It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…in the library. 📚
Our elves have been busy putting up our new library Christmas Tree, courtesy of Ms Kelly 🤶 🎄
There are new displays in the library as well. One with Christmas themed books and one with some contemporary senior fiction for reading over the holidays. All available to borrow
Our Library Volunteers have been working hard on some great projects to brighten these dark, Winter months.
Reader of the Month notice board
Rand and Tafsirr created a Reader of the Month noticeboard, to recognise enjoyment and effort in reading.
This month’s award winners – Balint (S2), Egbert (S1) & Melissa (S3), will each receive a book of their choice from the book vending machine.
Book Swap here!
Thanks to Filza, Gia and Izza who created this beautiful giant sign for our Book Swap table during Book Week Scotland. They used the lighthouse logo to represent ‘Hope’ and added their own style and flourish. The Book Swap was a great success.
Book swapping at interval
Enjoying books together at the Coffee morning
Our Staff Coffee Morning was a hoot (thanks to Ms Ford for bringing Hedwig along), and S3 Volunteers helped serve refreshments, and gave out copies of ‘Hope’ kindly gifted by the Scottish Book Trust. There was plenty of great chat between staff and young people, who love sharing book recommendations together .
S4 Volunteer Lucy, working at the issue desk
Our 14 Volunteers, ranging from S3 – S6 have a lot of fun, but there’s also a goal to achieve, which is completing their Duke of Edinburgh Award at either Bronze or Silver level; or for S6 – their Caritas or Leadership Award.
Like all school librarians, I’m always proud to support our young people with their volunteering, and see this is a key aspect of our School Library Service, offering “a wide range of interesting and fun volunteering experiences that help others develop new skills and make new friends”. A Vision for Glasgow Life Libraries, April 2023
Our October Volunteers’ Survey asked – What is your favourite thing about volunteering?
“Meeting new people and becoming friends. The Library is a really inviting space and the people I’ve met are all amazing.” (S3 Volunteer)
“I really enjoyed the creative tasks like wrapping a gift and putting up the posters. But also the less creative tasks like taking record of newly ordered books so all in all I’ve enjoyed pretty much everything!” (S6 Volunteer)
In the survey, our young people agreed that they had achieved some, or all of the following outcomes through volunteering :
1. Of benefit to the school community 2. Teamwork 3. Helping other people 4. Learning new skills 5. Good for my mental health 6. Good for my confidence
We’ll have more projects and book recommendations to share in 2025. Happy Reading!
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 !
It’s been an exciting first month back – getting to know our new S1pupils, ordering new books and sorting through deliveries. Best of all has been seeing our keen readers borrow their first books, and the delight when they realise there is no limit to the number of books that can be borrowed (other than what can fit into your schoolbag)! With new books arriving regularly, there will always be great choice of both old favourites, or something completely new to try.
In June, 70 members of our outgoing S1 took part in a Library Survey. This was a goldmine of information, showing what’s been going well, and where improvements could be made. Here’s some examples from the survey:
You said Get more Dork Diaries & Wimpy Kid. More comics.
We did Ordered more comics, including Marvel, DC, Bunny vs Monkey, Star Wars.
Our funny Diary & Joke books are now all shelved together in a clearly labelled special section to make them easier to find.
You said Have a rule to get people to talk quieter. No loud music. Have more of a chill out spot.
We did Our quiet, Autism – friendly lunchtime now runs on Wednesdays. No phones, low lighting and quiet activities only. On other days, Librarian & Pupil helpers do a walk round and make sure everyone is being considerate and mindful of noise levels.
Quiet time to chill out
When asked ‘What do you like to do in the Library?’ the most popular answer was Chill out with friends, closely followed by Read, and Do Homework.
S1 Helpers planning activities
“The library is already amazing and I love spending time there”
All your comments are so valued! We’ll continue to have regular customer surveys to keep improving, and display all your suggestions and the corresponding actions taken on our ‘You Said – We Did’ giant whiteboard.
The librarian is reading …..
Apple and Rain, by Sarah Crossan 14 year old Apple is having a difficult time with bullying, and events at home. A favourite teacher encourages Apple to read poetry and write her own poems. Writing helps her to find her voice, face some really difficult family problems and bravely seek help. I loved this book.
Reading can sometimes seem trivial when you’re faced with difficult events, but the right book, at the right time can be a lifeline. Any time you’re feeling a bit down, why not pop into your school or community library and have a browse. There will always be friendly staff on hand to chat, and you’ll not leave empty-handed. Happy reading!
Ms Kindness
The S2 Library Helpers were so keen to encourage reading over the holidays, that they made up a Holyrood Reading Challenge. They chatted about this over a few lunchtimes and came up with a giant whiteboard of ideas. We then wrote the challenges on post-it notes that went into a lucky dip jar for participants to choose from. Here are some of the challenges:
It was a lot of fun, and we all enjoyed choosing a challenge and receiving a bookmark and merit for taking part. I’m now looking forward to hearing how everyone got on, and also what ideas the Helpers will have for our new term.
S2 Helpers came up with ideas
Seniors enjoyed the Challenge too!
While school’s out, school librarians continue to carry out essential work, joining up hundreds of new members arriving into S1, re-organising and improving collections, ordering new books, creating resources and planning projects and activities for the coming year.
I’ve been reviewing some of the pupil feedback from throughout the year, and noticed how much S1 enjoy their lunchtimes in the library. And also that some readers would like a little more help in choosing books. So I’ve ordered new board games for lunchtimes (chess, snakes & ladders, Connect4, Uno, Boggle and others), and re-organised a book display stand at the entrance to highlight new genres, including : Afrofuturism, Eco-stories, Sci-fi & Dystopian, Animal stories, Scottish authors, and Re-told fairy tales. There’s also a space for – Recommended by You, as pupil recommendations are one of the best ways to find a good book. Hopefully our keen readers will like the new display and make suggestions for anything else they would like to see included.
I’ve also enjoyed some time off to go on trips and celebrations including:
Hope everyone’s had a lovely holiday, look forward to seeing you back next week !
Miss Kindness
We had loads on this month, including our final author visit as part of the Library Young Team – SLIF project (funded by the Scottish Government). We also have a new club, the rebirth of an old one plus the establishment of a School Library Council.
Graeme Armstrong at St. Andrew’s!
This month we were delighted to welcome Graeme Armstrong, author of the highly acclaimed The Young Team, to the school as our final LYT author.
Hes poke about his book and the ‘story behind the story’ which included some emotional and also inspiring aspects of his life growing up as a gang member and how he found his way out.
Our S3s were absolutely captivated and our only five copies of his book went just moments after the talk concluded.
Games Club!
Our pupil helpers have established a new board and card games club! This will be on every Wednesday lunchtime and pupils have the chance to play any of our board and card games available in the library. We are hoping to add more
Other news
Thanks to our librarian colleagues who selected some bonus books from Waterstones for our schools. The selection at St. Andrew’s has gone down a storm already and provides the pupils with plenty of new books to keep them going until the summer holidays!
The Manga Club is also back! Due to popular demand, the club will take place in Ms. Glass’ room right across the corridor from us. I will be working with the pupils who organise the club to provide new reading material, games and activities!
On Tuesday (30th), we had our inaugural Library Council meeting. Unfortunately due to being off on study leave, our senior members couldn’t make it but our younger contingency came up with some excellent suggestions. Some exciting changes coming soon!
Hyndland library celebrate World Book Day with a Big Book Quiz at lunchtimes throughout the week. The Friday Finishers also created this wonderful display to celebrate the day.
World Book Day Display
World book Day quiz
March means World Book Day time! The library has handed out lots of tokens and they’re available until the end of the month. WBD token can be used to claim a free book in bookshops an participating shops until 31st March. You can find out about the books and shops here.
To mark the day, this year pupils competed in quizzes and joined in some bookish games of Tumbling Towers. Every block had a question or action and we had some delightful reading dares as forfeits. Big thanks to all the pupil library assistants who helped out as activity leaders.
On 13th March the Yoto Carnegie award shortlist was announced and the pupil assistants have jumped right in. We’re reading Away with words , The door of no return and Steady for this at the moment, you can find out more about these titles below. Stay tuned for next month’s blog to see what we thought.
Away with words by Sophie Cameron
Gala and her dad, Jordi, have just moved from home in Cataluña to a town in Scotland, to live with Jordi’s boyfriend Ryan. Gala doesn’t speak much English, and feels lost, lonely and unable to be her usual funny self. Until she befriends Natalie, a girl with selective mutism. Set in a world where words appear physically when people speak, AWAY WITH WORDS explores the importance of communication and being there for those we love
The door of no return / Kwame Alexander
Eleven-year-old Kofi Offin loves these things above all else: his family, the fireside tales of his father’s father, a girl named Ama, and, of course, swimming. But when the unthinkable occurs during a festival between rival villages, Kofi ends up in a fight for his life. What happens next will send him on a harrowing journey across land and sea, and away from everything he loves.
Steady for this by Nathanael Lessore
Shaun (aka MC Growls) is ready to drop his best bars and smash the competition at Raptology. That way, he’s convinced Tanisha, his crush, will finally give him a chance.
But when a livestream practice goes epically wrong, Growls’s dirty laundry is literally exposed. He’s finally achieved his dreams of going viral – not in the good way.
Now Tanisha won’t look at him, he’s the joke of the school and there’s no way he can show his face at the competition. Will he ever catch a break?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, taking place in March and April this year. It is a holy month which Muslims observe by giving, fasting, worship, studying the Quran, spiritual reflection, prayer and helping others. The end of Ramadan will be celebrated in April with Eid al-Fitr – the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast. Remember to be considerate of your Muslim friends during Ramadan, as they may be fasting during the day.
Many St Roch’s pupils are observing Ramadan this month, including some of our library volunteers. They put together a lovely library display to share information about Islamic culture and promote Muslim authors. Well done to Rose & co for their work.
Ramadan Mubarak & Happy Easter to everyone celebrating.
Our S3 Duke of Edinburgh Volunteers made a book display for Holocaust Memorial Day.
Readers from S1 & S2 classes chatted about what they’ve been reading, and here are their recommendations :
S1-S3 pupils’ booklist
We discussed the importance of books and films, as there are now very few remaining survivors of the Holocaust, making it more important than ever that their voices be honoured and saved for future generations.
On 1st February we celebrated World Hijab Day. Our book display included authors and book characters who proudly wear the hijab, including Ayaan Mohamud, A.M. Dassu, Tahereh Maafi, Hiba Noor Khan, & S. K. Ali.
Our Rights Respecting Schools pupils did a tannoy announcement, and explained all about the origins of World Hijab Day, founded by Nazma Khan. While making our book display, we chatted about Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad (who has written several books), and ballet dancer Stephanie Kurlow. We all want to see more library books showing better representation of hijab wearing, so we did some research on this, and have ordered some exciting new titles.
The lovely artwork is by Evelina and Brenna in S5.
Lorraine, at her Waterstone’s book launch
I went to the book launch of ‘The Island Swimmers’, and met Lorraine Kelly at Waterstones bookshop. It was lovely to meet a TV personality who is such a passionate supporter of books and reading. Can’t wait to read this, as I’ve been to Orkney , where the book is set, many times, and it’s a place that I love (although I’ve never been wild swimming!).
Coming soon….
‘Reading Schools’ gifts from Scottish Book Trust
We have lots to look forward to in March including World Book Day, lots of reading, a good bit of book partying from our young people & staff, and more great work from our Reading Schools leadership group. Happy reading!
2023 was a busy year in the library at Springburn Academy with the library being reorganised into genre sections. The library assistants have been reflecting on the library and what improvements they could make during 2024:
‘l love Springburn Academy’s library! It gives us a safe but fun space for reading, eating and chatting. I feel the library would be better if it was less busy so I could shelf books easier without climbing over S1s but other than this the library is a wonderful place and I’m so glad to have it in my school.’ KA (S2)
‘I love the library because Colin is really nice and supports me even when I get into trouble in class. I would say there should be a limit on how many people come in at a time because it can get so busy people can’t move around the books’ JK (S3)
‘The library can be peaceful and is full of nice and friendly people. I want to make more displays because the huge variety of books makes it hard to pick sometimes’ MK (S1)
‘I like the library because it’s easy to socialise with people and it’s always fun and occasionally calm, sometimes I think the library would be better if there was a day when only people wanting to read and use it as a library were allowed in!’ YX (S2)
‘The library is a very safe place where you can enjoy seeing your friends, I would like to make the library better by opening it all week!’ LMC (S1)
‘I like the library because it is calm and not scary like the rest of the school so obviously I would like it to be calmer and less busy during breaks like it is during class time’ CR (S3)
‘Here is what I think is good about the library: It’s very friendly. It’s social. Not many rules. Colin is nice and supportive. Places to sit at the back. People to talk to. All ages allowed and we all mix together. Here is what I would change: More seats available. No running. Make it bigger. A quiet area to study separate from where I eat my lunch’ AR (S1)
