In this blog we’ll be looking at what today’s school libraries contribute to the schools they are a part of, the impact they have on pupils and where they’re going in the future.
This time, we gain insight into the library at King Edward Vi School, Lichfield, by speaking to Librarian and Learning Resources Centre Manager, Susie Crowley, and Deputy Headteacher, Catharine Forster.
Firstly, Susie shared the current school library provision and her plans for the future.
What does school library provision at King Edward VI School, Lichfield, currently look like?
The library has 11,000 books and 11 PCs, along with a set of iPads. The space is large enough to seat 35 students and can be used as a teaching space with a PC and whiteboard. Upstairs is a large study area reserved for use by 6th Form students.
The library has fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, quick reads and Manga books. We put together reading boxes for form rooms and we loan out reading sets for whole class reading, for Y7 forms.
The library also provides the following support for students:
- Y7 – Book Buzz, a library skills lesson once per half term, the Library A-Z Challenge, research lessons as required by other departments.
- Y8 – Accelerated Reader sessions in the library (once a fortnight during registration and once a fortnight during an English lesson)
- Y9 – Bedrock lessons for online vocabulary and grammar
The library promotes several reading initiatives including World Book Day, the National Reading Champions Quiz and Staffordshire YTF.
What are your plans for the library for the rest of this year?
We are currently working towards World Book Day – we always run a big competition with prizes and the entries always features at our Summer Festival in July. I will be delivering a weeks’ worth of school assemblies to promote WBD.
We also have 2 teams taking part in the National Reading Championships and we will be following the Staffordshire YTF award.
Further Y7 library lessons will need planning as well as a half termly Book Buzz session.
Improvements and upgrades to IT equipment are also in discussion.
We do usually book an author visit for the summer term, for Y7/8/9 students.
Which departments do you work with?
We aim to work with all departments, offering library research lessons to all subjects. Inevitably, some departments are keener to work with us than others and we have particularly close links with the English department, who have agreed a half termly Y7 Library skills lesson for all Y7 students.
Other depts that work closely with the library are Geography, History, Art and Science.
What are your training priorities for this year?
My training priorities have been to look at engaging students with non-fiction, both for keen and less-keen fiction readers. I have also been focussing on training centred around online research and promoting accurate online searching, using reliable and authoritative information.
Do you have pupil library helpers, and if so what do they help you do? What’s the impact on them?
We have several Student Librarians, and we actively promote this role to all new Y7 students. They help out at break and lunch times, shelving, servicing books, creating displays.
This role trends to attract the quieter students who may be looking for a focus at lunch time. The role can really help boost confidence and we reward hard work and loyalty.
We take referrals from form tutors who have requested that a student becomes Student Librarian as a means of providing some structure during lunch, as well as encouraging friendships and improving school attendance.
What (if anything) did you do before becoming a librarian, and how do those skills help you in this role?
Other than working in Saturday/part time jobs whilst at Uni, I have always worked in libraries. Before this role, I worked in public libraries for Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council. I have worked as an Information Librarian and a Local Studies Librarian. I have always worked in customer service roles, either retail, or libraries.
Obviously, my overall skills and training in librarianship is useful for this role but my previous work has also helped me expect the unexpected and how to be good listener and problem solver. I enjoy helping others and finding the right answer to whatever the problem is!
Next, Catharine explained why the library is such an important part of their school and why it's worth the investment...
What impact does your school library have?
The school library and, importantly, the school librarian have a number of areas which they impact upon. The school librarian works closely with the English department to provide opportunities for lessons to take place in the library, which introduce students to a wide range of books to support the process of reading widely and often in school. The use of accelerated reader provides a focus for sessions with year 8 students and there are activities such as the A-Z reading challenge to engage year 7 students.
The library provides students with a space which can create a sense of belonging, ultimately impacting on wellbeing. This may be as part of the library helpers group or as part of activities such as the reading champions quiz, alongside being a space that any student can access before and after school and during break and lunchtime.
The librarian works with departments across the school to support with research and information literacy skills. This includes sessions with year 7 classes in a wide range of subjects, up to sessions for sixth form classes to provide support with Non-Examined Assessments as part of A-level courses.
There are many competing demands for budget and staffing. Why does KES invest in the library?
In a large school of over 1600 students, it can feel overwhelming for some students. The library provides a safe space for learning and additional support for students of all ages. This support can be a place for learning and completing homework or a space for wider activities connected to reading such as author visits, or world book day competitions.
There may be people reading this and wondering if their school library is good… for you, what are the key indicators of a good library?
I think it is helpful to look at use during the week both in social times, when students are choosing to access the space, and also in lessons, when teaching staff are utilising the space and the expertise of the librarian. We also consider lending figures and feedback from student voice.
The SLA is looking to build strong school libraries for the future – what do you think the role of school libraries will be in 5-10 years?
A library is a unique space in school, which can be accessed as part of the curriculum to support the academic work of the school, providing a space much like in a university or prison to support learning. It shows students the spaces that are available for this purpose beyond the classroom. However, in a school it can also be a space which goes beyond the curriculum and shows students that reading is for life, allowing them to access a world of adventures and empathy, through experiencing the stories of others.
For further reading on why every school should have a school library, click here.
The School Library Association (SLA) is a charity which supports schools develop their school library, establish a reading culture and deliver independent learning skills. We believe that all schools should have their own (or shared) staffed library to help all children and young people fulfil their potential. To support our work please donate here.