An open book with green leaves and plants growing from its pages, overlaid with the text “Seeds of Change” in large, bold letters—perfect for school libraries inspiring young readers to become part of the Green Heart movement.

Sowing the Seeds of Change: how school libraries are the Green Heart of the school

Harrow School Library ServiceAdvice, News

Rachel JohnstonHarrow SLS Librarian’s view: Brown rings on the ceiling are not normally good news in a library, especially when accompanied by the distinctive smell of wet plasterboard. Anyone who has worked in a typical 1960s school building will know all too well the perils of flat roofs and internal drainpipes, as well as floor to ceiling windows causing both books and readers to bake in summer and icy draughts in winter. Our changing climate is already having an impact on buildings that were not designed for extreme weather. Ask any caretaker what a combination of autumn leaves and …

A heart-shaped cutout shows four young people reading books together, superimposed on a background of a damaged, cluttered room with debris on the floor. This poignant scene highlights the efforts of Spellow Community Library to restore peace and harmony in their troubled environment.

The burning of Spellow community library – how libraries can help to restore peace and security for our children and young people

Harrow School Library ServiceNews

Rachel JohnstonHarrow SLS Librarian’s view: From the many images of senseless destruction in the riots following the tragic murders in Southport this summer, those of the blackened, ransacked public library in Spellow, Liverpool seemed to encapsulate the horror of attacks driven by social media misinformation. The community had lost not only its library but also all that it had represented in terms of shared cultural heritage and access to learning.  In those first hours it seemed an insurmountable challenge to recover from such a blow to a key part of the community’s identity. In the days that followed, the …

Sls schools library services logo for home.

Life-changing Libraries

Tower HamletsNews

Gillian Harris MBE responds to Cressida Cowell’s letter to the prime minster about school libraries.