Library
Welcome to the library
The School Library Resource Centre (SLRC) plays a central and full role – both academically and socially – in the life of the school by supporting learning and teaching.
The library is on level 3 of the building, next to the Computing, English and Modern Languages departments.
It has a wide range of books, magazines and audiotapes, as well as Internet access.
The SLRC is staffed by two qualified librarians Ms Lindsay Nealon (Mon – Tue) and Ms Magda Wojnar (Wed – Fri), who share the job to provide a full time professional service
Accessing books during the Covid-19 Outbreak
Opening Times
Mornings – Monday to Friday
8.15am – 8.40am
Lunchtimes – Monday to Friday
1.30pm – 1.50pm
* exclusive to Bookgroup and other clubs on some days
After School – Monday to Thursday
3.30pm – 3.40pm
After School Friday
1.10pm – check with librarian
Staff and pupils are automatically registered as library users when they join St Thomas’
No cards are needed.
Borrowing
Books are issued for a period of 2 weeks
The loan period can be extended if required.
There are no limits on staff loans.
Borrowing Times
Overdue Books
Reminders for overdue books are sent out via English Teachers.
Letters will be sent home after a few weeks of having overdue books and money for replacement copies sought.
As other people are often waiting for these items, please try to bring them back on time Thank you !
Computers
Wireless Internet access is available.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions there is no access to IT devices and printing facilities in the library until further notice.
We apologise for inconvenience.
Literacy Across Learning
Events in the Library
The librarians along with other departments organise and run various activities throughout the year. Here is the list of upcoming events we would like to celebrate in the library:
CALENDAR OF LITERARY EVENTS 2020-21
The Librarians and English Department have developed a reading programme (Book Bingo) that aims to teach and develop literacy skills. All S1 andS2 English classes have one period timetabled in the Library every fortnight.
Pupils are encouraged to read for enjoyment and to take part in literary activities such as Roald Dahl Day, National Poetry Day, etc.
Extra Curricular
We want you to enjoy reading!
There are Book Groups for pupils and staff, and pupils are encouraged to review books for Teen Titles magazine.
Trips are organised to the Edinburgh International Book Festival and other author events.
We run various clubs including: S1- S3 Book Group, Staff Book Group and Book to Film Club
Unfortunately they are all put on hold due to social distancing rules. We are planning to resume them as soon as restrictions are being lifted.
The voting deadline for this year’s Scottish Teenage Book Prize has been extended until 1 April 2021. The nominated titles are Elizabeth Wein ; White Eagles, William Sutcliffe : The Gifted, the Talented and Me and Ross Mackenzie : Evernight . Usually we’d read and review these titles in S1-3 Bookgroup, but that hasn’t been possible this year. If you have read any of these books and would like it to win the prize, please let Ms Nealon know asap and she can submit a vote for it.
Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2020
The winner of the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2020 has been announced – Izzi Howell’s : Cats React to Science Facts’. It’s a fun book featuring feline adventures through space, force and the human body and it’s available in our school library. Thanks to the S1 /S2 pupils who took part in the judging & who agreed that this book should win
Resources
Printed Resources
Our school has links with other libraries in the city. Everyone is encouraged to join their local, public library and staff and senior pupils can use University libraries and the National Library of Scotland for reference purposes too. Books can often be borrowed from other schools via the Librarian. An inter-library loan facility is also available for ‘Higher’ and academic texts.
Electronic Resources
You can access free Electronic Resources by registering at Edinburgh City Libraries.
You will find more information on the website below or ask the Librarian
https://yourlibrary.edinburgh.gov.uk/web/arena
There are more free resources available online and you can find details in our guide here: Online Resources Guide
Websites
For ideas about what to read, there are many websites, including:
Reading Lists
Our librarians update Reading Lists annually.
You can access them below or get printed copies from the school library.
Reading Lists
Downloads
School Database of Educational Articles
For more information and how to access them online, please refer to our Online Resources Guide
OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES
Downloads
News
‘The latest edition of Teen Titles magazine – TT78 – is now available and features reviews by the following St Thomas’ pupils –
- Bethany McLuskey (p8 & p14)
- Blyth Miller (p8 – apologies to Blyth for the mis-spelling of his name in the magazine !)
- Damian Logan, Ruhika Viralam and Polly Dickson-Smith (p14)
To see back copies of the magazine and to find out more , go to
TV Guide
Future Events & Activities
Easter activities
The seasons of Lent and Easter are traditionally times to reflect. Therefore you can take opportunity and write a poem “When I think of Easter”.
You can use template Easter Poetry Egg here or blank Easter Egg here.
Send your poem back to Ms Wojnar please.
Here is the example of “When I think of Easter” poem.
For suggested books to read on the theme of Easter and Springtime, click on the link below.
Happy Easter!
MARCH QUIZ , CHALLENGES & LITERARY DAYS
‘Thanks to all who took part in the March quiz. Answers can be found below
You could also try some of this week’s ‘Why Don’t You’ challenges, which ‘cover ‘cover the themes of time travel, book prizes and autism
You might also like to celebrate World Storytelling Day on Saturday 20 March (find out more at :https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-storytelling-day/ ) and World Poetry Day on Sunday 21 March – details at https://www.twinkl.co.uk/event/world-poetry-day-2021
WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS WEEK
‘World Autism Awareness Week runs from 29 March until 4 April 2021 and asks us to think about the inclusion of autistic people in our workplace and learning environments. Information can be found at
For a chance to win a book token during WAAW, by colouring or drawing a picture, go to https://www.facebook.com/newingtonlibrary/posts/10164819387090459
International Women's Day
Our school library has organised various activities as a part of the International Women’s Day on 8 March 2021.
The day is celebrated and supported globally by industry, governments, educational institutions, community groups, professional associations, women’s networks, charities and non-profit bodies, the media and more.
English, Science and PE departments run activities in our school next week. If you would like to find out more please click on links below:
International Women’s Day – general information
Click this LINK to see International Women’s Day video
Famous Women’s in Chemistry – presentation
Click on the link below to read a two page comic that shows an example of a gender stereo type myth, about learning abilities:
International Women’s Day – comic
Interview with women’s footballer Fiona Brown
To celebrate International Women’s Day, Fiona Brown (Scottish professional footballer who plays as forward for both FC Rosengård and Scotland’s international team) answers questions from Edinburgh’s secondary school pupils. In the interview Fiona discusses her career, the challenges she has faced as a player and her experiences of being a professional female footballer.
Some secondary school pupils across the city were given the opportunity to submit questions to ask Fiona via an online form. A small group of school librarians then had the challenge of whittling down to the best questions to put forward to Fiona and this interview is a culmination of their amazing questions and Fiona’s thought-provoking answers. “
Here is the LINK to the watch this interview.
There are many famous women in music history but please have a look at those two names: Eimear Noone – the first female composer/conductor at the Oscars recently and Marin Alsop – a very well known conductor in the UK and abroad.
Here are links to find out more about female composers and famous women in music timeline.
Edinburgh City Libraries run various events across the city to celebrate International Women’s Day
See the website for more information.
To support activities run in our school you can find a list of female authors whose books are available from our library HERE
POETRY COMPETITION
Foyle’s Young Poets of the Year Award 2021 competition is open to those aged 11-17 yrs and the closing date is 31 July. If you enjoy writing poetry, why not take part ? Further details at-
https://foyleyoungpoets.org/?gator_td=4eCQMXzHm%2Fs6xezSm%2FuWff2i0WsUytGEcihqe4nZHSOrwmG4KkDY7dUxMOYvf5o4fmbBmYHc22GMxYf2V5lutKdlMQ2%2F
WORLD BOOK DAY 2021
‘BOOK OFF : the winner was announced on 5 March . Follow this link to find out the favourite Carnegie Medal – winning book of Edinburgh’s teenagers –
https://twitter.com/i/status/1367815112279683074
World Book Day is on 4 March and there’s lots to get involved with and free books on offer . See below for details.
Downloads
FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT
Fairtrade Fortnight runs from 22 February to 7 March 2021 and is focussing on the challenges which climate change presents to farmers and workers in Fairtrade communities. You can discover more about the impact on nature and wildlife by reading some of the novels below.
Downloads
Royal Society Young People's Book Prize 2020
The winner of the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2020 has been announced – Izzi Howell’s : Cats React to Science Facts’. It’s a fun book featuring feline adventures through space, force and the human body and it’s available in our school library. Thanks to the S1 /S2 pupils who took part in the judging & who agreed that this book should win
SHORT STORY COMPETITION : CREATIVE WRITING
If you enjoy writing your own stories and are aged 14+, visit https://www.cymerafestival.co.uk/short-fiction-competition. There’s an opportunity to win £75 for a short story on the subject of ‘After the Plague’.
Children's Mental Health Week
Place2be’s Children’s Mental Health Week takes place from 1-7 February 2021, with the theme ‘Express Yourself’. The link below shows how reading can promote positive mental health and offers a range of related activities.
Downloads
Burns Night 25 January 2021
Each year, Burns Night helps us to commemorate the life and works of Robert Burns, the Scottish poet born in 1759. To test your Burns knowledge, try the quiz below.
Downloads
Holocaust Memorial Day 27 January 2021
HMD remembers all those who suffered in the Holocaust and in subsequent genocides. The theme for 2021 is ‘Be the Light in the Darkness’. To find out more, and for related Fiction titles, see below.
Downloads
Winnie-the -Pooh Day 18 January 2021
Downloads
Greyfriars Bobby Day - 14 January 2021
Empathy Day 9 June 2020
Tuesday 9 June is Empathy Day , encouraging us all to step into someone else’s shoes and relate to the challenges they face. It seems especially relevant at this time when people are anxious about the corona virus, campaigning that ‘Black Lives Matter’ and dealing with issues on a personal level. To find out more on how to develop your empathy skills, or to join in with author talks, poetry and drawing workshops, see the powerpoint below.
You can ‘train your brain’ to be more empathetic . Here are 3 of our library books which could help –
Europe Day 2020
Although we are in the process of Brexit, Europe Day will be celebrated on 9 May 2020 to mark peace and unity amongst member countries. Test your European book knowledge below.
Downloads
World Book Night
WBN takes place on 23 April 2020 – Shakespeare’s birthday. Click on the files below to find out more and to do a WBN quiz.
Downloads
Librarians in Lockdown
