the LRC – A Guide for New Staff
CMH September 2011
Contents Welcome to the LRC – A Guide for New Staff .................................................................................. 3 Accommodation, Skills & Availability ................................................................................................... 3 Book Stock ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 Online Resources ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Services ........................................................................................................................................................... 4
Rodborough Carnegie Shadowing Team win the Waverley Federation Cup July 2011
Welcome to the LRC – A Guide for New Staff I would like to extend a warm welcome to all staff members. You are all automatically members of the library and may use it from Day 1. Please collect our yellow leaflet, ‘Welcome to the Thomas Dodman LRC’ which will be given to new students during their first term in Year 7. Whilst written for a Year 7 audience, the leaflet will answer most of your questions.
Accommodation, Skills & Availability The LRC is staffed from the beginning of the school day (after briefing) until 4:30pm. During lesson times there will normally be two staff on duty so your pupils will be well supported whilst they learn within the LRC. We are here to help and support you, the staff, as much as the pupils. Please make time to come into the LRC and speak to Jackie Simmons (LRC Manager) or me (Caroline Howick, Information Manager) so that we can be aware of how we can best help you. We will show you the resources relevant to your department, and discuss any additional resources that would be of use in the future. Please discuss potential projects with us in advance as collaborative planning usually provides a better product! Please always advise me when you plan any form (using books, internet or ephemera) of research for your classes so that skills may be reinforced, built on and mapped. The LRC has flexible accommodation. One class can comfortably spread out for project work or, at a pinch, two classes can work side-by side (if a little cramped). This may suit a ‘team teaching’ approach. The tables can, by prior arrangement, be removed to accommodate around 85 in a ‘theatre style’ looking towards the interactive whiteboard (which can screen video / DVD/ live television / Youtube clips etc. The LRC also houses four computers and manages the bookings for the four adjacent ICT suites. Please use the straightforward booking system (yellow/green A3 booking form on the desk). We aim to be as flexible as possible, so do ask if you have any proposals or last-minute plans. Small numbers of ‘ad hoc’ students can be sent to the LRC clutching a note signed by you. This will be for private study or reading (please do NOT send students to the LRC as punishment – there are other systems for this)! In the very unlikely event of the LRC being too busy to accommodate them they will be returned to you with the time and reason added to your note. Pupils whose behaviour falls short of what is expected within the LRC will be reminded of our expectations. Those that do not respond to the reminder will be returned to lessons (details on permission slip).
Book Stock The non-fiction section is stocked to reflect curriculum demand. PLEASE check before assuming something is there! The extensive fiction section is chosen to provide stimulating reading matter for all our students and also contains a number of titles purchased with adults in mind. A staff book club meets twice each term – new members always welcome.
Online Resources We subscribe to Issues Online as well as some subject related online resources. If you are considering a subscription to an online resource please check with me as it may be possible to obtain significant discounts (up to 80%) through JISC. All Year 7 students have been asked to join their local public library and to bring their library number into school. Using this they will be able to access the excellent online encyclopaedias World Book Kids and World Book Student. I would strongly recommend that all staff become Surrey Library members (if they are not already) and take advantage of this multimedia resource – we used to subscribe as a school but get it free via this route! It is possible to join Surrey Library online. Links to online resources can be found on the school website under Learning/Learning Resources Centre/Online Research.
Services The LRC serves as the ‘service centre’ for the school. If you have any school queries we will do our best to help. We offer a colour printing, laminating and binding service to pupils and to staff and also ‘tacky-back’ books. These services all incur charges – please see current tariff at the desk and on the website.
Cameras etc We have a few cameras that we lend to staff (and occasionally to responsible pupils). We do our best to ensure that batteries are always ready to go but booking in advance is best! Please always download photos (or ask us to do it for you) into the Staff/Departments/Photos folder. School photos should NOT be stored in personal areas or department areas as others won’t be able to find them for whole school purposes (prospectus, open evening, assemblies etc). It is very helpful to include the year group in the file name.
Chronicles Our school magazine is The Chronicles, which is published around 2 weeks before the end of each term. Articles are encouraged from both staff and pupils. Please try to organise an article AS SOON AS the event has taken place and get it to me straight away as deadlines loom far too fast nearer the publication date!
School Clubs Please come and see me if you would like to run a school club. If you run a club at lunch time then you will get a free lunch to say ‘thank you’. We hold a Clubs Fair for Year 7 at the end of September so they can find out what is on offer.
Staff Book Club We have a very informal book club that meets half-termly at The Refectory (the pub in Milford). Please ask for details you will be very welcome.
Admin Pupils use the LRC in their own time during break and lunch and after school (not Fridays). You are always welcome in the LRC at any time. The telephone extension no. in the LRC is 128 and my office is 159. Please grab me in the staffroom before briefing or at break if you think of anything that I can help you with. If there is any way that we can improve our service please let me know – we are not easily offended! I look forward to working with you soon. Caroline Howick Information Manager September 2011