Old Elizabethans are engaging enthusiastically in a special initiative to build the book collections for the School’s new Queen’s Library.
In the opening three weeks of the scheme, 82 books together worth more than £1,000 have been donated by old boys through online Amazon wish lists.
The Headmaster said: “We are extremely grateful to those alumni who have already donated, thereby making a tangible contribution for the benefit of the current generation of Elizabethans. This is an ongoing appeal, so it is of course not too late for OEs to give books through the wish lists.”
The lists have been compiled by Ciara Murray, the professional librarian appointed by the School to run the Library, which is located at the heart of the School campus on the site of the old Refectory.
Martyn Bradish, Chairman of the Old Elizabethans Association, wrote to OEs in November to solicit their support: “The Librarian has produced a list of volumes that the School wishes to acquire over nine subject areas and one category of fiction.
“What I appeal to you to do is to buy one or more volumes by going on to Amazon and the respective wish list using the links below. Please only buy through the Amazon wish lists shown below as this means that duplicate volumes are not donated.”
To date, Economics, Technology, Geography and Philosophy have proved the most popular categories, with literature, poetry and ancient history texts also to the fore.
“The boys have already been looking at and borrowing some of the books that I’ve put out on the shelves,” said Ms Murray.
In recognition of each donation, the donor’s name will be listed in the Library’s electronic catalogue, and also physically in the book itself, with their name and the years in which they attended QE inscribed on a bookplate.
Several donors have also taken advantage of a facility to include a donation note. Some notes are a recommendation of the particular books they have chosen, or a dedication to a family member, or simply best wishes for the success of the Library.
All donors receive a letter of thanks from the Headmaster.
The Library has quickly become popular with boys, as well as adding significantly to QE’s educational resources. It provides a study base during lesson periods for QE Sixth-Formers and incorporates a university-style seminar room for Sixth Form teaching.
The Queen’s Library boasts 100 new computer terminals, as well as ample further space for reading and writing.
Now open to all boys at lunchtimes – when users are free to browse and borrow – the Library is also being used after school by pupils from across the year groups in the independent study club.
Induction sessions for every year were held this term, during which Ms Murray taught boys how to access both printed and digital resources. The state-of-the-art catalogue system even has an ‘x marks the spot’-type function, indicating with a red circle on a digital floor plan exactly where their chosen title can be found.
Through the eQE portal, boys can make reservations, append their own book reviews to the catalogue and use the ‘recommend a book’ form, which will directly inform acquisitions.
Developments planned for the coming months range from the recruitment and training of pupil librarians, to trials to explore whether subscriptions to particular online resources would be helpful for Sixth-Formers’ advanced studies.
The lists are automatically kept up-to-date, with items removed as they are purchased and other titles regularly being added.