Scottish Catholic Observer

A Catholic primary school in Glasgow has recently opened a new school library, having received a generous donation from the Salvation Army.

As part of the Get Britain Reading programme, recently launched by ITV show Daybreak, The Salvation Army has been collecting books to distribute to the local community.

St Patrick’s Primary School, Anderston, Glasgow was among the beneficiaries of the programme, as well as another local school and two nurseries in the area, between them receiving more than 800 books from the Glasgow City Centre Corps of The Salvation Army.

Susan O’Donnell, St Patrick’s headteacher, said she was ‘delighted’ that the school can now fill the shelves of its new library with an ‘exciting collection of fabulous books.’

“Reading is the fundamental life-skill, which opens doors to learning,” Ms O’Donnell said. “In St Patrick’s, we promote the enjoyment of books, having recently established a lending library. This exciting collection of fabulous books from The Salvation Army is a wonderful gift. In this climate of economic difficulties, they have offered our children the luxurious opportunity of unpacking and reading new books. These will not only enrich the library, but will encourage and motivate the children in fostering and enhancing their love of reading.”

Tremendous response

Salvation Army Corps Officers Matt and Sarah Butler said there has been a ‘tremendous response’ to the Get Britain Reading collection and that they are ‘delighted to be able to encourage the children of this inner city area in their reading.’