October has been such a busy month here at Eastbank Library.  You would think with a full week’s holiday in the middle of the month that things would be quieter – but that’s not at all the way things have worked out.

First of all, we have a new team of Reading Leaders comprising of S1 pupils.  The girls worked really hard to get their positions.  They came to the library after responding to an appeal for help, completed application forms and finished 2 full weeks of training.  They covered how to check in and check out books on the Library Management System; where books are shelved and what the special sections of the library contain – such as our Equalities, Anti-Racism and Graphic Novel bookshelves.

They have learned really quickly and been reliable too.  Here they are proudly with their Reading Leader badges on their ties.  Celebrations too for our Senior Reader Leaders who enjoyed last year so much they have come back and helped train our new recruits. There is only 1 Senior Reading Leader in the photo, however we do have 3 in total.   Our full team of 7 will make the library an even more brilliant place to be ! Well done to them all !

Our Anime Club started up at the end of September and interest is growing all the time.  Here are some of our attendees watching the latest anime screening in the library.  This month there was a chance to sample some Japanese sweets too.   Luckily one of our Anime Club members speaks Japanese and was able to translate the flavours on the packaging to help everyone choose which sweet they wanted.  Without her we would have been so puzzled.   Team work makes the dream work !

Also at the end of the month we celebrated Diwali in our chilled colouring corner.  We decorated the area with flameless candles to symbolise the Festival of Lights.  In addition, a choice of Diwali colouring sheets were available to pupils to allow a chilled colouring in period with some beautiful images to colour.  This activity was really popular and on the first day of the sheets being available, they had to be replenished.  It is amazing how the library can provide a calm atmosphere in such a busy school.

At the end of October is of course Hallowe’en.  A spooky time was had in the library as there seemed to be many books just “disappearing” in pupils’ bedrooms, never to be found again.  Indeed the haunting seems to be getting worse, as it has extended to the books disappearing from school bags and classrooms as well !  Just as well we will be in November soon, and maybe the library ghost will mend its ways and disappearing books will return to the shelves again !