Background

Shawlands Academy is a large, non-denominational school situated on the south side of Glasgow, in Scotland. The pupils here number around 1250. It is a long established school dating from 1894. There was a private school of the same name located in Skirving Street which began about 1857. However, the school as we know it today opened its doors for the first time just over one hundred years ago in the building on Pollokshaws Road which is now Shawlands Primary School. Shawlands Academy has modern classroom facilities through-out the school, thereby helping to maintain a high standard of education for pupils. The school attempts to combine the best elements of traditional Scottish education with a developing curriculum designed to equip pupils for the twenty-first century. There has been significant investment in technology which has improved pupil provision in all subjects particularly in Business Education, Computing, English, Modern Languages, Science, Technical and Music.

The Library and Resource Centre (LRC) in Shawlands Academy is a central area of teaching and learning in the school.   It is used daily by classes, individual pupils and staff.  Since October 2001 the LRC has been managed by April Stewart, Full-Time Librarian.  The mission of Shawlands Academy’s LRC is to ensure that all pupils become successful life-long learners who are responsible users and producers of ideas and information.

With a large variety of books including fiction, non-fiction and audio books as well as 30 internet access computers for pupil use, our library provides a wide range of resources in both print and electronic formats.

As the International School of Glasgow Shawlands Academy is committed to teaching a wide range of modern languages as well as being a centre for examination of community languages in Glasgow.  There are over 40 different languages spoken by pupils of Shawlands Academy.  The LRC reflects this by offering a large range of language materials.  Pupils can even borrow Harry Potter translated into Urdu.

The LRC is open throughout the school day from 8.30am until 4.00pm allowing pupil access before and after school.  At lunchtime the LRC is open to a different year group every day.  The LRC is assisted during these times by Pupil Librarian Assistants.  There is a team of 20 assistants from S1, S2 and S3 who undertake a range of library tasks.  Pupils using the LRC can borrow books, read, and use the books or computers for school related projects.

During the school day Teachers schedule their classes into the LRC for curriculum-based activities.  They may use print or electronic materials or both.  One or more classes can be accommodated at any one time.  As well as 30 computers available there is also tabled seating for another 30 pupils.  Pupils may also come to the LRC on an individual basis during class time, with a pass from their Teacher.

The English Department in Shawlands Academy in collaboration with the LRC are committed to a S1/S2 Reading Programme.  Pupils begin their ‘World of Reading’ at the beginning of S1 with a 4-week induction to the LRC.  They then attend the LRC one period per week with their English Teacher and read fiction and non-fiction from a variety of different genres.  Pupils keep a log of the books they have read and on successful completion of at least 12 different genres they are presented with a completion certificate.

Other reading activities in the LRC include a weekly Book Club, which meets every Thursday lunchtime.  The Book Club is mainly made up of S1 and S2 pupils and we read a variety of different books from different authors.  We try to read new book titles but sometimes read books that members of the Book Club recommend.  We also undertake other activities such as ‘Book of the Month’ displays, reading surveys and reading games.