We hope to have the library up and running again in the coming weeks, in a temporary space on the ground floor of the school building. We could do with some help restocking the shelves, if any parents have a spare hour or two any day after drop off at 9.00am or after 1.30pm, drop the PA an email here. Volunteers will also be needed to form a new Library Committee - it;s a lovely project to work on - so if anyone is interested, email us here for more information.
Giving our boys the gift of reading
"The more things that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go".
Dr Seuss's simple wisdom still works in our wired age. Books set the imagination alight, and open up new worlds to our children. Reading is a gift that lasts a lifetime. That's the kind of vision that spurred the small group enthusiastic parents who set up St Mary's School Library 4 years ago.
The work of the school library is done by a committee of volunteers and of course, the parents who help run the weekly library classes for the boys. The committee raises funds with the PA for new books, then sources, buys, sorts and catalogues the library, runs the borrowing system and co-ordinates the rota of volunteer parents.
The most up to date reading selection
The Library committee stay up to date with the latest releases and ensure the boys have a wide selection of age-appropriate books to read at every level, from weird and wonderful reference books to pictures books for the infants, soccer annuals for the football crazy. There's a cast of characters to suit everyone from Horrid Henry to Harry Potter, Percy Jackson to Alex Rider, Adam Blade to David Walliams, Beast Quest to Beastly Records, Rugby Heros to soccer stars. See new titles here.
Our Library Committee Book Gurus have compiled lists of their favourite books over the years, class by class - a useful resource if you use the local libraries in Blackrock, Stillorgan or Dun Laoghaire. Click here to look at their selection.
Book activities year-round
The Library committee also organise trips for the boys to book readings and events at other libraries, as well as the celebrations for World Book Day and National Pyjama Day - an action packed week of silent reading, books swapping, book buying, extreme reading, discussion of characters, story telling and imagination!
Parent Volunteers: Help out at your son's class library session
Located in the first mobile unit, the library is open and supervised for the boys for the first hour of each day. It relies on the goodwill of parents to volunteer for the once weekly library class (9.00am each day, the schedule is here) to bring their son's class to the library and help them select suitable books to borrow. (The boys LOVE seeing their parents take library session).
What's involved: Just I hour every 6-8 weeks, from 9 until ten, to help another parent bring a class to the library. You help them choose books, and check them out – the system is very easy to use and you’ll be supported by the Library committee. In return you’ll have the massive satisfaction of seeing your son swell with pride when you turn up! Download a volunteer from here.