World Book Day’s latest research has shown that many children feel judged and embarrassed about reading. The survey results showed that 1 in 5 kids feel judged for what they read, while a quarter are made to read things they don’t want to. We were saddened to see these findings and some of the comments from children about their feelings around reading for pleasure. We agree wholeheartedly with World Book Day’s views that adults need to let go of expectations and judgements around reading and give children the chance to grow up as enthusiastic readers. If children feel shamed at an early age about their reading choices, they will miss out on the many personal and educational benefits that reading for pleasure brings. Reading for pleasure is hugely positive for children's mental wellbeing and emotional development, it helps to develop crucial literacy skills and research shows that it is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success (more so than socio-economic status). We know that motivation to read is greater when children have opportunities to make their own choices.  Every child, no matter their background or location, should have access to a range of books and the freedom to discover what they like, without fear of being judged. We believe that school libraries are absolutely crucial in promoting reading for pleasure. Every school should have a safe space to discover the magic of reading, with a wide, diverse range of books that appeal to children from all walks of life. One in five children aged 5 to 8 do not own a book of their own at home, and according to the National Literacy Trust, more than 1 in 3 parents are buying fewer books due to the cost-of-living crisis. This makes access to a school library even more important. And let’s not forget that a great school library isn’t just a room full of books. Every school library should have a school librarian, either in-house or through a school library service, who can provide children with the encouragement, knowledge and expertise they need to help develop a lifelong love of reading. There’s more detail about the findings, including some interesting comments from children around about their feelings around reading for pleasure, over at the World Book Day website.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has” Margaret Mead Sometimes, it's hard to see how you can really make a difference but recently, I have been feeling more optimistic. I had written to my MP about the Great School Libraries campaign and had had a lukewarm response. I haven’t given up (I will be inviting her to every possible parliamentary event to do with school libraries!)  but I had started to think, what else can I do? I’ve been reading Alistair Campbell's book But What Can I Do?  In it he talks about persevilience, Yes it's a made-up word but as an amalgam of perseverance and resilience, Alastair states that “both are key to making meaningful change.” So, it was time to be persevilient, and try again but maybe from a different angle. It crossed my mind that perhaps in a few months time, I might have a different MP representing me and that maybe that person might have a little more time to consider the campaign than my current, tired parliamentary representative. Perhaps, if I could get him on board at this stage, he might remember the campaign if he was successful in the future. I had been following said new candidate on Twitter for a while and decided, why not - drop him a message, share some details of the campaign see if he replies. It helped that he was a teacher in a former life, someone with an interest in education. Top tip - find out what makes your MP tick. What are their interests? How can you frame things in a way that appeals to them and the causes closest to their heart? I was lucky; my message connected and we arranged to meet to talk about the campaign more. I went armed with the report, a copy of the specific questions we were asking (see the template letter) and some information about the MPs Drop In session we held in July 2023. It was a really positive meeting. I was able to share my passion for school libraries, get to know what had led him into politics and lots more. Whilst he is limited as far as current political power, he is well-connected in his party and has promised to share his new knowledge within his networks. He even offered to visit any school libraries in the constituency and to share my details with the MP local to my school. Who knows where it could lead but today, I felt I had been able to do a small something towards ensuring that every child gets the great school library they deserve. If you are looking for ways to support the campaign, why not start by writing to your MP or local candidates and join our small group of thoughtful, committed citizens just trying to change the world. Rachel Huskisson Campaign Committee member CILIP 125 Chartered School Librarian @RHusk4

Julia Donaldson has thrown her support behind the campaign, by recording a film explaining why parents should support the GSL campaign. In the film, Donaldson discusses how reading for pleasure has “the greatest benefit on children’s later achievement” and describes school libraries as “beneficial to education and to society as a whole, narrowing the gap in aspiration and ability in children.” She continues: “There’s a lot of children who do not have a lot of books at home and unfortunately a sizable number of children who do not own a single book. And not every family is accessing public libraries. “There are brilliant teachers in this country but they’ve got a huge amount on their plate and they can’t all be experts on all the books that are out there. That’s why ideally there should be a trained librarian in the library. Every school should have a member of staff who can put the right book into the right child’s hands, so that they can create the readers of the future”. Donaldson is encouraging parents to talk to their child’s teacher or headteacher about school library provision and to write to their MP to help support the campaign for change. A template letter to MPs is available on the Great School Libraries website. We are also delighted to announce BookSpace, the library furniture and design company, who have joined as our headline sponsor. Chris White, MD of BookSpace comments: “At BookSpace, we believe every child should have access to a well-resourced school library. Research has proven that school libraries have a positive impact on pupil attainment, wellbeing and attitudes towards reading. Yet despite this, two thirds of primary schools don’t have an allocated library budget and the number of secondary school libraries seems to be reducing. “To help promote the importance of school libraries, BookSpace is proud to support the Great School Libraries campaign so they can continue their work to improve school library provision and ensure school libraries receive adequate funding, resources, recognition and continue to facilitate a lifelong love of reading.” Mary Rose Grieve and Alison Tarrant, Great School Libraries campaign co-chairs, comment: “We are absolutely thrilled with this additional support for our campaign. “Our nationwide survey conducted last year showed that of the schools in the UK that do not have a designated library, 85% say that it is due to a lack of space. Bookspace have some exciting plans to support the campaign and help every school make the most of the space they have.  We are looking forward to working with them to ensure that every child has access to a truly great school library. “To have the backing of Julia Donaldson for our campaign is fantastic and we really hope it will help encourage parents to join us in calling on the government for change.”

The aim of the Great School Libraries campaign is to advocate for school libraries, improve knowledge about their impact and effectiveness to policy makers and leaders in education and ultimately to ensure that every child has access to a school library and librarian, wherever they live and whatever their circumstance. We know that school libraries,school library services and their staff make a significant impact on children and school staff. We want to have a bold unifying vision for school libraries that all school library staff can stand behind and know the campaign is advocating for them. We know what school libraries need in the medium to long term to ensure the future of the profession and be at the heart of the school’s educational processes but want to know what you think about where school libraries are now and where they need to go in the future. We can only do this together. School library staff (and SLS staff) can take the survey here. If you're not a member of school library staff but want to let us know what you think, get in touch via our email (we will respond in the new year). Left to right: Alison Tarrant, Mary Rose Grieve, Antony Horowitz and Stuart Lawrence at the launch of the GSL report in March 2023.

In this blog, GSL campaign committee member Leia Sands shares her recent experiences including launching a brand new school library and speaking to Julia Donaldson on BBC Radio 4. The beginning of this school year has been incredibly busy, with my work as a school librarian in two school libraries and my role as a committee member for the Great School Libraries campaign. Advocacy for the campaign and the libraries I oversee, has been at the forefront of my mind in both these roles. I'm delighted to share that the campaign has received continuous support from the esteemed children's author, Julia Donaldson. Collaborating with her on a campaign video to convey our goals and her perspective on the significance of school libraries has been a rewarding experience. Additionally, I've had the opportunity to promote the campaign on national radio; you can listen by clicking the image below. In my daily work as a school librarian, I've been dedicated to shedding light on the impact of our school library to a wider audience. At one of the schools where I work, we celebrated a library refurbishment with a special opening event, engaging our entire school community. This event served as an excellent networking opportunity and a community celebration, bringing together children, parents, grandparents, staff, governors,  library service colleagues, public librarians and local booksellers. It was heartwarming to have our headteacher emphasise the GSL campaign in his speech. In my other school, I've received positive feedback from our governors regarding the termly reports I provide, which have helped the governing body recognise the importance of a staffed library in children's learning and wider development. Furthermore, I've been invited to speak to a group of local headteachers in the county where I work, discussing the campaign and the role of school libraries in our schools. I've invested time in contemplating how to use examples from my own experiences to underscore the importance of libraries in schools and the value that a librarian can bring to the educational environment, with particular reference to the updated DFE reading framework. To me, advocating for our school libraries and the terrific work that we all do, is a crucial part of our role as school librarians, in order to help other's fully understand the importance of libraries in schools. Leia Sands

Hear why Sally Hamerton has decided to join the GSL Campaign Committee, and find out more about her and her work. As Primary School Librarian of the Year 2023, I have considered how I could best use this opportunity to raise the importance of having a staffed library in every school, so that other children might benefit from the riches our school library provides for our children. I regularly witness the impact of a staffed, well stocked and dedicated library on our whole school community. I have been in post for almost four years and recognise that a staffed school library for every child should not be down to luck, but a right. Ours is a three-form Primary school, with higher than national average numbers of EAL children and those for whom we receive Pupil Premium. When I started in my role, the library was an underused space with uninspiring and tired book stock. The library layout was made more accessible, and using a healthy library budget, I purchased carefully selected books that represented our school community, introduced our young readers to new authors, and broadened their exposure to the best fiction and non-fiction. Outdated and tatty books that don’t issue and don’t have a place in a vibrant school library are regularly weeded out. Immediately, issues increased, and library engagement rocketed. With access to thousands of new books, came the joy of seeing children develop their reading tastes and recommend books to one another, to staff and to external visitors. Their engagement with books never ceases to astound me. Our reading statistics reflect the positive impact of exposure to quality writing and of regular author visits, particularly among our pupil premium children, which has been quite staggering. My Librarian role goes further than issuing books and organising author visits: weekly EYFS and KS1 Storytimes are geared towards each class. Our youngest children missed out on Storytime and Rhymetime sessions in public libraries during lockdown and so tailored Storytime sessions are such a powerful time, introducing children to rich language and sequencing, improving concentration and listening skills, whilst encouraging imagination and communication as the children make sense of their world. My involvement with our school community is not limited to our pupils: teaching and support staff are invited to open library sessions where they are able to borrow the best in new writing for children. When children see us as readers, they see that reading is valued and something that will take them right through to adulthood. I love speaking to prospective parents at our open evenings, emphasising just how central the library is to our school. Our library is more than a room full of books.  It is the beating heart of our school and something of which I am very proud.  In joining the Great School Libraries campaign I am hopeful that I can help other schools to see how their pupils will benefit a well-stocked library, permanently staffed by an experienced librarian. Sally Hamerton, Two Mile Hill Primary School Primary School Librarian of the Year 2023

We are enormously grateful to Michael Rosen who lit up the room in Westminster Hall on a rather grey July afternoon as he helped us to spread our campaign message to the many MPs and their staff who came to hear about our work and why school libraries and libraries are so vital for our children and young people. After the event, Margaret Greenwood MP tabled an Early Day Motion on School Libraries and Librarians. You can see whether your MP has signed it here: https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/61208/school-libraries-and-librarians. The more signatories the EDM has the better, so please ask your MP to consider signing it. We have written a template letter for you to download and adapt which you can find below.

By Rachel Huskisson After several months of planning and hard work by the campaign committee to get the report published, we finally reached the day of the report launch. The 7th March saw people from all over the UK coming together at Portcullis House in Westminster to discover the findings of the latest survey. The day itself was set to be a fantastic opportunity for people from many different professions, all with an interest in the campaign, to gather and learn more about how we all have a part to play in amplifying the core message of the campaign. This was evident from the huge range represented, including MPs, authors, publishers, literacy charities, library suppliers, senior leaders in education and many more. After a brief welcome from Nick Poole, CEO of CILIP, who stated that "school libraries truly transform futures", we were treated to talks from two incredibly inspiring authors: Anthony Horowitz and the Right Honourable Dr Stuart Lawrence. They shared personal stories about the role of school libraries in their lives, and they both very firmly believe they would not be where they are now without school libraries. Alison Tarrant, the co-chair for the campaign, went on to summarise the findings of the report, which you can read here. Mary Rose Grieve, co-chair of the campaign committee, gave a rallying cry to raise awareness about the impact of school libraries on students. She stressed that school libraries are a hub of learning and inquiry and that librarians play a key role in supporting curriculum development, driving instructional research, and inspiring curiosity. The final part of the day saw three members of the steering group for the campaign invited to take questions from the 50+ members of the audience. Sonia Thompson, a Headteacher at St Matthew’s C of E Primary School in Birmingham, Maeve Walsh, a policymaker and government relations expert and Sufiya Ahmed, award winning author and school library champion. They were also joined by Dr Lawrence, the GSL ambassador. It was clear from the huge range of questions and reflections that the issues raised in the report are complex and far-reaching. Attendees wondered, why is the role of school librarian so devalued? Should independent schools be doing more and working with state partners? The importance of health and digital literacy for the future adults of our society, how do we create library users of the future? What of the “levelling up” promised by government? How do school leaders fund the much-needed and wanted libraries? How can we involve young people’s voices? What about AI? Why do teachers not always value the school library? Whilst it may seem that we came away from the day with more questions than solutions, there was a buzz of energy, a strong feeling of this being a social justice issue, an issue that we really need to make some noise about. Despite the depressing figures exposed by the research, by coming together to hear the findings of the report, debate the issues and take the key messages back to our spheres of influence there was a feeling that we could begin to chip away at the imbalances we see and strive for a more equal future for all our young people, because every child deserves a great school library.

By Anne De'Ath Since joining the Great School Libraries Campaign I have gained some awareness about the state of our profession in Scotland. I wanted to be absolutely clear about how well Scotland is served by school librarians, so I contacted both CILIP and the SLG for up-to-date information. I can now say honestly that the level of school librarian provision is chaotic. Indeed it really is a postcode lottery. In addition to this, recently four Scottish Councils proposed further changes to their school librarians Library Services when giving their budget: Thankfully Midlothian now expects to retain their school librarians whilst looking for other savings elsewhere. The Council hopes to clarify the situation later on in the year. East Renfrewshire has notified their four school librarians that, whilst nobody will suffer from compulsory redundancy, they will all be offered voluntary redundancy. Inverclyde will replace all their school librarians with Public Library Assistants. However, if none are available there will be no service. East Dumbartonshire will cut the school librarians so that they provide a three day not a five day service. I joined the Campaign for various reasons. I feel passionately about the role school librarians play in Education. So I hope to use the Campaign to promote their excellent work. Indeed, our website illustrates a number of amazing case studies from across the whole school library spectrum. However, I’ve also been trying to use the Campaign to support the profession and reduce the Councils’ ability to cut the services. Over the last few months I (and many friends) have been contacting various groups. These include politicians (MPs, MSPs, Councillors) and authors, poets, pupils and parents to promote the Campaign and then explain the negative impact of cutting Scotland’s school librarians. Many individuals are deeply concerned about cuts to our profession but first they need to know that jobs are under threat. Once aware of that they can take to social media, write to newspapers and speak to their local MP about the issue. Our recently launched report, "Equal futures? An imbalance of opportunities”, clearly illustrates the situation today both in the UK and the developed nations. It also provides a template for contacting your MP etc. Now more than ever school librarians must SHOUT about what we do. We also need to find supporters who advocate and support school library provision. By constantly promoting and demonstrating the importance of our educational role we can make sure that our profession develops and continues to support future generations in Scotland.

Case Study: Tower Hamlets, by Laura Bennett One of the bleakest principle findings of the latest Great School Libraries report is that schools with a higher percentage of children receiving free school meals are less likely to even have a school library to start with, and that if they do, it will probably have fewer books than a school library in a more affluent area. Tower Hamlets in East London is the most deprived borough in London and is consistently one of the lowest socioeconomic areas in England. Here, 1 in 2 children live in poverty and schools routinely have over 40% of their children receiving free school meals, easily twice the national average. Considering that though, a surprising number of primary schools in this East London borough buck the trend and not only have school libraries but also their own librarians. How? The answer is the local School Library Service. Tower Hamlets School Library Service (TH SLS) has long recognised that school budgets are often why school libraries are low priority in schools already grappling with severe socioeconomic difficulties within their communities, so TH SLS offers professional Primary School Librarians (known as PLiPs) on an achievable budget. Schools can subscribe to a professional librarian for however many hours a week their budgets can afford, whether that’s a morning a week or several days. This subscription means the children have access to a well-stocked and curated library service within their own school run by a professional who can organise book clubs, work with individual children, run creative writing competitions and poetry slams, do storytimes for all ages - all the 'Reading for Pleasure' things the staff member who gets handed the library as a side project would love to do, but has not the time to. On top of this, PLiPS also support staff, helping to develop inclusive curricula, working with literacy coordinators to make engaging and interesting year group book lists, ensuring school library stock is diverse and inclusive, working with SLT on sourcing the resources the teachers need to do their job, finding and applying for funding – everything a librarian can do for a school, but on a budget and timescale that works. The support of the TH SLS and its 'Librarians for Hire' PliPS is why Tower Hamlets primary schools buck the trend shown in the Great School Libraries report. Despite fighting against real inequalities, schools in this borough routinely have literacy results that are above the national average and over 90% of schools in the borough are rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED. The achievable and affordable support of a School Library Service and a professional librarian, even if it's only for an afternoon a week, must play some part in this levelling up of the playing field.

As you may be aware, school libraries are not statutory, and no data is currently collected by government on provision or access to books and digital resources within school. The Great School Libraries campaign together with the Primary School Library Alliance, supported by the National Literacy Trust, Foyle Foundation, Penguin Random House and the Lightbulb Trust, have commissioned some new research to find out more about book provision in UK schools. This includes a survey which has been sent to all schools in the UK in order to create a picture of the book and digital learning provision within schools. The survey will only take about 10 minutes, and participating schools will be contributing to important research. We are particularly interested in hearing from those who currently do not have a reading for pleasure provision in place. To take part, schools can email learningresourcesurvey@bmgresearch.com with "Research Participation request – [name of your school and postcode]" in the subject line (this saves you having to fill out information about your school). You'll then receive a unique link and, upon completion, will be entered into a prize draw. Prizes already committed include some from: Haven Books Group WF Education group Next Page Books Peters School Library Association Please take part now, and share with colleagues. The deadline to take part is 19th September.

Interim Joint Position Statement: Censorship and Intellectual Freedom in School Libraries May 2022 This statement has been produced jointly by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), the CILIP School Libraries Group (CILIP SLG) and the School Library Association (SLA). It is intended to provide clear guidance for school librarians, school leadership and Governors when considering issues relating to intellectual freedom and censorship. As leadership organisations for School Libraries, we believe that: i) Intellectual freedom – the freedom to read, to learn, to question and to access information – is central to a functioning democracy. ii) It is a core role of libraries, librarians and other library staff to promote intellectual freedom on behalf of their users, to empower users to enact their information rights and to oppose censorship in all its forms – both tacit and explicit. iii) School librarians and library staff are responsible for promoting and preserving intellectual freedom by working with school leadership and teaching colleagues to support children and young people in their development as informed and responsible citizens. We affirm the principles set out in the AASL School Library Bill of Rights. Based on this, we assert that it is the responsibility of the school librarian or library staff to: iv) Provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interests, abilities, and maturity levels of individual learners; v) Provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values, and ethical standards; vi) Provide a range of information resources which will enable pupils to make informed judgments in their daily life; vii) Provide materials that illustrate and illuminate different views on controversial issues so that learners may develop under guidance the practice of critical reading and thinking; viii) Provide materials representative of the many religious, ethnic, and cultural groups in our society and their contribution to our national heritage and identity; ix) Place principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials of the highest quality in order to assure a comprehensive collection appropriate for the users of the library; x) Actively oppose censorship for any purpose other than material that is proscribed by law, which risks the incitement of illegal acts or which constitutes ‘hate speech’ as defined by the Public Order Act 1986, the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 and the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006. We recognise the significant challenges faced by school librarians in embedding these beliefs into their practice and will be working to provide further support in the coming months. Jointly signed by Nick Poole, Caroline Roche and Alison Tarrant