Schools' library service

Every term each class teacher can apply for topic loans, fiction loans, reading packs and story sacks. Use the forms below to apply for the loans

Topic loan

Thirty books plus supporting posters, pictures, videos, CD-ROMs and a variety of project packs.

Fiction loan

Thirty books and story CDs.  The fiction books comprise picture books, big books, touchy-feely books, dual language books, easy readers, short stories, stories from around the world, new fiction and teenage fiction.

Reading pack

Six sets of six books including fiction, non-fiction poetry and plays.

Story sacks

One sack containing a story book, plus a selection of supporting toys, puppets, games and artefacts library.

Library loan and exchange

Secondary or primary schools that subscribe for three years can get long term loans and exchanges from us.

These long term loans supplement your school library collection and can be exchanged in part or whole annually over a three year period. 

You can get:

• 750 books for up to three years (secondary schools)
• 500 books for up to three years (primary schools)
• fiction and non-fiction  

Delivery and collection

Loans are delivered directly to your school in a strong blue storage box. We provide a checklist for you to make sure the contents are correct. Please use this and let us know as soon as possible if there is a problem or you have a question.

It is your responsibility to locate and check off loans against their printout at the end of term.

Losses and overdue charges

Unless specifically renewed, all loans are to be returned at the end of every term.  A loss factor is allocated for each loan. Two reminders are sent to individual teachers and losses are invoiced every two terms in arrears to allow teachers time to search thoroughly. All videos and CD-ROMs will be charged for, as will any item missing from a story sack.

Leaflets, posters and documents

You can use these to help promote reading and libraries in your school. There are also resources to help you organise your collection or hold classroom sessions.  Please contact us for further information.

We can provide trained librarians to offer advice and support to the heads, teachers and support staff. We can help you with:

• establishing and managing your school library
• purchasing books and library equipment
• automating your school library
• advising and training library coordinators
• training

We can come into your school to promote reading for pleasure. We offer this for both younger and older children:

Foundation and Key Stage 1:
Picture book stories are read interactively to classes.

Key Stage 2 and 3:
A selection of age-appropriate fiction books is brought to the classroom. Part of the story is told, stopping on a cliff-hanger so students will be keen to read the rest themselves. 

We can visit your school to do a stock check to identify missing subject areas.

You can then use SLS stock to identify good up-to-date resources that can be bought for your library.

We can provide schools with the services of a professional librarian on a regular basis to ensure your library is strategically managed and continuously developed as well as open and available to children as much as possible,

A professional librarian will:

• promote enjoyment of, and excitement about, reading
• establish skills for independent learning and assist in the delivery of information skills teaching in the school
• buy quality resources for the school library and classroom libraries
• manage, maintain and promote the school library and teacher resources
• manage the computer library system, if in place
• manage the Schools’ Library Service contract
• provide training and supervision for support staff and pupil librarians in basic library routines
• ensure consistency and maintain the quality of the school library on a long-term basis and  regardless of changes in personnel

Many schools find that in just half a day a week the library flourishes and the librarian has time to work with children as well as manage the library and keep it operational so that it can be used throughout the week, with the support of library assistants or volunteers.  Please contact us if you would like a librarian in your primary school.