S1 Inductions: What a delight it was to meet all the new S1s in our library inductions this year! We managed to cover all 10 of our S1 English classes in August meaning as of September, we can begin our regular book borrowing periods. Throughout August, our S1s have borrowed 160+ books for class and personal reading.
Reading Challenges: We’re launching three reading challenges this year. Bookopoly encourages pupils to read out with their comfort zone, challenging them to select books on different themes and genres they wouldn’t normally choose. Pupils have a chance for their names to be enter into a quarterly prize draw when the book is read and returned. Our 4 Word Book Review slips are a super easy way to get pupils to review and recommend books using only four words to describe the book. Each completed slip earns and entry into the quarterly prize draw. We’ve brought back Ask Me What I’m Reading challenge to encourage discussion around books and reading for leisure. Each completed form earns an entry into the prize draw.
Creative Writing Competition: The School Librarian is collaborating with the members of the Pupil Library Committee on launching our Quills Creative Writing Competition. We’re accepting any form of creative writing, maximum 500 words on the theme of ‘Scotland’ and/or ‘Hope’. Deadline is Friday, November 1st. Senior members of our Pupil Library Committee are judging the competition and we’ll announce the winner and three runner ups on Monday, 18th November during Book Week Scotland.
AHE Gale Literature Resource Centre Workshop: We visited Miss McDonald’s Advanced Higher English class to deliver the Gale Literature Resource Centre workshop to help them with their upcoming dissertation. Gale Literature Resource Centre provides up-to-date biographical information, overview, full-text literary criticism and reviews for 13K+ writers, offering high quality source of information useful for Advanced Higher English pupils. Glasgow Libraries subscribes to Gale and pupils can access the resources with their school or community library card.
Games in the library: In last year’s pupil survey, respondents requested that the School Library have board games. We now have the following board games in stock to borrow during breaks and lunchtime: Catastrophe, Chess, Disney Villainous, Exploding Kittens, Lost Worlds, Monopoly: Glasgow Edition, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, Throw Throw Burrito, Uno
Creation Station: The School Library now offers borrowable creation packs containing a selection of felt tipped pens, pencil crayons, mechanical pencil, sharpener, ruler, eraser and glue sticks to help pupils get crafty and creative.
Monthly Newsletter: We’ve relaunched our monthly newsletters this year, featuring new book and eBook highlights, current book award information, short books lists, genre spotlight, librarian recommendations, monthly book lists, and author and book birthday calendar. The interactive newsletter is in PDF format on the Library Channel in Teams.
New Book Highlights:
The Evolving Truth of Ever-Stronger Will by Maya MacGregor
Four Eids and a Funeral by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Adiba Jaigirdar
Gwen and Art are Not in Love by Lex Croucher
The Hills of Estrella Roja by Ashley Franklin
Medicine: A Magnificently Illustrated History by Briony Hudson, illustrated by Nick Taylor
Unlocking the Universe by Stephen Hawking
Book of the Day:
19.08: Thornhill by Pam Smy
21.08: Frankie’s World by Aoife Dooley
23.08: Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
26.08: Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
28.08: Brilliant Black British History by Atinuke, illustrated by Kingsley Nebechi
30.08: A Trip to the Future: How Today’s Science Will Shape Tomorrow’s World by Moira Butterfield, illustrated by FagoStudio
Author of the Week:
WB 19th: Susin Nielsen
WB 26th: Katherine Woodfine
Series of the Week:
WB 19th: Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
WB 26th: Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
Literary and Cultural Celebration Book Lists for August:
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’.
Trending Book Lists:
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: Arthur C Clarke Award for Science Fiction | CWA Daggers Awards | James Tait Black Memorial Prize | UKLA Book Awards | Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize, YA Book Prize | Young Quills Award for Historical Fiction
Shortlists: Forward Prize for Poetry | Little Rebels Award | Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing
Longlists: Booker Prize | Diverse Book Awards
Book Buzz: Latest book news from major media outlets and websites
BBC | Book Riot | Buzzfeed | Epic Reads | The Guardian | Huffpost
