The Library
WELCOME TO OUR LIBRARY
We have a fantastic selection of books, from football to fantasy, including many critically acclaimed and prize-winning novels. The librarian, Ms McCarthy, is eager to match the right book for each pupil, and is a keen supporter of the right to read for pleasure.
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Our newly refurbished library was opened by Newport born poet Connor Allen, former children’s Laureate of Wales. The library has been named the Connor Allen Library in his honour. |
All pupils are members of the library and can borrow books for a period of 10 days. Year 7 pupils will also borrow a book to be read in their English lessons. Once they have read their book, they may take a short quiz using the Accelerated Reader programme.
LIBRARY NEWS
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In May 2024, St Joseph Book Group members were delighted to receive their Blue Peter Book Badges after sending in their fabulous book reviews and pictures. The year 7 and 8 book group meet in the library every Thursday lunch break to take part in a variety of book related activities. |
| THURSDAY 6th June is EMPATHY DAY |
https://www.empathylab.uk/RFE-2024-books This celebrates the power of empathy to change the world and shines a light on how books can help to raise an empathy-educated generation. There are copies of many of the books in the library and reading is a proven path to developing empathy. The books chosen tell many different stories, some of which may be familiar to the reader, others which give an insight into lives we may not ever experience. By reading these stories, pupils can empathise with the lives and history of others. |
How to encourage reading...
Reading for 20 minutes a day has many benefits for children and young adults, including reducing stress, improving educational outcomes in Maths and English, and helping develop empathy.
It doesn’t matter if it is comics, novels, non-fiction, menus or instruction manuals … this is ALL reading. Reading from a screen, listening to an audiobook and being read to, all have huge benefits for children. If you read with your children, ask them if they understand what the words mean, teach them how to look up words in a dictionary and put new words into context by putting them into a sentence. All of these little things will help with understanding what is being read.
There are several places you can gain access to books, aside from visiting your own local library.
- If you are a member of your local library, BorrowBox is a free service offering e-books and AudioBooks which can be read or listened to on phones, tablets or other devices.
- If you would like to read the first chapters of a book, sign up to the LoveReading4Kids website where many of the books have downloadable extracts.
- If you like to read reviews, try the Booktrust website, where you can search for books by age, genre or theme.