In Main House, the Shanley room houses the fiction and non-fiction resources, the current journals and newspapers. It is furnished with study desks and chairs and is used for research, reading and quiet study. Provision is aimed at years 9-13 but the library is open to girls of any age.

At Marden House, the library is divided into a fiction and non-fiction room. Computer terminals are available for individual or class use in the fiction area. Study desks are available in the non-fiction area. General library provision is aimed at years 7-9 but all the resources for Modern Foreign Languages, RE and Design & Technology are kept in this library so as to be close to the departmental teaching areas.

The library holds:

• Books
• Journals
• CDs / DVDs

Most items are available for loan and are catalogued on a searchable database [‘Oliver’], that students can access via the School’s intranet site. In addition, the library has a subscription to ‘Credo Reference’; a searchable database of 100 encyclopaedia and reference books, ranging from foreign language dictionaries to statistical data. The CIA World Factbook is a mine of information on every country in the world, which can be used for essays or manipulated in excel spreadsheets. Information from any ‘Credo Reference’ source may be used, provided that the source is acknowledged in any written work.

Library philosophy

• To offer a relaxed environment in which girls use all the many facilities available to them in a responsible way
• To enrich academic studies.
• To support the girls’ personal development and interests.

The librarian is available from Monday to Friday and is happy to provide assistance as required, and to receive suggestions for new purchases from staff or students. Girls wishing to buy books themselves may also do this through the bookshop – please contact the librarian. There is a weekly lunch-time reading club which girls may join on request.