In June, the Year 8 students had the exciting opportunity to visit Jersey Library in St Helier. The trip, organised by Miss Martin, was both enjoyable and educational, helping students discover the many benefits of using their local library.
The library, located in Halkett Place, offers a wide range of free services for the community. Students learned that members can borrow books, audiobooks, and e-books, use free Wi-Fi and computers, access printers, and even find GCSE revision resources to support their studies. Library cards are free, making these resources available to everyone.
During our visit, students were taken on a guided tour of the building. They explored the workshop room and were given the rare opportunity to see historic books dating back to the 18th century. The group also viewed a portrait of Philippe Falle (1656–1742), learned about the library’s history and the founder.
Students visited the children’s section and the young adult area, where we discovered books on a huge variety of topics, including cooking, sports, adventure, science, history, and fiction. There truly was something for every interest and passion and it was interesting to find out how to search for specific books .
The library service extends beyond St Helier, with a branch in Les Quennevais and a mobile library that travels around the island, bringing books and resources to local communities. The mobile library also visits our school regularly.
The visit highlighted the importance of reading for secondary school students. Reading helps improve vocabulary, develops imagination, strengthens concentration, and supports learning across all subjects.
A big thank you to Miss Martin for organising such a valuable and informative trip. The Year 8 students returned inspired and with a greater appreciation for the wonderful resources available at Jersey Library.
Emily Ann
