We are very proud of our spacious purpose-built St Christophers Senior School Library that was opened, appropriately, in September 2000. It plays a fundamental role in providing a broad range of resources and information-handling skills within the senior school. Succeeding through reading is crucial for all pupils as the ability to read effectively can influence our whole lives and the choices we make. As a result it is not surprising that a very considerable proportion of the Senior School capitation is expended on the library and in recent years the book stock has been improved immeasurably. Currently there are over 19,000 books in the fiction and non-fiction sections but the total is growing all the time. There is also a special Arabic section. Staff and pupils are informed regularly of new additions to the library stock and all members of the school community have the opportunity to recommend new titles.

Open all day and staffed by an experienced Librarian and Assistant, it is a place pupils use during lunch time and breaks as well as during class time. All pupils are encouraged to come to the Library where they are assisted to access a broad range of materials covering the curriculum to Advanced Level. Additionally, they may wish to use the specialist Careers Library where there is a wealth of information relating to university and college courses. The Library's IT provision has expanded considerably, incorporating 13 networked PC's giving Internet and multimedia access. The Internet is available to all students within the terms of the school's Internet Policy. A dedicated Sixth Form Study Room is also an integral part of the library building.

All pupils at Key Stage 3 have access to the Library Skills programme devised by our school Librarian. Year 7 and Year 8 pupils have designated Library Skills lessons involving explanatory talks and a wide range of practical activities designed to reinforce theoretical knowledge about how a library works. The Library Skills programme has been extremely successful promoting pupil confidence and enjoyment and the extension of library skills is viewed as a long-term activity.

All developement issues relating to the Library are reviewed

regularly.