Libraries
School Library Service
The aim of the School Library Service is to provide a valuable educational resource for teachers. It is run on an agency basis for the Adult and Community Services Department and is available to primary teachers, student teachers and advisory teachers who work in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.
A wide range of facilities are on offer from the School Library Service, which is situated in Muirhead Quay, on the Fresh Wharf estate, but visits are by appointment only. Please contact 020 8724 8531 to make an appointment to visit.
Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 5pm, including school holidays and term time.
Curriculum Support Loans
Primary phase teachers working in Barking and Dagenham can borrow up to 30 books and one audiovisual item at a time from the collection based at Muirhead Quay. This service is available as part of their school's service level agreement. Material can be chosen in person, or requested by telephone, fax, post or email.
The resources in the project loan collection are chosen with Key Stage 1 and 2 of the National Curriculum in mind, and new titles are regularly added. Copies of the request form are available in Schools or from the School Library Service.
Collections are issued for a term, and can be renewed for a further term. Loans can be exchanged more frequently if required. A van service delivers and collects project collections.
Loans are automatically delivered as soon as possible after being requested, but schools need to contact the School Library Service to arrange for collection. Delivery and collection day is usually Wednesday.
Secondary school teachers can also use the Curriculum Support Loan service. Requests should be made through the Librarian or Learning Resources Officer in their school.
Curriculum Support Loan Request Form 
PDF 41K
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Book purchase scheme
Library Services offers a book purchase scheme that allow schools easy and cost effective ways to buy books for their library. Each school selects books to their individual requirements. The range of books available includes fiction and non-fiction, SAT books, curriculum support titles, 'big' books, partnered reading titles and dual language.
A financial arrangement has been agreed whereby schools can invest in extra books by transferring money from their own budgets.
Book Purchase Scheme Request Form PDF 14K
Further information is available from Freda Golland at the address shown.
Big book loan service
The School Library Service has a collection of 'big books', with 6 accompanying copies of the small book text for pupils in Key Stage 1. Schools can borrow 5 sets each half-term.
Contact Schools Library Service at the address shown or David Reedy in the School Improvement Service, at the Westbury Centre for more details
Fiction Loans for Key Stage 2
The School Library Service has a small selection of fiction loan boxes for Key Stage 2. Half are genre collections and half are author collections.
This is a developing service. Contact the School Library Service for further details and a list of boxes currently available.
Meetings and Courses
Regular meetings are held for primary school library coordinators and support staff. There is also a termly meeting for secondary school learning resource centre staff.
Courses are run for Head Teachers and library coordinators - details are available from the School Improvement Service at the Westbury Centre. The School Library Service runs courses for volunteer helpers in primary schools - contact the School Library Service for further details.
Class visits to libraries
Visits by school classes to any Borough library are very welcome. These can be arranged with the Librarian of the library you wish to visit.
Visits may include an introduction to the library, a story session, developing reading for information or choosing books for a school loan. Arrangements can be made to suit individual classes.
Advisory visits
Professional librarians are available to advise on any area related to school libraries and resources.
This includes the organisation and management of a school library as well as book selection and the development of reading for information skills.
Talks in schools
Librarians are always pleased to share their knowledge of children's books and library resources, including talks to parents on reading with children, displays and library promotion talks at parents' evenings, book talks to children and INSET sessions on resource organisation and use.
Teachers are welcome to telephone the School Library Service to discuss their requirements.
Book promotion
Schools that are having book promotion weeks are invited to contact the School Library Service for information on publishers and authors. Promotional material such as competitions and colouring sheets can be provided. Book promotion materials such as posters are sent to schools when available.
