Behind the Scenes - Meet the Librarians

July 17, 2024

As part of our new blog series, Behind the Scenes, we have spoken to Norwich School's Library Team from both the Lower School and the Senior School to get a sense of their vital role in the everyday workings of Norwich School, Deborah Goodwin, Mark Moore and Sally Morgan tell us more...



How long have you worked at Norwich School?

Mr Moore: I have worked at Norwich School in the role of Librarian for around 10 years.

Ms Goodwin: I started at Norwich School in September 2014. 

Mrs Morgan: This is the end of my 6th year at the Lower School. 


What attracted you to the role?

Mr Moore: I love reading and learning about new topics and this role gave me the opportunity to enthuse and encourage both pupils and other members of the school community to do the same. The variety of tasks and responsibilities related to the role was also attractive. 


Ms Goodwin: I had just finished my MSc in Librarianship and I liked the fact that the role incorporated teaching information literacy, promoting reading for pleasure, and supporting teachers. I thought that the variety of the role looked interesting and provided the chance to develop some new skills. 


Mrs Morgan: I have always been a reader and have a love of children’s literature, which has developed as my own children have grown up. I wanted to be able to make a difference and support pupils who find reading more challenging. 


How has the role of Librarian changed during your time at Norwich School?

Mr Moore: There has certainly been an increased demand to supply resources on a more diverse range of genres and topics. An understanding of the pros and cons of AI in research and how we can incorporate this into what we do as a department is also a current theme which has recently become relevant.


Ms Goodwin: Sadly, curriculum pressures have meant that we no longer teach information skills to the younger years, but I love getting involved with the 6th form Independent Project, seeing the fascinating topics that Lower 6 pupils choose to study and helping them to locate the relevant resources. 


Mrs Morgan: Reading Ambassadors now provide a pupil voice in the library. These are chosen each term from our Lower Two pupils upwards. Each class has a couple of ambassadors who provide a voice in the library, and also give me an insight into reading in the classroom, the stock in class libraries etc Ambassadors get to go to the bookshop once a term to choose new library stock.


There are now more author visits and themed days!


What does the day-to-day of a Librarian at Norwich School look like?

Mr Moore: It’s often extremely varied. One second we could be recommending fiction to a class of Lower 4 pupils and the next we could be helping a Lower 6 pupil create a bibliography for their Independent Project. Other tasks might include resolving IT issues, cataloguing new books, running reading groups and organising literary events, amongst many others.


Ms Goodwin: Busy! Some of it is cyclical, with an outreach book event each term, and pupil reading groups each week, but a lot of time is spent helping individual pupils with their enquiries, which can vary from finding foreign language newspapers, locating books about Dadaism, or helping a reader find their latest favourite book series. 

Mrs Morgan: Library sessions with Infant classes, Jackanory Club at lunchtime, pupils popping in at all times during the day to change or choose a new book, emptying the library returns box, with the help of the U3 library monitors, and returning books to shelves. (MM)


What's your favourite part of your role?

Mr Moore: The interaction with other members of the school community and having the opportunity to help and inspire pupils in terms of their reading and engagement with books and information sources.

Ms Goodwin: I still kick myself sometimes that my job actually involves talking to people about books!

Mrs Morgan: Many enjoyable parts include:

When a pupil comes into the library unsure of what to read, I am able to recommend a selection of books, one of which they take away. They then enjoy reading it so much that they rush into the library a few days later to get the next book in the series or something by the same author, as they’ve loved reading it.


Author talks – spreading the buzz of reading throughout the school. This year we have hosted Jess French, Ivan Bates and Annalise Gray, as well as having a book fair run by Norfolk Children’s Book Centre.


World Book Week – visits to local bookshop, dressing up on WBD, spreading the love of reading throughout the school.


Activities in School – book swaps, book fairies, themed weeks eg Non-Fiction November, Roald Dahl week etc.

Themed events – Harry Potter book night, Tiger Who Came to Tea party for Infants


Is there anything you're looking forward to? 

Mr Moore: I’m looking forward to planning for the 2024/25 academic year. We hope to bring in more inspirational authors and we already have some exciting events in the pipeline. 

Ms Goodwin: I’m always excited about the next book festival and who we might be able to book for it. We’ve had some amazing, inspirational speakers over the years, and I love finding new talent and introducing our pupils to new authors. 


Mrs Morgan: Further developing the profile of reading across the Lower School.


How else do you get involved with Norwich School life? 

Mr Moore: I’m also a 4th Form tutor and Geography teacher.

Ms Goodwin: In addition to my job in the library, I’m also (Joint) Head of Staff Health and Wellbeing, which is a wonderful addition to my role. I love being able to do what I can to help colleagues in their working lives.

Mrs Morgan: I am also a teacher in the Lower School for 50% of my time. This enables me to take part in the wider life of the school, and see pupils as learners as well as readers. I teach U3 English and Infant Outdoor Learning so this is a great mixture of lessons! 


How does the library team work?

Mr Moore: The library team’s ethos is very much centred around the sharing of ideas and perspectives. We work on projects and events together and the lower and senior school libraries are mutually supportive of each other. 

Ms Goodwin: As there are three of us and three libraries, physically we each spend most of our time in one particular library, but we share ideas, support each other with events - and often borrow books from each other! 

Mrs Morgan: Brilliantly! Regular meetings and we borrow books from each other frequently.

 

By Eleanor Lewis July 1, 2025
This Summer, Freya Simmonds (L6) had set herself a 5 Lake District Peak challenge to raise money for the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya; this works to conserve the Northern White Rhino which on the verge of extinction. We asked Freya about her challenge and what it means to her below... Can you tell us a little bit about 5 Peaks, 2 Rhinos, 1 Fight? 5 Peaks, 2 Rhinos, 1 Fight is a fundraising challenge I’ve created to help save the northern white rhino from extinction. Over three days this summer, I’ll be hiking five of the Lake District’s highest peaks: Skiddaw, Crinkle Crags, Scafell Pike, Causey Pike, and Helvellyn in order to raise £1,000 for the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Ol Pejeta is home to the last two northern white rhinos on earth, where this functionally extinct species is cared for. However there is still hope to revive this species through IVF Conservation, and 35 pure embryos already exist and are ready to be implanted into a surrogate black rhino (rhino surrogacy has been successfully proven in 2023). It’s a way to combine my love of conservation, science, and the outdoors into something real and (hopefully!) impactful. Why did you decide to do this challenge? I first found out about the story of the northern white rhinos in 2018 when I read an article on the death of the last male northern white rhino (Sudan). As an aspiring vet, I was reminded of these rhinos when writing my independent project, on the role of vets in guiding breeding practices. When I found out that there are only two northern white rhinos left, and that both are female and can’t carry a pregnancy, I began researching the incredible science being used to try and bring them back, like stem cells, IVF, and surrogacy. I wanted to do something to support the work being done at Ol Pejeta and raise awareness that extinction isn’t always final, not if we fight for it. Have you ever done anything like this before? Every year my family and I go to the Lake District, or Wales to climb peaks as it is a beautiful way of combining a physical challenge with seeing the stunning landscapes of Britain, however I have never completed this number of peaks in such a short time, or climbed all of the highest peaks in a row. I’m combining the physical endurance of hiking multiple peaks with the emotional challenge of sharing a cause I care deeply about. It’s a huge step up, and I can’t wait. What are you most looking forward to? Reaching the top of Helvellyn on the final day will definitely be a highlight. There’s the challenge of striding edge, along with the Red Tarn near the summit you can swim in, and I think it’ll feel like such a celebration to finish there. I’m also really excited to share updates each day and bring people along for the journey. If it inspires even one person to care more about conservation, it’ll be worth it. Probably the most exciting part will be donating the money to Ol Pejeta and then following on their IVF journey to hopefully result in a new calf born in the near future. What have you done to prepare for this? The most time consuming part of this fundraiser was the IVF conservation research I have carried out over the past few months. I’ve created a timeline, mapping the rhinos journey from 4 rhinos in 2009 to 2 since 2018. I made the route, built a fundraising page, created a logo and progress tracker, as well as contacting conservationists, vets, and local media to increase awareness of this species. In terms of physical training, practicing endurance is key as 5 peaks in 3 days is no easy task. To find out more about Freya's challenge please click here!
By Eleanor Lewis July 1, 2025
Coming back to the Crypt from 12-20 July is the exhibition, depARTment. This exhibition brings together the creative work of the Norwich School Art and Design staff. The pieces on display are a selection of outcomes that we undertake alongside our teaching, something we consider vital in supporting both our pupils and our own creative integrity. Within this exhibition you will encounter artwork which could be considered our main individual creative practice alongside more experimental approaches, work out of discipline and also work in progress. As a department we teach our pupils across a wide range of media and disciplines; the work on display echoes this approach. Opening times: Monday - Friday, 12:00 - 17:00 Saturday - 10:00 - 17:00 Closed Sundays. Free admission. Poster design - Liza Goian
By Eleanor Lewis July 1, 2025
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June 30, 2025
On Monday 1 July, Middle 5 Classics pupils took the opportunity to put what they've learned in the classroom to the test by acting out a Roman ritual sacrifice! The esteemed Pontifex Maximus led the proceedings on a baking hot morning as the gathered participants processed to the altar with their chosen beast - an unfortunate horse. The sacrifice was mercifully swift, with ketchup and a Swiss roll thankfully standing in for blood and entrails. After an anxious wait, Neptune and Minerva gave their approval of the ceremony to much celebration. Below, our Classics Department offer their very own DIY guide, so that you too can appease ancient deities from the comfort of your own home. Please note: no real animals were harmed during this ceremony, only ones wearing full Games kit.
By Eleanor Lewis June 30, 2025
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By Eleanor Lewis June 30, 2025
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By Eleanor Lewis June 30, 2025
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By Eleanor Lewis June 30, 2025
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By Sonja Mitchell June 30, 2025
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By Sonja Mitchell June 30, 2025
With help from FONS, the Greenpower Team attended the 2025 Formula 24 Heats at the Lotus test track.
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