About the service

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“I am always extremely happy with the selection of books I receive from the Library Service.  The children love them and they are always of a high quality.  This is a very valued service and I am always grateful that I am able to use it.    The staff at the library are always incredibly helpful and efficient.  They work very hard and do an excellent job

Our aims

Tower Hamlets Schools Library Service is a traded service within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and provides learning resources, librarians and library-related advice and support to  schools in London and the South East.

We aim to:

  • To provide a wide range of high quality learning resources (for early years, primary, secondary and sixth form) that reflect our multicultural and diverse community in a balanced and accurate way, as an efficient, cost-effective way for schools to resource the curriculum and promote reading for pleasure
  • To support schools in their aim to have excellent school libraries by providing professional advice and training on the management and organisation of learning resources and by supplying the services of a professional librarian to manage the school library on a regular basis
  • To enrich the curriculum through global learning and pupil participation, helping young people make the connection between the local and the global

Our offer to you

Our resources collection

  • Borrow books, artefacts, costumes and more for primary, secondary and special schools as well as early years settings and other organisations. Each library user may borrow up to 70 items  for the whole term – delivered to your school and collected.
  • Our request for resources service. Tell us what you need and our expert librarians will select resources for delivery
  • Average value of 70 items borrowed per term for a year equates to £2100 for each borrower. A substantial saving for your school budget
  • Resources to enrich and raise attainment. Including support for Philosophy for Children (P4C), British values and The Global Dimension.
  • Resources to promote race, religious, ethnic, gender, disability, LGBT, age and class equality

Advisory services

“The work of a School Librarian has the potential to make a huge contribution to the school in ways that I had not realised until we found ours.  Her work has impacted directly on the children; their involvement and enthusiasm for reading as well as our participation in enrichment activities and the maintenance of the reading environment.”
Headteacher, Primary School in Tower Hamlets

We offer a comprehensive advisory service for all of your school library needs. Let us set up and help maintain an inspiring library that is the heart of your school.

  • A professional librarian working in your school!
  • School library staffing and training
  • Reading promotion
  • Library refurbishment and design
  • Buying the right books
  • Stock Audit
  • Impartial library software support
  • Literacy resources including Accelerated Reader, CLPE book bands (Which Book and Why) or Catch-Up reading schemes.
  • Digital and information skills including recognising fake news, net savviness and independent learning
  • Much more!

Our events

  • An exciting calendar of events to inspire pupils for early years, primary, secondary and special schools.
  • Includes poetry slams, creative writing, author visits and our book award
  • Raise pupil confidence and attainment

Our team

Head of Service
Gillian Harris MBE
Library Staff
Kalsuma Bibi, Nuruzzaman Chowdhury, Sylvia Cummins, Shajan Hekim, Mohammad Shahjahan, Jacob Turner
Global Learning London (formerly HEC Global Learning Centre)
Alia Alzougbi, Triny Diaz, Fatema Zehra
Asma Ali, Laura Bennett, Shajan Hekim, Mary Igoe, Vikki Lowther, Janet Noble
Deliveries
Maggie Walker

How to subscribe or buy a service

Any school or organisation within Tower Hamlets, or within any local authority which does not already provide a schools library service, may subscribe to Tower Hamlets Schools Library Service or buy an advisory visit

  • Tower Hamlets schools subscribe via SLA online.
  • all other schools and settings, please either complete the form below, or telephone the library on 020 7364 6428

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*amount based on a school with 20 staff borrowing

See Also:

Global Learning London

Global Learning London

Promoting the values, aims and principles of global learning.

Professional Librarians in Primary Schools

Professional Librarians in Primary Schools

The skills of a professional librarian will ensure consistent quality management of your school library

Supporting Your School : What we can do

Supporting Your School : What we can do

Your starting point for creating an excellent school library

Visiting Us

Visiting Us

Address Tower Hamlets Schools Library Services Professional Development Centre 229 Bethnal Green Road London E2 6AB Telephone: 020 7364 6428 email: schoolslibraryservices@towerhamlets.gov.uk Please note. The library will be CLOSED to…

Opening Times

Opening times

Term time Monday – Thursday: 9am to 5pm

Fridays and holidays: 9am to 4:30pm

Christmas holiday

23rd December to 1st January : CLOSED