Author Archives: Alison West

Welcome to John Paul Academy Library!

Leave a reply

Welcome to all our new pupils and staff!

And hello again to returning staff and pupils this August!

This post will give you a quick introduction to the library and how it works – pop in and visit soon!

Meet the Librarian

First, I would like to introduce myself – Miss West, the librarian for John Paul Academy.

Here’s a little information about me:

  • I joined the school in September 2019
  • I love fantasy and sci-fi books and graphic novels
  • Inspired by the book The Hundred-And-One Dalmatians, by Dodie Smith, I have a pet Dalmatian
  • I enjoy reading, writing, crafting and occasionally baking.

You can find me in the library all day, every (school) day.  If you have any questions, need help, or just want a good book chat, pop into the library and say hello!

About the Library

You can find fiction, non fiction, comics, graphic novels, quick-reads and super-readable books in the library.  There are books on a variety of topics or genres to suit your needs, whether it’s reading to learn or reading for pleasure!  

And it’s about more than books!  We also have space for group work, games and crafts.  In the library, you can read, write, relax, play, learn and create!

New Feature: The Craft Cart! – Whether you enjoy designing and making useful or fun objects, or you just like to keep your head and your hands busy, there will be something to keep you occupied on our craft cart! 

How The Library Works

Here are the basic rules on how you can use the library:

Opening Hours: 

  • Mon, Tue + Thu – 8:30-3:45
  • Wed + Fri – 8:30 – 3:00
  • Closed every day from 1:10 to 1:25 for lunch

The Rules

  • No food or drink
  • No loud music or videos (you can use headphones)
  • No running or roughhousing
  • Keep the library clean and tidy
  • Be respectful to one another
  • Follow all COVID guidelines until further notice

Borrowing: 

  • Check out all books with the librarian before taking them out of the library
  • Borrow up to 6 books for 2 weeks each, with 3 renewals
  • Return books to the drop boxes in the library when you are finished
  • Bring your library card with you every time you visit the library

The Library Online

There are lots of ways you can take part with the library online:

  • Teams – On the JPA Library Team page, you can see what we have with Book Browser, ask questions, read Bookmarked: The JPA Library Newsletter, join competitions, play games and more!
    • To join, just search ‘JPA Library’ on Teams or ask in the library for the Team Code.
  • Apps – You can also use your library card to browse and borrow eBooks, audiobooks and eMagazines with the Libby app, Borrowbox app, or online at glasgow.overdrive.com.  You can even stream and download music for free with your library card using the Freegal app.
    • All you need is your library card number and your 4-digit-PIN.  If you’re not sure what this is, just pop in and ask the librarian.

That’s everything you need to know to get started!  Library cards for new pupils will be handed out soon, and everyone is welcome in the library! I look forward to seeing you all soon – Miss West

Book Week Scotland @ JPA Library

Leave a reply

Book Week Scotland is always an exciting time in any library, and especially welcome in 2020! We weren’t able to celebrate in the library as we normally would (such as last years Books and Bubbles Party!) but there was still plenty happening over the week online!

The theme of Book Week Scotland this year was ‘Future’, which inspired some of the activities we had during the week.  While pupils weren’t able to come to the library and see our BWS display, featuring books set in the future, pupils were able to browse a virtual display!  These virtual displays have helped to bring the library to pupils digitally, and Book Week Scotland was a great opportunity to show off what the library has to offer!  That being said, looking at the books, the future would appear to be… unwelcoming…

The library also hosted a competition throughout November, inviting all pupils to share their stories of the future! There were some great responses, with top stories published in our December newsletter.  Much like our ‘future’ fiction, our pupils envisage a bleak future for us all…

Book Week Scotland is a great time to get more involved in reading and writing, so pupils were given the opportunity to check out author talks, featuring some of their favourite authors such as David Walliams, Liz Pichon and Malorie Blackman!  The great news is that these videos are available all year from Authors Live on Demand, which means pupils will always have the opportunity to learn more about their favourite books from their favourite authors (which is my way of saying if you haven’t checked it out yet – you should!)

The biggest hit of the week was our JPA Big Book Quiz!  With a £10 National Book Token up for grabs, and a new round of the quiz every day, our pupils were quick to test their bookish knowledge throughout the week!  The quiz rounds covered book covers (image), first lines, movie adaptations, blurbs and emoji titles!  Lots of pupils entered, making for a fierce competition, ultimately won by S1 pupil Shrika with a very impressive score of 26/30 points, narrowly beating the competition to win the prize! It was wonderful to see how well our pupils know their books!

Hopefully in the future – or rather, next year – we can celebrate Book Week Scotland in the library again.  Either way, the Big Book Quiz will definitely be making a comeback in 2021, so start your preparations now and READ! READ! READ!

JPA Library Update

Leave a reply

It’s been a while since the library was fully open to pupils.  Here’s an update on what’s been happening in the library since the school came back in August:

The Library is Online!

Teams

The JPA Library has its own Team!  Join on Microsoft Teams to

  • get access to news and updates about the library
  • the School Library Newsletter
  • induction and information videos
  • competitions
  • request forms
  • browse the library online
  • get access to loads of free resources
  • ask the librarian any questions you have about the library and getting books.

The Team Code to join is available from the library!

Book Browser

While it isn’t possible for pupils to come to the library, it’s still possible to look at the books – online!  Book Browser lets you browse the library books from your shiny new iPads wherever you are.  Choose your favourite categories, and just click on the book cover to find out more.  Find Book Browser in the Team files and look for your next read!

Virtual Displays

As well as Book Browser, keep an eye out for Virtual Displays on Teams.  Check these out for themed collections, such as this display for Black History Month.  Click on a book cover to learn more about the book, and use the link to send a request form to the librarian.

Request/Review

Request forms are available on the JPA Library Teams page to allow pupils to request books online!  Simply fill in your details, submit the form, and your book will be delivered to your English class ASAP.

In addition to requests, you can also review books online too!  If you’ve read something fantastic and you need the rest of the world to read this book too, then submit a book review online, and it will be published in the School Library Newsletter!

Twitter

If you want the news from the library as it’s happening, then follow us on Twitter!  Keep up to date with everything happening in the library, see great book recommendations, and links to fabulous free resources and activities.

NEW: School Library Newsletter

A new School Library Newsletter is now published at the start of every month.  This keeps you up-to-date with events, what’s happening in the library, book lists and recommendations, reviews, games and competitions!  The Newsletter is available on Teams and Twitter so check in here for more details! 

 

New Books

Since starting back after the summer, there have been SO MANY NEW BOOKS added to the library.  These are available to view in Book Browser and virtual displays, as well as shared on Twitter so check them out! 

Still here!

Even though the library is working differently for the time being, we’re still open for business and here for all your bookish needs!

Just Keep Reading

Leave a reply

Wednesday is when we would normally have our Book Club at JPA.  The book club was created when pupils asked for a quiet place and time in a busy and hectic school day to just switch off, sit down and enjoy a good book.  I think we can all agree that this is something we definitely still need in our day, especially in this difficult and stressful situation.

During Book Club we would talk about what we are reading, make demands of the librarian (me!) for what we would like to read, and of course: READ!  With lockdown in place, we can’t meet up in the library at lunch time for now, but Book Club is not cancelled!

Join us on Twitter on Wednesdays for #VirtualBookClub – everyone is welcome!  Staff, pupils, families and librarians alike can join in and talk about what they’re reading – I would love to hear what people are reading on lockdown, and listen to any recommendations for books.

(Psst!  You can read this series at home through the eLibrary!)

You can also keep track of your reading at home to tell me all about it when schools reopen!  All of my Book Club pupils will have their Reading Passports to do this in, but keep a record in any way you like to join in.  You can also talk about what you’re reading and read together with the people at home.  Start your own mini Book Clubs at home!

Feeling impatient?  Want to read something right now and not wait?  Have a look at the No Wait, No Problems collection of the Glasgow Libraries eLibrary – all the books here are available to read RIGHT NOW so you don’t have to wait!  Some Book Club favourites are on this list, including Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, Big Nate comics by Lincoln Pierce and The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon.  Just look for the orange banner at the top of the book cover to see if you can read it right away!  

Of course, if you have something specific in mind, but it’s not available right now, you can reserve it for when it’s returned.  Just select ‘Place a Hold’ on any books with the white ‘Wait List’ banner, like the Dog Man graphic novel – another much loved favourite in the library!

Can’t find what you want?  Don’t worry – you can still demand the books you want!  Just like your regular library, the eLibrary doesn’t have everything, but you can still ask for it!  If you have something specific in mind but when you search for it, it says ‘Not Owned’ in a black banner at the top then you can recommend it to the Glasgow Librarians.  For example, I know a few of our Book Club members have and definitely would recommend The School for Good and Evil series by Soman Chainani, and there were loads of requests for My Hero Academia throughout the year – get online and get recommending!  

Standard Book Club rules apply at home as in school – read whatever you want!  It doesn’t matter what format or genre, so long as you enjoy it!  Prefer audiobooks or graphic novels?  Excellent!  Fantasy instead of Mystery?  Brilliant!  Try something new or stick to what you know, it’s up to you.  Stop at least once a week, maybe even Wednesday lunch time, or join the Scottish BookTrust #readinglunch on Thursdays, and enjoy reading a book – and talk about it if you can.  Just keep reading!

 

 

Free Online Resources

Leave a reply

Hello all!

Even though the school and library is closed, that doesn’t mean that you can’t have library fun at home!  For all pupils, teachers, parents, carers and anyone with an interest in books and reading, I’ve compiled this list of free online resources that you can access from home!

Glasgow Libraries eLibrary

Glasgow Libraries are available online!  All pupils, as well as anyone with a library card, are able to access eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines and music for free online through the Glasgow Libraries eLibrary.  All you need is your library card number and four-digit PIN to access.

If any pupil needs help accessing these resources please get in touch with your English teacher.

#UnitedByBooks

Follow this hashtag on Twitter and other social media to see an amazing range of free resources online, promoted by a range of organisations, authors and illustrators.  This will provide a variety of activities to do at home, as well as access to free reading materials.

Also, keep an eye to your favourite authors on Instagram and Twitter, as many are doing live readings of their books, offering free eBooks and a variety of other activities during the lockdown that anyone can join in with from home.

Scottish BookTrust: Live Author on Demand

Watch videos of talks and discussions with authors and illustrators of children’s books for a range of age groups.  There are accompanying activities with each video.  You can find the schedule for promoted events at the link above or visit the Authors Live on Demand page to browse the authors and illustrators available.

BookTrust HomeTime

Enjoy free online books and videos, games, quizzes, competitions and a host of other activities with BookTrust HomeTime.  There are a variety of activities suited to a range of age groups so there’s something for everyone to get involved in!

Elevenses with The World of David Walliams

A free audio story is released every day featuring a character from David Walliams popular books, which I know many of our pupils will be familiar with!  Previous audio stories are available for a limited time so make sure you take the opportunity to listen in every day!  The website also has other activities available to help pass the time in lockdown.

Dekko Comics

Dekko Comics have made a variety of their educational comics available to read for free online.  These can help pupils keep on top of school work during the lockdown as they cover a range of topics including maths, english, science, history, geography and PSHE.  Find them at the link above.

Coronavirus: A Book for Children

The situation we find ourselves in is scary and confusing for everyone.  This free illustrated book, which can be accessed online, helps to explain what’s happening for children and answers many of their questions and concerns.

Authorfy

A free online resource good for any budding writers out there!  Find creative writing resources, activity packs, and writing masterclasses from well known authors.  People everywhere are getting involved in their 10-minute challenges – why not give it a try yourself!

For Witches, Wizards and Muggles alike

For fans of Harry Potter, there are a variety of free resources to explore, including the first book in the series which now has unlimited access on the Glasgow Libraries eLibrary for every library user.  See Glasgow Libraries eLibrary for information on how to access.

In addition to this, you can also visit the British Library: A History of Magic exhibition online for free, which explores magic in muggle history, as well as the wizarding world.

You can also visit Harry Potter at Home where you can find a variety of Harry Potter and magical activities to keep you occupied, including videos, games, quizzes and puzzles.

 

I’ll do my best to keep this post updated with resources as I find them, but remember to keep an eye on the library Twitter page @JPaulLibrary for more regular updates and to take part in our Wednesday #virtualbookclub – I want to hear all about what people are reading during lockdown!

Stay safe and well.

JPA Library Book Club

Leave a reply

New Club!

Today was the first meeting of the JPA Library Book Club!

The Book Club will now run every Wednesday at Lunch Time, and the library will only be open to members during this time.

The Book Club has been created after requests from pupils to have a quiet reading space in the school during leisure time, offering a peaceful place to enjoy reading during a busy school day.  It also gives kids the opportunity to read what they want to read, without worrying about being quizzed or questioned on it.

The Book Club also gives pupils the chance to challenge themselves, set reading goals, monitor their reading habits, read together, and write reviews and recommendations for other pupils in the school.  All of the kids taking part in the Book Club are actively participating in the First Ministers Reading Challenge.  Already, kids are challenging each other to finish reading 100 books this year! 

Bookflix at JPA

Leave a reply

 

Introducing our interactive Bookflix!

Available now in the library is an interactive ‘Bookflix’ that can be used on the large touchscreen in the library.  This lets pupils browse through different genres and top picks, and find out where the books are in the library.

Not sure what to read next?  Why not spend some time browsing through Bookflix!