Located on the entire upper floor of the conservatory block, the Library offers you a calm and welcoming space and provides the College’s silent study environment.
A large, open-plan design allows you to access a number of computers, laptop points and study desks alongside a varied collection of physical resources including textbooks, wider reading and course/study guides, fiction, biographies, mental wellbeing resources and subject journals. You may borrow as many items as you like. Here more about what’s on offer from our Librarian below.
Search your Online Library Catalogue
View resource guides for your subject
Browse the Second Hand Bookshop
My name is Rachel Chávez and I am the Librarian at DSFC. During your first two terms with us I will guide you through a short programme of research skills which are designed to support you in developing your independent learning. The programme focuses on effective internet searching and critically evaluating online sources, developing your understanding and use of subject journals, and introduces some basic biology and social psychology to help understand our responses to fake news, along with what we can do to avoid it. You may receive further sessions within your chosen courses during which we focus on subject-specific resources, plagiarism and referencing.
If you choose to take the EPQ, I deliver the taught skills aspect of the qualification. You will already have some of those skills under your belt from the research skills programme. During the EPQ programme of study we will cover a number of topics including: choosing and developing a research topic; time management; developing a research plan; academic resources; reflective writing; advanced research skills; plagiarism and referencing; transforming and synthesising research; academic writing; and presentation skills.
To compliment your studies you will also have access to a fully searchable Online Library Catalogue and an online resource portal containing relevant Library resources and carefully curated online sources for your subject.
Throughout the year regular displays highlight different elements of the Library collections and are designed to engage and encourage reading for pleasure along with competitions. ‘Subject Showcases’ bring out featured study guides, non-fiction and fiction related to each course and events such as World Mental Health Day and Pride Month are highlighted with a selection of relevant resources. You will have the opportunity to shadow different book awards – in the past students have chosen to take part in shadowing The Booker Prize, the National Teen Book Club, the YA Book Prize and the Excelsior Award for graphic novels. Furthermore, an informal book group, consisting of both staff and students who can opt in and out to different activities as they wish, offers you the opportunity to share your reading with others. View our programme of events for 2022-2023 here.
Finally, you will have your chance to express your opinions on Library matters through my annual survey which takes place towards the end of your first year here and I always welcome your suggestions and requests for new resources.
Rachel Chávez, Librarian, MCLIP
[email protected]
