Learning

You will be welcomed to Bluecoat Academy Aspley library by Mrs Henley (Library Manager) and Mrs Hutton (Library Assistant).

For all the latest information follow our library on Instagram @library_baa . We also email out a monthly newsletter to all students.

The library is situated on the top floor in the main Alfred Harrison building and is a popular and well-used space which provides a welcoming learning environment for students and staff with reading for pleasure at the heart of everything.

Opening Times

The library is open every day during break and lunch time for students in all year groups. We are also open before school 8-8:30am and after school 3-4pm.

Our online library catalogue can also be accessed from home using the link: https://u004881.microlibrarian.net/

Students can use the online catalogue to browse for books by author, title or keyword as well as make book reservations and write reviews.

Resources and Facilities

Students and staff are automatically members of the library. Books can be borrowed for two weeks and can be renewed at any time at the library desk. Resources include over 10,000 of the latest fiction and non-fiction books, computers, Ipads, Kindles and reference materials.

Study space is available for individual and group work, along with computer and printing access to enable students to carry out research or complete their homework. For our KS4 students we have a large collection of the latest course text books and revision guides. Comfy chairs are also available for quiet reading.

Colourful, stimulating and continuously changing displays advertise library resources, clubs, events and information. We also regularly have author visits where students have the chance to take part in fun, creative writing workshops.

Library Lessons

Year 7 and 8 students have a weekly library lesson as part of their English curriculum where over the year they explore a range of texts, read a class novel and complete library reading challenges. Positive points, certificates and prizes are given as part of these challenges. Year 9 have a library lesson once per half term where we discuss current events and significant days/events such as Black History Month and International Women’s Day. The librarians also regularly take a trolley of reading books to KS4 English lessons for students to choose from.

The Archway Trust Book of the Year Award

In 2021 we launched the Archway Trust Book of the Year Award. Each year the librarians across the trust collaborate to shortlist 6 of the best new books. Students then spend two terms reading and reviewing these books and ultimately voting for their favourite. Students who take part in the award programme receive positive points, pens and pin badges for participation. Our previous winners have been Cater Lake by Jennifer Killick and Amari and the Night Brothers by BB Alston. Who will it be this year?

Book of the year award Logo

Clubs and Activities

The library staff run a book club during which meets once a half term. Book club members get the chance to read and review new books before they are available to the rest of the school. There is also a weekly origami club that runs in the library area.

There is a 14-B4-14 challenge aimed at higher achieving students – the books on their reading list range from classics such as The Secret Garden to modern texts including The Many Worlds of Albie Bright. The group meet every half term to discuss the authors, context of the novels, reviews of the books and much more. This group also has the chance to go on theatre and most recently watched a performance of Private Peaceful at the Nottingham Playhouse.

Every year we celebrate World Book Day across the school with a variety of reading related activities such as quizzes, sponsored reads, guerrilla readers and costume competitions.

We also run an annual LitFest in November every year where there is a whole school focus on reading and we have many reading related activities happening in lessons and at social times as well as author visits, creative writing workshops and competitions.

celebrity Authors

Bookbuzz

Bookbuzz is a reading programme run by BookTrust and supported by children’s book publishers. We take part in this every year with our Year 7 students in the Autumn term as part of their induction to the Library. The aim of Bookbuzz is to inspire a love of reading in our students through engagement with varied and high-quality books – they are able to choose a book which they can then keep.

Year 7 Bookbuzz

Links

Here are some links to some fabulous book related websites as well as the local library service:

https://nottinghamcity.gov.uk/onlinecatalogue

https://literacytrust.org.uk/

https://www.booktrust.org.uk/

Contact Us

Bluecoat Aspley Academy
Aspley Lane
Aspley
Nottingham
NG8 5GY

E-mail: office@bluecoataspley.co.uk
Tel: 0115 929 7445

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Bluecoat Aspley Academy