Library continues to be a great read

The St Patrick's College library continues to go from strength to strength including being part of a nationwide study. Last year the library was one of thirteen schools chosen by the Ministry of Education and SLANZA NZ to see how leading school libraries represented best library practice in Aotearoa. With school libraries closing or under-resourced around the country and literacy rates falling, it is hard not to see a correlation. This study looked into what a great school library looks like and what it brings to its kura and rangatahi as a result. What the ministry observed at St Pat's was a thriving library supporting literacy and learning and helping boys to develop a lifelong love of reading. In 2017 issues at St Pat's had fallen to 1150 books in the year, an average of not much more than one book per student. In 2021 we issued 4568 books and staff and students alike are starting to notice a real reading culture around the school.

Library Manager Ellie Nicolson said "as part of our culture of service we are pleased to have been able to play a role in producing a report that will help guide government policy on school libraries, as we work towards creating a nation of readers". As the Great School Libraries report concludes "A successful school library can enhance students' literacy, engagement with their local curriculum, wellbeing and sense of community"

Great school libraries in Aotearoa: A qualitative study

2021 report on the St Patrick's College Library 

Reading for Wellbeing programme and why reading for interest is so important in all aspects of life 

Please feel free to get in touch with Ellie and her team anytime to hear about what we are doing, or talk about how we can support your son in particular.