Library
The library is central to enriching, implementing and supporting the teaching and learning programme of the College. The library is staffed by a PYP Teacher Librarian, a MYP/DP/CP Teacher Librarian (Head of Library) and four library assistants. It is a gateway to access information in a number of forms - books (audio, electronic and print), magazines, newspapers, and online databases and resources.
The College library caters to a wide range of readers and age levels. Our primary school library is located on 2/F and the secondary school library on 3/F. Within each library, collection materials are age-appropriate and relevant for our learners.
Upper Primary students who wish to borrow resources from our secondary school library must have a request form completed by parents/guardians and have approval from the librarians. Secondary students may borrow from both the primary and secondary school libraries.
A separate mature fiction collection is available for Years 11 and up. Students in a year group below Year 11 who wish to borrow from our mature fiction collection must fill in a form by parents/guardians. The final decision on whether the library will lend the book to the student rests with the Head of Library.
The library is proactive in developing information-literate students and supporting an information-literate community. The teacher librarians teach and collaborate with teachers at the College as experts in information literacy. Students learn how to access relevant and appropriate databases, online resources and other sources of information while becoming critical thinkers in the research process. Students are also taught the principles of academic integrity.
The library has a policy document covering collection development, donations, challenged materials and censorship. If you would like to read the full document please contact the Head of Library: library@dc.edu.hk
Opening Hours
The library is open 8:00am - 4:30pm on Monday to Thursday and 8:00am - 4:00pm on Friday. Parent borrowers can check out books before and after school hours. Please note that borrowing services close ten minutes prior to library closing time.
Each primary class has a scheduled borrowing time during the week.They may also borrow books at lunchtimes, or after school if accompanied by an adult. Secondary students can borrow when they have the need and opportunity, such as before school, during lunchtimes and or during their scheduled library lessons.
All students in Years 1-13 need to bring a school library bag or pouch to borrow resources. Students from Year 7 and up also need to use their smart card to borrow.
Each student may borrow books from the Library according to their year level.
Year 1 - up to 3 books + 1 RWI decodable + 2 home readers
Year 2 - up to 4 books + 1 RWI decodable + 2 home readers
Year 3 - up to 5 books + 1 RWI decodable (if applicable) + 2 home readers
Year 4 - up to 6 books + up to 3 home readers
Year 5 - up to 7 books + up to 3 home readers (where applicable)
Year 6 - up to 8 books + up tp 3 home readers (where applicable)
Year 7 up - up to 10 books
Students may not borrow books if they have overdue resources.
Different resources have different borrowing time allowances:
Books (Primary school library collection & Secondary school library non-fiction) - 14 days
Books (Senior fiction & Mature fiction) - 21 days
Audiobooks - 7 days
eBooks - 14 days
Magazines - 3 days
All library resources can be renewed twice. Students need to bring the resource to the library to renew it.
Overdue books
Students with overdue library resources are unable to borrow until they have cleared their accounts. Lost resources will be billed and sent to students and parents. A non-refundable $20 administration fee is charged to each resource to cover the cost of reordering and processing the lost item. The library offers a seven-day grace period (from invoice date) for students to return the overdue resources, after that, all unreturned resources will need to be paid for via ePayment. The $20 administrative fee and replacement fee are non-refundable. If the lost resources are found after billing, students may choose to either keep them or donate them back to the Library.
Email library@dc.edu.hk if you have any questions.
Ding! has a number of links to online resources, most of which can be accessed 24/7. These include the library catalogue (Oliver), our eBook collection (Epic! & Sora on Overdrive), various research databases (such as Britannica, PebbleGo, PebbleGo Next, Brainpop, Brainpop Jnr), newspapers and digital magazines. The online catalogue can also be accessed HERE.
Accessing your child's borrowing record
1. Visiting http://oliver.esf.edu.hk and choosing Discovery College
2. On the upper right of the page, select “Login”
3. Enter your child’s username and password.
4. Click the search icon
5. Your child’s record can be viewed in the upper right section “Loans”