Library

Welcome to St Catherine’s Senior School Library where ‘reading for pleasure’ and independent learning through purposeful private study are simultaneously encouraged by the large number of books available for loan and reference use.  There is also a collection of hard-copy magazines, as well as online Library resources available to students through our online Library system, ‘Oliver’. The Library also subscribes to the daily papers, including 3 foreign language newspapers. The librarian is always happy to receive book recommendations and reservation requests, and provide support in finding information.  

Highlights in the Library calendar include ‘Book Week’, celebrating literature in all its diverse forms throughout the school, and the Librarians’ Literary lectures, a joint venture with the prep. School promoting books and authors to the pupils, thereby extending their ‘reading for pleasure’ choices.

The Library is open 7 days a week and staffed by the Senior School Librarian from 8:30-5.30pm Monday -Friday.    Pupils can borrow up to six books for 3 weeks. The Library is available to Day Girls after school for homework.

Do come and visit the library to see the resources available to the pupils whilst at St Catherine’s.

Our suggested reading lists for current parents can be found here.  

Book Week March 2022 

The beginning of March saw our annual Book Week, with this year’s title of Adventures through the pages, inviting everyone to consider their own interpretation of the theme.  Activities ranged from a Bookmark design competition, Library quizzes and activities, launch of the Library Short Story Competition, and, of course, an opportunity to dress up as a favourite character from, or subject of, a book on World Book Day – a thoroughly enjoyable event! 

Our Librarians' Literary Lecture series returns in June 2022 following a pause due to the impact of Covid-19.   More information coming soon!

• Robin is best known for her ‘Murder Most Unladylike’ series which she started writing as part of National Novel Writing month in November 2110, but didn’t send her script off for two years.
• Robin has won several literary awards: CrimeFest Best Crime Novel for Children; ALA Notable Children’s Book Prize; Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and Oxford- shire Book Awards for best primary novel.
• Robin says that the Golden Age of Detective Fiction has been a great influence on her work, esp the writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers

• Robin Stevens - October 2019
• Geraldine McCaughrean - June 2019
• Linda Newbery - January 2019
• Katherine Woodfine - June 2018
• Jo Cotterill - September 2017
• Elen Caldecott - September 2016
• Frances Hardinge - January 2016
• Lauren St John - June 2015
• Julia Golding - September 2014
• Theresa Breslin - June 2014
• Michelle Paver - September 2013
• Lauren Child - June 2013
• Marcus Sedgwick - March 2013
• Philip Reeve - June 2012
• Lauren Child - May 2012