We love connecting with schools and teachers to support their work and to develop pupils’ library literacy. We can give pupils the skills to discover, evaluate and use reliable information to become better informed, happy and confident in their lives, as well as becoming confident, independent readers.
The main ways in which we work with schools
Class visits to your local library
These visits are free and available throughout the school year. We offer several programmes, with each session lasting between 40 and 60 minutes. As well as fiction and non-fiction, we have specialist areas of stock including dyslexia friendly books, our Reading Well collection for children and dual language books.
In school visits from our library team
Our librarians can visit schools to introduce pupils to what public libraries have to offer, to set the scene for a class visit and/or to help your pupils and families become library members. We can also deliver assemblies to promote reading programmes such as the annual Summer Reading Challenge.
Collaborative projects
We can develop bespoke projects with partner schools, linking library literacy with your curriculum and/or key national campaigns, festivals and celebrations. Examples include a recent storytelling festival which brought a class into their local library to choose books that would be used during activities at the festival. We also deliver the national reading for pleasure initiative, the Yoto Carnegie Shadowing Scheme.
Class visits - example sessions
Introduction to your library
This session aims to introduce children to the library service and the range of services available with their free membership.
Reading for pleasure
An opportunity to talk and learn about new books. Pupils will be encouraged to read for pleasure and discover a range of titles suitable for all levels and interests.
Information skills
A brief introduction to the Dewey Decimal Classification system, enabling pupils to search and locate materials for study and recreation.
Contact us
To find out more, to book a class visit or to discuss your ideas for collaborative projects then please contact your local library or email Katy and Rebecca on libraryliteracyofficers@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.