Exploring the School Library Pack

You’ve probably already heard a lot about Booktrust’s free books programmes such as Bookstart and Booktime – but did you know about our new School Library Packs?

For 2012-13, we have offered every secondary school in England the School Library Pack. The pack provides school libraries with a selection of free books and resources, which are intended to help staff create a reading culture that reaches all students, encouraging students to discuss what they are reading and join in activities such as reading groups.

The School Library Pack is funded by the Department for Education, and generously supported by children’s book publishers.

 
Here Dawn Waldron, Assistant Librarian, Stourpourt High School and Sixth Form Centre, tells us about her experience of working with the School Library Pack:

 
The pack of books supplied included a fantastic range, from contemporary fiction and classics through to graphic novels and exciting non-fiction titles. Each reading set was also accompanied by a very helpful 'Guide for Reading Groups'.

We have a new Reading Group in school, and reading sets along with the guides have been perfect resources. The selection of titles is fantastic, and the further reading suggestions are a great way to help direct readers to the type of books that might suit them.

The graphic novels have already been very popular with students who are normally reluctant to read. Additionally we have used the more visual books such as The Worst Children’s Jobs in History, the DFC Library Super Animal Adventure Squad and How to Make a Universe with 92 Ingredients as ‘browser; books so that when students pop into the library for a quick visit they can pick these up and have a quick look through – in this way we engage them and entice them into reading more. When they realise that reading can be interesting, fun and available in bite-sized pieces we’re half way there!

This is my first encounter with Booktrust but I have to say it’s been a fantastic one. I did ring for some extra resources to help me with the displays of books I put together and the staff couldn’t have been more helpful. Thank you for a fantastic resources pack and all your support.

Find out more about the School Library Pack