Bishop Challoner School Library

Welcome to the Library

The Library is open Monday – Wednesday from 8.30am – 4.30pm, Thursday 9.15am – 4.30pm and Friday 9.00am – 4:00pm.

There are over 7,500 titles for students to choose from. Each student can borrow up to 3 books for 3 weeks at a time. If they need longer to finish a book, then we are happy to renew and extend the loan period. Students can use the library space before school, during morning break, at lunchtime and afterschool for reading, homework and personal study. There are ten computers in the library which students can use to access our online library and complete their homework.

• Library Lessons – Years 7, 8 and 9 have regular timetabled lessons in the library, where they take part in activities, which encourage them to read and are linked to their English Lessons and other events that are taking place around the school.
• Bookbuzz – For our Year 7 students this is a scheme funded jointly by Bishop Challoner and The Book Trust, so each new intake of Year 7 students may choose a free book from up to 16 titles on offer.
• The Hampshire Book Awards – Year 8 students are given the opportunity to take part in the annual Hampshire Book Award. The students are given six shortlisted titles in March to be read by the end of June. They then judge the books and during bi-weekly meetings discuss various aspects and merits of each book. This culminates in a voting day when the judges, along with other local participating school’s students, join together to discuss the books and then vote for their winning title. Votes from all over Hampshire are cast and the winning author named.
• Sora – Students are able to access this digital library platform which has a choice of over 10,000 titles. These can be borrowed as ebooks, audiobooks or magazines. Sora also provides comics, graphic novels and books in a selection of languages. Access is through students RM Unify account or the app.
• Renaissance – Key Stage 3 students are encouraged to complete quizzes on the accelerated read scheme which registers the words they have read, so each year students can earn their Millionaire Reader badges and certificates.
• Book Suggestions – We welcome suggestions from students of books they would like to see added to our stock.
• Book Reviews – We encourage students to write book reviews for their peers.

Our Librarian is Mrs Brooks, who can be contacted via librarian@bcs.hants.sch.uk or by calling the school office.