Meet the new Head Librarian

As Book Week 2023 gets underway, our new Head Librarian, Jodie Brooks, took some time out to tell us about her first half-term at King’s, and her plans for the library. 

Miss Brooks moved back to her North Wales roots at the beginning of this year after spending 20 years in Oxford. 

During her time in Oxford, Miss Brooks worked in the city’s museums before becoming a school librarian ten years ago. In that time, she was Chair of the Oxford School Library Association and sat on the executive committee of the School Library Association and we are delighted that she now brings that experience to her role at King’s. 

She said: “I am so pleased to be here at King’s where the library sits firmly at the heart of school. 

“My time here got off to a very exciting start with a visit from our Senior School Patron of Reading, Phil Earle, and it’s been a whirlwind ever since.”

Visitors to the library can’t fail to have noticed a number of subtle changes over the last few weeks, not least the screen-free zone and the new dynamic shelving. 

Miss Brooks: “I want to ensure that the library is always a space for reading; the screen-free zone wasn’t popular at first but I’ve noticed more and more students using it recently. 

“I have also reorganised the shelving so that our fiction books are now arranged by genre. This will make it easier students find the books they want to read, and hopefully discover new favourites.”

Her efforts are already paying off as, helped by a new loyalty scheme, the library has experienced an increase in book loans since she arrived. 

Miss Brooks explained: “When students take out a book, I stamp their loyalty card. The reward for a full card is a treat from my chocolate collection and every full card is entered in a termly draw to win a book token.

“A number of students have already completed their first card, which is incredible in just six weeks.”

Miss Brooks has a number of plans for the library and they aren’t limited to reading. Plans include a Warhammer Club, Open Mic sessions and the addition of board games to the library.

During Book Week, there will be a number of activities in the library including book crafts on Monday, a reading breakfast on Thursday morning and a murder mystery on Thursday lunchtime.

Miss Brooks is pictured with Thirds students, and enthusiastic readers, Willow Parker and Siena Poole.