QE’s new pupil librarians and reading mentors are enjoying fresh opportunities as The Queen’s Library continues to develop, while an initiative to build the book collections has been extended to include parents as well as Old Elizabethans.
Twelve volunteer pupil librarians and seven reading mentors have been appointed from Years 8–11. The process involved submitting a letter of application, carrying out a sorting task and undergoing interviews with the Vice Captains for Learning and Enrichment and the Librarian, Ciara Murray, who was appointed last year when the Library opened.
Having received training at the Library desk, the pupil librarians are now responsible for loans, returns and reservations once a week at lunchtime, as well as having regular shelving duties.
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Both the pupil librarians and the reading mentors have been writing book reviews for the benefit of other boys and are taking part in the annual WeRead Award.
“They have all been busy writing some excellent reviews to guide other users, and the pupil librarians are working on their own independent projects to enhance the Library service, as well as designing bookmarks and book lists to promote reading around the School,” said Ms Murray.
The WeRead Award takes place at University College School in Hampstead. Entrants must review at least one from a shortlist of six books, with these reviews being submitted in advance and published on the competition website. On the day of the competition, 25th June, the authors of the six books are invited to attend and pupils from participating schools are able to hear them talk about their books, before voting for their favourite. There are also prizes for the best reviews.
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The shortlisted books are:
- Shine by Candy Gourlay
- The Poison Boy by Fletcher Moss
- Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
- Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan
- Infinite Sky by C. J. Flood
- Valentine Joe by Rebecca Stevens
“Our book-purchasing scheme using tailored online Amazon wishlists has been extended to parents and it is going very well,” added Ms Murray. “Hundreds of books have now been purchased from a wide range of suggested subjects, from fiction and poetry to Geography, Science and Philosophy.”