Library Mascot: We welcome our new School Library mascot, Maximus, designed by ‘C’ in S4 who’s winning design was voted by pupils and made by the talented Miss West, School Librarian at John Paul Secondary School. As mascot, Maximus will be our sidekick for the upcoming school year and will help promote reading for pleasure on our displays at during activities as well as appear in future School Library Twitter photos.
Bookmarks: Our winning bookmark designs have arrived in time for the 2024-25 school year, and we can’t wait to show them off. The bookmarks will be revealed and available come August.
Zine Workshop: We had a fabulous time with Martha from Glasgow Zine Library who delivered an engaging lunchtime zine making workshop in the School Library. Pupils enjoyed browsing the selection of the GZL collection which inspired them to create their own. We really look forward to more collaboration with the GZL in the future.
Senior Libby Refreshers: We visited some English classes to deliver Libby refreshers for our senior pupils in hopes of inspiring them read for leisure over the summer. Libby by Overdrive is an app subscribed to by Glasgow Life Libraries which has thousands of fiction, nonfiction, and magazine titles. There is something for everyone.
Swatch: The Summer issue of Swatch, the Glasgow School Libraries’ eMagazine is now live. Packed with booklists, an exclusive interview with Maisie Chan, and lots of fun stuff including a recipe for salt and chilli wedges, an origami paper fan craft, and a quiz. Interactive back issues are available on the Library Channel on Teams.
Book of the Day:
03.06: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
06.06: Lionheart Girl by Yaba Badoe
07.06: An Amazing Animal Atlas of Scotland by Anders Frang
10.06: Furthermore by Darren Simpson
13.06: Guardians of the Wild Unicorns by Linday Littleson
14.06: Magical Boy by Vincent Kao
17.06: All about Eid: Things to Make and Do by Sarah Shaffi and Aaliya Jaleel
20.06: I Kick and I Fly by Ruchira Gupta
21.06: Windrush Child by Benjamin Zephaniah
Author of the Week: Chosen by pupils
03.06: Patrick Ness
10.06: Camryn Garrett
17.06: Krystal Sutherland
Series of the Week: Chosen by pupils
03.06 Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld
10.06: The Extinction Trials by SM Wilson
17.06: Rugby Academy by Tom Palmer
Literary and Cultural Celebration Booklists for June:
Read with Pride: June i Pride month, an internationally recognised celebration of the LGBT+ community. We’ve compiled a list of LGBT+ fiction and nonfiction for all ages.
Empathy Day: Empathy Day (June 6th) ‘inspires children to learn more about empathy, have transformational experiences through stories, and to put empathy into action’ by shining a ‘light on book’s role in raising an empathy-generated generation’. Check out Empathy Lab’s Primary and Secondary booklists, the majority of titles are available in the school library.
Refugee Week: Refugee Week (June 17th-23rd) is ‘the world’s largest arts and cultural festival celebrating the contributions, creativity, and resilience of refuges and people seeking sanctuary. This year’s theme is ‘Our Home’. Our booklists features fiction and nonfiction for Junior and Young Adult readers.
Windrush Day: Windrush Day (June 22nd) honours the contributions of British Caribbean communities and marks the arrival of passengers of the Empire Windrush to the UK. Our booklist includes fiction and nonfiction for all ages.
South Asian Heritage Month: South Asian Heritage Month (July 17th-August 17th) celebrates the heritage of people with roots in South Asian countries. This year’s theme is ‘Free to be me’. Our booklist come a month early to ensure it is promoted within the school term and includes fiction and nonfiction for all ages.
Trending Booklists:
Epic Reads New Releases | The Guardian Children’s Book Roundup | LoveReading4Kids Books of the Month | Scholastic Books of the Month | Scottish Book Trust Book Lists |Toppsta Monthly Highlights | Waterstones Books of the Month
Recent Awards: UK book award winners, shortlists, and longlists
Winners: Branford Boase Award, Excelsior Awards, FCBG Children’s Book Awards, Jhalak Prize, The Kitchies, Orwell Prizes, Sports Book Awards, Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, Women’s Prize for Fiction and Nonfiction, YOTO Carnegies.
Shortlists: The Week Junior Book Awards, YA Book Prize
Competitions:
Foyles Young Poets of the Year Award
Book Buzz: Latest book news from major media outlets and websites
BBC | Book Riot | Buzzfeed | Epic Reads | The Guardian | Huffpost