Latest figures show a big increase in the number of people aged 50 and over catching HIV. If your students are interested in researching the issue of HIV, Fact File 2010 has statistics on new cases and how they were acquired (p110-111).

There’s an enthusiastic review on Teachers TV of our Great Library Ideas resource.

View it here.

We appreciate your comments on our resources:

Our monthly posters series (see Reading and Library posters, World Issues, UK Issues, Celebration posters, Posters for English) 'Really useful posters – you make my job a lot easier!' Ruth Mackay, Goffs School.

‘I love the downloadable research ideas for Essential Articles and Fact File - we're going to include them in the folders we prepare for NQT's taking up their first post with the school!’ Karen King, Oakbank School, Keighley. Please go to the download tabs on the Essential Articles and Fact File pages.

It's Poster day, the day new posters are released for our various PDF Poster subscription series

Subscribers to the different series will receive or can download the new posters
and individual posters are now available for purchase below.

New Posters for July
Reading and Library Posters
Read all about it!
World Issues Posters
Maternal Deaths
Celebration Posters
International Friendship Day
Posters for English 'They're,' a poster to help remember how this word should be spelt
UK issues
Fruit & Veg





To find out more about these posters or to subscribe, select a link below

Reading and Library posters
World Issues Posters
Posters for English
Celebration Posters
UK Issues

Subscribers to Essential Articles & Fact File can subscribe to four of the above series for only £59.95!

To purchase an individual poster please select from the drop down below
Only £3.95 +vat each! Posters are emailed to you and you can print as many as you like!

International Friendship Day They're Read all about it: LRC Read all about it: Library Fruit & Veg Maternal Deaths

Essential Articles and its companion resource Fact File work together to provide you with articles and statistics which are relevant, accessible and up-to-date. Key Organisations has a fully checked list of 3,000 organisations, pressure groups and societies.

Why not get all 3 resources for £99.95 including full site licences allowing home use by students and staff? £99.95 offer

The Resources for Issues EXTRA COPIES package - £135
The package proved so useful that many customers wanted more so our £135 package gives you 3 copies each of both Essential Articles & Fact File and a free copy of Key Organisations 2010. Extra copies are particularly useful when groups of students are researching topics, or for keeping one copy at the desk or to loan a copy to a teacher without depriving anyone else of the chance to use it. You also get full site licences. £135 Extra copies package

Both the £99.95 package and the £135 package are available on approval.

If you already subscribe to Essential Articles or Fact File we can upgrade you to one of these packages.

The latest version of our editable subject headings guide contains new terms and a page which explains how books are arranged in the library - you can see this at www.carelpress.co.uk/libraryresources/libraryskills/index.html#libraryfinditindex - click Show me more.

This new version is free if you've already bought the index - please email us. (If you've already amended your guide you can request the alterations to the guide and the new 'How books are arranged' page).

The Index costs £37.50 + vat or £24.95 + vat to subscribers to both Essential Articles & Fact File.

Thanks to Noelle Chambers of Evesham High School for sending this great photo of our 'NEW' sign used at A3 size in her wonderful display.

Visit our Reading and Library posters page to find out more...

This is the launch of Lucy Bakewell's book Off the Shelf at the SLA conference in Nottingham. (Lucy is the current SLA School Librarian of the Year)

‘Essential Articles and Fact File are excellent publications.’ Lorna Renshaw, Bedminster Down School.

Learn more here.

Spies are in the news again (and we thought the Cold War was history!) We have a free Spies library A4 pdf poster which subscribers to Essential Articles & Fact File can download from the Fact File log-in page For more posters like this see our Subject Spotlight posters

We've just received this enthusiastic email:
‘I’ve just had two determined ‘non-readers’ tell me that they’ve finished books which they were inspired to read by your Reading Game - what a result!’ Alice Fyson, English teacher, Kirkham Grammar School

The must-have guide to subjects and their classification numbers Based on the best selling Library Find It Index, this simplified version has the essential terms for a primary school library. • Flexible, easy to use • Instantly adapt to suit your library • Print as many copies as you like • Excel document - editable and printable • A listing in numerical order too • Two stylish personalised covers with your school name

FREE! World map when you request approval copies of Essential Articles & Fact File. This is a beautiful and eye-opening map which puts the developing world first! It's only a convention that Europe appears at the top of maps with the developing world much less prominent. This map (91x60cm) makes people look again at the world and is brilliant for discussion! (A laminated version is also available £19.95) With this special offer you get both Essential Articles and Fact File copiable books and full site licences for online access, as well as a free copy of Key Organisations AND this World Map. All for just £99.95! Existing subscribers to Essential Articles & Fact File can also receive a free map (while stocks last!) when you order something else from us. only £99.95

You can now download one page pdfs with Research & teaching ideas for Essential Articles and Fact File respectively. Please go to the download tabs on the Essential Articles and Fact File pages.

We are delighted to launch at the SLA conference Off the Shelf: how to run a successful primary school library and promote reading by Lucy Bakewell, the current SLA School Librarian of the Year. This is a copiable book which includes online resources. Off the Shelf has already been warmly welcomed: 'Excellent – it looks great. Really useful - lots of inspirational & practical ideas from an enthusiastic and dynamic practitioner' Geoff Dubber, Chair, School Library Association.

We're very pleased to hear that the Signs and Stands have proved a hit in Bury: 'I’m absolutely delighted with my Fiction Signs and Stands. I saw them in Ann Montgomery’s library at Bury Grammar Boys and knew I had to have them! I’ve recently returned to work from maternity leave to find the library looking a bit run down and tired and these were just the thing to spruce things up a bit. I can’t believe what a difference they’ve made to the overall appearance of our shelving - they were an immediate hit with our students who are now asking if we’re having the whole library refurbished!’ Elizabeth Ryder, Bury Grammar School Girls

Here we are again, it's Poster day, the day new posters are released for our various PDF Poster subscription series

Subscribers to the different series will receive or can download the new posters
and individual posters are now available for purchase below.

New Posters for July
Reading and Library Posters
What shall I read next?
World Issues Posters
Oil, a poster showing how much oil we are using, and the basic facts of the spill in the Gulf of Mexico
Celebration Posters
American Independence day, Bastille Day, Wimbledon & Tour de France
Posters for English 'There,' a poster to help remember how this word should be spelt
UK issues
Guns in Britain, facts about the number of Guns owned in the UK, in the light of the recent events in Cumbria





To find out more about these posters or to subscribe, select a link below

Reading and Library posters
World Issues Posters
Posters for English
Celebration Posters
UK Issues

Subscribers to Essential Articles & Fact File can subscribe to four of the above series for only £59.95!

To purchase an individual poster please select from the drop down below
Only £3.95 +vat each! Posters are emailed to you and you can print as many as you like!

What shall I read next Oil American Independence Day There Bastille Day Guns Wimbledon 2010 Tour de France

Our Fact File 2011 History of the World Cup page is now ready. We can email it in advance to any Fact File subscriber who would like it - email us

Already some areas of the country are experiencing worries about water supplies. If you are a Fact File subscriber we can send you in advance relevant pages from Fact File 2011 about water usage. Email us

We were very pleased to receive this suggestion from Ruan Peat, Wick High School:

‘I love your library posters and just started getting your World issues posters too. The cross curriculum ideas from the curriculum for excellence allows me to go to teachers in differing subjects and help them set up links for themselves e.g. RE and history for black history month or PSE and English for festivals etc as well as RE, this allows the librarian to be more of a facilitator.’

Following the dreadful murders in Cumbria, if students ask about the issue, we have in Fact File 2010 statistics comparing shooting incidents and ownership laws in different countries (p125)

When Romeo met Juliet is a brilliant BBC2 programme about the play being cast from 2 very different Coventry schools by the director of the National Youth Theatre. He says he 'loathed' Shakespeare at school: 'a lot of investment in education is ultimately for exams.'
If you are inspired by the programme (and who wouldn't be?) our Shorter Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet is a very accessible introduction to the play.

World cup:
Recent news broadcasts have exposed the social problems in South Africa which are being highlighted by the World Cup. Our latest poster in the World Issues series will provoke discussion on what is happening.

For subscribers to both Essential Articles & Fact File there are also two free World Cup posters

Water shortages - advance information
Already some areas of the country are experiencing worries about water supplies. If you are a Fact File subscriber we can send you in advance the relevant pages from Fact File 2011. These give you the facts about water usage and how we can save.

Thank you so much for all the very helpful feedback about this. This free A3 poster is a guide to all the issues covered in Essential Articles 12 and Fact File 2010 and also explains how to use the resources online and where to log on. You can have up to 3 posters free - so you can also have posters in the staff room and key departments. Just email us and we will post them to you. We will also give them out at the SLA conference. You can also download the A3 poster here (click on the downloads tab). (A new poster covering Essential Articles 13 and Fact File 2010 will be available in September).

We have designed a free 'Research Issues' A4 pdf display header, featuring Essential Articles 12 & Fact File 2010. This could go above your shelves or on a noticeboard or display. Download here. For details of our special offer click here.

Here we are again, it's Poster day, the day new posters are released for our various PDF Poster subscription series

Subscribers to the different series will receive or can download the new posters
and individual posters are now available for purchase below.

New Posters for June
Reading and Library Posters
'Reading takes you to another world,' plus 2 free posters to celebrate the world cup in South Africa this year!
World Issues Posters
Out of sight, out of mind?
This poster is a discussion starter about the issue of evictions surrounding the World Cup Posters for English 'Their,' a poster to help remember how this word should be spelt and used
Celebration Posters
2 World Cup posters, World Oceans day and Recycle Week





To find out more about these posters or to subscribe, select a link below

Reading and Library posters
World Issues Posters
Posters for English
Celebration Posters

To purchase an individual poster please select from the drop down below
Only £3.95 +vat each! Posters are emailed to you and you can print as many as you like!

World Cup: Red with Football in net World Cup: Red with large football World Cup: Blue World Cup: Africa map Out of sight, out of mind Reading can take you... World Oceans Day Recycle Week Their

We have produced 2 A4 pdf posters for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa (11th June - 11th July). These are free to subscribers to both Essential Articles & Fact File as well as to subscribers to our Reading and Library posters series. They can be downloaded from the Fact File online page or the poster download page using your subscriber password. (Variations are available with the wording ‘in the library’ and ‘in the LRC’)

We're delighted that Robbie White, our website designer who was injured just before the final of BBC1's So You Think You Can Dance, has been offered the role of Cici in the new production of Flashdance choreographed by Arlene Phillips. He’ll also be cover for Jimmy - the second male lead. The show opens at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London on the 24th September.

He very much appreciated everyone's support during the show and all the messages afterwards!

www.flashdancethemusical.com/
www.facebook.com/flashdancethemusical

We’re pleased to say that this poster is now in print again and in stock.

We appreciate all the helpful feedback about our new editable subject headings guide. We're releasing today a revised version. This is available without charge if you've already bought the index, a list of the changes has also been released.

To get this, please email us

We have been delighted by the enthusiastic response to our new Subject Spotlight Posters:

‘I think these are simply stunning. Professional display material at an affordable price is hard to find for school libraries so it’s great that Carel Press has done it again. I can think of loads of uses for these posters as resources in information skills lessons not just as display material.’ Eileen Armstrong, Cramlington Learning Village

‘These are gorgeous and sum up everything that needs to be conveyed about the classification system.’ Maggie Thomas, Hextable School

‘Brilliant designs’ Karen Usher, South Hunsley School

In response to feedback we have added variations in class number for several of the posters which you can see in the preview box here

If you have already bought the set and would like any of the variations then the updated version is free - just email us.

We are delighted to introduce the new Subject Spotlight Posters • A set of 44 beautiful PDF posters highlighting key subjects with their Dewey numbers • Print as many as you like! • Each poster comes in 3 sizes for maximum flexibility: A3, A4 & A5 You can order as many or as few from the set as you like: • Order the complete set of 44; only £1.71 per poster! • Sets of 10, where you choose which you would like • Also available individually Already we have received a fantastic quote regarding these posters: "BEAUTIFUL, definitely value for money...gorgeous, modern, bright and extremely eye catching...different sizes give us the option of having them on the shelves or walls" Nikki Heath, School Librarian of the Year, Werneth School To find out more, and to browse the complete collection of Subject Spotlight Posters please click below

World Press Freedom is a vital issue which we have covered a number of times in Essential Articles and Fact File, and now we have designed an A4 pdf poster to celebrate World Press Freedom Day on 3rd May. The poster is free to Essential Articles and Fact File subscribers (just log to the Essential Articles or Fact File online pages to download it). Subscribers to our Celebrations posters series can also download it in the usual way.

It's here! The first Poster Day!

From now on we will be releasing all our new Posters on the 15th of each month for the next month.

Subscribers to the different series will receive the new posters directly
and individual posters will be made available for purchase.

New Posters for May
Reading and Library Posters: Book of the week
World Issue Posters: Afghanistan
Posters for English: Direct Speech
Celebration Posters: Walk to School week & International day of families

To find out more about these posters or to subscribe, select a link below

Reading and Library posters
World Issues Posters
Posters for English
Celebration Posters

To purchase an individual poster please select from the drop down below
Only £3.95 +vat each!

Direct Speech PDF poster Walk to School PDF poster Book of the week PDF poster International day of families PDF poster Afghanistan PDF poster

We are delighted that Sport Matters has been recommended as a resource for GCSE PE (AQA) 2010. View AQA GCSE PE resource list here What is Sport Matters?

Our shortened, original language, edition of Macbeth is now released in a new edition with full colour production photos throughout. There’s a wide range of dramatic action photos including Patrick Stewart as Macbeth. This is an accessible, attractive introduction to the play which puts the emphasis on young people’s understanding and enjoyment. The book is a must for English departments and libraries and is available on approval. Read more here where you can also view sample pages.

Forthcoming book by the School Librarian of the Year! We are delighted to have been chosen by Lucy Bakewell, SLA School Librarian of the Year, to publish her forthcoming book, Off the Shelf. This will be a brilliantly practical resource about how to run a successful primary school library and promote reading. Secondary school librarians will also find Off the Shelf to be a source of inspiration. Primary librarians click here Secondary librarians click here

The new Library catalogue in now available to download.
Download here

Library Find It Index: ‘What an excellent idea! I’ve often wished I had a printed subject index in addition to my one OPAC but having produced one in the past I know how much effort it takes and have always gone pale at the thought. And I’ve never wanted to buy any of the ones available precisely because some of the numbers wouldn’t match what I use. So this will save me so much work and the fact I’ll be able to adapt it is brilliant. Thank heavens for Carel Press!’ Mrs Alison Lainchbury, The Leys School, Cambridge

We were pleased to receive this email today:

‘I just wanted to thank you, not only for the wonderful vibrant posters your company is producing but also the excellent and efficient service you offer.

We have a member of staff who is going out to our link school in Kenya next week to work with them for two weeks on a variety of projects. I have printed off a set of the English posters I have received so far and we have laminated them (apparently the termites will eat the paper if we don’t!) for her to take with her to hopefully brighten up a very disadvantaged school.’

Kath Howard, Royal Manor Arts College, Portland, Dorset

These are the new posters in our series: Reading & Library posters, World Issues, Posters for English and Celebration posters

"Fact File 2010 presents statistics in a cohesive and attractive way, which would definitely appeal to students ... Good value for money"

Key Organisations 2010: "A beautifully presented up-to-date guide ... Every educational establishment in the UK should have access to this extremely useful publication ...The information is the gateway to a huge galaxy of up to date contacts ... There are details of some fascinating websites to explore ... Online access is excellent value." Refer journal , 2010

Both these resources are available on approval.

Subscribers to the Celebration posters series can download this poster

‘I would like to thank Stan Barrett, author of It's All Talk and Take 5, for his wonderful books. I have been using his lessons for over seven years now and the students I teach just love them. Nothing else comes close! THANK YOU, Carel Press, for publishing such great works!’ Sharon Walter

A few people have told us recently that they weren't aware of our 5 pack special offers on both Fact File 2010 and Essential Articles 12. In either case you can buy 5 copies of each book and also get a full site licence for just £99.95. And if you order a 5 pack of either this week we'll personalise a World Book Day poster for you.

The poster has been widely welcomed: 'Thanks for an excellent World Book Day poster.' Karen Benoy, Heathcote School.

Thanks to Sue Bastone for inviting me to this. It was a pleasure to meet such a lively and well informed group. Sue kindly said that 'Carel Press always seem to provide exactly what we need!'

These are the new posters in our series: Reading & Library posters, World Issues, Posters for English and Celebration posters

We were thrilled to receive this comment: ‘Carel Press are so inspiring and truly respond to their customers. Best value-for-money company out there!’ Carolyn Copland, Kirkham Grammar School

Robbie White, our website designer, was injured out of the final of BBC1's So You Think You Can Dance. In this short video he thanks his supporters. If you can’t access YouTube you can download this from http://files.me.com/carelpress/jnnd14

A friend cut a video of some of his earlier highlights in the series before his injury and we've shown it in a couple of school assemblies to promote the themes of dedication, hard work and not giving up. Again, if you can’t access youtube you can download here http://files.me.com/carelpress/i2k4xt.mov

We were very pleased to receive this comment about our Shelf Dividers from Helen Farrar, Cockermouth School:
‘They look great and have elicited lots of responses from the kids (“Why are there letters on boxes, Miss? Are the books in alphabetical order?” Duh! Anyone would think I didn’t have guiding before or that I hadn’t told them repeatedly…). They are very smart and really stand out, making it clear even to the aesthetically challenged, that there is some kind of order to things!’

We are very sad that Robbie White, our website designer, is out of BBC1's So You Think You Can Dance with a dislocated shoulder which happened when he was rehearsing a hip hop routine. He has done brilliantly, danced his heart out and lit up Saturday evenings. He sends his thanks to everyone for the brilliant support.

Robbie White, our website designer, has asked me to pass on his thanks to everyone who has supported him in So You Think You Can Dance. This is the BBC1 show to find Britain's favourite dancer and Robbie is now through to the final on Saturday at 7.45pm. Once again we hope he will earn your votes.

Robbie is an excellent role model for boys. Robbie didn't go away to stage school at age 11 but attended his local comprehensive.

On Saturday's show Nigel Lythgoe said he is 'inspirational to guys who think should I begin to dance? A fantastic ambassador for the world of dance."

The competition is stiff: all 4 dancers in the final are professionally trained, Robbie, Charlie & Lizzie at Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom, while Tommy trained at Urdang Academy, London after beginning his dance career in Sweden. It really shows the value of professional training.

I made a short video of Robbie thanking his supporters.

If you'd like a poster to support Robbie with your school name on please email us. If you'd like us to add your school logo we'd be happy to do that.

The free A4 dance poster featuring Robbie and the Dewey number for dance can be downloaded from the bottom of our posters page (at the bottom of the page)

The latest poster in the Celebrations Poster Series in now available.



You can buy this poster individually, or subscribe to the series and get new posters all year round, you’ll always have up-to-date posters.

This has been hotly debated recently with a couple of court cases which had very different outcomes and Terry Pratchett’s powerful Dimblebly lecture. We have the figures behind these opinions in Fact File 2010 pages 112-113.

Thanks to Ann Montgomery, Bury Grammar School Boys, for this photo of our brand new Fiction Self dividers and signs. She writes: 'Thank you for this idea. Please can I order two sets of the stands? The possibilities are endless.'

These are the new posters in our series: Reading & Library posters, World Issues, Posters for English and Celebration posters

Robbie White, our website designer, has got through to the next show in BBC1’s So You Think You Can Dance, Saturday January 16th, 6.30pm.

If you’d like a personalised poster to support him with your school or college name on then just email us

Essential Articles 12: ‘A really good resource’ Sue Ahern, Librarian, Canford School, Wimborne

‘Fact File and Essential Articles are invaluable resources in teaching and preparing students for A & AS level General Studies providing up to date relevant data and articles that are easily accessible to Post 16 students.’ A senior examiner in General Studies with a major awarding organisation, January 2010

Great news about Robbie White, our website designer, who has won through all the rounds of auditions with thousands of entrants to the final 14 dancers who will compete in BBC1’s new show So You Think You Can Dance, starting Saturday January 2nd at 6pm. I know he would appreciate your support when voting begins with the show on Saturday 9th January.

We were very pleased to receive these comments today from Geoff Dubber, Chair of the School Library Association: ‘Fact File is one of my favourite annual publications! An absolute goldmine for school libraries. It just gets better and better. It's as good for general browsing and interest as it is for seeking specific information.

Key Organisations is just so useful to everyone in school. Comprehensive, trustworthy & easy to use. We all know it’s accurate too! A superb resource, from a superb company.’

Essential Articles & Fact File: ‘Wonderful online resources saving time for teachers, pupils and librarians. Being available 24/7 and offsite provides the level of access that all librarians wish to offer. They are inexpensive for online resources and can be heavily used if promoted at every opportunity’ The School Librarian, Winter 2009

’The Fiction posters are eye-catching and a quick way of brightening up a fiction area in a library and promoting specific areas of stock’
Library Find It Posters: ‘Useful for display but also for library orientation and information skills lessons’
The School Librarian, Winter 2009

‘Successful library displays is an excellent resource - it comprises a book which identifies 58 key events in the year and suggests book titles and websites and activities to help celebrate the event and also a linked website where resources and particularly booklists can be downloaded. Extremely useful’ The School Librarian, Winter 2009

Some people asked if they could buy individual Celebration posters and this is now possible here.

There’s also a discount on individual posters for subscribers to both Essential Articles & Fact File.

We have designed a free 000-099 General & Reference A4 pdf poster - it matches the stylish, modern look of the other 10 Library Find It posters. You can download it from the page about this series. (just above the ‘add to cart’ button)

If you order any title(s), including on approval, you can choose a library Christmas poster (see below and here) and also one of our Celebration posters (see below or here). If you order online just email us to say which 2 posters you’d like.

'One in four girls face attack by boyfriend' was the headline in the Guardian this Monday 23rd November. According to Home Secretary Alan Johnson "Violence against women and girls shatters lives". We have an informative page about this in Fact File 2010 (publication December) which includes key facts as well as links and a helpline number. Subscribers to Fact File can receive this page in advance, just email us

There is also a page about domestic violence in Fact File 2008 p70. The government has just announced that in future students will be taught that domestic violence against women and girls is unacceptable. Using our free QuickSearch you can find relevant articles, personal accounts and statistics about domestic violence.

These are the new posters in our 4 series: Reading & Library posters, World Issues, Posters for English, Celebration posters. (Thanks to Steph Evans of Small Heath School for the idea for the Eid-Ul-Adha poster.)

These are a few of the comments we received this week:

Carel you totally rock! Georgie Lawson, LRC Manager, Sowerby Bridge High School

We are very impressed with the Fiction and Library Find It posters Patricia Aitken, Hyndland Secondary School, Glasgow

Our sixth form college students find your resources excellent for research 'starting points' and background information on many topics, so you're appreciated in FE too! Helen Dunkerley, College Librarian, Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College, Leeds.

It was great to be invited to the Derbyshire School Librarians ADLIBS meeting last week and to find a group of school librarians full of enthusiasm, and practical ideas. Thanks for the feedback on this:

‘I would like to thank you for your fantastic input into our meeting’ Sue Atkinson, Librarian, Brookfield Community School, Chesterfield

’May I say how much I enjoyed your visit’ Rosemary Gregory, Sinfin Community School

If any other groups would like us to run a free session please email us

We received this interesting email from Louise Emere in Botswana:

‘I can't imagine what it must be like not being able to read. Reading is so important to me. I never go anywhere without a book or magazine. We are lucky here in Botswana as there are so many organisations in the UK and the USA that collect and distribute good quality, second hand books to Africa. What I love most is that the children who donate them all write their names and a little about themselves in the books and it gives you a really special feeling when you realise the link across the seas that is being made. The children here just love the books. Reading is really a way out of so many situations and unpleasant circumstances. When I first arrived in this little town I was devastated because there was nothing to do. And then I discovered the little mine library and it was like finding heaven. JUST LOVELY!’

We have designed a free pdf poster to signpost your Reference section. It’s available at A4 or A3 size.

Please contact us if you’d like a copy emailed to you. (The idea for the poster came from a successful meeting with the Derbyshire school librarians last week).

‘The Reference poster looks brilliant. I subscribe to the Celebration posters and buy the Personalised posters and get lots of complimentary comments about these.’ Brenda Black, Ysgol Bryn Elian

‘Love the poster – great idea.’ Kim Dawson, Conyers School,Yarm

‘Just what I've been looking for!’ Sarah Hunnisett, Pen Y Dre High School

Thanks for all the feedback about our shelf dividers signs and polypropylene stands

‘It is great to have such well designed, professional and co-ordinated display materials at a price school libraries can afford.’ Lesley Martin, Culford School

‘The dividers look fab!’ Karen King, Oakbank School, Keighley

‘I’m so impressed by the non-fiction shelf signs, which will tie-in with the brilliant Find It posters’ Nikki Ross, Queen’s College, Taunton

‘They look really good. We all need professionally produced, modern (students hate old) sleek looking guides’ Noelle Chambers, Evesham High School

‘Really eye-catching’ Helen Norris, Queen Anne’s School, Caversham

‘These look great.’ Hilary Kemp, The Angmering School

If the first batch go well then we'll look at other sizes. In response to your emails we've also introduced discounts for subscribers to Essential Articles & Fact File

We had many requests after we launched our Fiction and Library Find It Posters for signs for the shelves together with shelf divider stands. So we’ve come up with Shelf divider signs & stands which are a great way of making the arrangement of the books immediately clear. The signs are going to the printers now, the stands will be available early January. We hope you like the modern, eye-catching designs:

Here’s an inspiring article about the importance of reading and libraries and the impact they can have.

'Vegetarian diet is better for the planet' says Lord Stern the former government adviser. Fact File 2010 (publication December) has the facts behind this showing just how much dairy and meat farming will affect our planet by 2050 if we don't cut our consumption. Subscribers to Fact File can receive these figures now - just email us. There is also a great article in Food File 'Vegetarianism – eating our way to a better environment' which can help you explore these issues.

Also in the news: British couple taken hostage by pirates in Somalia. Fact File 2010 has the figures about piracy attacks worldwide. We can send Fact File subscribers this pdf page for information now.

Please email us if you would like our free Remembrance Day A4 pdf poster. This is part of our Celebrations posters series which provides great eye-catching pdf posters for events throughout the year. (You can print as many copies of the poster as you need from the pdf we email to you).

This poster is a Times Educational Supplement 'Editor's Choice'. We’ve received many comments about this poster for example: ‘Another fantastic poster! I am so impressed with the quality. We have had tremendous feedback from them!’ Kath Howard, Royal Manor Arts College Community School.

‘Wonderful poster - it will make my book display (created with the help of your Successful Library Displays) more eye catching.’ Claire Punter, Sheldon School

See more in the series

See more in the series

If you take subscriptions to 3 of our pdf posters series, Reading and Library posters, World Issues Posters, Celebration posters then we have introduced a money saving offer. There’s an extra saving for subscribers to both Essential Articles & Fact File who can save a total of £45 on these posters.

If you already subscribe to 1 or 2 of these series you can still benefit from the offer.

We were very pleased to receive this comment: ‘I started subscribing to the Reading and library series and I am so impressed by the quality that I am now interested in the Celebrations Series and World Issues series.’
Lynda Scott-Picton, Downe House School, Thatcham

Please email us if you’d like a free Diwali 2009 pdf poster. This launches our Celebrations posters series which provides great eye-catching pdf posters celebrating key events throughout the year. You can then print as many copies as you like. Email us. (Subscribers can have a hi-res version suitable for blowing up to A3)

‘Thank you so much - it's taking pride of place in a display of books on Indian festivals. These posters are just the ticket!’ Ruth Mackay, Librarian, Goffs School

These are the new posters in our 3 series which provide a monthly pdf poster allowing you to print as many copies as you like!
Reading and Library posters; World Issues Posters: Posters for English
It’s also possible to buy individual posters and you can order personalised Reading and Library posters with your school or College name on for extra impact.

'Thanks very much for the posters - I am always overhearing comments from the children about how much they like them! The staff love them too!' Stephanie Evans, Small Heath School

I thought Monday’s School Librarian of the Year Award at London Zoo was very inspiring, and a tribute to the ideas and energy of all four on the Honour List. I'm sure Lucy Bakewell of Hill West Primary School, Sutton Coldfield, will be a
worthy successor as School Librarian of the Year to Nikki Heath and a great ambassador for school libraries. Well done to the School Library Association for a brilliant event which once again raised the profile of school libraries.

We gave each of the four librarians on the Honour List a set our new A3 size Library Find It Posters.

We have 2 free posters celebrating National Poetry Day 2009 based on Blake's The Tyger. Email us. to receive these pdfs. See our Posters for English series here.

'We love your posters…..as Hull City are known as “The Tigers” this one went down very well ... they chant the poem over the speakers at every home game!' Linda Lawson, Beverley High School

'Great posters' Mrs Arlene Watters, English Dept, The Glasgow Academy

'They look lovely!' Pam Owen, Harris City Academy Crystal Palace

'They're grrrreat!' Barbara Hickford, Our Lady's Abingdon

We were absolutely delighted to receive this email from Louise Emere in Botswana:

“Your posters are always so beautiful. I get so excited when I receive them. Thanks for the Black History Month poster. I love it. As you can imagine, living in Africa, Dr Mandela is our hero. I have also been fortunate enough to have taught 3 of his grandchildren and I even had tea with him one afternoon to discuss one child’s progress. I will remember that day as long as I live. He had just turned 83 and I remember saying to him that I didn’t think I would live that long as I didn’t follow a very healthy lifestyle at that stage. He said “Of course you will, you just need to remember to laugh and you need to learn to laugh at yourself most of all” I think those were great words of wisdom. So thanks for the poster and please keep up the stunning work you do.”

These are the new posters in our 3 series which provide a monthly pdf poster allowing you to print as many copies as you like!
Reading and Library posters; World Issues Posters: Posters for English
(It’s also possible to buy individual posters)

Essential Articles 12: ‘Topical, accessible, informative, colourful and eye catching - an absolutely brilliant buy for any secondary school library. I’m so impressed with the range and accessibility of the articles and the brilliant photos’ Geoff Dubber, Chair, School Library Association, September 2009


‘We find this resource invaluable and suggest it to our students frequently’ Mrs Madeline Secombe, Greenford High School, Ealing

In response to the enthusiastic reception we’ve had to the original A4 versions, and to several requests, we are now pleased to offer these Library Find It Posters in A3 size too. If you liked them at A4 size, you’ll love them at A3. There’s also a discount for subscribers to Essential Articles & Fact File.

This is your chance to personalise your space! We’ll add your library name, your own name or other text!

Print as many copies as you like. A4 size. £4.99 + vat. Click here or £3.99 + vat for subscribers to both Essential Articles & Fact File.

Brilliant news: Essential Articles goes online this week.

Essential Articles 12, as well as being a full colour copiable book, is also online giving you instant access to the articles you need! just type in a topic and our free QuickSearch will bring you a list of what's available in recent volumes of Essential Articles and Fact File. For purchasers of Essential Articles LiveSearch generates a helpful live list of relevant articles which instantly link to the pdfs.

We were delighted to receive these comments this week:
‘Essential Articles is our Bible when it comes to reading material for Communication modules. ’ John Hayes, Dundee College

Reading and Library posters: ‘Really worthwhile’ Penny Burton, Fulneck School

In response to the fantastic reception we’ve had to these posters which make Dewey user-friendly and easily understood, we are going to make the Library Find It posters also available in A3 size.

‘We are thrilled with them. They are great.’ Marilyn Pattenden, Librarian: Senior School, The Wykeham Collegiate, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

We were really pleased to receive this comment:
‘You never cease to astound me that your publications just hit the nail on the head for things we want. Also your website is really clear and user friendly.’ Lin Smith, School Librarian, The Ecclesbourne School, Belper

Two recent news items have highlighted just how useful our Quicksearch facility for Essential Articles and Fact File can be. Assisted suicide is in the news with the deaths in Zurich of Sir Edward Downes and his wife Joan. Typing assisted suicide into Quicksearch produces eight articles on the issue - including both personal accounts and strong arguments for and against. The government is reviewing care of an increasingly elderly population. Using Old Age as your search term produces 10 articles and 8 sets of statistics. These cover everything from Britain's ageing population compared to the EU average through to how to live to be 150 and most points in between.

Published today, Successful library displays is the new resource full of inspiring and effective ideas to make a library attractive, eye-catching and a great shop window to attract readers (and non-readers!)

The TES has given Fact File 2009 a glowing 5 star review headlined: An excellent resource that is visually appealing

The first thing that you will notice about this well put together book is how colourful and bright it is. This alone makes it very user friendly. The large font and pleasing graphics appeal to all ability levels ... it would appeal to a wide variety of teachers – English, maths, geography, science, history, sociology, PE, health and economics ...

The book is accompanied with a CD that contains PDF files of all chapters in the book along with all PDF files from other Fact Files dating back to 2001. This wealth of data would allow students to make easy comparisons between past trends and help students predict future trends.

An excellent resource with ready to use and easy to understand information. Students would enjoy learning with the resource. A definite must have for all schools. TES 2009

In a disturbing report to be published this week by the Audit Commision, it has found that despite considerable increases in school funding, nearly £1bn (of the £31bn annual education budget) is either being spent unwisely without obtaining value for value, or else money is being hoarded in bank accounts. This is particularly disturbing when many school libraries are short of funds to buy books!

David Fickling, accepting the prestiguous Carnegie award on behalf of the late Siobhan Dowd, was forthright in his comments about the state of libraries today: "It is an absolute public disgrace that for the last 30 years the main bulwark and protection for children and their reading in our culture, namely the public and school library services, and particularly the spending on books, has been cut, cut and cut again until our libraries are now a brave but struggling shadow of their former selves."

Thanks to Carolyn Copland (Kirkham Grammar School) for this clever and imaginative use of our Fiction Posters promoting a range of authors.

Carolyn says 'We have already had positive comments from pupils who used them to select their holiday reading and have chosen authors new to them!'

These great graphic guides to big ideas are now available in new pocket size editions.

They're a must for 16-18 year olds and we've a special offer on the top 10 titles for library, school and college use, saving at least £2 a copy (more if you subscribe to Essential Articles and Fact File).

In response to several requests we've introduced a special offer for the Classical Comics graphic novels (bottom of page) with a further discount available to subscribers to both Essential Articles & Fact File. There are free posters available with this offer too.

The Classical Comics graphic novels and Shakespeare got a great reception at the School Library Association conference: ‘It’s wonderful to see boys reading Shakespeare for pleasure. The Classical Comics are far superior to anything similar.’ Kate Garnett, Elizabeth College, Guernsey

This was definitely a great SLA course and it got off to a tremendous start with an inspiring session from Nikki Heath & Sally Westrope who were full of lively ideas to promote reading, the library and literacy.


Thanks for all the enthusiastic comments we received at the conference such as ‘Carel Press provides what you need - it’s the best value for money.’ Carolyn Copland, Kirkham Grammar School.

We have some great free posters (A2 size) promoting the Classical Comics graphic novels

(Great Expectations, Jane Eyre, Frankenstein, A Christmas Carol, The Tempest). If you'd like one please see us at the SLA conference this weekend or ask for one (while stocks last!) when you next order from us.

Thanks to everyone who came to see us at the Library Show and give us valuable feedback on our resources. One of the first comments we had was about our new Fiction and Library Find It Posters - a public librarian commented that they'd just spent a large amount of money on signage but were disappointed by its dullness and they wished they'd had our new posters.

Another librarian asked why the publishers were hidden away in the far corner of the hall. Definitely a sign of the times.

Everyone enjoyed the inspiring talk by Tricia Adams, the School Library Association director.

Hope to meet more colleagues at the SLA conference next week.

There's a wonderful comment about the importance of libraries in the autobiography of the South African novelist André Brink:

‘Every week my parents would make a trip to the library and return, hours later, with armloads of books. And this habit - more than habit: an addiction, a passion - was inculcated in us too. My whole childhood was awash with books; and it was amazing to see what unexpected treasures could be teased out of the shelves of libraries…’ André Brink, A fork in the road, 2009

Nelson Mandela told Andre Brink: “When I was in prison, you changed the way I saw the world.”

Great to see Nikki Heath so successfully promoting reading throughout the school on Teacher's TV http://www.teachers.tv/video/33973

This is our Reading and Library poster for June and here's a comment about it from Louise Emere in Botswana:

'Wow this one is really a stunner! I love it. Thank you ... The teachers were gob-smacked. They thought I was really clever until I told them I had not made them myself . They really love the posters. From empty walls to stunning walls….thank you!'

We've just completed the draft versions of our 2 new sets of posters and would welcome any feedback about them:

Library Find it Posters


Fiction Posters

We were pleased to receive this comment about the World Issues Posters: 'These posters are really good and cause lots of discussion!' Bridget March, Librarian, King's School, Bruton.

This is next month's poster:

We appreciate the feedback such as this comment: 'I just wanted to say how invaluable I found the meeting, I now have so many ideas for our LRC.' Kathryn Good, Learning Resource Centre Manager, Fullbrook School

Thanks to Frances Stanbury for organising such a successful session in Surrey yesterday. It was a pleasure to meet so many enthusiastic librarians. If any other SLA branch or School Library Service would like us to organise a session (for primary, secondary, or both) then please email us.

In response to several requests, we've released our popular Macbeth Shorter Shakespeare script as an eBook. It's a great introduction to Shakespeare because it's Real Shakespeare but with modern narrators to help understanding.

Very exciting to visit Nikki Heath's school library at Werneth today which has a real buzz and involves all the students and staff. No wonder that library use has shot up and people can be caught reading everywhere!

There's an excellent cartoon in the Education Guardian this week about school spending and books.

There's also a perceptive article by Marcel Berlins in today's Guardian about the role of books in libraries today, whether piped music has a place and why libraries are more important than ever during a recession.

We got a warm glow from reading this response from Botswana about our free mono pdf posters for primary school libraries:
 
'Thanks, these are really lovely and I have already printed them off and laminated them for use in our library. The teachers who received them were really chuffed as they don’t have access to these kinds of resources and don’t even have computers! You are doing your bit for reading in Africa!!' Louise Emere, Debswana Government Schools Development Programme, Botswana

"Thanks for this facility -I had had trouble finding stuff on size zero models, but your QuickSearch facility pointed up 2 relevant articles. I'm sure it will prove very useful." Alison Adams, Librarian, Williamwood High School, Glasgow

Delighted to read this in the review section of The School Librarian, Spring 2009:

'Carel Press maintains the extraordinary quality in their annual updates and revisions of two of their most useful of their gazette type editions with Fact File 2009 and Key Organisations 2009. Both of these terrific resources are available in hardcopy, online or cd.'

The magazine is available from The School Library Association

I was pleased to be asked to run a session for Surrey School Library Association and we've arranged this for Wednesday 6th May in Leatherhead so if you are in Surrey I hope to see you then!

We're delighted to launch our online instant QuickSearch database for Essential Articles 8, 9, 10 and 11 and Fact File 2008 and 2009.

This is fast and so easy to use. It allows you to enter a search term and immediately tells you where you’ll find relevant articles in Essential Articles 8, 9, 10 and 11 and statistics in Fact File 2008 and 2009. It saves student time and focuses their research on appropriate relevant material. Check it out today!

We're delighted to receive this comment today: ‘Can I say what excellent resources you produce and so reasonably priced.’ Eileen Wardley, Hereford Sixth Form College Library and LRC. Hereford Sixth Form is one of the top ten Sixth Form Colleges in the country with 1,200 to 1,500 students using the library every day. Eileen retires this Friday and we wish her all the best for her retirement.

It is vital that everyone is aware of what a key role libraries play, especially in these difficult times when library budgets and school library services are under threat. The low profile library is too easy a target for a cut. Talking to librarians, teachers and students it's clear that the effective library is one that reaches out to all students and staff: that is not just well organised but widely used. You can find brilliant promotion ideas in Great Library Ideas and in our forthcoming book 'Quick and easy library displays'

We'd really welcome any comment and feedback and if there is anything we can help you with then please do get in touch.

As well as the free worksheets for Fact File we've just made a PowerPoint presentation which asks students to speculate on how superstitious we are.

To find the answers students need to use Fact File 2009 p30. Click here to go to the page to download the presentation.

It's always special when one of our Shorter Shakespeare scripts is produced but it's particularly exciting when it's been chosen by the famous Shakespeare Festival at Tulane University in New Orleans for their Intern Company production. Their All Things Shakespeare! summer training programme for high school age students culminates in a performance. This is the second time they've produced one of the scripts, previously they performed Macbeth.

Here is Heather Heidman as Viola. Photo: Brad Robbert. You can see more photos by selecting Twelfth Night photo call here. Performing in the festival is a transformative experience for students – you can learn more here

The latest poster in our monthly series of Posters for English highlights the global importance of English:

Fact File 2008 p125 has statistics about the use of English on the internet.

We were delighted to receive this comment about our monthly posters: 'I will do anything to try to get our kids reading and this sort of thing is perfect, bringing the LRC to other departments in school.' Lesley Cobb, Selby High School.


The Reading and Library posters are now selling all over the world (we've just had an order from a school in Hong Kong) to librarians who know how important it is to spread the word about reading and the library.

Today's report by the Cambridge Primary Review, highlights how the primary curriculum has been hijacked by too much stress on literacy, numeracy and testing while other worthwhile subjects have been pushed to the sidelines.

The report calls for schools to be cut free from the shackles of Sats and league tables to allow a broader and more flexible approach to teaching and a more balanced and richer curriculum. Let's hope the report does not fall on deaf ears.

Thanks to everyone so far who's sent in photos


- there are some very imaginative and eye-catching displays that will draw people into the library and books. You can see them here and we'll show more as we receive them. Email us.

Michael Rosen has written a fascinating blog arguing that in primary schools 'while "reading" and "literacy" have been made into a top priority, reading books has been sidelined.'

The BBC has challenged him to turn an ordinary school, that was doing all the right things as far as "literacy" was concerned, into a book-loving school in 10 weeks. The results will be shown on BBC4, Sunday 8 February at 9pm. This programme launches BBC4's 'Why reading Matters' season

Last night's programme on BBC2 was a touching and powerful insight into how Discworld author Terry Pratchett has reacted to his diagnosis of Alzheimer's.

There a two page article in Essential Articles 11, p110-111, about how he is coping with and fighting the disease - he's even given it a special name: 'As every wizard knows, once you have the true name of something you have power over it.' His sheer determination is uplifting.

Part 2 of the BBC programme is next Wednesday at 9pm.

On the Royal Shakespeare Company's Stand up for Shakespeare website you'll find a very useful free report on the history of teaching Shakespeare by Tracy Irish who is the RSC's Project Manager for Professional Development in the RSC Education department as well as being the editor of our Shorter Shakespeare series.

The Children's Society report published today finds that children's lives are now 'more difficult than in the past' . The report explores the main stresses and influences to which every child is exposed and in particular the effects of excessive individualism. You can find vital background information in Fact File 2009:
Family First, p56-7, is about how people feel about their families.
Family fusion, p58-59, shows how families are changing.


Teens Talk! p60-61, reveals how teenagers rate their parents and vice versa.

Anyone who saw 'A Short Stay in Switzerland' on BBC 1 on Sunday night might be interested in 'Brave Decision or Tragedy' in Essential Articles 9, p61.

'A Short Stay in Switzerland' looked at the true story of Dr Anne Turner who having been diagnosed with an incurable neurological disease, decided to end her own life via assisted suicide.



Our page uses Dr Turner's own words and the text of her letter. It's part of a whole section on Assisted Suicide in that volume and there's plenty about this issue – the right to die and the right to life – in the Essential Articles series.

We're very excited about the new title we're working on: Successful library displays. The book is going to be arranged according to the calendar, and will highlight key events through the year such as Valentine's Day, Shakespeare's birthday, International Women's Day and even Crufts.

The idea is to create eye-catching displays to promote reading. (We're not thinking of anything as ambitious as the British Library's book sculpture!)



The project is well under way but if anyone has an idea for a good display linked to a particular event (or a good general display idea) then we'd love to hear it!

Displays that change regularly are a great way of bringing in new users and raising the profile of the library. But it's finding the inspiration and practical ideas that's the key to success. If we use someone's idea(s) they'll not only see their name in print but also receive a free copy of the resource.

If you have photos of a display that you'd like to share with other librarians, then we'd be happy to showcase them on the web. Email us.

I was so inspired by Barack Obama's inauguration that we've used his endorsement of the importance of libraries on February's Reading and Library poster. The photo used on the poster was actually taken in a high school library.

I was working in the Mitchell Library in Glasgow this week. It really is a model of how a library should be:



it's lively and inviting whether you're just calling in to browse and use their 'internet cafe' downstairs or researching using their very extensive collection. It's certainly a pleasure to use.

We are delighted to be offering the first 3 titles in this new series. The books are so appealing and each comes with audio cds with the full text, recorded using professional actors (I've put an extract from Henry V on the page.) They are a fantastic resources for ELT and also allow slower learners and reluctant readers access to the classics.

As the violence continues and more innocent people, including many children, are killed, it made me turn to the new edition of the State of the Middle East Atlas (new edition 2008) which looks at the background to the conflict which a 2 minute TV news report can't cover.




By the way, this month's poster in the World Issues Posters series is about world military spending.

In the news: Alan Milburn, who will lead a government drive to boost social mobility, said a working-class child growing up in Britain today has less chance of reaching the Cabinet than he did.

The Blairite former health secretary will chair a commission set up by Gordon Brown to ensure professions such as medicine, the law, civil service, armed forces and media recruit more young people from poor backgrounds.

The son of a single mother, who grew up on a council estate in the Co Durham mining town of Tow Low, Mr Milburn told The Independent: "I was very lucky to be part of the most socially mobile generation this country has ever seen. If we make the right decisions now, we can see as big a wave of upward mobility as we saw in the Fifties and Sixties. For all sorts of reasons, a working-class kid growing up on a council estate today would have to be extremely fortunate to end up in the Cabinet."

If you are looking for background or further information:

Fact File 2009 Different class p20

Fact File 2008 Class distinction p32

Essential Articles Vol 4 whole section on class pp322-326
Essential Articles Vol 7 p74 social mobility, p141 Comprehensive education as an aid to social mobility and achievement.

Fact File 2010
Will contain pages on social mobility and social class and university entry - if you are a subscriber and would like to see advance copies of these pages, please email us. .

Follow-up for interest: Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack, came second in the World Junior Women's Surfing Championship.
http://surf.transworld.net/2009/01/06/pauline-ado-wins-asp-world-junior-title-at-north-narrabeen/

Bethany's story and how she succeeded in surfing with her spirit intact is in Essential Articles 9, p379.

Photo Jerry Thompson

One free poster for every primary school library.


Click here for more info.

These b&w outline maps are for educational and library use only and will make a useful addition to worksheets and other resources - there's a choice of 3 sizes. See the bottom of http://www.carelpress.co.uk/atlases/alternativeworldmaps/index.html

Carel Press is very pleased to introduce our brand new web site.

There's better organisation, a complete re-design and a new shopping cart. The live search feature allows you to find exactly what you’re looking for!

You can let us know what you think of the new site by using our feedback page.

We're very pleased that one of the first things we can shout about on our new site is that Nikki Heath, a major contributor to our Great Library Ideas, won the coveted SLA School Librarian of the Year 2008. The presentation in May was a brilliant occasion and it was great to see all those on the shortlist getting recognition in the House of Commons at the reception afterwards. Nikki is full of energy and enthusiasm. No wonder her school is so proud of her.