Library

“Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the work and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life”
Sidney Sheldon (1917-2997 American writer & producer)

We understand the benefits of regular reading for pleasure and how this contributes to literacy, bringing the benefits of increased academic achievement, job choice and satisfaction, positive professional and personal relationships, and better health and happiness. We provide a wide range of fiction suitable for the whole student body, and an increasing number of non-fiction texts to support wider reading for our GCSE and A Level English Language groups.

We have been having a major move around with our libraries. The balcony is now the Sixth Form library for year 12 to 13. Our second library is at the end of the English corridor for year 7 to 11, which has a wide choice of genres and non-fiction for our students.

“The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library”
Albert Einstein (1879-1955 Theoretical Physicist)

We are continuously looking to invest in contemporary fiction, and there is a collection of new African-American, African-British and Asian-British literature.

We have an Amazon Wish List which is regularly updated with books we are looking for in the main library and if you have one of these books collecting dust, we would love to give it a new home, or if you would like to buy a book in honour of someone special in your life, we have bookplates to make sure their name is immortalised in The Crypt School library. We are very grateful for the contributions we have already received this year -so thank you.

However, our library is far more than a collection of books. Many events are held in the library to encourage reading and other literacy activities. These include author visits for World Book Day in March; Read Aloud Day in February; Storytelling Week, when pupils share their own work. Throughout the school year quizzes and themed events are held both fiction and non-fiction themed including Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Lord of the Rings, Science and Languages. All students receive merits for taking part. On Fridays we hold a games lunchtime for students to play card games like UNO and board games like chess.

The library also links to many events celebrated across the entire school such as Black History Month to promote ethnic writers and protagonists; National Women’s Day to promote women’s writers and protagonists, and LGBTQ+ and Pride month in June. We also take part in the YEARLY Yoto Carnegie book awards. Every week we have a ‘Word of the Week’ which challenges the students to use the word in a piece of work and show The library also offers many students a “safe space” when they’re outside lessons, with some choosing to come and read quietly at lunchtime or in our afterschool homework club. The library provides leadership opportunities for students so they can learn library skills and work with our librarian to ensure the smooth running of the facility. For some this can contribute towards their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Library/Balcony Opening Times

We have a self-issue system for students which is used when the librarian is not available in the sixth form library.

Both libraries are open from every Breaktime and Lunchtime Monday to Friday.

As John Lubbock, archivist, and author, said, “We can sit in a library and yet be in all quarters of the earth.”