Learning Resource Centre & Library | Balshaw’s Church of England High School

Welcome to the Learning Resource Centre (LRC)

Our Learning Resources Centre is a very popular department within the school. Every new student and member of staff is automatically made a member of the school library on joining the school.

January 2023

We are exited to announce that we have launched SORA ebooks and audiobooks, that gives access to 1000s of resources. This is an integrated collection that is available on computers and devices like smartphones and tablets, anytime, anywhere! You can read more about this wonderful new service here.

We have 32 computers that are available to use every breaktime and lunchtime, and after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays when homework club is on from 3:10-4pm. Every student has a printing allowance so no need to worry if you do not have a printer at home… you can also print your work in colour if you need to.

There are currently over 10,000 fiction and non-fiction books as well as a brand new Comicorner with various DC and Marvel titles. In addition, there are several magazine and academic journal titles available to read and loan, linked to curriculum subjects – Catylyst, eic, Technology & innovation, Science in School and STEM learning, as well as Allons-y! El Sol and Ca Va! for Modern Foreign Languages.

We want to create a buzz about books and reading for pleasure so our cosy fiction section of the LRC has beanbags, comfy chairs and a sofa which creates a great environment in which to read and is very popular with students. Each Year group has a priority day from Year 7 on Mondays to Year 11 on our Silent Fridays but many students come every day.

At Balshaw’s we are aware of the increasing popularity of electronic books and magazines. We are eager to cater for the needs and tastes of all students and so provide access to several e-resources.

We have a DVD library where students can loan DVDs and share them with family and friends. There are now over 450 DVDs titles and new titles are added regularly. You will be asked to give permission for your child to borrow DVDs and they will only be able to borrow age-appropriate titles.

We encourage all students to be active in their use of the library and reading by using Libresoft, a great piece of Library software. Students can search, reserve and review all resources. We also use Libresoft to keep everyone up to date with news about events, competitions, new resources and the Book of the Month. Book reviews can be read here; as well as writing your own for other people to read. You can access Libresoft software from home here.

You can download our leaflets below:

The Learning Resource Centre and the English department have, as you would expect, very strong links and encourage students to start making good use of the facilities on offer straight away. All Year 7 students visit the Learning Resource Centre with their English group for an induction session within the first few weeks of starting in September.

The induction session highlights everything that they might need to know to be able to use the LRC effectively such as; how to take out resources, how to search and reserve resources online and how to become a DVD member.

All students can make book suggestions by filling out a slip for the suggestion box and we endeavour to purchase these for the library and inform the students once these have arrived.

Student Librarians

Student Librarians are very important in the daily running of the Learning Resource Centre, they help with the selection of new stock, creating exciting displays and assisting other students with enquiries.

They work in the Learning Resource Centre at break and at lunchtimes. Every student in every Year group, has the opportunity to apply to become a Student Librarian. Year 7s can apply in the Summer Term of their first year. We currently have a 22 strong team of Student Librarians, consisting of Year 8 Students right through to Year 10 students. Student librarians have the opportunity to achieved Librarian Awards at Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels.