How to get more students in the library throughout the academic year

School libraries are changing. No longer somewhere that people get ‘shushed’, and no longer just about books, they’re multipurpose venues, and support hubs for young people’s mental wellbeing.

Follow the examples and tips below and – with the support of some effective secondary school library software – you could change your school library. And help to change young people’s lives.

Secondary School library activities
Some high school students may be confident enough to choose their own books and follow their own reading path. Others may need guidance and encouragement, and to feel that reading is an inclusive activity. Reading-related challenges and tasks can help.
’16 before 16’ is a reading challenge used in many secondary schools. Promoting a list of 16 ‘must-read’ texts, it not only provides a framework for students’ reading, but helps to make reading a more communal activity by making it competitive. A reward such as House points or a certificate not only helps with confidence and inclusivity issues but also benefits the whole school community. Another competitive reading scheme is the Reading Champions Programme from the National Literacy Trust, which includes a national quiz.

Encouraging student’s library use doesn’t have to revolve solely around reading. And a secondary school library can prove its worth in supporting student mental health and wellbeing with more than just books.
Lunchtime and after-school clubs and events may include book clubs, but could equally be Murder Mystery Nights, games sessions, or crafting groups.

For students who lack confidence or want to develop different skills, recruiting them as pupil librarians can be highly effective, and especially beneficial for Pupil Premium students or those with Special Educational Needs.

Author visits are a powerful way to bring books to life. They not only encourage reading of their own books, but can also show what books and reading can help children to achieve in adulthood.

Of course, however exciting and inspiring the events and activities taking place in your library, they still need to find an audience. Social media is a powerful tool to advertise special events, as well as ongoing ‘Book of the week’ or ‘Reader of the month’ posts. These
can maintain engagement with the library, and boost wellbeing by giving students an interest and involvement outside the stresses of everyday school life.

Promoting mental health and wellbeing can also be more overt. A library is the perfect space for mindfulness sessions and bibliotherapy. A UK-wide study1 conducted in 2015 showed that reading for pleasure helps promote stronger feelings of social inclusion, greater ability to enjoy social occasions, and enhanced openness and talkativeness.

And this is not limited to those who visit the library. The benefits will spread throughout the school, the larger student population, and the staff too.

Exam support from libraries
Libraries are no longer exclusively quiet places, but can still be places to find quiet. During exam season in particular they can be a haven for students away from stress and pressure, and a place with the right resources and atmosphere for study and revision.

These benefits can be enhanced by, for example, extending library opening hours as the exam season draws closer. The library is also an ideal location for hosting exam- and
subject-related study sessions. And it can provide ready access to previous test papers and practice tests, as well as books, journals and so on, relevant to the curriculum.

However physical resources are not all that a library can offer. During exam season, a library and the library staff can become a source of emotional support and wellbeing for students who are stressed, feeling overwhelmed, or simply seeking advice.

The High School library has an important role to play all year round, and particularly during exams. Or in other words: a library is for life, not just for reading.

1. Literature Review: The impact of reading for pleasure and empowerment. The Reading Agency / BOP Consulting