Our QAIS Library
The library and library staff offer programs and services for the entire school. The library is designed for students to work individually and collaboratively, and supports our learners with a growing collection of resources available for scholastic inquiry as well as reading for pleasure.
Library Mission
The mission of the QAIS School Library is to inspire and encourage a lifelong love of reading and learning in our school community whilst supporting the curricular and co-curricular programs and promoting international mindedness.
The QAIS Library strives to be a learning hub that is an integral part of the school community. The library supports teaching, learning and research in an intellectually and culturally open environment.
The Library Staff strives to work collaboratively with teachers to create authentic learning for all students, to encourage effective use of ideas and information; to provide quality resources to encourage reading for pleasure and to help students stay informed in a rapidly changing world.
Library Goals
- To further the educational aims of the school by providing quality resources that support and enhance the curriculum and the mission of the school.
- To fulfill students’ educational information needs and to encourage as far as possible the extracurricular and leisure interests of the students.
- To promote resource-based learning through the provision of a wide range of materials, both print and virtual learning environment; and the teaching of study and information skills so that students learn how to learn, how to analyze, how to reach considered conclusions about man, his language and literature, his way in society, and the scientific forces of his environment.
- To promote positive attitudes towards independent learning, information literacy, libraries, reading and literature.
- To stimulate intercultural awareness and promote international mindedness through the provision of materials reflecting a variety of cultures and languages.
- To meet teachers’ professional and recreational needs.
- To promote community awareness and participation in learning and reading.
Library Hours
The QAIS Library is open from 7:45 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. Monday through Friday of the academic year. Students may come during their scheduled library session or on permission of their teacher. Groups of students larger than 4 need permission ahead of time from the Librarian. Teachers and staff are welcome to browse and pick up materials in person or notify needs via email or phone. The Textbook room may be accessed by appointment.
Circulation
PYP students check out books once a week and can renew books an unlimited amount of times. EC students may check out 1 book a week, Grades 1, 2, and 3 may check out 2 books a week (one English and one in any language of their choice), Grades 4 and 5 may check out three books a week. This does not include textbooks or class reading.
MYP and DP students may check out ten books at a time and have thirty days before they need to be returned or renewed.
Overdue Books
An email is sent from the library to homeroom teachers (PYP) and advisors (MYP, DP) at the end of every month listing any outstanding books for their students.
The purpose of this is to keep teachers and advisors aware of books checked out by their students and to ask in their assistance in the returning or renewing of these books. Teachers should then inform individual parents about missing or overdue books.
Students are not allowed to check out books over their book allowance amount therefore if a student has not returned a previously checked out book, they may not be able to check out another.
Three times a year: (November, February, and May) an overdue book report is produced, and parents are informed by the library book of overdue/lost book(s).
Twice a year (mid, and end) the finance office will ask the parents to pay for the book(s) and the student’s library account will be cleared.
Lost/Damaged Books
Patrons will be charged for lost or damaged books.
Library Spaces & Usage
As a multi-use space, the library is designed to play a central role for the school community.
It is important for learners to have designated physical spaces as well as virtual spaces, so this library is designed to blend the two in a way that gives learners experience with a variety of media.
There are distinct zones within the library that include multiple teaching and learning spaces.
Students, teachers, and parents may access all areas of the library as appropriate. However, it is expected that PYP and MYP/DP students will predominantly use the areas specifically designed for them. The MYP/DP students have access to and may borrow from all collections. PYP students may access the resources for the older students under supervision and with permission.
PYP
Story time Circle
Creative Corner (bookable)
PYP Fiction Section
Picture Books/Non-Fiction Tree Wall
Work/Listening Station Room (bookable)
MYP/DP
Brainstorming Lounge
World Language & Café Corner
Fiction Reading Area
Large group Learning Area (bookable)
Teachers/Parents
Quiet Work Space
Classroom Library Sets
Teachers may select texts to be located in their rooms to function as a classroom library.