Smythe Library

The Smythe Library exists to meet the information needs of the whole school community, and to support all teaching and learning. It also provides a suitable environment for the acquisition of knowledge, quiet reflection or serendipity.

It is contained in a fine building designed by Sir William Holford and built in 1962, containing 23,000 volumes – some of which have been in the school’s possession since the seventeenth century. The oldest book in the Skinners Library collection is a Jenson Bible dated 1479. The Archives of Tonbridge School are also held in the Library, ensuring effective access to all documents which are relevant to the history of the school, together with a complete series of “The Tonbridgian” magazine.

The library catalogue is computerised and available on the network for boys and staff to access at all times from any computer within the school and from home: department libraries have also been added to the system. Fingerprint recognition is used for borrowing books from the Library which is available from 8.30am to 9.30pm every day.

Resources:

• Books (and some audio books)
• Daily newspapers
• 60 periodicals with several online versions available (Economist, History Today)
• DVDs and other media
• Online resources e.g. Dictionary of National Biography, JSTOR (academic journals), Oxford Scholarship, Cambridge Collections and EBSCO (History and Literature)
• Wireless facility
• Photocopier

Staff:

• Mrs Beverley Matthews (bm@tonbridge-school.org)
• Mrs Lesley Cumming (ljc@tonbridge-school.org)