Hounslow School Library Service provides essential, high quality loan materials and support for all schools that take out a subscription. All project loan materials are tailored to teachers’ needs and complement the school’s library provision, increasing access to a wide range of books to encourage reading for pleasure and independent learning.
Advice from professional librarians on all aspects of the library, including library stock, classification and layout is invaluable. A number of annual events are provided to develop children’s book knowledge and love of reading.
“I really can’t thank you and your team enough. You’ve made such a huge impact on our library and significantly improved the children’s engagement with books in our school. We think the service you provide is excellent!” Teacher from local Hounslow Primary School.
Services Available
Primary Schools
- Project Loans – boxes of fiction and non-fiction books are provided for every teacher in the school on a termly basis. All boxes are tailor-made to satisfy each individual request.
- DVD Service – curriculum related DVDs are available for loan. The stock is regularly updated and includes titles such as ‘Horrible Histories’ and the BBC’s ‘Do try this at home!’
- Visits to Schools – an annual ‘library health check’ is offered to all subscribing schools to help maintain the relevance and appearance of library stock. Advice on stock gaps can be given. The School Library Service can also help to create and maintain classroom book corners.
- Book Ordering – knowledgeable staff can create orders according to schools’ particular needs and budget. All books come with a competitive discount and will be labelled to individual schools’ specifications, so they are ready to go on the library shelves.
- Advice and Support - practical and impartial advice can be given on school library stock and layout. Expert staff can help in both setting up a library from scratch or revitalizing your existing library.
- Workshops – training can be provided for pupil librarians and reading ambassadors.
Secondary Schools
- Termly Meetings – we organise termly meetings for all subscribing secondary school librarians to share good practice and plan internal and external events.
- Expert advice and practical support – knowledgeable staff can help secondary librarians with stock taking, weeding and displays. Advice can be given on library layout. Staff are happy to visit reading groups, Carnegie shadowing groups and those taking part in our Teen Read. Specific project loans are available on request.
Annual Events
Primary Schools
- Hounslow Junior Book Award - The School Library Service has been successfully running this annual award for more than 15 years. It is a chance for schools to introduce Year 5 and 6 pupils to some of the best new children’s fiction published that year and to vote for a winner at the end of the process. The final award ceremony is held in the summer with previous guest speakers including Lisa Thompson, Onjali Q Rauf and Kirsty Applebaum.
“I just wanted to say a massive thank you for today. You have been brilliant in supporting the enthusiasm of reading here at …. Primary, and my new book club have gone away feeling very excited.” Teacher from local Hounslow Primary School. - World Book Day – Every year we celebrate World Book Day with a special guest author and invite all subscribing schools to attend. World Book Day is a global event which encourages children of all ages to celebrate authors, illustrators, books, libraries and most importantly reading. We invite a well-known author to speak to children about their work and how important books and reading are. Recent guests have included Guy Bass and Ross Montgomery.
“These events are a great way to promote reading for pleasure and for the children to talk about the author to their peers.” A teacher attending the 2023 event - Illustration Celebration – A Key Stage One event celebrating picture books and the art of illustration. We invite a picture book illustrator to do a drawing workshop with the children. Guests have included Rob Biddulph, Steve Antony and Gary Parsons.
“That was the best trip ever. I can’t believe I met a real illustrator.” Year 1 child
“I really enjoyed that event. It was so great to see the children so engaged and enthusiastic. They were so proud of their drawings.” Parent helper - Poetry Event – A new event celebrating National Poetry Day for Key Stage Two pupils. A guest published poet is invited to the event to perform their poems and share their love of poetry.
- Competitions – Termly literacy-based competitions are held throughout the year to promote children’s love of reading and writing.
Secondary Schools
- Hounslow Teen Read –The aim of this long-established book award is to introduce pupils across Key Stage Three to new and interesting fiction and create a buzz around reading for pleasure. The event culminates in an award ceremony where a special guest author is invited to speak and announce the winner as voted for by Hounslow students. Guests have included Will Hill, Tracy Darnton and Tom Pollock.
- Speed Read – The event is an opportunity for pupils to read and “sell” their favourite book in a fun Speed dating style!
“Such a lovely morning. Our students thought it was one of the best trips ever! They want to go next year.” A Hounslow Secondary librarian - Poetry Slam - The Poetry Slam is a hugely popular event with the Hounslow schools. A slam poet runs an all-day event for Key Stage Three during which time pupils work in their school groups to write and perform a poem in order to win the Poetry Slam cup!
Subscriptions
The School Library Service is available on annual subscription to all Hounslow schools, and we welcome subscriptions from schools outside of the London Borough of Hounslow. For further information about our service and costs, please contact Hounslow School Library Service.
Contact
Opening times: Monday – Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) 9am – 5pm
Helen Lancashire - Schools and Children’s Services Manager
Email: Helen.Lancashire@hounslow.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 8583 5569
