School libraries are often described as the heart of a school as they are vibrant spaces where students can explore, discover, and grow.  

At the heart of Barbreck is our Library, a wonderful haven for curious minds, and a gateway to endless adventures for our students. Through the pages of a book, our students embark on adventures to far-off lands, delve into the mysteries of the universe, and explore the depths of human experience.  

Reading broadens horizons and deepens our students’ understanding of the world around them. By stepping into the shoes of characters from diverse backgrounds and cultures, they develop empathy, compassion, and tolerance for others. 

At St Catherine’s School all our Early Learning Centre and Junior School students have a weekly lesson in our Barbreck Library. One of the main goals of these classes is the promotion of reading for pleasure. It is important to empower and grow our students’ love of reading for pleasure by providing them with the opportunity to choose their own reading material, which is a significant component of fostering independent reading.  

Our Barbreck reading collection is an integral part of our School’s reading culture. It offers our students the time, space, and opportunity to select from a wide range of reading material, including print and electronic books.  

Matching students to books that they connect with, and helping them discover the joy of lifelong reading, is another goal underpinning our Library classes. It is one of the key ways we assist our students to cultivate a love of books and reading. 

Research consistently shows that fostering a love of reading for pleasure in children not only improves their literacy skills but also contributes to their overall academic achievement, cognitive development, and socio-emotional wellbeing.

Key findings from research on reading for pleasure in children include: 

Social and Emotional Wellbeing 

• Reading for pleasure promotes empathy, emotional intelligence, and social awareness in children by exposing them to diverse characters, cultures, and experiences. 

• Books serve as a source of comfort, inspiration, and escapism for children, helping them navigate challenging emotions, build resilience, and develop a sense of identity and self-worth. 

Motivation and Engagement 

• Children who develop a love of reading are more likely to demonstrate intrinsic motivation, curiosity, and enthusiasm for learning both inside and outside the classroom. 

• Reading for pleasure cultivates a positive attitude towards books and learning, fostering a lifelong habit of curiosity, inquiry, and self-directed learning. 

Academic Achievement 

• Studies have found a positive correlation between reading for pleasure and academic success across various subjects, including Language, Arts, Mathematics, and Science. 

• Children who read for pleasure regularly tend to perform better on standardised tests and assessments compared to their peers who do not engage in leisure reading. 

Language and Literacy Development 

• Reading for pleasure exposes children to a wide range of vocabulary, sentence structures, and writing styles – enhancing their language skills and comprehension abilities. 

• Regular engagement with diverse texts and genres improves students’ reading fluency, decoding skills, and comprehension strategies, laying a strong foundation for lifelong literacy. 

Cognitive Development 

• Reading for pleasure stimulates critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills in primary students by encouraging them to make predictions, infer meaning, and draw connections between texts and real-life experiences. 

• Exposure to imaginative and complex narratives fosters creativity, imagination, and cognitive flexibility, allowing students to explore new ideas and perspectives. 

Family and Community Engagement 

• Family involvement plays a crucial role in nurturing a habit of reading for pleasure in children, with parental encouragement, role modelling, and shared reading experiences contributing significantly to children’s literacy development. 

• Schools and their libraries play a vital role in promoting reading for pleasure by providing access to a diverse range of books, creating supportive reading environments, and organising literacy-related events and activities. 

Overall, the research underscores the importance of prioritising reading for pleasure in education. By creating a culture of reading that values curiosity, imagination, and joy, we can empower students to become confident, proficient, and enthusiastic readers.   

Our Junior School students are currently participating in the 2024 Premier’s Reading Challenge, which supports the aim to promote a love of reading in our students. It is not a competition, but a challenge to each student to read, read more and read more widely and complete a target number of books by the end of August.  

In Barbreck the Premier’s Reading Challenge is also a House Reading Challenge. The House that has the highest percentage of students complete the Challenge will be awarded the House Reading Challenge Cup.  

It has been wonderful to see many students motivated to complete the Challenge by borrowing and reading books and keeping a record of books read. There are different goals for different reading levels, and thousands of books to choose from on the Premier’s Reading Challenge Booklist.  

The Challenge can also be tailored to suit individual students with the option to negotiate the number of target books as required. Some students have decided to go beyond the required number of books and have requested their target to be raised as they aim to conquer the agreed number of books before the Challenge ends. The Challenge offers all students the opportunity for reading success and supports our aim of fostering a culture of reading, and also serves as a catalyst for intellectual growth and personal enrichment.  

Our Year 6 Library Co-Captains, Chloe Wang, Emily Wang, and Elva Zhang are all champions of the Premier’s Reading Challenge. They are avid readers and are passionate, positive advocates of our Barbreck Library. These dedicated students play a crucial role in fostering a culture of literacy, curiosity, and responsibility within the Barbreck community.  

The Co-Captains assist with many organisational elements of the Library, and all devote personal time to support the everyday running of it. Our Co-Captains also strive to ensure that the Library is a welcoming environment for all students. Through their guidance and example, they encourage fellow students to explore the literary treasures housed within our Library, fostering a lifelong passion for reading. The dedication, passion, and leadership of these students plays a pivotal role in shaping the literary landscape of their school.  

Here are some of our Co-Captains’ personal reflections: 

“I love being a Library Co-Captain because books have always been my close friends. They take me to different worlds, introduce me to interesting characters, and spark my imagination. When I discovered I could share this love by being a Library Co-Captain, it felt like destiny. Being a Library Co-Captain is more than just organising books, it’s about creating a space where everyone feels excited to read. Seeing people’s joy when they find a book they can’t wait to read is amazing. Being a Library Co-Captain lets me combine my love for reading with helping others, sharing the magic of books with everyone who visits our Library. 
Always remember, just keep reading.” Chloe Wang 

“Being a Library Co-Captain is great. I come in on Monday lunchtimes to help with shelving books or discussing ideas with Ms Caluzzi. One of my favourite parts about the job is sharing our ideas on activities we’re planning for Barbreck. As you might know, I love reading! Even if it’s not my shift, I still come to the Library to have some quiet reading time. I love working with Elva, Chloe, and Ms Caluzzi in the Library and being connected by our shared passion for reading!” Emily Wang 

“Books have always been a great part of my life ever since I started reading. I love being in the Barbreck Library and making sure that the Library is a safe, fun, and quiet space. The different types of genres and types of books you can find here is wondrous. I also get to meet people left and right whenever they frequent the Library. Some play chess, read books or borrow, and it’s delightful whenever you see a person reading and enjoying a book that I have recommended. Being a Library Co-Captain is an amazing experience for me.” Elva Zhang

Barbreck Library is a wonderful place of knowledge, imagination, and discovery. Curling up with a book in a window nook or on a beanbag or cushion, it is a haven for our students—a place where curiosity is nurtured, providing many opportunities for our students to become lifelong readers and powerfully literate citizens.  

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis once said “There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.”  Barbreck Library aims to enlarge your child’s world providing many opportunities to explore, discover, and learn through the pages of quality books and resources.  

Happy reading everyone.