Between shelves and tranquillity: two 7-grade-classes on a reading trip to the Philip Schäfer Library

Sometimes you don’t need to go on a big trip to experience something special. For the two Year 7 classes, the German lesson took them just a few streets away – to the Philipp Schaeffer Library. And yet this morning felt like a little journey.
Between the two half-years, the aim was deliberately to take a breather. No tests, no worksheets – just time. Time to browse. Time to leaf through books. Time to find a book that might become a companion for the holidays.

The library was chosen not only because of its diverse offerings, but also for practical reasons: despite the masses of snow, it was easily accessible on foot. Inside, a different world opened up – with alcoves, armchairs, corners and window niches that invited visitors to retreat with a book and immerse themselves for a while.
And that’s exactly what happened. Students sat everywhere between shelves or in cosy spots and read. Most immersed themselves in German-language books, while others picked up English or Chinese titles – a quiet picture of multilingualism in action.

In between, a question arose that probably preoccupied many secretly: “Are comics also books?”

A question that shows that reading can take many forms – and that curiosity is always part of it.

The librarian also noticed the special atmosphere: she expressly praised the group for their quietness and attentiveness. Several children even asked directly for a library card – a nice sign that the visit could become more than just a one-off excursion.

And the most important thing? When asked, five children had already discovered their personal holiday reading – books they would like their parents to buy for them.

Perhaps this is how a new reading tradition begins: with a quiet morning, a cosy spot and the freedom to simply read.
An outing without a big stage, but with a big impact.