The Teaching Collection includes artefacts, books, folders, games and storysacks for use in educational settings, from early years to further education. If you are looking for inspiration and practical ideas for teaching and learning, this is the place to look.
You will find the collection on level 1 of The Hive, at the end of the children’s library. Resources are organised into four areas: books; kits in crates; resources in bags on the rail; and folders. Within each area, resources are organised using the same system used for non-fiction books on level 3. Here are some examples of shelf locations to give you an idea of where you will find resources for each topic:
You can use the library catalogue to search the collection, but browsing the collection in person is highly recommended.
While you are visiting, don’t forget to explore the children’s library. Here you will find picture books, early readers and audiobooks, as well as children’s non-fiction.
You can borrow most items in the collection for two or three weeks. Items with a blue high demand sticker are two week loans, while other items are three week loans. There are some reference only items, including crates of reading schemes, which can be used in The Hive. You can find out more about what you can borrow on our borrowing and access pages.
To find the resources you need, use the library catalogue to search the collection by keyword or title. Use the filters on the left of your results to find certain types of resources. For example, a kit is likely to be a crate or bag of artefacts. If the item is available, note down the shelf number and find it on the shelves, asking any member of Hive staff if you need some help.
To borrow a large item like a crate or bag, you will need to first check the contents using the contents list found inside the resource. If anything is missing, please let a member of staff know. You may still be able to borrow the item but, when it is returned, we might consider replacing individual items or the whole pack. The staff member can also help you to borrow the resource, as it may be too large to fit in the issue machines.
When you return the resource to The Hive, check the contents first and bring it to a member of staff for return. It is really important to let us know of any missing or damaged items at this point, so we can decide if the item should be made available or replaced. If you have any concerns, please email us.
We welcome your suggestions for specific resources or topics to include in the Teaching Collection. For some inspiration, please use this collection of websites for suppliers and providers of educational resources.