General Info
School Library Resource Centre
Welcome To The Library
The SLRC is staffed by Lucrezia Gaion MLitt Ma, a qualified librarian who provides a full time professional service. She likes to tweet about a range of things library and literary in the Library Twitter account w
hich can be found here: @BRO_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.
Library use and the role of the Librarian within school can be summed up by the following:
The Librarian is on hand (whether face to face, via email, Twitter or Teams) to engage with users, answer queries, support staff and students and locate innovative resources to meet a range of learning needs. This includes issuing stock and answering enquiries to all users (staff and pupils); circulating stock using ELIS (an automated SLRC Management System); arranging Inter-Library Loans; compiling project boxes; creating bibliographies of printed and electronic resources ; conducting internet searches for topics / sites / specific information for staff and students; providing information and materials etc. and promoting literacy across learning.
While there is currently not the option to drop into the library before school etc, feel free to get in touch with the Librarian either by email or on Teams. Her email addresses is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Library now offers a new 'Book-a-Book' Click and Collect service from the Library. And you can now sign up for lunchtime clubs.
Opening Hours
The Library is open throughout the school day for S6 study or for book borrowing by arrangement with the Librarian.
S6 study is now open.
The Librarian also runs lunchtime clubs for up to 15 students at a time. Students must sign up in advance if they would like to attend, and can do so via Teams (just tag the Librarian) or email her. For every club, students should meet in the library at 13.05. All lunct time clubs have their own Team so that the group can chat at any point in the week, and if students are self isolating, they can still take part. These clubs ran via Teams throughout Lockdown.
Monday: Creative Writing Club
Wednesday: Bibliotherapy – reading for mental health and wellbeing
Thursday: Teen Titles Book Group
Library Ninjas
Prior to Covid19, the librarian was ably supported by a group of library ninjas (formerly known as pupil librarians) who helped out in the library before school and during lunchtimes, and assisted with the day to day running of the library, such as shelving, tidying, creating displays etc. The Librarian is happy to say that the Library Ninjas programme resumes September 2022. Look out for more information in the school bulletin.
Literacy Across Learning
Literacy Across Learning - Critical Literacy and Reading For Enjoyment
Each S1 and S2 English class has one period timetabled with the Librarian every fortnight as part of their Literacy time. The Librarians and English Department have developed a reading programme that aims to teach and develop a range of literacy skills such as critical literacy skills, and reading for enjoyment.
During this Literacy time, students can come to the Library individually to borrow a book, by arrangement with their teacher and the Librarian.
S1 students begin the session with an introduction to the Library and information literacy to then move on the brand new digital literacy programme, "Reading for Gold". Students will be given booklets and tasks to be completed in order to receive their award. The Librarian has provided printed resources for this unit as well as making everything available for students via Teams.
Previously, Ssnce 2015/16 we have been able to allow students to choose which book they read in their circles as we had funding to purchase multiple copies of books chosen by each group. Previously In term 3 students made book trailers of the books they discussed in their literature circles, also using critical literacy skills taught in term 1. Here are some examples of booktrailer projects from 2018/19: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp-1mBbaQMzA9MrTiRF4d8pvWezhHnfHY
The S2 literacy programme is also brand new: ‘Reading for Ruby’ is a more challenging version of its S1 counterpart, pushing students to read outside their comfort zone while still developing critical literacy skills. All resources required to carry out the programme will be provided to each student, while also being available in a digitalised version on Teams.
At the end of the year, the class with the most awards will be invited to an end of the year celebration.
Between 2019 and 2021 S2 students followed a reading programme called the Broughton Reading Ristorante. Based around the idea of an Italian restaurant, students chose tasks from tailored menus to complete.
Mental Health
2019 saw the official launch of our Bibliotherapy (#EscapeConnectRealate) lunchtime club. On Wednesdays 15 students have the opportunity to come to the library and enjoy a Story Café (a part of a book is read to them, and then discussed) or some Readaxation (quiet, individual reading while listening to some relaxing music). Every week a different topic is tackled. So far themes have included: social anxiety, depression, grief and loss, bullying, LGBTQ+ and racism. A section of the library has been reserved for Bibliotherapy books along with a display that includes an ECR toolkit, a folder containing all sorts of explanations and book recommendations.
The Librarian has undergone autism training and the library is autism friendly.
Curriculum Support
Pupils from S3-6 English classes are also encouraged to get in touch with the Library on a very regular basis and a variety of tactics and methods are used by the Librarian to develop literacy skills in order to help raise overall attainment.
In addition, the Librarian address literacy support as required.
Classes from across all years and departments use the Library for specific projects and research as required, for example in order to complete Added Value Units. The Librarian prepares specific resources in advance and talks through approaches to research at the start of the lesson, tailored to the particular topic and the needs of the class. They then continue to support and advise throughout the lesson.
The Librarian helps plan, resource and support a wide range of interdisciplinary learning projects.
The Library provides pupils with the experience of learning by research and investigation.
Celebrating Reading
Celebrating Reading
The Library celebrates reading in a variety of ways! We host and attend author events, we visit the Edinburgh International Book Festival, arrange for students to meet and interview authors and celebrate events such as National Poetry Day, Book Week Scotland and World Book Day. We run book clubs, create reading displays and contribute to Teen Titles magazine!
Lari Don
Broughton’s participation to the Citizen 2019 project promoted by the Edinburgh International Book Festival also gave the students the opportunity to go meet the amazing Lari Don, who came to school for an hour-long conversation about creative writing and gifted all her books to the students.
Will Sutcliffe and Helen MacKinven
During Book Week Scotland 2019 the Library celebrated in many different ways. Two authors came to visit us thanks to the Live Literature Funding that we won. On the Wednesday Will Sutcliffe talked to two of our S3 classes about writing humour. His brilliant workshop included some impromptu acting and the students were chuffed. On the Thursday Helen MacKinven talked to Mr Brown’s Higher class about how to approach creative writing.
World Book Day 2019 and 2020
The 2019 and 2020 World Book Day celebrations with a literary cake competition, the Great Broughton Book Bake Off were a success! Pupils and staff were invited to bring in book-related bakes and here are the results!
In 2022 the Great Broughton Bake Off was back, with students and staff baking at home and sending photos to the Librarian. Hopefully 2023 will see the Bake Off come back in person!
For World Book Day 2020 some pupils were able to attend a Waterstones World Book Day Event with author Emily Ilett.
Reading Lists & Teen Titles
Reading Lists & Teen Titles
Ask the Librarian for reading suggestions and recommendations any time!
For a hand-picked list of S4-6 fiction as chosen by a group of Edinburgh School Librarians, just go here.
If you would like access to Biblitoherapy (ECR) reading lists they are now available here, according to themes: https://young.scot/get-informed/edinburgh/escape-connect-relate
Broughton Students regularly review books for Teen Titles, the book review magazine that features only honest and unedited reviews of the latest books for teenagers which now has a new home on the web: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/teentitles
You can access current and back issues from here and find out who TT is and what they do.
A great place to start if you are looking for something to read. And if you’d like to contribute to the magazine, just get in touch with Ms Gaion.
If you would like to read an ebook or audiobook of some of the books reviewed in Teen Titles, if you go over to the Edinburgh Libraries site, you can see our list of titles reviews in the latest issue: https://edinburgh.overdrive.com/library/teens/collection/1090543
Check out Teen Titles on Twitter too @teentitlesmag
Edinburgh Public Libraries Info
Edinburgh Public Libraries Info
You can access ebooks and audiobooks from the public library’s Library2go service! The Librarian can sign you up to the public library service or help you if you have lost your library card or details. Just ask, email or tag her on Teams.
Good things to know about the public library eresources are:
eBooks
- All the childrens/teens ebooks have been organised into CFE level - you can look at the list here
This will give you a good idea of the range of titles now available on Overdrive for each ability range. The public library chose the secondary school titles to buy based on Teen Titles magazine, the Escape Connect Relate list as well as the Imagine and Dare to Read leaflets which were created by Edinburgh School Librarians, so there should be lots of titles that appeal to students.
You can find the collections here:
https://edinburgh.overdrive.com/library/teens
https://edinburgh.overdrive.com/library/teens/collection/1090543 - Teen Titles
https://edinburgh.overdrive.com/library/teens/collection/1101517 - Escape Connect Relate
Audiobooks
- Watch this space for a similar CFE level list of the 350 children’s and teen audiobooks that the public library currently have available through Overdrive and OneClickdigital.
Magazines
- The Public library’s Zinio online magazine service includes dozens of titles which are useful for teachers or are interesting to teens. These include Teen Now; Gamesmaster; PC Gamer; National Geographic; Rolling Stone; Popular Science; Total Film etc. Please find the full list of 100 titles here.
Just go to www.edinburgh.gov.uk/library2go for online access to ebooks, audiobooks and magazines…and lots more
Covid-19
Library opening and set up
The Library is complying with ongoing guidance.
At the moment Clubs are still open via sign-up sheets. Students can browse books between classes and during their English period.
S6 study is back on, as well as library displays and the Library Ninjas programme will be back in September.
Students are welcome to use a face covering if they desire, and are encouraged to santise their hands frequently. The library will remain well ventilated and the Librarian will ensure the space is clean and tidy.
Book A Book Click and Collect Service
We now offer a new 'Book-a-Book' Click and Collect service from the Library. Alternatively please email or tag the Librarian if you would like to borrow a book.
Lunchtime Clubs
We also run Lunchtime Clubs for up to 15 students at a time. Students must sign up in advance if they would like to attend, and can do so via Teams (just tag the Librarian) or email her. For every club, students should meet in the School Library at 13.05. All lunchtime clubs have their own Team so that the group can chat at any point in the week, and if students are self isolating, they can still take part.
Monday: Creative Writing Club
Wednesday: Bibliotherapy – reading for mental health and wellbeing
Thursday: Teen Titles Book Group
Teams
When schools were closed in 2020, the Library immediately created an online platform for students via Teams, ensuring that the clubs and literacy groups of S1 and S2 students kept receiving the support needed. The Librarian continues to share all info via Teams so students self-isolating and working from home have full access to all info shared and can communicate with the Librarian at any time and are welcome to do so.
The Creative Writing Club, Bibliotherapy Group and Book Group continued to virtually meet and work productively and creatively throughout Lockdown via Teams and they continue to do so – each group continues to have a Team to which students and the Librarian can interact with throughout the whole week and if students are unable to attend the weekly meeting in person, they can still participate via Teams.
The Librarian has created Teams for S1 and S2 students, where she provides bookish activities, tailored individual book recommendations, shares online resources to access books and audiobooks for free and answers questions. Two channels have been created to allow students to post their own book reviews and recommendations.
Also, the Librarian is a member of a number of English class Teams, so students can get regular updates and access to information about the Library and Literacy activities such as the Reading Ristorante and Reading Circles, and they can tag the Librarian any time 😊