Old books make kids read

When we first asked to see the Summit Schools’ library, we were shown a cupboard behind a desk. Other schools we have visited simply have nothing at all.
Extraordinary Leadership Journeyers reflected on the shelves full of read and never to be read books on their shelves at home, and a project began. Since then, each Journey has been accompanied by several suitcases filled with books. Each Journeyer can check-in two cases but no-one needs that many clothes for a Journey. Spotting teachers in a tiny staffroom devouring a Times newspaper we happened to pick up on the plane, made us realise that old newspapers provide valuable reading practice, as well as news.
Now an old store room has been cleaned out and two of the walls are bedecked with wooden shelves: see the video. Each lunchtime the children of a school year change books, and a register of borrowings attests to the library’s popularity.
As the Summit Schools library has grown, we have started supplying books for other schools too. In fact, no school visit is complete without a selection of books. What books will do: Any not unsuitable for children. So what’s on your shelves? Mail eithne@xleadership.com and we will hand-deliver your books.