The School Library and Resource Centre

The School Library has an important role to play in supporting teaching and learning at Largs Academy. It is a central resource available to all staff and to pupils both in classes and individually. The Library has over 8000 resources including books, videos and periodicals which support the work being done in class. Additional resources can be acquired through liaison with the Education Resource Service.

Recreational reading is encouraged and an extensive range of fiction is available to staff and pupils. A well stocked Careers Library and the services of two Careers Advisers ensure that pupils have access to information and advice to guide them as they decide on the career path they will follow after school. Although the importance of reading and the traditional role of the School Library is recognised, this is not at the expense of technology, and resources in the recently refurbished Library now include a network of 20 computers, printers, scanner and Promethean board.

The Library benefits from the Alice Management system allowing a range of library tasks such as issue and return of books and cataloguing of resources to be carried out with efficiency. The Library's information technology provision is widely used by staff and pupils for a variety of purposes; the network allows access to the World Wide Web which is extensively used for research in a variety of curricular areas. In addition pupils can access a range of careers information and UCAS details via the network. A suite of office tools allows users to word process, create presentations, compile databases and send and receive email. With its extensive range of resources and facilities the Library is widely used throughout the school day, but those seeking a quiet refuge for study are not forgotten, and the refurbished premises now boast a mezzanine where senior pupils and staff can remove themselves from the activity below. The School Library is managed by Ms T M Newbury, Chartered Librarian.

Opening Hours are Monday-Friday: 8.45am - 4.30 pm

The Library is open at lunchtime and each year group has been allocated a different day:

Monday - S1
Tuesday - S2
Thursday - S3
Friday - S4

In addition the Library is open to pupils at interval. Senior pupils may use the Library on any of these days. All pupils are encouraged to use the Library in a meaningful way at these times: to borrow or return books, conduct research or complete homework tasks.

On Wednesday, a Homework Club is run to which all year groups can come along. Future plans include close liaison with various teaching departments to plan a course of Information Skills ensuring that pupils have all the necessary skills to make best use of the Library's resources to support them in their academic careers.