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Here are the book order sheets 2010-2011:
Our library was founded approximately six years ago, and started off in one classroom with a handful of willing volunteer parents. Book stocks totalled circa 1,500. We now have two bilingual libraries, one at the Kastanienallee site (secondary and upper secondary school) and one at the Pfalzburger Straße site (primary), which are home to over 25,000 books, 24 periodicals including Spot-on, écoute, Okapi, GEO, Epoche, Stern, Spiegel, Economist, Geschichte, PM History and Biography, Art Profil, ART, National Geographic, Geolino, Guardian, Die Zeit, to name but a few, 400 DVDs, 20 audio books, and 100 CD-Roms. We are aiming to expand our limited stock of multilingual texts.
In the primary library we offer a parents corner, consisting mainly of English novels and DVDs and, in view of our connection with the Nelson Mandela Foundation/Africa as a whole, both libraries have an African corner offering African literature, Nelson Mandela biographies/autobiographies, non-fiction pertaining to Africa and Nelson Mandela’s Favourite African Fairytales in both book form and audio book form. There is a project room available for small groups of students to carry out research as part of the IPC programme and the Reading Lab also has space in the student school book resources room.
In the secondary/upper secondary library, students and teachers are able to borrow laptops (WLAN access), together with beamers for presentation work. The laptops may be used in the reference library area under supervision.
Most of our books come from fundraising initiatives by the library team, donations from the school community, free publishing house copies and funds from the Berlin authorities. The Friends of Nelson Mandela School also contribute funding for books, salaries, shelving and materials for the registration of books and media items.
The library team consists of the two main co-ordinators, Mrs Holzhäuser and Ms Dunlop, six volunteer parents and two MAE-Kräfte (helpers via the Unemployment Office who are both present for 30 hours per week). Opening Hours
Primary School Pfalzburger Straße Monday – Thursday 8.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The library is open to parents on Mondays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 8.30 a.m.
Secondary School Kastanienallee Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The library coordinators can be contacted via This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Library Rules1. Library membership of € 5.00 per school year is payable at the beginning of the school year or upon entry into the Nelson Mandela School. Library services are only available to those who have paid their membership.
2. Books may be borrowed for a maximum period of 2 weeks unless they have been extended by prior arrangement. A late fee of € 0,20 per book per week or part thereof will be levied for all late recreational readers. Books etc. may only be registered out in a student’s name. Books which are later than 6 months overdue incur a flat rate fee of € 10.00 to cover late fees and administration costs.
3. DVDs and CD-Roms may be borrowed free of charge, but a penalty of € 2,00 per week will be levied for non-return.
4. Textbooks may be borrowed for a maximum period of 1 school year – class set novels are to be returned once the reading period has ceased within the class (charges specified on book order list). A condition of ‘leasing’ textbooks is that the student is a member of the library. Under the terms of the Lernmittelverordnung (rules laid down by the Local Education Authority), we are obliged to demand late fees on all school textbooks which are not returned by the end of the prevailing school year. Parents/students are also legally bound by this rule to replace any textbooks which have been lost or returned in an unacceptable condition. Textbooks are marked as to their condition when they are registered out to a student. Late fees will be charged at a rate of € 0,50 per book per week or part thereof, together with an administration fee of € 5,00.
5. Items are only to be registered out to the borrower – teachers may not borrow on behalf of students, parents may not borrow books on their child’s library card (parent membership is available). Books etc. may not be passed on to other students/teachers. Do not lend borrowed items to other members of the school community. Textbook/Private Book Ordering ServiceMrs Holzhäuser and Ms Dunlop order textbooks for the whole school. Order lists for the new school year will be posted on the website once available. The majority of textbooks are offered to ‘lease’ for the school year, which makes book purchases less expensive for parents, and the funds raised from leasing fees, in addition to everyday fundraising, assure the continued development of our libraries. We are always pleased to order books for your personal requirements, and through our many connections, are often able to secure books which are difficult to obtain through the usual channels. IB Diploma/AbiturOne of the requirements for IBO accreditation (International Baccalaureate) is the existence of an excellent library, a condition we have met with bravura due to the ongoing efforts of our committed library team. During the pre-examination period, the school has made a policy of closing off the entire secondary library area for two weeks to ensure optimum study conditions for our graduates, both Abitur and IB Diploma courses. Teachers/co-ordinators are available for extra one-one and group counselling during this period. All other students are allowed limited access during the lunch breaks for book loans/returns. Red House International Book ClubEvery quarter, we receive catalogues from the Red House International Book Club, which is based in the UK. Parents/students have the opportunity to browse through the catalogues and select books/gift items which they would like to purchase. Parents may also select books which they would like to donate to the library (voluntary). The school libraries benefit from 20% of the value of the order in free books. Storytime Books & Café, Berlin
This delightful bookstore holds book fairs at our school (Summer Fete, Winter Basaar and on other pre-arranged dates) and generously donates the school a 10% store credit on all sales. SponsorshipIn the past, the library has sponsored (from its own fundraising efforts) such things as:
It is most important to the library team to give something back to the school community as a gesture of appreciation for their continued support of the libraries. Many schools have approached Mrs Holzhäuser and Ms Dunlop with regard to advice concerning the development of a library in their school – a big compliment to our library team, who had no previous experience in this line of work.
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