The Librarian now manages both the Senior School library and the Junior School library in collaboration with the Junior School Library Coordinator. [1] Some key developments this term include subscribing to the local Schools Library Service for the whole school, creating research guides for subjects like science and PE, and surveying students and staff about eReader ownership and interest. [2] At the Junior School library, borrowing statistics are being analyzed and older students are not borrowing fiction books, so funds will be used to improve that section of the collection. [3]

1. The Dixie Grammar School
Library Services
Easter Progress Report 2012
The Librarian now manages both The Michael Parker Library at the Senior School and the
Junior School Library (in collaboration with Mrs Debra Enston the Library Co-ordinator). In
order to track progress at both libraries, the Librarian submits regular Progress Reports to
the Senior Leadership Team.
Joint Services
The Librarian aims to create a Library Service for the whole school with an “offer“ to
teaching staff, making explicit the services and resources staff can expect. A
presentation was given at a Heads of Department Meeting in January and will be
repeated to all Senior School staff at the first Staff Meeting in the Summer Term.
We have been subscribing to our local Schools Library Service (LSE) for the Senior
School for some time. Some of the allocation was used at the Junior School during
the Spring Term with very positive feedback from staff. Books have been requested
for most year groups and are being used in the classroom and to boost the Library’s
stock. We are now subscribing as a whole school from April 2012 and will use our
allocations flexibly between both sites to ensure value for money. The Librarian visits
LSE each holiday period to exchange books.
Our use of the LibGuides platform to create Research Guides has started off very
successfully. Mrs Robinson has now created sixteen guides, with several more in the
pipeline. These have been requested by Science, Business Studies and Physical
Education to support work with Years 8 and 11 and with the Sixth Form. Students and
staff have found these really useful, according to the feedback. This service could
also be used to support staff at the Junior School at a later date.
Our published guides (more are currently being prepared) can be seen at:
http://library-online.libguides.com/index.php
Resources on the Olympics are being collected in both libraries, including books,
posters and also a Research Guide at:
http://library-online.libguides.com/pe-olympics
The Librarian is part of the ICT Strategy Group for the school. It is hoped that this will
help to inform planning for the next stages of library service development.
The Michael Parker Library – Senior School
Some Induction sessions took place this term with Years 6 and 7 during English
lessons. Mrs Robinson hopes to be able to complete these in the Summer Term.
Each Year 6 to 8 English class visits the Library for one lesson each week to develop
their reading. Many students are moving rapidly through the Reading Challenge,
others, however, appear to be reluctant readers. To keep teachers informed about

2. DGS Library Services Think…Ask…Read…Imagine…Create… @ Your Library
students’ progress, the Librarian has sent regular reports to the English Department
and the SLT.
As Mrs Robinson’s voice began to recover, some teaching of research skills in the
Library took place. Mr Hamson brought in his Year 8 Physics classes for a series of
lessons researching and presenting information on Energy Sources. Students used
note-taking sheets to avoid cut-and-paste, a Research Guide and books borrowed
from LSE. The final presentations were marked collaboratively to assess both the
content and the research process. When all of the presentations have been delivered,
the best will be uploaded to the Research Guide at:
http://library-online.libguides.com/science-energy
The Librarian continues to offer a virtual library service and is building Research
Guides using LibGuides – see above under Joint Services. Of particular note are the
Guides developed for Sixth Form Biology students which were used in the classroom.
This kind of work creating resources for students has a very positive effect on
students’ perception of the Library and the Librarian!
The Library is open every day for the whole lunchtime session and is well used by
students. The Librarian is supported by a small Student Helper Team and by teaching
staff, due to her vocal issues. New Helpers have been recruited this term and they will
start their training in the Summer Term.
192 resources have been added to stock in the Spring Term. Stock totals are:
o 4246 school resources (value £39,432.04)
o 241 LSE books (value £2,645.46)
The totals for book borrowing from September 2011 up until the end of term are:
o 317 borrowed by staff (mainly project collections from LSE)
o 1673 borrowed by pupils – on target to exceed last year’s borrowing figures
During the Spring Term, Mrs Robinson surveyed students and staff to ascertain the
extent of eReader and eBook ownership and interest so that future developments of
the library service could reflect the needs of the school community. It proved difficult
to get older students to use the online survey although almost 100% of Years 6 to 8
did join in. The results confirmed the Librarian’s observations that many students are
reading eBooks on a range of devices and are also interested in what the Library may
be able to offer in the future. Mrs Robinson has been asked to speak to the SLT about
the use of eReaders and other mobile devices. At the moment, plans to develop an
eBook service have been put on hold until suppliers’ offers for new services become
more concrete in the coming months. Funds to pay for these services from the Library
Development Budget are being carried forward to the next financial year.
The Junior School Library
Most classes have been visiting regularly over the Spring Term.
Regular updates have been sent to all staff showing book borrowing by class and by
gender, also including students who have not borrowed and top borrowers. Analysis
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3. DGS Library Services Think…Ask…Read…Imagine…Create… @ Your Library
of borrowing statistics shows interesting trends and these are being fed back to staff
for appropriate actions.
Analysis of borrowing statistics from the Library Management System, Junior Librarian,
shows that older students are generally not borrowing fiction books. This could have
an impact when they transfer to the Senior School. Funds remaining from the stock
budget will be spent in the Summer Term on fiction books. This section needs to be
weeded and improved to attract students.
Mrs Robinson has been working on the development of a Library Handbook and
Procedures Manual, similar to those used at the Senior Library. Other administrative
and management procedures have been implemented.
The allocation of books from LSE has had a considerable impact at the Junior School
– see above under Joint Services. As we are subscribing as a whole school from April
2012, Junior School staff will be able to access more services and a larger book
allocation.
The totals for book borrowing from November 2011 up until the end of the Spring Term
are:
o 303 borrowed by staff (mainly project collections from LSE)
o 886 borrowed by pupils
The Librarian is hoping to be able to arrange a meeting during the Summer Term with
Anne Laird and Debra Enston to begin planning for a refurbishment of the Junior
School Library, to include new shelving, storage and furniture.
Anne M Robinson, Librarian, 10 April 2012
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