Reading Schools community – Building a relationship with your library Secondary edition

Welcome to the Reading Schools community!

In this space we will highlight the fantastic activities, celebrations and fun of your Reading Schools journeys. Each edition will have a different theme and we will be asking you to contribute via the (this will open in a new window)#ReadingSchools hashtag on Twitter.

The theme for this edition is libraries, celebrating the brilliant relationships built between schools and their public or school library service. 

Shawlands Academy and Bellahouston Academy, Glasgow

These sporting stars swapped the pitch for the library in a multi-school visit to be remembered, scoring some major reading goals!

Elgin Academy, Moray

With support from their library, pupils at Elgin Academy used reading to build intergenerational friendships. As part of their Community Partnership project, pupils select books and meet every week with local care home residents to share stories.

Castlehead High School, Renfrewshire

Castlehead High School created a digital countdown to Christmas with book reviews and fun for all ages provided by pupils and staff across the school and library service.

Brae's High School, Falkirk

Brae's High School library protected the right to education and made sure there were books available over the school holidays and trips to support their feeder primary.

I have the right to an education which develops my personality, respect for others' rights and the environment

Inverurie Academy, Aberdeenshire

Inverurie Academy, in collaboration with their school library, regular share news and views of their Reading Schools activities through their newsletter and podcast.

Aberdeen Grammar School, Aberdeen City

Library ambassadors at Aberdeen Grammar School exhibited themed displays at Aberdeen Grammar School – a great chance for starting conversations and auditing your available stock with students!

Bearsden Academy, East Dunbartonshire

Bearsden Academy engaged their wider school community by inviting their school librarian to parents evening.

St Ninian's High School, East Dunbartonshire

These drama students enjoyed a rewards trip to the library and bookshop, staging a great day out for all involved and building positive relationships with their librarians.

Lenzie Academy, East Dunbartonshire

We love to see the success of 'Blind Date with a Book' at Lenzie Academy, bringing lots of visitors into the library to take a chance on one of these mystery picks.

Using library engagement in your own Reading Schools application

Remember your links with the public library service are relevant throughout your Evidence framework, and specifically relate to content for these Key Areas:

• Key Area 1.2.5 – Staff knowledge of contemporary children’s literature
• Key Area 1.3.2 – School environment
• Key Area 1.5.1 – Access to high-quality reading materials  
• Key Area 2.3.1 – Modelling reading behaviours
• Key Area 2.5.1 – Raising the profile of reading with families 
• Key Area 2.7.1 – Partnerships within local community  

Thanks for sharing!

A huge thank you to all the schools who shared their practice with us! Our next theme will be paired reading. We want to see how you engage learners across your school, connecting classes, year groups or volunteer buddy-readers from your wider community. 

Make sure to tag us with the (this will open in a new window)#ReadingSchools hashtag on Twitter and share your activities for a chance to be featured in our next edition.

Related resources

• (this will open in a new window)Library support poster – Download versions for your local public library and school
• (this will open in a new window)Reading Schools Fund – Apply by Friday 3 November for 'books and spaces' projects
• (this will open in a new window)Scottish Book Trust resources and projects with libraries
• Poem: (this will open in a new window)Dear Library by Jackie Kay
• Article: (this will open in a new window)Why libraries are important: The social impact of funding cuts
• (this will open in a new window)Scottish Public Library Services – Contacts for all local authority library services
• CLPL session: (this will open in a new window)School libraries and supporting teens to read for pleasure