Harris Clapham Sixth Form Spring Library Competition

By Cayni Sheeqow

The library at Harris Clapham Sixth Form is a state-of-the-art library space on the 2^nd floor of the building dedicated to the students, with many of the books being selected by teachers with their students’ academic study in mind.

To encourage student use of the space, Harris Clapham Sixth Form is holding a Spring Reading Challenge. The winners will receive a prize of £15. Students and Staff can participate by reading as much as possible before the deadline of 19^th April and submitting a review for each book read. The school librarian, Mrs Sharrock-Harris, kindly answered a few questions regarding the competition.

How can people get involved?

‘With the reading challenge, it's very simple. You can come to the library, search the catalogue online, or browse the shelves. You can choose any book you want to read, fiction or non-fiction, and the only thing you cannot read for the reading challenge is a textbook. Once you have read your book, whether you enjoyed it or did not, you fill in the Microsoft form on the student portal and fill in a simple review about what you thought about the book, and that is one of your participations in the competition! You can answer as many times as you would like, and the more books you enter [into the form], the more likely you are to win!’

What are you hoping people get out of the reading challenge?

‘I am hoping it will build an awareness of the library, the range of different books and genres we have here so people will build good reading habits and stamina. It's also a good way to build vocabulary and study skills, but most importantly your love of reading for pleasure’.

I will personally be participating in the library competition. Currently I am reading the book ‘One of us is lying’ by Karen M. McManus. It is a mystery-thriller that follows four students at Bayview High School who are prime suspects in the murder of a classmate who died of an anaphylactic shock while all five of them are detained on the first day of school after summer vacation. The book has been made into a Netflix series released in February 2022 to much success.

People may find that the library competition will be a motivator to spend more time reading amidst balancing school and other areas of life. It has been shown that reading for pleasure has many benefits, both physical and mental. A person who reads every day gets better at it over time. Not surprisingly, daily readers also gain more enjoyment from it than those that read less often. It can even improve memory and critical thinking skills. Reading is also linked to improved mental health. Activities like reading have been linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease- even more reason to take part.