We held a number of activities in the Library throughout September.
Library Club
The Library Club was launched on September 2nd and runs Mondays during Lunch and Friday’s after school, offering space where pupils can participate in making book-themed crafts. Each month, we focus on making one craft so that all pupils are given the chance to create the craft if they are attending other clubs/activities during lunch or after school. Our September craft was creating bookmarks re-using damaged books and magazines. It was a relaxing way to spend a lunch break and practice some creative skills. Check out these beauties.
Library Inductions
It was a busy month full of Library Inductions. Each S1 class was given a short talk about the rules and sections in the Library. They were then given a Library Map with a set of questions that prompted them to explore the different sections of the Library so that they had an understanding of the layout and arrangement. They were then issued their School Library cards.
First Minister’s Reading Challenge
This year, the Library is participating in the First Minister’s Reading Challenge. To help support a school-wide Reading Culture, we’ll be showing the number of books issued in each class on the teleprompter at the entrance. Over 450 books were issued to S1 pupils in September! FMRC Shelf Cards were also distributed to S1s who were encouraged to recommend a book. Once the cards are completed, we’ll be posting the titles on our notice board outside of the Library and display the cards on the shelves.
Hurricane Book Club
We’ll be one of two Glasgow secondary schools piloting a YA version of Hurricane Book Club. Hurricane Book Club is an online book group that originally started as a collaboration between PanMacmillan and Orkney Libraries. Now running on its fourth season, Libraries and bookshops across Scotland are now connecting with each other and authors on Twitter. Glasgow Libraries have teamed up with Lourdes Secondary School and Shawlands Academy to trial a YA Hurricane Book Club. Pupils will be reading I Am Thunder by Muhammad Khan, a recent Branford Boase award winner which questions how far you’ll go to stand up for what you believe in. The book group was advertised within the Library. Members will be meeting in October to come up with questions for the author who we’ll be Tweeting in November.
LGBTQ+ in the Library
The Library has also been participating in a SLIF-funded project for LGBTQ+ students, partnering with Hillhead and Smithycroft Secondary Schools. We’ll be hosting author workshops for our LGBTQ+ pupils who’ll also be involved in the selection of titles for an LGBTQ+ section that’ll be launched in February 2020.
Blog
Lastly, as you can see, our blog is now up and running! heck here for information for Library events/activities, pupil and Librarian book reviews, reading lists, and all things School Library related! Follow our Twitter page at @Shaw_Acad_Lib
Coming Up
October will be a busy month for our wee blog, with observances such as Black History Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, Dyslexia Awareness Month, Challenge Poverty Week, National Poetry Day, and National Tell a Story Day just to name a few! Watch this space for more information, recommended reading lists, feature fiction, and book reviews throughout the month.
