Librarian Talk - Poonampal Kaur - Sarah Bonnell School - UK

Welcome to Librarian Talk, the place where librarians get to talk about their roles, their unique situations and how Accessit Library has helped them. This week, we speak with Poonampal Kaur, library manager at Sarah Bonnell School about how she makes the most of Accessit Library.

What character in a book has influenced you the most?

Oh, that is a difficult one. I think I will have to say Christopher Boone from ‘The curious incident of the dog in the night-time.’

Tell us about your library! What makes it unique?

Apart from the very modern layout and the amount of space it houses the latest PCs and iPads. I complement the physical books with periodicals, eBooks and audio books. I am passionate about providing material for all our learners of all abilities. I stock a range of material to help our girls make progress in their reading, be it A-level standard (we do not have a sixth form), picture or dual language books. I keep the students engaged with the LH and use the Web App to help me achieve this. I keep it updated so students enjoy the experience it provides. I also have Google Classrooms set up as LH support rooms where the students contact me with any queries of issues they may have about the LH. Our LH is also known to host WBD like a show at the London Palladium!

What is a challenge that you faced in your library recently?

Without a doubt it has to be the operation of the LH since coming back after the school closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the students are not allowed to come to the LH, going to them and collecting and delivering books has been hard. Also, our students do not have school email accounts so contacting them about their LH queries has been difficult. Keeping students engaged with the LH is challenging as I do not see them as often as I used to so ensuring messages of any new LH developments reaches everyone, has presented further difficulties.

How did Accessit Library help you solve this challenge?

The latest reservation and quarantine mode update worked well and has definitely helped set up my click and deliver service. Also integrating Wheelers into the Accessit program has helped to channel all borrowing in one area. Using the landing page as a point of getting notifications out to students has been useful.

How has your attitude changed towards the challenge you solved with Accessit Library, now that you’ve worked through it?

Having means to tackle the issues through Accessit is always welcomed and implemented.

What do you like the most about Accessit Library?

The ever-growing list of functions that allow me to get things done quickly!

How does Accessit Library support the academic outcomes of your school?

By helping us to provide interesting and innovating provisions for our learners.