Library

The BIS Library has two locations. The Lower School library is situated on the ground floor of our new Lower School facility. The Middle and Upper School Library is situated above the new Cafeteria, which is halfway between most Middle and Upper School classrooms. Library services are provided by 2 professionally trained librarians as well as by trained volunteers.

 

Opening Hours

Monday:
 08:30 – 17:00
Tuesday: 08:30 – 17:00
Wednesday:
 08:30 – 17:00
Thursday:
 08:30 – 17:00
Friday: 08:30 – 14:30

 

 

 

 

It is not open on the weekends, school holidays or public holidays.

 

The Collection

The two libraries have a combined collection of approximately 30,000 titles. The English book collection is divided into the following sections: Fiction (Junior Fiction, Easy Readers, and Picture Story Books), and Non-Fiction (Secondary Non-Fiction, Junior Non-Fiction, Secondary and Junior Reference). There is also a large German Fiction and Non-Fiction collection. A small collection of picture books and fiction books in French, Dutch, Italian, Spanish and Japanese exist to support mother tongue programmes. Any donations to these collections would be appreciated.

The library also has a small range of DVDs, videotapes and audio tapes, which can be borrowed by parents and teachers. The library subscribes to about thirty magazines and newspapers, current issues are for use only within the library, but back issues may be borrowed for one week by all users.

 

Borrowing

Students may borrow the following amount of books:
Pre-Reception - Reception: oOne book
Grade 1 - Two books
Grade 2 - Three books
Grades 3 - 5: Four books
Grades 6-10: Eight books
Grades 11-12:  Open

The borrowing period is two weeks, and each item may be renewed for a second two-week period.

 

Library Charges

The library does not issue overdue fines, but reserves the right to charge the replacement and processing fee for any long overdue items. An item is deemed long overdue if it has not been returned within three months of issue. At the end of the school year students need to have returned all library materials or made a payment for lost materials in order to receive their progress report.

 

Library Behaviour Policy

The library is shared by students, staff and other members of the BIS community, thus all users are requested to behave responsibly and respectfully. The eating or chewing of any food or drink is not allowed, as is unruly behaviour and any actions, which result in damage or injury. In order to maintain a pleasant and enjoyable learning environment we also ask that users clean up after themselves. The computers in the library are for educational use and student research. If a student wishes to use any computer programme they must request permission from the librarian.

 

Parents

Parents may borrow items from the library but must return any item immediately if needed for school learning purposes. Parents borrow under the name of their youngest child at school and have the same loan period as students. Some parents also help out in the library on a volunteer basis - if you are interested in doing this please contact the librarian about our next training session.

 

Online Assistance

The Library has 6 databases that can help students with their inquiries at school or at home.  These are:

  1. Grolier Encyclopaedia has not only the New Book of Knowledge and Grolier Multi-media Encyclopaedia; it also contains the New Book of Popular Science and Lands and People. 
  2. Heinemann Explore - A wide-ranging interactive teaching and learning resource for ages 4-11.
  3. Net Trekker – educationally reviewed search engine which retrieves websites appropriate for student use and reading level, it is subdivided into Elementary, Middle School and High School levels
  4. NewsBank - Articles explore events and facts about plants, animals, fossils, science, math, the earth, health, sports, people, arts, geography, and important problems. Also, games, pictures, and activities written at the level students can understand.  For Upper School this resource contains a wide number of World-Wide News Publications in English as well as up-to-date information from the scientific publications.
  5. Ebsco Periodical Index -Designed specifically for school libraries, this database contains full text articles for nearly 500 popular magazines. In addition for Upper School Students this resource offers Magill-on- Literature which includes literary reviews and criticisms, a special World History Collection of periodicals and Novelist which gives critical analysis of many works of fiction
  6. Britannica Online Academic Edition - Online encyclopaedia for Upper School students a gateway to academic research.
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