Information

The Joan Lingard Library

pupils in library reading books

Introduction

Our library has always been integral to the girls’ learning and personal development. The welcoming space encourages curiosity, innovation and lively discussion. It is the central point for quiet reading, study, collaboration and cultural events. We also work with individual staff and students to understand their particular information or reading needs, then help them access the materials that will support their teaching and learning.

Accelerated Reader

Improving Literacy

Accelerated Reader creates a comprehensive set of reports reveals how much a girl has been reading, at what level of complexity, and how well they have understood what they have read. The pupils read a book, takes an online quiz, and gets immediate feedback. Vocabulary growth and literacy skills are also measured, which provides our teachers insight into how well our pupils have responded.

This wonderful tool is coordinated between the Library and the English teachers. Pupils can demonstrate their understanding of the stories they have read but also enjoy the competitive element we bring to Accelerated Reader.

Pupil Support and Homework Club

The Library is also a safe environment where pupils are offered support to overcome any barriers to learning and access the whole curriculum. They can follow a personalised programme of study and use this quiet and calm space to totally focus on their individual work. For example, the homework club is a natural and continuous part of our school organisation and is not simply a response to specific occurrences and difficulties.

Joan Lingard

The library was named after one of our illustrious old girls, Joan Lingard MBE. The author has written novels for both adults and children. She is known for the teenage-aimed Kevin and Sadie series, which have sold over one million copies and have been reprinted many times since.

Lingard received the prestigious West German award the “Buxtehuder Bulle” in 1986 for “Across the Barricades”. Her novel “Tug of War” has also received great success: shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal 1989, The Federation of Children’s Book Group Award 1989, runner up in the Lancashire Children’s Book Club of the year 1990 and shortlisted for the Sheffield Book Award. In 1998, her book “Tom and the Tree House” won the Scottish Arts Council Children’s Book Award. Her most recent novel, “What to Do About Holly” was released in August 2009.

Lingard was awarded an MBE in 1998 for services to children’s literature. Read about Joan Lingard’s experiences at Bloomfield on our School History page.

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