Library
THE LIBRARY AT LILIAN BAYLIS TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL
Librarian: Ms Danuta Zalega, danuta.zalega@lilianbaylis.com
The library at LBTS has a wide range of new, popular and classic books, graphic novels, manga, comics and ebooks as well as PCs for homework and research. In addition to fiction from diverse authors, the school library is proud to stock recent non-fiction and fiction titles on anti-racism, feminism, neurodiversity and LGBTQ issues.
Students can come to the library from 8.00-8.25, Break, Lunch and after school until 4pm. During the day it is well used by Year 13 for independent study.
Students can browse, renew, reserve and review books online. The library app is further designed for research and will guide students to curated sites like the BBC, National Geographic to name but a few. On the dashboard there is advice on how to choose a book and videos on how to spot fake news as well as a short introduction to the Accessit app.
Students can easily sign on to their account by clicking the blue bar. There is no need to sign in to search.
Please feel free to contact me danuta.zalega@lilianbaylis.com for support in choosing suitable books for your child or any further information you might require. In common with a lot of school libraries we restrict borrowing of certain books according to their age and the advice on this website.
Permission letters can be issued for signature should you feel that your child can access more mature content.
Please ensure that books are returned when due by the students.
Library lessons
All the students of KS3 have half termly visits to the library where they are presented with book trailers and activities and can return and browse books. This is in addition to their free use of the library at usual times.
Autumn 1 - How to navigate the library online and in person, online safety, how to join Lambeth library, write reviews, popular genres of books and titles to considering when choosing.
Autumn 2 - Book Trust books showcase
Spring 1 - Spotlight on non-fiction and biography
Spring 2 - Spotlight on modern classics
Summer 1 - Lambeth Phoenix Book award
Summer 2 - Survey on tutor reads favourites
Author visits
Throughout the year we have frequent author events both at the school and I take groups to those at local libraries having formed a strong relationship with them, to encourage students to join and take out books.
Details of this year's author visits can be found here
Curriculum
The library supports teachers with recommended wider reading lists for their subject areas.
Enrichment
To supplement our wide range of manga, we have an anime fan group which meets Wednesday and Friday showing the best of Studio Ghibli.
From January to May the school hosts an elective year 7 and year 8 readathon of four books across Lambeth secondary schools organised by the Network of Education Librarians in Lambeth. . The Lambeth Phoenix book Award has been running for over ten years and exposes students to newly published children’s and young adult novels, they shortlist from around forty publisher submissions, read four shortlisted, and vote for a winner. We hold the finale here attended by readers from other Lambeth schools, Lambeth Libraries and The Lord Mayor of Lambeth.
The readers meet once a week to discuss the books they are reading during this period.
Student librarians
These are recruited every September and they can join a duty rota to issue and return books at break and lunchtime, as well as doing the same in Library Lessons earning house points for responsibility.
The librarian also chooses the tutor group reads, taking forward into the following year three out of the four most popular books from each year group and selecting at least one new book from her recently read young adult pile. Student librarians are involved in recommending these books for their peers too. The librarian also chooses the summer read for incoming year 6 and KS3 and KS4.
The librarian is a member of CILIP and SLA
I am always open to suggestions of ways to engage readers and I encourage teacher read aloud sessions in the library as well as teen read staff book groups.
With thanks to Penguin Random House UK who help us to deliver books to young readers.