Our First Pass scheme aims at encouraging pupils in Social Subjects to read fiction and non fiction around their subjects – gaining breadth and depth.

We were fortunate to receive extra funding from the Scottish Government though the School Libraries Improvement fund which is being administered by SLIC (Scottish Libraries and Information Council).

To launch the scheme with a bang I invited along the brilliant Scottish author Theresa Breslin who has written lots of historical novels dealing with topics as varied as Nostradamus, to the Spanish Inquisition to World War One to her latest; The Rasputin Dagger, looking at the Russian Revolution.

Over 120 S2 pupils were invited to the lecture theatre to hear Theresa talk about her writing and researching process. We were shown shrapnel from a trench at the Somme, a WW1 gas mask and a soldier’s diary- bringing tangible items to inspire.

Theresa gave us lots of opportunities to ask questions and we were lucky to have her red from her new book – the whole event was a great success and over too soon!

Look out for the new pop up libraries in your classroom – packed with brand new books  and if you don’t find a title you are looking for come and ask.

Over the course of the scheme there will be more than £3000 worth of new books just for this scheme – so there is no excuse not to get involved.

If we are very lucky  we might just be able to lure Theresa back again!