The trio – from a secondary school, special school and primary school respectively – have been shortlisted for their commitment to creating book-loving schools.
Helen Cleaves, a librarian at Kingston Grammar School in Kingston upon Thames, spent the early part of her career in technology PR and now uses technology to engage pupils in reading for pleasure.
Her innovative strategies include Skype author events, a book doctor service to provide personal reading recommendations, films of school staff reading their favourite poems for National Poetry Day, and a book trailer competition where students made short films on the school’s iPads.
“It created a buzz,” said Ms Cleaves, whose favourite book for secondary students is Wonder by RJ Palacio. She continued: “Pupils who weren’t enthusiastic readers were interested in watching the films and the pupils who made the films brought their friends into the library to see them. In everything the library does I consider how we can interest different groups of pupils and engage them beyond the obvious.”
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