Academic Studies at Millfield
Departments

Library

Millfield is justifiably proud of its purpose built library which is situated in the very heart of the Millfield campus. The library, built to an award-winning design and is a large, open plan space on three levels. The provision in the library is outstanding with over 23,000 texts, an extensive collection of DVDs and CDs, any manner of magazine subscriptions as well as the leading newspapers and journals. These are complemented by over 50 computers for pupil use.

Led by the Tutor Librarian, the library has introduced the Lower Sixth Research Project which is undertaken by all new Sixth Formers in the first weeks of the autumn term. Following this introduction sixth formers are invited to pursue their research skills further by taking on the Extended Project Qualification or EPQ. Despite this Sixth Form focus, the library also works extensively with the junior years in the school supporting a diverse range of subjects in developing project work.

Reading both for pleasure and academic study is a fundamental strand of the library’s work and initiatives from supporting book groups to developing a Millfield Book of the Year and creating a Recommended Reading website based on input from staff and pupils have all played their part in nurturing a whole school reading community. The provision of large book boxes for each boarding house has demonstrated the library’s commitment to creating a truly homely atmosphere in the boarding houses, with a wide range of books readily available to the pupils.

The library has produced some outstanding display work in recent years to highlight the diversity of the Millfield community. The display created by the library to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the CILIP Carnegie/Greenaway book award was rewarded with national recognition at the event celebrating the anniversary.

Millfield’s library strives to serve the whole school community, from a pre school library group for staff children which meets on a Wednesday afternoon to a series of evening talks for pupils, staff and friends. Last year the library hosted, amongst others,  performance poet, Matt Harvey, local author Maggie Bendall-Smith who spoke of her life growing up as a Romany Gypsy in Somerset during the 1950s, to ex- student Ellie Decamp who presented her Oxford D.Phil work on barber surgeons in Shakespeare. Money raised from these talks was donated to The LEAP School in Cape Town, South Africa a school serving the township of Llanga. Future developments include arranging for two Sixth Form pupils to visit and work in The LEAP School for two weeks in 2013.

Opening Hours

Monday – Friday: 8.15am – 5.50pm
Saturday: 8.15am – 12.50pm

View Millfield Library blog