The Maggs Library
The Maggs Library is housed in the original Memorial Hall which was opened in 1925 in memory of the Old Caterhamians who fell in the 1914 - 1918 war. It was renamed the Maggs Memorial Library in October 1990, after Albert P. Maggs who was a pupil at the school during the war.
The Maggs Library houses a collection of some 15,000 books and other media. It is open every day in term time from 8:30 am to 5.00 pm. Access during school holidays is by prior arrangement.
The Library provides a stimulating yet ordered environment in which pupils may develop their recreational reading habits, carry out research to support their academic choices, and use the private study and computer facilities.
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Carnegie Medal 2009 - Shadow Panel
The Library is separated into four areas:
1) The Non-Fiction Collection
Located in the main section of the Library are over 9,000 Non–Fiction books covering all areas of the Middle and Upper School curriculum. Developed in close consultation with teaching colleagues it provides a rich source of extension and background material for coursework and further research. This is supplemented by a wide-ranging programme of non-fiction buying in areas of more general interest, such as biography, sport and music. In addition to the Maggs Library, students may consult the individual department collections, which can be identified via the main Library Catalogue.
2) The Reference Collection
A comprehensive collection of Encyclopaedia's, Dictionaries, Articles, Journals and Maps can be found in the Reference Collection located next to the Issue Desk. Updated regularly, these resources compliment on-line subscriptions to reference tools, such as World Book, Issues On-line, Fact File and Pro-Quest Learning.
3) The Senior Fiction Collection
This can be found in the Mezzanine Lounge above the main section of the Library. Here students from the 3rd Year upwards can relax in comfortable chairs or on bean bags and browse through an extensive range of literature. We currently have over 3000 titles, including everything that might be termed 'classics', to the latest popular teen fiction. New fiction titles are continually being added, and students' own recommendations form an important part of our stock acquisition.
4) The Junior Library
The 1st and 2nd Years have their own fiction Library located in a large airy room adjacent to the main Library. This area is comfortably furnished with chairs and bean bags suitable for reading and relaxing. A collection of over 2500 titles has been specially selected for these year groups and is being continually added to. The Junior Library is usually a hive of activity at lunchtimes and regularly booked throughout the week for Library Reading Lessons, small study groups, Information Literacy lessons and EFL teaching.
Juniors are enthusiastic participants in several reading schemes supported by the English Department, one of which is The Red House Book Award. This is a national award where students read and rate the most recently published fiction titles.
Junior Library Club
In the Christmas and Easter terms the 1st and 2nd Years have the opportunity to join the Junior Library Club where they learn skills essential to the effective day-to-day workings of the library and earn their Library Assistant badge. By the end of their term with the club, they are able to issue and return books, catalogue fiction titles and use the Library Search system. All will have gained a sound knowledge of the Dewey system for shelving returns and be able to help to retrieve resources for fellow students. Juniors also help with displays, upcoming author/ book events and help choose and recommend new fiction titles.
Daily Use of the Library
The main library is principally used during the day for silent study by the sixth form and EFL students. It is also regularly booked by different departments for research lessons linked to course-work and projects. Break and lunchtime are very popular with all years making full use of the facilities. The Library is also used for Late Class until 5.30pm each afternoon except a Friday.
Information and Research Skills
The Library implements a specific Information and Research Skills programme to compliment the school's existing Study Skills programme taught by Mr Wells, the Director of Learning and Teaching. The 1st Year, 3rd Year and Lower 6th all attend initial Library inductions at the start of the winter term. For the 1st Year this is followed by a series of lessons in which they develop competence in using the Library Catalogue, Dewey Decimal system and carrying out reference searches. In the 3rd Year their skills are further extended through subject specific research projects. Students learn how to access information effectively and efficiently using various Information Literacy techniques. As students enter the 6th form, sessions are based around individuals and small groups, with particular emphasis on the research requirements of A-Level study and preparation for university.
Pupil Librarians
The smooth running of the Library is greatly helped by a team of enthusiastic, hard-working and dedicated library assistants, whose responsibilities range from keeping the shelves tidy and in good order to helping manage the issue desk. Our senior librarians are responsible for organising and training the team, managing aspects of intranet upkeep and general administration.
Visiting Authors
The Library aims to organise at least four author events per year, giving different year groups the opportunity to meet some of Britain's top children's and teen authors. Visits take the form of workshops or question and answer sessions, presentations and book signings. Over the past few years we have enjoyed visits from authors such as Anne Fine, William Nicholson, Celia Rees, Caroline Lawrence and Stewart Ross. This term we are greatly looking forward to meeting Christopher Lloyd and Catherine Johnson.
Library Biographies
Mrs Jane Damesick, BA (Hons) Dip.Lib.
After gaining a degree in English from Durham University, Jane studied for a post-graduate library diploma at University College, London. Her earlier library career was in University Libraries. Following the birth of her two children, Jane became Librarian at Hazelwood School in Oxted, where she worked for ten years. Jane has been both National Chair and Publicity Officer for the Federation of Children's Book Groups, and has been fortunate in meeting many well-known children's authors. Her more recent career has been as Co-ordinator of the Bluehouse (Arts) Festival in Oxted, which included the daunting task of interviewing, in front of an audience, author Sebastian Faulks. Jane joined Caterham as School Librarian in January 2009.
Mrs Jennifer Davis – Deputy Librarian
Mrs Davis has been Assistant Librarian at Caterham School since January 2005. Prior to her career, in research and marketing with a large insurance group, she gained an HND in Business Studies at City of London Polytechnic. Taking time out to raise her two children she took up a number of voluntary roles, one of which was in a state school library; this provided a great deal of background knowledge for her current role.