Tower Hamlets Schools Library Services

Tag: Your school libraries

  • Library Software User Groups

    Library Software User Groups

    If you need help with your new pupil import, just ask!

    Sessions this term are:

    • Term time : Mondays between 3:45pm and 5pm at the Schools Library Services OR via Teams/ Zoom (please email jacob.turner@towerhamlets.gov.uk if you want to attend). Free to subscribing schools, covering advice, Q & As, etc.
    • In-school training : times to suit. £80/hr

    Systems covered

    • Libresoft Librarian
    • Junior Librarian/ Junior Librarian.net/ The Reading Cloud
    • Heritage and Cirqa
    • Accessit
    • Simple Little Library System
    • Eclipse
    • Other systems on request

    Pupil data import and update

    A librarian can be booked to visit your school or connect remotely and carry out any maintenance of the database and add/ move on borrowers. Contact the library to find out more.

    eBooks Platform

    Support and advice can also be provided for users of the Tower Hamlets Schools Library Services eBooks platform.

    Register

    1. Email jacob.turner@towerhamlets.gov.uk
    2. Provide your full name and school
    3. Let me know what help or advice you require in regards to your library catalogue/ software
    4. If you need help with your cloud-based system, remember to bring your login details to the session
  • Primary School Pupil Library Assistant of the Year Award

    Primary School Pupil Library Assistant of the Year Award

    The next pupil library assistant awards will be in 2024. Contact the Schools Library Services to register your interest.

    About the Award

    The award will be presented to a pupil library assistant in a Tower Hamlets primary school who has been helping in their school library for at least one term and has shown responsibility and initiative in exercising their duties as well as gained knowledge of books and library routines and the skills of reading and library promotion.

    Nominate your library assistants

    Download and complete a nomination form if your school is taking part

    Aims of the Award

    • To enable children to be aspirational and develop specialist job skills
    • To enable children to develop a sense of responsibility, achievement and self-esteem
    • To give children a chance to be part of the everyday running of the library
    • To promote librarianship as a future career
    • To promote citizenship in pupils
    • To promote the development of communications skills

    Prizes!

    The Award ( book tokens, trophy and certificate, plus free books for the school library) will be presented at an awards ceremony

    Take part

    The next pupil library assistant awards will be in 2024. Contact the Schools Library Services to register your interest.

    Criteria

    Nominees should be primary school pupils who have been helping in the school library for at least one term.

    The Nomination Process

    The proposer (school librarian or teacher) is asked to describe the nominee in the following categories:

    • Personal qualities
    • Examples of particular contribution (e.g. helping other pupils, helping with library web pages, helping with displays, helping with new books etc.)
    • Being a role model for other pupils and supporting the goals and vision of the school library
    • Reading and library habits
    • Promotion of the library and of books to peers
    • Knowledge of library routines and tasks and ability to work with initiative and responsibility in the library

    The nominated pupil is asked to write a short piece (250 words maximum) on their contribution to the school library, and the headteacher asked to endorse the nomination

  • SLS-UK School Library Award

    SLS-UK School Library Award

    Schools in Tower Hamlets, Hackney and other authorities the opportunity to accredit their library service via our award scheme.

    Current Gold Library Award Holders

    • Globe Primary School (Gold Award), Tower Hamlets.
    • Central Foundation Girls Secondary (Gold Award), Tower Hamlets.

     

    Current Award Holders

    • Lawdale Primary School, Tower Hamlets.
    • Chisenhale Primary School, Tower Hamlets.

     What is the award?

     Launched in 2012, the SLS School Library Award was initiated by Warwickshire Schools Library Service and are now available to all schools through SLS-UK. It enables any primary or secondary school to work towards achieving a Library award or the Gold version for high-achieving services.

     The award is a self-assessment process conducted by the designated member of staff in charge of the library and endorsed by the Head Teacher.  It is an audit of 20 key activities with supporting documentation where necessary.

     Schools record across three levels how their library service is operating in a range of activities and services:

     Developing      Establishing     Enhancing

     An award is given to a school where the library is achieving 10 or more separate activities / services in the ‘establishing’ and/or ‘enhancing’ category. A Gold award is given for 15 or more services in the ‘enhancing’ category only.

    How do schools apply?

    Order your pack when you subscribe to Tower Hamlets Schools Library Service using SLA online, or, for schools outside Tower Hamlets, email schoolslibraryservices@towerhamlets.gov.uk for an application pack, marking your subject line Tower Hamlets SLS School Library Award

    Please ensure your full name, job title and school name are in the body of the email.

     The award is open to all schools.  If you are from an area where there is a nearer schools library service, we may pass your request on to them.

    • Schools subscribing to Tower Hamlets Schools Library Services:  £50
    • Schools not subscribing to our service,  but have membership of the School Library Association: £60
    • All other schools:  £70.

    We will send you the pack together with an invoice for the fee, unless you pay via SLA online.

    Using the audit sheet in the pack, the designated library or literacy specialist will need to complete the assessment form and return it to us signed by him/herself as well as the head teacher.

    Staff from the Schools Library Service will assess the submission and make an award to the school via a certificate as appropriate. Their decision is final, but a school will usually be welcome to re-submit following a minimum six-month gap

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  • 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

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  • Library, information and research skills schemes of work

    Library, information and research skills schemes of work

    The importance of information literacy and research skills in education is gaining recognition across schools, colleges and universities, and self-directed learning is becoming an essential skill for students and job-seekers.

    The Schools Library Service is working with primary, secondary, FE and HE institutions to provide library and computer-based information skills sessions that support the wider curriculum.

    Primary School Information Skills Scheme of Work

    The Primary School Information Skills Framework is a document being continualy revised by our librarians. It builds on core library skills to:

    • Improve pupil research skills
    • Enable pupils to evaluate information they find on the internet and in books
    • Improve pupils’ overall reading skills
    • Enable pupils to better select their own reading books
    • Encourage the use of the school library within the teaching of the wider curriculum
    • Provide skills for pupils to take forward to secondary education

    Includes modules on evaluating online information, websites and shared content.

    Download the scheme -2018 revision – (viewable online below)

    We’re currently able to make this document free to access. If you’re downloading or using our scheme of work, please fill in the below form to let us know how you’re using it. Feedback welcome.

      Tower Hamlets Library Skills Scheme of Work 2018

      Secondary school and Post 16

      The use of internet resources (subscription based, free, or public domain) has become an integral part of students’ work.

      We can provide in-school workshops for both students and teachers.
      Aims include:

      • Enable students to evaluate and become discerning consumers of the vast range of information available via the internet
      • Enable students and teachers to identify deliberate misinformation online
      • Improve student and teacher awareness of the range of information sources available
      • Enable students to get the most from the subscription services bought by their school or college
      • Enable students to use these skills across the wider curriculum and to improve coursework research
      • Refresh students’ awareness of library collections (public and educational)
      • Raise awareness of issues of plagiarism and to introduce eCopyright issues

      In addition, we have worked with schools to deliver workshops and lectures supporting current anti-radicalisation agendas.

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

       

    • 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

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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


       

    • Why your library matters

      Why your library matters

      Plan for improvement coverSchool Libraries : A Plan for Improvement

      Report of The School Library Commission, Chaired by Estelle Morris

      Tower Hamlets Schools Library Services features prominently in this report as an example of best practice and excellent services.  In particular our “professional librarians in primary schools” service is commended as a way for primary schools to maximise their own school library provision.

      The commission identified the impact a good school library can have on literacy and learning, but found that in many schools around the country the potential of the school library is not fully realised.

      The commission found four factors in good school library provision:

      • effective staffing,
      • resources in all media
      • partnerships with planning and teaching and personalisation
      • offers a series of recommendations aimed at Headteachers and governors

      These factors, properly implemented, would improve literacy and attainment levels thorughout the school.The report can be found at:
      http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/…

    • 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

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