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The Cotton Library, named to honour Miss Constance Cotton, a former significant teacher of the Junior School, is integral to the teaching and learning programs at Somerville House.
Within Cotton Library there are two class rooms, one for Prep to Year 2 students, and one for Year 3 to Year 6 students. There is a purposely designed reading corner and a large open area with an organised and impressive fiction and non fiction collection. This brightly coloured, engaging and flexible learning spaces cater for the research, literacy and learning needs of Junior School students and staff from Pre-Prep to Year 6.
The Cotton Library collection includes a broad range of print and digital resources, to ensure students across all reading levels are supported in achieving their literacy goals and developing a joy of reading. Online databases compliment these resources and assist in developing students’ information literacy skills.
Prep to Year 6 students have weekly Information Literacy lessons with a Teacher Librarian. Here they are exposed to high-quality literature, author talks and are taught how to navigate the library catalogue. The teacher librarians are also booked for extra lessons to teach information literacy and research skills to support the Primary Years Program.
The Seymour Library, named to honour the School’s eighth Principal, Reverend Sam Seymour, opened in 2001 as a single-level learning space to serve the Middle and Senior Years.
In March 2018 Seymour Library was re-opened after an extensive refurbishment resulting in a state-of-the-art, university-inspired learning space across multiple levels. The Seymour Library now offers three separate, versatile and light-filled levels catering for the research, study and recreational reading needs of students in the Middle and Senior Years from Years 7 to 12 as well as Academic Staff.
The Seymour Library collection includes access to a range of electronic resources via subject specific, academic, online databases, an extensive, current, print collection, ebooks, audio books, DVDs, a digital repository of video content and a variety of devices and technology equipment which enhance the student learning experience.
Flexible furniture, wall-to-floor glass windows and rich fixtures and furnishings provide a friendly, welcoming and stimulating environment for students, who are supported by Library Staff to fulfil their research requirements and continue a love of reading.
Year 7 and 8 students have a weekly library lesson with a focus on reading for pleasure. Year 9 and 10 have weekly research skills lessons and all year groups visit the library in other subjects. The library is also a social hub and a safe space for students to relax and unwind and there are activities held every lunch time including a writing club, craft club and trivia challenges.
Seymour Library is open during term time:
Monday to Thursday 7.00am to 6.00pm.
Friday 7.00am to 5.00pm.
Cotton Library is open during term time for independent borrowing:
Monday to Friday 8.00am to 8.25am and at lunch time.
A range of services are provided by qualified library staff to support students and staff with their teaching, learning and research needs.
An extensive range of print and electronic resources are available for students and staff via the Library homepages.
Library events held throughout each year include: