THE MAGIC THRESHOLD

'At the moment that we persuade a child, any child, to cross that threshold into a library, we change their lives forever, for the better.' Barack Obama.

Edenhurst School Library is a fun and welcoming place in our school where children in the Prep forms can borrow books both for pleasure and for learning. The books in the Library are graded to match up to the reading scheme so that pupils can find books that suit their own reading level.

Reading is recognized as such an important skill for all pupils to develop. If pupils are competent readers then they are able to find their own information and learn things by themselves. Reading helps in all subjects and not just in English. Reading is the key to unlocking learning in all areas.

We give pupils lots of encouragement to help them to enjoy reading.

• The library stock is regularly updated with new titles.
• In response to the pupils’ interests, new books are purchased.
• The top 5 books in each Prep form are displayed on posters.
• Children can request new books and we buy them in especially for them
• Displays and books are arranged to reflect current interests and events.
• Posters featuring pupils and teachers are made and displayed
• New books are displayed
• Magazines and newspapers are available
• Pupils can visit the Library for fun during lunch-break

LUNCH-BREAK FUNTIME!

During lunch-break the Library is open for pupils to visit and have fun! As well as reading and changing their books, pupils may:

• enjoy completing quizzes
• make bookmarks
• make their own books
• design book-covers
• listen to talking books
• draw and colour characters from books
• help to make wonderful displays
• learn how to become a Library Assistant

LIBRARY ASSISTANT SCHEME

During lunch-break, pupils from each Prep form may visit the library to take part in Library Assistant Training. Pupils will learn how to:

• check that returned books are in good condition
• replace books correctly onto the shelves
• recognize and re-shelve non-fiction books
• understand how the Dewey system works for non-fiction books
• catalogue new stock onto the computer database
• stamp new books
• record loans and returns
• request new books
• reserve books.

Library Assistants wear a special badge and receive kind and helpful merits for their efforts.

Sometimes children may find reading hard and we can show them how much fun reading can be by reading to them. No matter how old your child may be, there is no better way to end the day than by reading them a bedtime story. Reading is not always about reading a whole book. We need reading skills for menus, TV schedules, Text and email to name just a few. Let your child see you reading books, newspapers etc. and create a reading culture at home!