Library

Welcome to the library

The Lornshill Academy library serves as a central and vibrant hub within our school community. Designed to be a light, open, and welcoming space, it encourages individual study, research, leisure reading, and a variety of class-based activities.

Equipped with 30 computers, printing facilities, a dedicated teaching space featuring a Prowise touchscreen and webcam, and an extensive collection of fiction and non-fiction books, the library provides a rich learning environment.

The library plays a vital role in supporting the Curriculum for Excellence, empowering both pupils and teachers. We are committed to fostering a culture of independent learning by providing all pupils with access to information and conducting supportive sessions that develop essential information literacy, research skills, and critical thinking abilities.

Furthermore, the library collaborates closely with the English Department to cultivate a love of reading within the school. The Librarian is readily available to assist students with all aspects of their research endeavors and to offer personalised reading recommendations.

Useful information

The library is open throughout the school day, until 3.30 on short days and 4.00 on long days. Teachers can book periods for their classes to use the library’s resources. Seniors are welcome to use the library during their private study periods for independent or group work.

The library is managed by Ms Robertson, who is a Chartered Librarian.  She is available for help and advice throughout the school day, and can be contacted via the School Office or by email: clprobertson@glow.sch.uk

The Careers Adviser is based in the library on a Monday and Wednesday-Friday, and we have a dedicated Careers Library offering information on course and career options. Help with using online careers resources such as the My World of Work and PlanIt websites is available as required.

Library Resources

Our Resources

The Lornshill Academy library caters to the diverse needs of all learners by offering a comprehensive range of printed and electronic resources, encompassing both fiction and non-fiction. These resources are strategically curated to:

  • Support students’ specific curriculum requirements.
  • Stimulate intellectual curiosity and inquiry.
  • Foster the development of confident and ethical information literacy skills.
  • Cultivate personal interests.
  • Inspire a lifelong love of reading.

A dedicated Careers Library provides access to specialised resources for career exploration. Furthermore, the library boasts a collection of curated resources within specific areas of interest, including Scottish literature, health and well-being, LGBTQ+ studies, Polish language materials, graphic novels, and a dedicated collection for staff use.

Student input is highly valued. We encourage all students to actively participate by submitting requests for new titles, suggesting improvements to library services, and sharing their ideas for enhancing the library experience. The library gratefully accepts donations of good condition teen books to enrich its collection.

Digital Resources and Research Support

Lornshill Academy provides students with a wealth of digital resources to support their learning journeys.

  • Google Classrooms: Each year group has its own dedicated Google Classroom, offering access to a wide range of electronic resources and activities. Students new to S1 can find information about their Virtual Library Classroom within their Google Classroom.
  • Issues Online: The school subscribes to Issues Online, a comprehensive e-resource accessible from home. This platform offers informative articles, infographics, and valuable data on a vast array of topics relevant to students’ research needs. Login details can be found within the “Subjects” topic of the library’s Google Classroom. Simply click the provided image to access Issues Online.
  • Library Catalogue: The library website ( ** Page Link ( r_5cff0ae64af7faf2 ) Missing ** ” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>https://clacks.koha-ptfs.co.uk) serves as a valuable starting point for research. Students can utilize the library catalogue to search for a comprehensive collection of physical and electronic resources.

Events

Each year the library hosts a programme of events for our students which have variously included:

  • Author and storyteller visits, via Google Meet and in person
  • Trips to local bookshops and the Edinburgh International Book Festival
  • Shadowing schemes for the Carnegie Book Award and the Scottish Teenage Book Prize
  • Book gifting schemes such as Bookbuzz
  • Reading challenges: Reading Miles Global Challenge during lockdown
  • Seasonal competitions and activities such as flash fiction contests
  • World Book Day, Book Week Scotland and National Poetry Day celebrations
  • Harry Potter Book Night and Roald Dahl Day activities
  • Workshops including comic creation
  • SLIF funded projects: Shout It Out Poetry Slam and the development of a Mental Health & Wellbeing Collection

Lunchtime clubs

We have a variety of clubs based in the library including Comic Creators, Chess and Book clubs. The library is open at lunchtimes for pupils to research, study, do homework or just relax with a good book.

We have also recently introduced a large selection of board games, building toys and activity books into the library collection for pupils to enjoy.

Pupil Librarians

The Librarian is effectively supported by a dedicated team of Pupil Librarians. These student volunteers play a vital role in the library’s daily operations, assisting with book issuance and returns, shelving materials, creating engaging displays, providing support to fellow students, and contributing to the overall smooth functioning of the library.

Each year, new applications for Pupil Librarian positions are welcomed, offering an excellent opportunity for students of all ages to develop leadership skills while contributing to the school community. In recognition of their valuable contributions, Pupil Librarians are eligible to earn prestigious Saltire Awards.

Virtual library

Due to the pandemic, many of the library’s wonderful facilities are temporarily closed.  Full service delivery will resume when it is safe to do so! When schools are open, books can still be borrowed using our new Click & Deliver Service. Books can be returned via the drop boxes outside both library doors. All books are quarantined for 72 hours upon return. Videos explaining how this service works and the all important QR code and form to request a book can be found in your Library Google Classroom.

To aid home learning, Lornshill has invested in a new digital library for our students called VLeBooks, which will shortly be available for use. BorrowBox, your local eBook library, can also be used to borrow eBooks and eAudio.

Please contact the Librarian if you need a reminder of your library ID and PIN for BorrowBox.