Schools Library Service

The School Library Service is covered by a Service Level Agreement that is renewed each year, at the start of the financial year (April 1st.) There is a menu service, and schools have considerable flexibility as to which services they sign up for. The main services covered by the menu system are the Book Exchange services, and the Project Loan services.

If a school subscribes to the Book Exchange service, they can borrow two books per pupil from the SLS on long-term loan. Middle Schools have these books in their school library, and swap them as and when they wish. Primary Schools have one book per pupil in their school library, and get a termly visit from the SLS mobile library, to swap over the other half of the allocation. The length of the visit depends on which package the school has opted for. In the more expensive packages, every child is able to come onto the van to choose their own book.

A project loan consists of around 15 books on the same topic, specially selected to help teachers teach curriculum subjects.

Teachers can request a project collection at any point in the term. However, the best time to request them is in the final week of the previous term.

Projects requested before the start of term are delivered to schools in the first week of term. Projects requested later than the start of term will usually be delivered to the school within a week. If teachers require them more urgently, they can arrange a time to visit Library HQ in Cowes to pick them up themselves.

Project collections are selected by a professional librarian. Each one is hand-picked to match a teacher’s specific requirements. Teachers are requested to provide as much information as possible, to ensure that the contents of the box match their needs.

If the project box is to be shared between more than one class, teachers should specify this when ordering, and we will endeavour to supply a larger collection of books.

All project boxes are loaned for the entire term. They are collected from school in the final week of term. Projects that have been sent out half way through the term are still to be returned at the end of term.

Project collections can be renewed.

Schools can decide whether to subscribe to the project loan service, or not. If they do subscribe, they can decide how many a year to sign up for (e.g. 18, 30, 45, 60 etc.). If the school orders more projects than they signed up for, they will be charged. However, every effort will be taken to avoid this situation – e.g. by combining two subjects in one box, each subject having half the normal number of books.

Schools that subscribe to the SLS are entitled to 90 minutes of free advisory work. Additional hours can be bought at an hourly rate.

Advice can be given on:
Designing a new library
Quality of stock – stock audit
Classification of stock
Advice on purchasing computer systems
Training staff in using computer systems
Promoting stock
Encouraging children to read for fun
Teaching information skills
DfES Self-Evaluation scheme for school libraries
A formal written report will be provided, if required.

To arrange a visit, contact Elspeth Jackson on 203880

All schools that subscribe to the SLS can use the Book Purchase scheme. Schools can lodge money with the scheme, and spend it at their leisure. Money does not need to be spent up at the end of the financial year.
Books come at a substantial discount on published price. This is usually around 23% for schools that subscribe to other SLS services. Schools that don't subscribe to the SLS can also use the Book Purchase scheme, but will be given a lower discount. Servicing (plastic jackets etc.) can be provided at a small charge per book.

The SLS’s exhibition room is housed in at Library HQ, on the Somerton Industrial Estate.
The exhibition consists of one copy of every book added to stock in the previous year. Schools wishing to use the Book Purchase scheme can use the exhibition to browse through a wide range of titles that are in print, and select from them.
If a school wants to use the exhibition collection, they are advised to phone the Schools’ Library Service on 203880 to make an appointment.

Training sessions are available for staff working in schools libraries. There is a small charge for this, usually around £25 per delegate. Information on these courses is sent out to schools direct in the autumn term of each year.

SLS staff will also give talks to schools as requested. All talks to children are free. Topics include:
Storytelling, to the whole school, or individual classes
Information skills and the Dewey Decimal system – talks either to children, or to staff.
Helping children come to love reading – talks to staff, or to parents at parents’ evenings.
How to get the best out of the school library.

To arrange a talk, contact Elspeth Jackson on 203880