setting up a school library

[JobbyNeuf]

Setting up a library for years 7 to 11. Predominantly for literary reading.

What do we get? rubs hands gleefully

Has anyone experience of doing the same or similar?

I help set up our school library a few years ago. Do you have any books at the moment?

Does your county have school library services? https://sls-uk.org

I’m in Hampshire and they have been incredibly helpful. With the subscription you get a loan of loads of books. They will come out to you and give you advise and support.

We get our books from https://peters.co.uk they have general starter library packs and you can also get packs for EAL or SEN. Reference books aren’t very popular as students tend to get the information online but non-fiction ‘novels’ (iykwim) do ok. Graphic novels are also popular with a wide range but you need to take care they are age appropriate (some seemly ok ones have a very random sex scene!)

You can spend an absolute fortune on library shelves! The metal shelves are cheaper and do work well. Getting a mix of heights can really break up the space visually.

Remember to include places to sit and relax in your plans. Somewhere to play chess or uno.

If your school would pay for SLA membership am sure they have lots of advice and booklists.
Do you know what sort of range of reading ages you have?
Has there been no library previously or is it a completely new school?

Are you a librarian, teacher or what, if you don't mind me asking?

Thank you both for all of this great advice ! We are not in the U.K. but can (and do) order books from the U.K. I am looking up all of the things suggested.

So are your students expats or what? Which continent are you on?

Thanks. In Europe, EU, students are bilingual Europeans, very few British expats anymore (thanks, Brexit), a few with 1 or both parents originally from USA. They are all fluent so books would be the same as any other British / Anglophone school's library.