Library

Humphrey Perkins Library

‘Once you learn to read, you will forever be free’ (Frederick Douglas) 

Our aim is that reading is valued and its importance is reinforced through a partnership with parents/carers, students and staff. In particular, we want our students to enjoy reading for pleasure.

The library is used for KS3 library lessons throughout the week, for KS4 library lessons during Tutor Time and for regular activities such as lunchtime clubs, homework clubs, and other events during the academic year.

Diversity and Equality:

The library has an important role to play in reducing inequality, celebrating diversity and enabling individuals to see themselves reflected and valued in community spaces and in the resources, they engage with. We will continue to diversify our stock, including proactively working with our suppliers and partners such as CLS to achieve this.

YA Reading Section

At Humphrey Perkins, we have a range of students from 11-16. While we encourage all students to use the library, our YA Reading section will be aimed at our KS4 year groups due to the maturing themes and stories aimed at teenagers. If a younger student shows a particular interest in a YA book, we will use our discretion to decide if it is appropriate.

 

Access and opening hours

Key staff: Mrs Ryan and Mrs Perry

Opening hours:

Breakfast Club: 8-8:20am

Monday – Thursday 8:30-4:00pm

Friday 8:30 – 3:30pm

It is open to ALL students for Breakfast Club

It is open during break to ALL students

It is open during lunch UNLESS otherwise booked for clubs/activities

It is open after school for ALL students

Reading Clubs:

To ensure that everyone gets a chance to attend the club of their choice, students are asked to book their place on Beehive.

Monday – Open to ALL students.

Tuesday – Open to ALL students.

Wednesday – Open to ALL students.

Thursday – 8 for 8 Reading Club & Canon Club

Friday – Open to ALL students

Library Rewards:

Students will receive rewards for attending clubs, returning books on time, and participating in the regular reading competitions we hold: HP Word Challenge, Most Creative Book Review Per Term, Most Books Read Per Term, Completion of the Lionheart Canon and more.

To ensure that the importance of reading is emphasised, library users are asked to:

  • Respect the other library users by keeping quiet at all times
  • Respect the general school rules. Students are reminded that, as in the rest of the school, the use of mobile phones is not permitted as the library’s all about books!
  • Respect the library materials by handling them with care and not bringing food or drink into the library.
  • Return all borrowed library materials on time and in good condition. Compensation will be asked for to replace lost or damaged items.

Borrowing procedure:

Students may borrow books for up to two weeks at a time. They simply need to check their books out with Mrs Ryan, Mrs Perry or their English teacher during a Library lesson.

To return an item they need to return it to either the above members of staff or the ‘Book Returns Box.’

 Overdue loans:

If a student fails to return a borrowed book on time, please expect that:

  • Their form tutor will remind the student of the issue during Tutor Time.
  • If the item is still not received after 3 reminders (within 3 weeks of the item being overdue), a letter will be sent home to the pupil’s parents/carers.  We want all students to have the opportunity to share our books!
  • If the item is still not received, (within a week of the letter going home), an invoice will be sent.

Overall, we hope you find the stories in the Humphrey Perkins Library inspiring, exciting and diverse. If you have any suggestions of books you would like to see in the library, please do not hesitate to email [email protected]

What is Humphrey Perkins Reading?

Quinton Peters was the golden boy of the Rosewood low-income housing projects, receiving full scholarship offers to two different Ivy League schools. When he mysteriously goes missing, his little sister, 13-year-old Amari Peters, can’t understand why it’s not a bigger deal. Why isn’t his story all over the news? And why do the police automatically assume he was into something illegal?

It’s just a normal trip to London – isn’t it? Alem is seriously excited. He’s never been out of Ethiopia before. It’s his first foreign holiday! He and his dad have a great few days together – until Alem wakes up in their B&B one morning to find his dad gone. At first Alem is stumped. But then the hotel owner hands him a letter from his dad: a letter that explains the unthinkable. Because of Ethopia’s political problems, he and Alem’s mother felt it would be safer to take Alem to Britain and leave him there. Now Alem is on his own – in the hands of social services and the Refugee Council. What kind of future awaits this refugee boy?

Sephy is a Cross – a member of the dark-skinned ruling class. Callum is a nought – a ‘colourless’ member of the underclass who were once slaves to the Crosses. Against a background of prejudice and distrust, a romance builds between Sephy and Callum – a romance that is to lead both of them into terrible danger…

It’s 1981, a year of riots and royal weddings. The Dukes of Hazzard is on TV. Curly Wurlys are in the shops. And trying to find a place in it all is nine-year-old Leon. He and his little brother Jake have gone to live with Maureen. They’ve lost one home, but have they found another? Maureen feeds and looks after them. She has wild red hair and mutters swearwords under her breath when she thinks they can’t hear. She claims everything will be okay. But will they ever see their mother again? Who are the couple who secretly visit Jake? Between the street violence and the street parties, Leon must find a way to reunite his family…

Readathon

Readathon gets pupils reading with the added benefit of raising money for children in hospital. It gives children a universal opportunity for them to develop an awareness of, and to take direct action to improve the lide of a fellow child.

  • Schools that have run Readathon have higher attainment levels than schools that don't and schools that run it every year attain the highest of all
  • Independent research shows that pupils taking part in Readathon enjoy reading more, are more likely to read in their free time, read  more widely and use the school library and are happier
  • Children in hospital are among the most deprived in the UK. Almost all surveyed said they were cheered up by Read for Good's books and storytellers and those who said they don't regularly read at home, 86% were encouraged to read more when they left hospital.

 

motivation inclusion rewards results
All pupils are motivated to read because the sponsor money raised helps buy books and storyteller visits for your local childrens hospital From comics to classics and audio books to blogs - choice is crucial to make reading more fun for all types of pupils from keen to reluctant readers You'll receive a free books voucher worth 20% of the amount your pupils raise to spend at Scholastic Book Clubs - boosting your school library Independent research shows that school sattain higher results when they run Readathon - especially when they run it year after year.