Tower Hamlets Schools Library Services

Tag: Early Years Settings

  • Pride Month and LGBT+ History Month

    Pride Month and LGBT+ History Month

     Pride Month and LGBT+ History Month

    Pride Month is  celebrted in June, and LGBT+ History Month in February celebrates LGBT+ people who have created social change from across the centuries. Visit the LGBT history month site at https://lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk/

    Search our catalogue :

    Why is Pride Month and LGBT+ History Month important for schools?

    • Between 1988 and 2003 Section 28 of the Local Government Act meant that schools in England and Wales were not allowed “intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality”.
    • In England, homosexuality was illegal until 1967.
    • There are still 66 countries around the world today in which it is illeagal to be openly gay. In some cases punishable by the death penalty.
    • In England and Wales today, promenant, mainstream right-wing political parties are gaining ground and actively censoring LGBT+ stories in libraries

    These are people’s stories and voices being silenced.

    Schools and libraries have a crucial role in educating for equality. They have a responsibility to every pupil to ensure a safe and secure learning environment in which they can thrive. They have a responsibility to all pupils to prepare them for adult life in the real world and to ensure that young people do not grow up in fear because they were not made welcome. They were not to be spoken of. That their stories couldn’t be told.

    Pride is an opportunity for everyone to celebrate that we can ALL be proud and accepted for who we are.

    LGBT books and resources in schools

    LGBT+ History Month is an opportunity for all of us to learn more about the histories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Britain and Northern Ireland.

    Pride Month as an opportunity for everyone to celebrate that we can ALL be proud of who we are. It’s no longer illegal to be our own person.

    ALL books are stories. Since the earliest days of human history we’ve used stories to learn about the world and to map our progress. Stories featuring LGBT+ characters help young people to challenge stereotypes. They teach young people who are discovering their own identities – or the identities of their friends and family members – that LGBT+ people are part of society, that their rights are the same as anyone elses.

    Human rights aren’t a pick-and-choose. If censorship is allowed for one group – if a set of stories are erased – then that is the thin end of the wedge that risks allowing the silencing of any voice.

    Other web resources can be found at:

    LGBT History Month PowerPoint presentation for display (non- editable), with thanks to Jane Hill, Kings Langley School, Herts, for ideas for updates: LGBTHistoryMonth

  • GRT History Month

    GRT History Month

    GRTmontage

    June is Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month. Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month was established in Britain in 2008 as a way of raising awareness of these communities and their contributions to society, and to offset negative stereotyping and prejudices

    The Schools Library Services can provide resources for your classroom to help teach about the culture and history of GRT communities.

    External links

    Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month (gypsy-traveller.org)

    Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month (sls-uk.org)

    Approaching GRT history month in Citizenship and literacy

    David Pullar: Scotland’s Traveller legacy (sls-uk.org) : Interview with Author David Pullar on Scotland’s Traveller legacy

    Gypsies, Roma and Travellers are the largest ethnic minority community in the European Union with over 12 million people across the EU and some 300,000 in the UK. They are very marginalised and suffer extreme levels of prejudice and discrimination.

    .

  • Disability History Month

    Disability History Month

    December is Disability History Month.

    http://ukdhm.org/

    The Schools Library Service can provide non-fiction and a range of fiction resources featuring children with disabilities.

    Booklists

    Live search results from our catalogue:

    Fiction on the subject of disability

    Non-Fiction about disabilities (primary)

    Picture Books on the subject of disability

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  • Global perspectives book lists

    Global perspectives book lists

    Supporting anti-racism in schools

    Tower Hamlets Schools Library Service and Global Learning London have always placed racial justice at the heart of what we do. Black perspectives and the global dimension to the curriculum are at the core of our collection and balanced representation is at the core of our event planning.

    We have published a dedicated diversity booklist for primary and secondary schools. In the addition, all of our THBA, Teen, TakeOff and Must Read booklists contain lots of new books by UK and international authors featuring diverse themes and characters.

    Teachers have a crucial role in educating children about the racial injustices of the past, and which continue to manifest in the present, enabling an understanding of the issues at stake and nurturing within all children a pride in their heritage.  One of the ways in which we can support this is by recommending high-quality fiction so that children can find themselves in books and stories as well as use story to learn about the experiences and lives of others.

    These are a selection of over 150 books suitable for children and teens in primary and secondary schools, categorised by the continent and country in which the book is set and by the race/ heritage of the main character(s)  For more, or to discuss your requirements, please contact the Schools Library Service.

    Diverse Fiction, including Black and Asian perspectives

    Updated 17th November 2025 (4th revision)

    CLICK HERE FOR A .PDF COPY OF THE FULL LIST

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    Feedback Form

    Have you downloaded our book list? Let us know how you’re using it, and make suggestions!

       

    • Designing Your School Library

      Designing Your School Library

      Whether you have a new library, are moving within the building, or are just looking to rejuvinate your existing area, the Schools Library Service can offer impartial expert advice on making the best use of your library space:

      • A design tailored to how your school intends to use the library
      • Help in choosing the best specialist furniture suppliers
      • A space to inspire
      • Display, guiding and signage
      • Quality stock
      • Subject indexes for research and reference
      • Integration of information technology into the library
      • Installation of library computer management systems

      Call us on 020 7364 6428 or use our contact form to get in touch about this service

      You may also be interested in :

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    • The Global Dimension

      The Global Dimension

      Golbalbanner1Resources to support teaching of the global dimension

      Global Learning London and The Schools Library Service have worked together to select resources to support teaching the Global Dimension.

      The links below relate to the 8 strands of the global dimension. Each link searches our catalogue for the relevant keyword and will display resources currently in stock and their availability.

      Global citizenship

      Gaining the knowledge, skills and understanding of concepts and institutions necessary to become informed, active, responsible citizens.

      Diversity

      Understanding and respecting differences and relating these to our common humanity

      Conflict resolution

      Understanding the nature of conflicts, their impact on development and why there is a need for their resolution and the promotion of harmony.

      Social justice

      Understanding the importance of social justice as an element in both sustainable development and the improved welfare of all people.

      Values and perceptions

      Developing a critical evaluation of representations of global issues and an appreciation of the effect these have on people’s attitudes and values.

      Sustainable development

      Understanding the need to maintain and improve the quality of life now without damaging the planet for future generations.

      Interdependence

      Understanding how people, places, economies and environments are all inextricably interrelated, and that choices and events have repercussions on a global scale.

      Human Rights

      Knowing about human rights including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

      See also:

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    • Book Buying and Cataloguing

      Book Buying and Cataloguing

      School2Book Buying

      A good school library needs to be regularly replenished with new books to excite the children and old and out-of date books need to be removed.  Starting with an audit of what you already have, our librarians can help you buy books to:

      • support your school’s curriculum
      • Meet OFSTED and inspection targets
      • support literacy schemes and Accelerated Reader
      • address gaps in the current collection
      • promote race, gender, disability, LGBT, age and class equality
      • Support Philosophy for Children
      • provide for children with special educational needs
      • support the Global Dimension and Black Perspectives in the curriculum
      • support healthy schools, anti-bullying, road safety and other initiatives

      We can buy books on your behalf, or accompany you to a library supplier showroom to select books – usually at 10 – 20% discount or more.

      We recommend using the processing service (book jackets, school stamp and spine labels) that most large library suppliers offer for a small additional fee.  In order to make the most of this service, our librarians will classify the stock as it is selected so that the library supplier can put the correct spine label (colour and number) on each book.

      Cataloguing your collection

      Our professional librarians will catalogue your new and/or existing books using your school cataloguing software.

      An accurate library catalogue will help:

      • Track pupil borrowing and reading patterns
      • Help you monitor reading attainment
      • Keep track of your book collection

      Why use our cataloguing service?

      A team of qualified librarians is the best choice for cataloguing your library.

      • Accurate and comprehensive data entry
      • Services, including custom key wording of all books and use of YOUR school classification schedule
      • Ongoing stock auditing process
      • Competitive prices
      • We will catalogue on-site OR can catalogue books at our library (no additional charge for transit)
      • Book processing (labelling, stamping, etc) services included
      • All books will be sorted and shelved at the end of the cataloguing process.

      Call us on 020 7364 6428 or use our contact form to get in touch about this service

      You may also be interested in:

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    • Professional Librarians in Primary Schools

      Professional Librarians in Primary Schools

      “The most important element of an effective school library is the person managing it”

      Your School Librarian

      To ensure that the library is strategically managed and developed as well as open and available to children as much as possible,  we recommend that schools employ a professional librarian for a number of hours (3.5 to 35) a week with support from a library assistant.

      “The work of a School Librarian has the potential to make a huge contribution to the school in ways that I had not realised until we found ours.  Her work has impacted directly on the children; their involvement and enthusiasm for reading as well as our participation in enrichment activities and the maintenance of the reading environment.”
      Headteacher, Primary School in Tower Hamlets

      With HMI Ofsted expecting to see good quality libraries and ambitious expectations and support for home reading, the management of your school library with its tens of thousands of pounds worth of resources is more important than ever!

      A professional librarian will:

      Support children’s learning by:

      • Promoting enjoyment of, and excitement about, reading
      • Plan and run exiting library-based activities
      • Establishing skills for independent learning and assist in the delivery of information and research skills teaching in the school
      • Monitor reading and attainment

      Support the teaching staff by:

      • Identifying and buying quality resources for the school library and classroom libraries
      • Assisting in the delivery of information skills  and information literacy teaching in the school
      • Helping to select resources from the Schools Library Services

      Support the school by:

      • Working closely with school leaders to ensure that the library meets the needs of the school
      • Managing and promoting the school library and teacher resources, ensuring consistency and maintaining quality
      • Ensuring value for money when buying new resources
      • Raising reading and literacy standards

      Tower Hamlets Schools Library Services can provide schools with the services of a professional librarian on a regular basis
      Minimum contract – one year

      Call us on 020 7364 6428 or use our contact form to get in touch about this service


       

    • Supporting Your School : What we can do

      Supporting Your School : What we can do

      school3Libraries are fantastic resources and need regular care and attention to keep them up-to-date and working well.  If you feel your library needs some attention, a health check by one of our experienced librarians is a good place to start.

      A FREE initial one-hour advisory visit is included in your subscription to the Schools Library Service from which will emerge an action plan to get your library moving.  We will look at:

      Primary Schools

      • ­  Library policy, development plans and budgets
      • ­  Classification, colour coding, library guiding and subject index posters
      • Computer cataloguing services and stock checking
      • ­  Library design
      • ­  Stock audits and resource purchase, including equalities assessments
      • ­  Installation and management of computer systems for school libraries
      • ­  Electronic books and other e-resources
      • ­  Training for teachers, teaching assistants, governors and library staff
      •   Promoting the school library to all children and creating a reading culture
      • ­  Teaching information and library skills

      Secondary Schools

      We offer professional support for your secondary school librarian through:

      • advisory visits, telephone support and best practice wiki
      • membership of Tower Hamlets School Librarians Network
      • regular school librarian meetings (primary and secondary librarians working together) looking at news and collaboration on national & local reading initiatives, liaison with local public libraries and Idea Stores, best practice in running school libraries and recent new books for children and young people
      • INSET and training
      • ability to borrow both children’s level resources and professional literature
      • access to our e-book platform

      We can also help schools with recruitment by providing job descriptions, interview questions and model answers and attendance at interview

      IT Support and user group meetings

      Library management systems are an effective tool for librarians to:

      • Accurately keep track of school book borrowing
      • Monitor reading patterns and reading attainment
      • Collect important reading data and statistics for your school records
      • Enable pupils and staff to know exactly what resources are in the school and where to find them

      However, the software requires managing! We offer annual library software health checks and weekly user-group meetings at the Schools Library Service that are free to subscribers.

      Call us on 020 7364 6428 or use our contact form to get in touch about any of these services

      You may also be interested in:

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