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Welcome Back to JPA Library

Lots of newness!

Welcome back to all our staff and pupils at John Paul Academy. Here’s an update of all the new happenings this year!

New Clubs!

New school year, new library clubs! Pupils were able to vote via poll in the library to decide what library clubs would run this year. We then had the first meeting of our Bookworms, the pupil library committee, to decide which clubs to run, and when. Here they all are now:

We’ll have a club every day of the week:

Monday: Movie Mondays
Tuesday: Read and Relax
Wednesday: Dungeons and Dragons
Thursday: Games Club
Friday: Cosy Craft Club

All our new clubs will kick off w/b 9th September 2024. Any interested pupil is free to come along!

New Mascot!

After 5 years of faithful service, Bellamy Book Bear is retiring. After a competition last year, we had the design for our new library mascot, with ‘The Libeery’ as our winning entry! Now all we needed was a name. How do we decide this? Library Poll! As a result of the poll (left), I am now delighted to introduce our new mascot: Eduardo The Great and Magical III!!!

New Books!

Just in time for starting back, we had a fresh delivery of books, including a full set of Dog Man graphic novels. Don’t get too excited though – the Dog Man collection is already gone! Lots of fans of the series in JPA!

New Craft Corner!

We have some crafty new pupils this year, which has led to the creation of a new Craft Corner! There are colouring pages, wordsearches, blank paper and origami paper with lots of pens, pencils and everything you could need for your creative needs!

August 2024 Roundup – Whitehill Secondary School Library

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S1 Inductions: We had a great time meeting all of our S1 pupils during Library inductions throughout the month and managed to cover the majority of our S1 English classes which mean we can get back into our regular scheduled book borrowing periods. Throughout August, our S1s have borrowed 70+ books for class and personal reading. Great effort by all!

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.

Bookmark Design Competition: We’re hosting our inaugural bookmark design competition. Participants can submit their designs which will be posted on our School Library Teams to be voted on by pupils. The winning design will become this year’s official School Library bookmark. Winner announced during Book Week Scotland in November.

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 booklists, and author and book birthday calendar. The interactive newsletter is in PDF format on the Library Channel in Teams.

New Book Highlights:

Pizza Face by Rex Ogle

Stormbreaker: The Graphic Novel by Anthony Horowitz and Anthony Johnston, illustrate by Kanako & Yuzuru Tuzuru

Skylar and the K-Pop Headteacher by Luan Goldie

Football’s Champions of Change by Damian Johnson, illustrated by Damian Greenan

Amazing Muslim Who Changed the World by Burhana Islam, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali, Reya Ahmed, Saffa Khan, Aaliya Jaleel, Deema Alawa, and Aghnia Mardiyah

Book of the Day:

20.08: They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

22.08: Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

27.08: Good Girls Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

29.08: Barda by Ngozi Ukazu

Author of the Week:

WB 19^th: Stewart Foster

WB 26^th: Leigh Bardugo

Series of the Week:

WB 19^th: How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

WB 26^th: School for Good and Evil by Somain Chainai

Literary and Cultural Celebration Booklists for August:

South Asian Heritage Month: South Asian Heritage Month (July 17^th-August 17^th) celebrates the heritage of people with roots in South Asian countries. This year’s theme is ‘Free to be me’.

Trending Booklists:

Recent Awards: UK book award winners, shortlists, and longlists

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

August 2024 Roundup – Shawlands Academy School Library

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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.

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 1^st. Senior members of our Pupil Library Committee are judging the competition and we’ll announce the winner and three runner ups on Monday, 18^th 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 19^th: Susin Nielsen

WB 26^th: Katherine Woodfine

Series of the Week:

WB 19^th: Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

WB 26^th: Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

Literary and Cultural Celebration Book Lists for August:

South Asian Heritage Month: South Asian Heritage Month (July 17^th-August 17^th) celebrates the heritage of people with roots in South Asian countries. This year’s theme is ‘Free to be me’.

Trending Book Lists:

Recent Awards: UK book award winners, shortlists, and longlists

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

Welcome Back!

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Welcome back to another fabulous year at Hyndland Secondary.

We start off with the fantastic news that Hyndland Secondary has been recognised by the Scottish Book Trust as a Reading School. Well done to all involved on achieving this award!

We are starting the year off with a bang as our trusty Library Assistants from S2 have made this video to remind their fellow students to return their library books.

We have also had a big sort out over the summer of the non-fiction section which is now clearly labelled and marked with brand new categories and lots more space for front facing book. Hopefully this helps makes finding the books you enjoy a bit easier!

We are off to a fantastic start at Hyndland Secondary School Library – we are all looking forward to an exciting year ahead!

New term, new books!

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Its the start of a new school year and we’re delighted to welcome everyone back to the library. We can’t believe it’s autumn already!

Even though school is just back, we’ve already got lots of lovely new reads on offer. Our library assistants have been excitedly rifling through the new books. Here they share their top picks and the reasons they’re excited to read them.

A tale of two knights : An Arthurian love story / ill. by L S Biehler

When Merlin goes missing and Camelot falls under attack, King Arthur sends his estranged half-sister, Morgan le Fay, and esteemed Knights of the Round Table, Tristan and Lancelot, to find him. In this reimagining of an Arthurian legend, Knights of the Round Table Lancelot and Tristan set out on a quest to find the missing magician Merlin but instead discover an unexpected romance.

Pupils say: This looks like a very good slow-burn love story

If my words had wings / by Danielle Jawando

When fifteen-year-old Tyrell Forrester gets caught up in a high-profile armed robbery, he’s sentenced to eighteen months in a young offenders’ prison. Inspired by a visiting poet while inside, Ty discovers a whole new world through spoken word and is finally finding his voice. But will society ever see him as anything other than a criminal? A life affirming story of rehabilitation and hope after prison.

Pupils say: The book cover is really eye catching and the title sounds engaging.

The hunt for Star-Lord / Illustrated by Cam Kendell

Rocket and Groot are living their best lives touring the galaxy for the very best deep-dish pizza in the universe. Just as Rocket is about to bite down on a gooey slice of pizza with extra trash, an alert pops up on his bounty tracker: Star-Lord has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom!

Pupils say: I like Marvel in general, especially Star-Lord

Deadly deep / be Jennifer Kilick

It’s summer term and time for a school trip with a difference! Year 8 are on a boat off the coast of France, learning about ocean life. But things are about to get WEIRD . . .

Who is the creepy man on board the ship? And what IS the vast, shadowy creature seen lurking at the bottom of the ocean? A perfect story for fans of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps and Stranger Things!

Pupils say: The cover tells me it’s a very good read and the blurb sounds amazing.

Black Hole Cinema Club / by Christopher Edge

When Lucas meets his friends at the local cinema – nicknamed ‘The Black Hole’ – they’re excited about the movie marathon ahead. Non-stop action, blockbuster special effects and all the snacks they can eat. But as the lights go down, Lucas, Ash, Maya, Caitlin and Finn watch in disbelief as a jet-black tidal wave comes crashing out of the cinema screen and the five friends find themselves swept into an epic adventure.

Pupils say: The cover and the back look interesting, it sounds like a very good read.

Dead lock / by Simon Fox

Archie Blake thought his policeman father teaching him how to pick locks and open safes was just a bit of fun. But when a diamond necklace is stolen and his dad is arrested, Archie realises the only way to prove Dad’s innocence is to go on the run and use everything he’s learned to uncover the truth. But Archie soon finds himself deeply tangled in the criminal underworld, where it’s hard to know who to trust and even harder to see what’s right or wrong.

Perfect for fans of Alex Rider and Artemis Fowl.

Pupils Say: The art of the cover makes this look like a really cool book.

Skandar and the unicorn thief / by A. F. Steadman

Thirteen-year-old Skandar Smith has only ever wanted to be a unicorn rider. To be one of the lucky few selected to hatch a unicorn. To bond with it for life; to train together and race for glory; to be a hero. But just as Skandar’s dream is about to come true, things start to take a more dangerous turn than he could ever have imagined. A dark and twisted enemy has stolen the Island’s most powerful unicorn – and as the threat grows ever closer, Skandar discovers a secret that could blow apart his world forever . . .

The first book in the award-winning, international hit fantasy adventure series. Perfect for fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Eragon and Fireborn.

Pupils say: The cover has a fantasy vibe and it kind of looks like the Percy Jackson series, which I really like.

Dune / by Frank Herbert

Melange, or ‘spice’, is the most valuable – and rarest – element in the universe. And it can only be found on a single planet: the inhospitable desert world Arrakis. Whoever controls Arrakis controls the spice. And whoever controls the spice controls the universe. When stewardship of Arrakis is transferred to his house, Paul Atreides must travel to the planet’s dangerous surface to ensure the future of his family and his people. But as malevolent forces explode into conflict around him, Paul is thrust into a great destiny beyond his understanding.

Librarian’s pick: I really loved the Dune movies, the story is so exciting and mysterious. I grabbed this new edition arrived, I wanted to read it and find out more about the characters. Plus, this way I don’t need to wait for the next movie to find out what happens next!

What will your next read be?

Eastbank goes book bonkers

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Welcome back to school Eastbank ! It has been a lonely library without you all. Can you believe our library actually looks this big? Isn’t it weird looking at it without any pupils in?

New Feature – Click the link. In our blog posts now, if you click on any underlined text, you’ll be taken to some exciting new internet content. This could be a book review or even an author’s page. So there’s lots more for you to explore in the blog this year.

S1 Induction Time It’s great to see all the new S1 pupils come into the library for the first time this month. Everyone has now been given their library cards and can borrow books for the first time. Remember, the library is free and you can borrow books for 2 weeks, or longer if you need more time to read the books you have. But remember to bring them back !! Stuck for an idea what to read? Why not check out our display of new books? This table is where you find a selection of new books covering all subjects.

Creation Corner

Don’t forget about the other activities you can do in the library. Our creation corner has been very popular this month, with a gratitude rainbow, a brilliant Mickey Mouse drawing and a good few filled in word searches, I’ve been blown away with what you’re doing. You could see your work here if you hand it in to Mrs Marshall !

New books to borrow

On the new releases table, you can find the following books. As a sneak peak, click on the links and you will be able to read all about them ! If you want a book, just ask the librarian who will be happy to reserve one for you.

Echostar is Always Listening Definitely the creepiest of the new books, and a great read to set you up for Halloween in October ! It’s not ghosts and ghouls, it’s even scarier than that. Ruby and her best friend have discovered a new AI tool which helps them get great grades at school. But is that just too good to be true? Read this Super Short story and find out….

EchoStar: Is Always Listening

The Final Year

Matt Goodfellow has done it again with this book, he simply gets better and better. Nathan is struggling at school, and trying his best to keep the few friends he has. But what if your best friend starts doing things they shouldn’t really be doing? And it’s serious. Combined with trouble at home, the Final Year is a great read and one you can identify with concerning your first year at a new school.

Unfamiliar What an amazing reader request has just come in to Eastbank. The graphic novel of Unfamiliar and it’s follow up have arrived. An adorable wee witch – Planchette – moves into a haunted house together with her familiar Marlow. Not a problem for a witch you’d think ! But a bargain haunted house throws up some funny problems for the young witch and her familiar. A cosy read about insiders, outsiders and all those in-between, there’s not much you can’t love about Unfamiliar. Ask Mrs Marshall to reserve both copies if you want double the fun.

Author of the Month – Tom Palmer

Our first author of the month for this term is Tom Palmer. Tom writes amazing books on football, the Second World War and many other things. His books are in our Super Shorts section, which means they are a great read with not so many pages. Also they have yellow pages which means pupils with dyslexia challenges can read the words with more ease. But everyone can borrow these books and they are amazing reads

Library Opening Change in Bannerman

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📢 PSA 📢

There has been a change to the opening days of the library in Bannerman High: from now, it will be open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Thanks to the new S1 for making these fabulous posters! 😻 #dontmessupthelibrary #bestlibraryever

New school year at Lochend CHS

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What’s in the box?

We’ve had an exciting time at Lochend. First of all, we’ve had lots of new books come into the library. I wonder what could be in that box??? Been a bit of a reading drought in the summer? Come in to the library and see what new books are here. it’s always great to see a delivery of books on the library table !

New Feature – Click for the link

In our blog posts now, if you click on any underlined text, you’ll be taken to some exciting new internet content. This could be for a book review or even an author’s page. So there’s lots more for you to find out in the blog this year.

S1 Induction Time

It’s great to see all the new S1 pupils come into the library for the first time this month. Everyone has now been given their library cards and can borrow books for the first time. Remember, the library is free and you can borrow books for 2 weeks, or longer if you need more time to read the books you have. Stuck for an idea what to read? Why not check out our display of new books? This table is where you find a selection of new books covering all subjects.

New books to borrow

Spectacular Scottish Women

A brilliant celebration of all the amazing women to come out of Scotland. You’ll find women from history, Olympians, footballers and so many more great figures to surprise and inspire you to be the best version of yourself.

Spectacular Scottish Women: Celebrating Inspiring Lives from Scotland

Echostar is Always Listening

Definitely the creepiest of the new books, and a great read to set you up for Halloween in October ! It’s not ghosts and ghouls, it’s even scarier than that. Ruby and her best friend have discovered a new AI tool which helps them get great grades at school. But is that just too good to be true? Read this Super Short story and find out….

EchoStar: Is Always Listening

The Final Year

Author of the Month – Tom Palmer

BOOK NOIR @Hillhead High School Library

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Capture the era of spies, detectives, loot, fog and lamp posts! Grab a book and enjoy !

Welcome back to school!

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The new term has finally started and, while we are waiting to deliver the library induction for the S1s, some of them have already popped in for a visit and to borrow a book.

For everyone else though, here is a list of eBooks available to borrow from the Libby app featuring school stories and experiences!

Middle School Mayhem by Rachel Renee Russell

The Secret School Invasion by Pamela Butchart

Murder on a School Night (audio) by Kate Weston

The School for Good and Evil 1 & 2 by Soman Chainani

Yes You Can–Ace School Without Losing Your Mind by Natasha Devon

Making Friends, Volume 1 by Kristen Gudsnuk

Awkward Autumn of Lily Mclean by Lindsay Littleson

ADHD Is Our Superpower by Adriana Camargo & Soli Lazarus

The Autistic Guide to Adventure by Allie Mason

Do You Know Dewey? Exploring the Dewey Decimal System by Brian P. Cleary

The Worst Class in the World by Joanna Nadin