Library & Reading
Opening Times
Junior Library Opening Times
Open to students in Years 7, 8 & 9 for quiet study at break, lunch and after school.
Monday: 8.30 - 10.50am | 12.15 - 12.55pm | 2.55 - 4pm
Tuesday: 8.30 - 10.50am | 12.15 - 12.55pm | 2.55 - 4pm
Wednesday: 8.30 - 10.50am | 12.15 - 12.55pm | 2.55 - 4pm
Thursday: 8.30 - 10.50am | 12.15 - 12.55pm | 2.55 - 4pm
Friday: 8.30 - 10.50am | 12.15 - 12.55pm | 2.55 - 3.30pm
Senior Library Opening Times
Open to students in Years 10 & 11 for study at break, lunch and after school. Sixth Form students can use it during lesson times.
Monday: 8.30 - 10.50am | 12.15 - 12.55pm | 2.55 - 4pm
Tuesday: 8.30 - 10.50am | 12.15 - 12.55pm | 2.55 - 4pm
Wednesday: 8.30 - 10.50am | 12.15 - 12.55pm | 2.55 - 4pm
Thursday: 8.30 - 10.50am | 12.15 - 12.55pm | 2.55 - 4pm
Friday: 8.30 - 10.50am | 12.15 - 12.55pm | 2.55 - 3.30pm
Break and Lunch times – both the Junior and Senior Library are open to all years for quiet study, homework, personal reading, browsing the bookshelves and taking out a book, and for Year 7 and Year 8 students who want to take an AR book quiz (except Fridays).
After School - both Libraries are open from 2.55pm to 4.00pm from Monday to Thursday and up until 3.30pm on Fridays for quiet study, homework, personal reading, browsing the bookshelves and taking out a book.
Resources and Facilities
Our Library provides a great space for all students and staff to read, study, learn and access a whole host of information about careers, apprenticeships, training courses, further and higher education, and volunteering opportunities. It is a quiet and calming, inspiring and inclusive learning environment that offers a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books, and a number of computers for everyone to use.
Students and staff are automatically members of our library. Books can be borrowed for two weeks and can be renewed at any time at the information desk.
Study space is available for individual and group work, along with computer access to enable students to carry out research or complete their homework. Comfy chairs are also available in the quiet reading areas.
Clubs and Activities
Monday Lunchtime (12.15 - 12.55pm)
- Year 7 Book Club - Junior Library - Mrs Henson
Monday After School (2.55 - 4.00pm)
- Year 8+ Carnegie Club - Senior Library - Ms Arrowsmith & Mrs Henson
Thursday After School (2.55 - 4.00pm)
- Years 7 - 13 Creative Writing Club - Senior Library - Ms Arrowsmith
Monday to Friday After School
- Homework Club for all years. Resources and computers are available for your use. (2.55pm to 3.55pm Mon-Thurs and 2.55pm to 3.30pm on Friday)
Useful Links
Accelerated Reader Programme - Year 7 and 8 students participate in the Accelerated Reader programme which encourages and challenges them to read a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books. Personalised reading targets are set after an initial reading test and then students read their books and take online quizzes. Prizes are awarded to students who meet their targets and students work in house teams to win rewards during their lessons. Students also aim to become an Accelerated Reader Millionaire.
Recommended Reading
DEAR time (Drop Everything and Read)
At Brookfield Community School, we recognise the importance that reading has in ensuring that students achieve well academically as well as expand their knowledge and vocabulary. With this in mind, we invest curriculum time in Years 7, 8 and 9 to ensure that students read widely and make rapid improvements in their reading ages.
Students in Years 7 and some English classes in Year 8 and 9, will have one lesson in the library a week. This is known as their Accelerated Reader lesson. Students will work with a programme called Accelerated Reader which helps them to understand the level of book they should be reading. Once a student has read their book they complete a short online quiz to check their comprehension of the book and then discuss with the librarian, based on these results, what to read next.
You can read more about how AR works in this Parent Guide.
Students in all years (7-11) will have 15 minutes a day Drop Everything and Read time. This allows them to read for 15 minutes every day. The time for this is rolled through the periods of the week (e.g. in the first week it will be 15 minutes every period 1. The week after it will be during period 2).
There are a range of websites that can help students to access reading materials. The Reading Great Literature website allows students to search for free books to read.
If students are looking to buy more recent books appropriate to their reading age, then this website gives great examples of books they could read. Please see below for recommended reading lists for all year groups.
Read like a billionaire! https://youtu.be/Yqd-hLEWazs