The school library at Turnbull High is an important element of the school’s approach to provide effective learning and teaching opportunities for staff and pupils while offering a supportive learning environment.
The library supports both pupils and staff by assisting in the development of information and study skills in the context of purposeful research. The Librarian and the English Department are involved in the development of literacy by promoting reading within the curriculum and for recreation. This is achieved with all S1 classes being timetabled for one period of library per week, while S2 attend every two weeks. Reading records are used to monitor pupils’ personal reading.
In order to encourage use, motivate pupils to read and study, the library is accessible to all year groups, allowing independent access within and out with class times. It opens at 8.30a.m. until 4.00.m, closing only at interval. Lunch-time openings are Mon/Tue/Thur - 1.25pm to 2.05pm and Wed/Fri - 12.35pm to 1.15pm to . There is adequate space and seating for pupils to study.
The development of higher order reading and study skills is critical to effective study in later stages of education. Therefore as the Librarian, Miss Auchinvole, I would like to take this opportunity to invite all parents/carers to encourage their children to use the library in order to improve their level of reading, acquire information pertaining to subjects and participate in the social aspect which the Reading Club offers in S1/S2.
The library promotes reading for enjoyment through the provision of quality, up-to-date fiction and a range of reading activities. This includes the Reading Club which meets every Monday at lunch-time. Each week an invited member of staff reads a short piece of fiction. The large number of attendees vouches for this activity’s popularity. Author visits also support the development of reading and literacy skills. A favourite is author and journalist Katie Grant. Her witty, knowledgeable delivery is very popular with the pupils.
In December of each year, Anna Morrison owner of Scotia Book Company visits the Reading Club. This gives club members a perspective of publishing and how a book company operates.
The library has a wide range of printed materials which are stimulating and appropriate to all pupils’ learning needs and abilities. Staff make good use of printed and ICT resources with whole classes or small groups. Pupils borrow two items at a time, one of which must be a fiction book.
