Manor Foundation Business, Enterprise and Sports College

Leading Edge Partnership

Learning, Working and Achieving Together

Friar Park Road, Wednesbury, West Midlands, WS10 0JS
Tel: 0121 556 2858 | Fax: 0121 505 3150

Extra Curricular Activities

Manifold Library and Learning Centre

The Library Team

Librarian Miss Clarke is assisted by Library Assistant Miss Green. Miss Green joined the school in 2000 and is also a part-time Literacy Assistant. There is also a number of student librarians who help out during lunch and break-times. We would be lost without them and are always looking for new recruits!

Opening Hours

The library is open all day every day! Students can use the library before school (from 8.30am) and after school (until 4.00pm), as well as lunch and break-times. Classes are often booked in the library during lesson time but individual students can still come in for personal study.

Library Stock

The library has over 9000 items - phew! This includes fiction (story) books, non-fiction (fact) books, videos, DVDs, audio cassettes, daily newspapers, magazines, Connexions section, reference books (encyclopaedias etc) and 20 computers. All computers have free internet access and free printing facilities.

Library Rules

Books can be borrowed for 28 days and videos and DVDs can be borrowed for 5 days. Items can be renewed twice but overdue fines are charged at 5p per day. There is a Code of Conduct which states basic rules for using the library. Copies are on display in the library and the library’s page of the school’s Learning Gateway. We want the library to be a relaxed place students enjoy using, but if you don’t follow the rules you will be asked to leave. Chairs for relaxation

Library Displays

The library is a big room so there is plenty of wall space for displays! They change regularly so keep your eyes open! Recent displays include the Carnegie book award, books which are films and stories from around the world. There is a regular display called This Term’s Author and a notice board dedicated to what’s happening around school.

Library Awards

Throughout the year the library runs competitions to celebrate events such as World Book Day and National Poetry Day. At the end of year Awards Evening, all student librarians receive a certificate for services to the library. The Library Prize is presented at the Awards Evening to the two best library users from each school year.

Careers Section

The library has a large careers section. This will help you when you are choosing your subject options in year 9, looking at what to do when you leave year 11, or what to do when you leave year 13. We have lots of university prospectuses and have a display board dedicated purely to careers information. You can use the library computers to access Fast Tomato. This is a software programme which suggests jobs you may enjoy based on what your interests are. We want to help you make the right choices! 20 computers with Internet access

Carnegie/Greenaway Medals

Each year The Carnegie medal is awarded to the best children’s story book and the Greenaway Medal is awarded to the children’s book with the best illustrations in it. Each year the library and English department shadow the Carnegie Medal. Students in the shadowing group read and review the books. Their reviews are posted on the Carnegie/Greenaway website. The library also works with local primary schools to shadow the Greenaway Medal.

Podcasting

The library runs a small podcasting group using Apple Macbooks. Pupils write book reviews and turn them into enhanced podcasts with sound and images. This usually involves trips to nearby City Learning Centres. Click below for a selection of book review podcasts created by Manor pupils.

Book Review Podcasts:

History of the Library

‘The Manifold Library and Learning Centre’ was officially opened on 15 th November 1994. It is named after the late Mr W Manifold and the late Mrs D Manifold, in honour of services to the school and dedication to the community within West Bromwich and Sandwell. Mr Manifold was Mayor of the County Borough of West Bromwich in 1972 and Mrs Manifold was Mayor of the County Borough of West Bromwich in 1960 (a title which was later replaced by Mayor of Sandwell).

A bookstock of over 9,000 items

Before 1994 the library used to be on an upper floor of the school, but was moved to a ground floor position to improve access for any students with disabilities. The room that is now the library used to be a science lab.

There have been several librarians over the years since the Manifold library came into existence:

Mrs L. Paige (until c.1995)

Mrs K. Procter (c.1995-2000)

Mrs A. Jones (2000-2005)

Miss C. Clarke (2005-present)