The John Turner Building has been home to a hive of activity for just over a year, since its inception in September 2014. Home to Music, Art and Photography, there is an air of creativity and excitement about the place. The hub of the creativity is the Thinking Space – Shiplake’s very own library, home to an extensive collection of books, journals and learning support. However, unlike the traditional school library, the Thinking Space has utilised digital archives of books and secondary criticism, which has formed an integral part of pupils’ learning and day-to-day activities within the College.
The space is unique and enthralling; reflecting the multi-purpose use of the library, it is split into the Flow Room for quiet study, a group area for discussion, and a small classroom (the Board Room). Each area has its own distinct design to cater for the pupils’ needs. Miss Claire Knight, Shiplake’s Digital Librarian, has taken the helm and steered the library into the centre of activity and action in Shiplake. The space, which was specifically created to act as a central place of study in the school, has now warranted national recognition. Through Claire’s hard work and innovation, the library is home to VLeBooks, JStor and OverDrive as well as a large collection of physical books for pupils and staff to peruse. Pupils are encouraged to bring their own device to the Thinking Space, and can borrow several books at once from the digital resources that Claire has provided for the College. The School Library Association has picked up on the distinctive space that Shiplake and Claire have provided for pupils, and approached Claire to ask for a case study on the library. This has now been published in the SLA’s Guidelines, in an issue dedicated to selecting and using e-resources in Secondary School Libraries. Shiplake is at the forefront of this exciting venture, and it’s wonderful to see the recognition of Claire’s hard work.
The Thinking Space has become a wonderful tool for pupils to meet with the aim to read more for pleasure; pupils use the space during the school day to spend time reading, and Miss Knight is also on hand to assist with finding a plethora of resources. The collection is already substantial and, with the input and feedback from staff and pupils, Claire continues to grow this, ensuring that a world of knowledge is always at the school’s fingertips.