A PRIMARY school in Emersons Green has won a national award for its “inspirational” library.
Mangotsfield C of E Primary School won the annual Peter Usborne Primary School Library of the Year Award after judges praised the work of librarian Verity Robinson and the school’s senior leadership team for transforming the school’s reading culture.
The awards, organised by the School Library Association, were presented at an evening ceremony hosted by author and screenwriter, Anthony Horowitz, at the British Library in London on November 6.
The School Library Association said: “Since a recent renovation, the library has transformed the school’s reading culture, engaging everyone from avid readers to those who previously found reading difficult due to dyslexia, language barriers, or simply not yet finding the right book.
“Librarian Verity Robinson is passionate about providing a diverse, inclusive collection, ensuring every child can see themselves reflected in the stories they read.
“She takes the time to understand each child as a reader, tailoring book recommendations to spark their interest and boost confidence.”
The judges said: “The library and librarian at Mangotsfield truly demonstrate what a primary school can achieve when enabled by the senior leadership team and whole school community.
“By employing a dedicated, and experienced librarian, the school has elevated reading for pleasure across the pupil experience as well as the staff body, contributing to everyone’s confidence around books.
“The school’s journey of taking the library from a disused space to being an integral part of daily life is inspirational, and everyone can take something from it.
“The library at Mangotsfield is the heart of the school’s reading community, helping every child see themselves as readers and laying the foundation for lifelong library use.”
Accepting the award for the school, Mrs Robinson said: “We all know the impact that the school library makes.
“I was one of the lucky children; I grew up in a home full of stories, and my parents took me to the library, but we know that isn’t always the case.
“Thank you to all the children at my school – for their curiosity, and for their enthusiasm. From the quietest children who don’t yet know they are readers, to the keenest of my student librarians, who are going to be so excited!”
School curriculum lead Megan Lawrence paid tribute to “passionate and dedicated” librarian Mrs Robinson.
She said: “Her leadership and vision have transformed the school’s library into an inspiring, inclusive, and much-loved space for all pupils.
“Under Mrs Robinson’s guidance, the library has become the beating heart of Mangotsfield C of E Primary School – a place where every child can find stories that reflect their own lives and discover new worlds through reading.
“Her commitment to diverse and representative books ensures that every learner feels seen and valued.
“Since the library’s reopening in 2023, the pupils at the school have been actively encouraged to share their ideas about what they wanted from their library space – from the books to the display and even the different events and competitions which are hosted throughout the year.”
Miss Lawrence said there had been reports of children’s reading for pleasure being at an all-time low nationally, but this was “certainly not the case” at Mangotsfield.
She said: “This national recognition celebrates what’s possible when a school invests in high-quality, inclusive texts and an experienced, dedicated librarian to make the library a place where every child feels welcome and has the opportunity to fall in love with reading.”
SLA chief executive Victoria Dilly said: “Through these awards we can show exactly why and how a school library and hard-working librarian is such an integral part of every young person’s education – and that investment in both should be an immovable item in the budget line and a point of pride for every school community.”
