Pioneering Pirniehall!

Read all about it: Local primary school is first to complete Scotland’s library card challenge

Following the Scottish Government announcement that every child in Scotland should get a library card, Muirhouse Library, Community Learning & Development and Pirniehall Primary School have sprinted out of the educational blocks!

They have taken all 286 pupils to the library and issued them with individual library cards. The process involved library and community learning staff escorting 8 pupils at a time, giving them an induction session including use of the library computer suite, taking them back to school and collecting the next group of 8. These events have happened two afternoons a week for the last two months and the final class received their cards before the holidays on Thursday 17 December.

It’s believed that Pirniehall is the first primary school in Scotland to complete the ‘Library card for every child’ challenge.

Cllr Paul Godzik, Children and Families Convener, said: “This is a fantastic initiative, which I hope can be replicated across the city. The latest literacy results are really encouraging and I am delighted we are starting to see real improvements in what pupils are achieving. Encouraging children to read and more importantly to enjoy, books from a young age is vital, and it’s great to see our schools and libraries working closer together to achieve that aim.

“Literacy is a key element of Curriculum for Excellence, and it’s important for all of our young people to have a love of reading, which I hope will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”

Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture and Sport Convener, added: “This is great news, and a fantastic example of libraries and schools working together for the good of the community. Pirniehall pupils can all now enjoy the wealth of information and activity that libraries have to offer – and no cost.

“Community libraries such as Muirhouse are wonderful community hubs, with great facilities and knowledgeable, friendly staff. I’d love to see this pilot roll out to other schools in the Capital.”