We meet regularly providing an opportunity to network and share best practice in support of one another and in celebrating the love of books and reading.

New members are always given the warmest of welcomes at any of our events and if you have any enquiries please feel free to contact us.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Committee

Chair: Cathi Woods 

Secretary: Frances Stanbury

Treasurer: In lieu Cathi and Frances

Committee: Ruth Cornish, Sally Perry

Contact us

Contact the committee at [email protected]

Upcoming events

Spring Meeting: Wednesday 19th March, 4.00 – 5.30pm

A special visit to West Horsley Place, Epsom Rd, West Horsley, Leatherhead KT24 6AN 
Many of you will know this medieval Manor House (if only from the TV series ‘Ghosts’!).
 
We will meet the volunteer librarian, have a look at the library collections which are being worked on and a tour guide will give an outline history of the house and the main rooms.

The timings have to fit in with the House, which is why it’s a 4pm start, but hopefully with enough notice, early escapes from schools may be possible.
For practical reasons, we won’t be able to offer tea.

Numbers are limited, so if you want to come, please let me know and book your place.
This promises to be a most interesting visit. 
Cost for non-members is £5. 


Summer Meeting : Monday 16th June , 4.30 – 6.30pm 

Topic: Artificial Intelligence and the school library
Speaker: Sarah Pavey, Independent Consultant & Trainer
Venue: Reigate Grammar School, Reigate Road, Reigate RH2 0QS
Full details and booking info will be sent out next term; Sarah will talk about how AI can help librarians, highlight pitfalls, how to help students, copyright issues and more.
  

A Grand Day Out to Oxford?

Would any of you be interested in a day out to Oxford to visit The Bodleian Libraries?
When? This year or next year, sometime in the school holidays. 
An hour’s tour costs about £15 and after that we would have lunch and explore the town, bookshops etc. 
(All costs would have to be at members’ expense.) 
Let me know if you’re interested and we’ll start to form a plan!

World Book Day Event: Thursday March 6th

The Children’s Bookshow charity has a FREE online event with Michael Rosen to celebrate World Book Day on Thurs March 6th at 11:30am. It's for years 3,4,5 & 6 and lasts 45 minutes.
Register here
 

General admin
Could you host a meeting sometime?
It’s always interesting to visit different schools and have a nose around, so if we could meet in your library, do drop me a line.


Contact email [email protected] 

 

Recent Training

Collaboration: Practical ways to promote your library

At the November 2024 meeting at Epsom College Lucas Maxwell gave an inspiring presentation on promoting the library in the school community.
Lots of ideas to take away!

 

An in person for this after school event including the AGM.

Summer Meeting

27th June was held at Dorking Library where we heard about the new look for Surrey Libraries.
‘Super Access’ libraries allowing use beyond normal hours, community hubs offering a range of services and group activities, 
and services available to support school librarians.

We discussed a good read for adults, children or teens, newly published or an old favourite.

After the meeting, we went to a nearby café for tea and cake (not part of main meeting)



Spring 2024 Meeting

Supported by The Arts Council, the ReadingZone offers a wealth of ideas and support to schools and libraries, all for free!
Our March meeting in Redhill was most enjoyable and we shared brilliant ideas on promoting books and making reading fun. 

Caroline from The ReadingZone talked about her company and the project she’s working on in some Surrey schools to engage reluctant readers. 
The Zone website is a treasure trove of useful items, such as 3 minute videos of authors talking about their new titles, which some members
say have already inspired students to try the books.
 

Autumn 2023 Meeting

21st November - Keeping One Step Ahead - Reading Framework, recommended online resources, organising pupil librarians, and more.

Thank you to The Howard of Effingham School.

The meeting included our Minutes and Annual Report: Surrey SLA Branch Annual Report 2022-23.

 

CWIZZ Literary Quiz for schools, 24th November

Some schools at the London end of Surrey may already know about the CWIZZ, which has run in South London for some years. I was delighted that RGS Guildford hosted the first Surrey CWIZZ on Friday 24 November 2023.

For the benefit of those who don’t know, the CWIZZ is a fun literary quiz for Years 5-8, run by CWISL (Children's Writers for Stories and Literacy). Schools enter one or two teams of four students, who work together to answer book and story-related questions in themed rounds. Between rounds there are chances to win prizes, and mini-talks and readings from the authors.  There is a free raffle for all entrants, a bookstall and the chance to meet the authors and get books signed in the refreshment break.  The event will last no longer than 2 ½ hours, including the break, and will end with the presentation of the CWIZZ Shield to the winners. There is also a special trophy for the highest placed KS2 team.  The cost of this brilliant afternoon is £25 per team.

 

News from Surrey Libraries

Reading Well for Teens is a useful booklist developed with experts by The Reading Agency with a range of titles to support mental health. The selection includes books to help promote wellbeing and break down barriers around mental health issues and topics such as body image, neurodiversity, sexuality and gender identity, and difficult experiences including bereavement and bullying, as well as social pressures. 

Details - Young adult well-being and support in libraries 

Surrey Libraries have a wide range of author talks coming up too, details on the website: Events and activities in libraries 

 

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