BSN Stories with Louise Simpson, CEO #2
Welcome to a new podcast series hosted by Louise Simpson, CEO of The British School in the Netherlands. In each episode, Louise gets to know engaged members of our community as they discuss unique aspects of the BSN experience and identity. As a relative newcomer herself, having joined the BSN in September 2025, Louise brings curiosity and personal perspectives to these conversations.
A Conversation About Reading at the BSN
In this episode, Louise talks with Alison Harding, Librarian at Senior School Voorschoten (SSV) about the strong reading culture that is deeply rooted across the BSN. Their conversation explores the role of reading as a foundation for learning and the privilege of having such well‑resourced libraries. They reflect on the importance of offering books in different languages and how meaningful it is for students to see their personal languages represented on the shelves.
One of the most rewarding parts of Alison’s work is supporting students to develop their research skills: from guiding Year 7 leaners through their first formal referencing tasks to helping older students tackle more complex investigations—such as researching uncredited scientists in Biology.
A Librarian with Deep Roots at SSV
Alison Harding has been the librarian at the SSV campus since 1997. Working closely with her team at SSV, and colleagues across the campuses, Alison has helped to develop a welcoming, vibrant, and safe library environment at the heart of the school.
Supporting Learning and Inspiring Readers
The library successfully supports the teaching and learning in school and encourages a life-long love of reading, with a large collection of fiction and non-fiction books in many languages, as well as access to online platforms for all key stages. The librarian delivers a framework of teaching to support the curricula, including critical thinking, research, referencing and academic integrity.
Giving Back Through Books
The SSV library regularly supports the BSN’s chosen charity, Read to Grow, by donating used books and proceeds from the annual Book Day. This foundation provides books to developing countries and champions the belief that “Everyone should be able to develop their talents and bring change to their community through knowledge and experience.”
What is Alison reading?
Alison is currently reading ‘Stolen Focus’ and is ‘blown away’ by the insights about our attention span in today’s society.
Book images from www.bol.com
Q&A with Alison
What are some of your favourite books?
Anything by Margaret Atwood or Barbara Kingsolver and I love the Strike detective series by Robert Galbraith. One book that has had a particularly profound and lasting effect on me is Prophet Song by Paul Lynch, and my two current favourites for our learners here are I am Wolf by Alastair Chisholm and Songlight by Moira Buffini; all three exploring very different dystopian themes.
What are some books that are popular with students at the moment? What classics have stood the test of time?
Two popular series at the moment are The Wolf Brother series by Michelle Paver and One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus.
Roald Dahl and Agatha Christie are perennial favourites alongside modern classics like the His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman and Harry Potter (of course).
How has the library and your role changed since you started and has technology played a role in this?
I started working in the SSV library in 1997 so, as you can imagine, the impact of technology has been immense, from the introduction of an automated library system to supporting learners in their use of online sources and AI.
How did you become a librarian and what brought you to the BSN/the Netherlands?
After taking a gap year at the end of my Sixth Form studies, I realised that a degree in Library and Information Studies was an obvious choice, leading to a career combining my love of books and a desire to work with young people. Nearly 40 years working in school libraries and 28 in my current role show that it was the right choice!
