Learning Resources
We are very keen to encourage students to take increasing responsibility for their own learning. Success in
employment and higher education depends on the ability to be resourceful, independent and adaptable. To help
develop these qualities, students are given guidance on study skills and independent access to resources and
facilities which include the Library and Resources Centre, the Study Skills Centre and a large number of computers.
The Library and Resources Centre is staffed by a chartered librarian and three library assistants.
It is open from 8.30am every weekday, until 5.30pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, until 5.00pm on Fridays and
until 7.00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Library and Resources Centre provides access to a wide range
of resources including:
- a large stock of books to support the curriculum with a small light reading section
- newspapers and periodicals; subscriptions to a range of electronic resources; a large and varied collection
of DVDs, music CDs and audio tapes
- 26 open-access PCs and networked printers with internet and email access; and dedicated library intranet pages;
TVs with VCR and DVD players for group use; graphical calculators
- photocopying and scanning facilities
- careers information
- a room set aside for silent private study
Over 750 computers are available throughout the College, in the Library and Resources Centre
and in departmental resource areas. They are equipped with a wide range of software packages,
including:
- Office 2003, including Word, Excel, Access, Publisher & PowerPoint 2003
- web page creation
- numerous subject-specific packages
- careers packages
Other IT facilities and services include:
- email access in College and from home using Outlook
- internet access
- individual student user accounts with student user areas
- facilities for scanning
- facilities for bulk colour printing
- CD-ROM and multimedia systems
- College intranet in College and from home
- remote desktop connection to all your College documents.
There are many audio visual resources and facilities which are available for student use
throughout the day, before and after College as well as during private study periods. These
include:
- two language laboratories (including a Sony Virtuoso digital laboratory)
- CD players and audio cassette recorders
- TVs, DVD players and video cassette recorders (including headsets)
- video cameras
- digital stills cameras
- Media studies studio (including four editing suites)
- new photographic darkroom and equipment
- slide, overhead and LCD video projectors
- a satellite system for general purposes, particularly the reception of foreign language programmes.