The main libraries contain between them approximately 30,000 books, and a large collection of newspapers, magazines and other periodicals. Videos, DVDs, CDs and cassettes are also available. With the exception of reference books, periodicals and the Heritage stock, all items can be borrowed by all staff and girls.

Dove and Whitelaw house the main reference collection, the senior non-fiction books and a growing audio/visual resource.  There are wireless facilities for connecting to the school network. These libraries offer a silent study venue for Lower V upwards and are open from 8 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.

Fisher contains senior fiction and the Heritage Collection, which dates back to 1617.  It is open to all from 8 a.m. until 9.30 p.m.  In addition to study tables, there are comfortable sofas for reading or working in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Junior Library is for UIII to UIV girls.  It contains a reference collection, a wide range of young people’s fiction, non-fiction, newspapers and magazines.  There is a computer suite with CD-ROM and Internet access.

Clarence Library is the House library for the UVI.  This is run jointly by Clarence and Library staff and is a mixed fiction and non-fiction collection with networked computers.

LAC Drama Library is a specialist resource run jointly by the Drama department and Library staff, with a large collection of play texts, poetry, stagecraft and theatre studies material.

Music School Library is also a joint venture between department staff and the Library.  In addition to books on music, it has a large collection of scores. CDs may be borrowed by arrangement.

The Staff Collection is housed in the Staff Room and offers a wide selection of professional reading including practical guides on curricular and pastoral matters, health issues, management and training.

The Libraries are open between 8 a.m. and 9.30 p.m. daily in term time (earlier or later on occasions depending on security staff lock-up procedures).  The main libraries are usually accessible during school holidays when the Librarian is in attendance.

The Chartered Librarian, based in Dove Library, is available between 8 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. Monday-Friday to offer help to library users.  There is a team of LVI House Librarians, led by two School Librarians who continue their year of office into Clarence.  As well as running their own House Libraries, these girls provide vital support to the main libraries by shelving returned books, processing new acquisitions and undertaking a variety of other tasks.

The Library can be contacted on library@wycombeabbey.com.

All the libraries (including the House libraries) are catalogued using the Eclipse Library Management System, and information about our holdings can be accessed from any networked computer in the school via the Intranet.  A simple self-issue/return system is in operation.

Acquisitions are based on staff and student recommendations, and we also benefit from donations; for example, our new Oriental Language collection has been set up thanks to the generosity of the Chinese Embassy and large parental donations of Japanese material.  The Salisbury Poetry collection provides an important resource for students of English Literature.

An inter-library loan service allows us to borrow material not held in our own collections, particularly out of print and specialist items, and topic boxes can be assembled from our own stock or requested from outside sources.

The libraries mount regular exhibitions and displays in support of both curricular and extra-curricular activities.  Promotional events, such as the annual World Book Day extravaganza for the Lower School, help to raise the girls’ awareness and enjoyment of literature. In partnership with the English department, book talks/workshops led by well-known children’s fiction authors are organised – recent visitors include Tim Bowler, Kevin Crossley-Holland and Jamila Gavin.  The Christmas Readathon raises funds for House charities and the summer holiday postcard scheme helps to integrate incoming Junior House girls.