Looking for the perfect book to lift you out of the January slump? Well look no further, because a bundle of new senior books has just arrived in the library. Hand selected by me, you’re sure to find something for any mood.
Make sure to pop by and visit for tailored recommendations and the chance to find your new favourite book!
New books in the library! Drumchapel’s brilliant library captains have been getting our brand new books shelf ready for borrowing 
This month the library received some new furniture, kindly donated by Silverburn Shopping Centre. We now have two lovely new seated areas that can be used for private study, quiet reading or small group work.
Our senior Reading Ambassadors have been working with the Rights Respecting Schools group to create a display around the theme of Identity tying in with Holocaust Memorial Day on 27th January.
The library newsletter is being sent out to all staff and parents this week. It’s full of recommendations, library news and activities.
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Eastbank School Library was super lucky to have Neil Slorance as a visiting author this month. Neil is an illustrator who has worked with many well known clients such as the BBC, STV, Titan Comics – and contributed to the official Dr Who comic books.
Our S3 pupils took part in a session where Neil demonstrated how to build characters. The pupils went on to draw their own ideas with guidance and tips from Neil, finally creating an individual comic strip narrative. You can see how interested and hard working our pupils were during the session below. And thanks go to the Scottish Book Trust Live Literature Scheme, who part-funded the session.
We would love to have Neil back again soon.
It has been such a busy start to 2024 in the library here at Eastbank Academy. I think with everyone being off school in the Christmas break, they’ve tidied their rooms and brought back lots of books at the start of term. In one single afternoon, from a tidy desk at midday, the library returns desk looked like this !
But on the other hand, January often is a time when we’re stuck inside as the weather is awful, we can’t get out and play sports or anything – so instead we like to have some of our favourite books to read and enjoy. I think all these things have combined together and left our football book spinner as bare as last year’s Christmas tree in January ! Pupils – please bring back all the overdue books as soon as you can, especially the football collection, manga and the Wimpy Kid books. Other pupils are waiting to read them and the bookcase is missing being full.
Last, but by no means least, we have more brilliant books just added to the library bookshelves. Come and see them soon. In particular, we are loving Ultra Wild by Steve Mushin. Even the cover art is amazing ! Ultra Wilde is a series of very detailed comic strips which give wild, extreme and wacky ways we could help to return cities to the wild and combat climate change. Although lots of fun, it really highlights the problems we have with urban environments co-existing with nature. Steve’s narrative describes how we got to where we are today in modern cities, and how science around bringing nature back in to cities is possible. It’s such a fun book as the ideas are taken to the extreme with instructions even on how to put a cannon into your toilet – so much fun! But again, it gives lots of interesting ideas and data on climate change as well, making it really useful. Get it out on loan today – you will love it.
** For more information on the illustrator Neil Slorance please visit his website – www.neilslorance.com
***And for more information about the Ultra Wild book please see www.ultrawild.org
The year 2024 started off with an amazing surprise – the arrival of a fresh new stock!
The library assistants were thrilled to take charge of unboxing and ensuring that all titles were accounted for. They were already busy planning the future display.
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In this delivery, some books were requested by pupils and they finally arrived! The joy on their faces when I told them the long-awaited book is finally here!
Here at Lochend we love reading. Library visits happen on a Monday and Friday when Mrs Marshall, our School Librarian, is here. But that means on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we can’t visit the library to take books home. However, we’ve got a brand new system of Book Boxes in January in every English Classroom. This means we can enjoy reading in the classroom on the days Mrs Marshall isn’t here. Here they are, looking great.
Also in the spirit of the New Year, Lochend’s comics and graphic novels section were badly in need of a re-arrangement and a general tidy up. Now they’re looking so much better, with the graphic novels on our right hand bookcase and the comics on the left. This will make choosing our favourite reads so much easier.
And we’ve had such a great start to our new year of reading with some fabulous new deliveries which are in stock in the library now. Just look at this pile of amazing books below ! These and more can be borrowed from the library and if you’re not sure what to pick, Mrs Marshall will be happy to help you. (But I think she’d pick Finding Bear herself !)
Happy 2024! My name is Ms Barron and I’m the new librarian in Castlemilk High School. I’m looking forward to meeting lots of new pupils getting to know everyone this year. I will be in school on Wednesdays and Fridays this term. You can visit the library during breaks and after school.
January is prelim time and the library has been very busy with senior pupils doing exams. Good luck everyone! Did you know you can borrow SQA practice papers on your ipad? Search ‘SQA’ on the libby app to see what subjects are available. While the exams are on, there will be a mini mobile library visiting classrooms for pupils to borrow from. Visits will be back to normal in February.
January 25th is Burns Night, celebrating Robert Burns and Scottish traditions with haggis, neeps, tatties and poetry. Why not join in the celebration of Scotland’s creativity and read a Scottish author in January? Check out this month’s burns Night collection, available now from Glasgow Libraries, for ideas.
Not sure what to pick? You could try ‘A night out with Burns: ‘, a collection of Burn’s greatest poems that brings his timeless work to life.
If you a prefer a story to poetry, there’s also a nice selection of teen fiction on the list. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
Dylan Mint has Tourette’s. Being sixteen is hard enough, but Dylan’s life is a constant battle to keep the bad stuff in – the swearing, the tics, the howling dog that seems to escape whenever he gets stressed… But a routine visit to the hospital changes everything. Overhearing a hushed conversation between the doctor and his mother, Dylan discovers that he’s going to die next March. So he grants himself three parting wishes or ‘Cool Things To Do Before I Cack It’. But as Dylan sets out to make his wishes come true, he discovers that nothing – and no-one – is quite as he had previously supposed.
Fifteen-year-old Sam is not a famous vlogger, he’s never gone viral, and he doesn’t want to be the Next Big Thing. In fact he’s ordinary and proud of it.
None of which was a problem until Dad got rich and Mum made the whole family move to London. Now Sam’s off to the North London Academy for the Gifted and Talented, where everyone’s busy planning Hollywood domination or starting alt-metal psychedelica crossover bands. Sam knows he’ll never belong, even if he wanted to. And that’s before he ends up on stage wearing nothing but a fur onesie …
The story of a runaway slave girl and her dangerous journey through the murky underworld of Roman Britain, by Carnegie Medal-winning author Tanya Landman.
Cassia does not fear to die, but for her – for a slave who has maimed her master – there are worse things than death. Yet the mighty Roman Empire has its limits. Beyond her master’s estate, beyond the river, far to the north stands Hadrian’s Wall. And beyond the wall? Freedom. With dogs on her trail and a bounty on her head the journey seems impossible. But then Cassia meets Marcus – slick, slippery, silver-tongued – a true and perfect son of Rome. And her only hope.
All of these titles are available as eBooks on the Libby by Overdrive app. Click the book covers to find out more about each one. You can use your library card and PIN to add them to your account.
Remember if you have any trouble using eBooks or other eResources you can visit your school library for help.
With January comes the opportunity for a clean slate. Whether you’ve made up your New Year’s resolutions or not, it’s a great time to focus on an often-overlooked aspect of our health: mental wellbeing.
To support pupils in looking after their mental health and wellness, the library hosted a workshop collating students’ best advice and tips, alongside some book recommendations from the Shelf Help section.
You can see their wonderful ideas and recommendations on posters across the library!
As we bid farewell to the past year and step into a new one, January heralds a season of fresh starts and new beginnings. While many of us set resolutions related to physical health and personal achievements, it’s crucial not to overlook the significance of mental health and wellbeing in this journey of self-improvement.
January, with its symbolic transition into a new calendar year, serves as a powerful reminder to prioritise our mental health. The pressures of modern life, coupled with the challenges brought on by the global pandemic, have underscored the importance of maintaining a resilient and balanced mind.
Taking care of our mental wellbeing is not just a trend or a passing phase—it’s a lifelong commitment to living a fulfilling and meaningful existence. Whether you’re struggling with a particular mental health concern, or looking for ways to improve your emotional intelligence and adaptability, read on for some recommendations from our Shelf Help section.
Wired Differently by Joe Wells
This illustrated portrait collection honours 30 influential neurodivergent individuals for their recent remarkable achievements. The book’s extraordinary stories emphasise that their accomplishments, creations, and inspiration stem not despite their differences but because of them. Encompassing politicians, activists, journalists, YouTubers, DJs, and poets, it showcases diverse career paths, offering neurodivergent readers a spectrum of exciting possibilities.
How to Say No by Michelle Elman
Empower yourself by saying NO to demanding friends, unwanted parties, phone distractions, and unwelcome hugs. This essential guide, suitable for readers aged 9+, navigates the challenges of growing up with humour and insight. Authored by Michelle Elman, a life coach and activist, it teaches the strength, confidence, and self-worth that come with setting boundaries. From friendships to phones and family, this playful and empowering book offers a one-stop guide to creating your life’s rules and knowing when it’s okay to say NO!
Failosophy for Teens by Elizabeth Day
A guide for navigating life’s challenges, “Failosophy For Teens” by Elizabeth Day uses personal experiences and stories from her podcast, “How to Fail,” to empower teens facing setbacks. Embracing failure becomes the key to happiness, success, and self-acceptance. Learn to openly discuss failure, turn it into success, build resilience, and reframe negative thoughts. Failing better leads to growth, learning, and embracing your awesome self. This inspiring handbook will transform your self-perception and life.
Fighting Invisible Tigers by Earl Hipp
“Fighting Invisible Tigers” provides teens with practical advice on stress management, anxiety reduction, and digital well-being. Stress among adolescents is a growing concern, impacting their daily lives. This updated guide teaches proven techniques for handling stressors like school, friendships, and social media. It offers valuable insights on decision-making, assertiveness, relaxation exercises, time management, and more. Empowering teens to control their stress response promotes healthier relationships, better decisions, and enhanced well-being.
A Better Day by Dr Alex George
Discover a positive approach to mental health with Youth Mental Health Ambassador Dr. Alex George’s empowering handbook, “A Better Day.” Addressing challenges like peer pressure, exam stress, and online trolls, this practical toolkit guides young readers in caring for their mental health. From overcoming stigma to developing resilience, the book provides scaffolding and techniques to stay optimistic. With insights on talking about feelings and shifting mindset, it offers hope for a brighter future despite life’s ups and downs.
As we embrace the spirit of new beginnings this January, let’s not overlook the importance of mental health. By recognising the interconnectedness of mind and body, we can lay the foundation for a year filled with personal growth, resilience, and overall wellbeing. Remember, taking care of your mental health is not just a resolution—it’s a commitment to a healthier, happier you.
