The Preparatory School Library

Developing a Reading Culture in St.Andrew's Junior School

The library plays a valuable role in developing a reading culture in St. Andrew's.

The purpose of library is to promote reading for pleasure. Many new books are chosen just for their appeal to children, and our outstanding collection of fiction and non-fiction books is growing all the time. Our 'wish list' of student and librarian suggestions and the birthday book program have put many books on our shelves. We are grateful for your support.

Volunteer librarians run weekly library sessions and meet once a month to plan activities sucha as book fairs, displays of celebratory days and famous people's birthdays. We also co-ordinate guest speakers such as authors, storytellers and illustrators. Recently, author Michael Smith told the upper Junior School the inspiring story of Shackleton's and Crean's march to within miles of the South Pole and their survival on the famous Endurance expedition. Prior to the visit the Junior School was privileged to host New York bestselling author of Chasing Vermeer Blue Balliet and her illustrator Brett Helquist, who is famous for his illustrations in the Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events.

The library runs bookmark and book review competitions, and organizes mystery reader visits. The mystery reader is a person from the community who shares their love of reading with the students. To date, we have had Mr. Godsill and Gordon D'Arcy.

Any activity that encourages interest in reading, and enables students to come into contact with books offers children a chance to become lifelong readers and learners. We aspire to "place the right book in the right hands at the right time and encourage a lifelong love of reading (Barlup.1991) So drop by and browse, you'll find something great to read!