Library Opening

The Library Opening took place on 2nd September, though the students officially started using the space on the 31st of August. For the first couple of weeks it was important for me to run orientation classes with each of the grades. Especially since so many of the learners in Grades R - 3 had never even been inside of one before! Not necessarily a huge fan of etiquette, it has been important to instill a reverence in the students for the quiet intensity needed in a library.

The students in Grades 4-7 immediately started checking out books, and man! if only I'd had a camera to capture the sweet look of delight on their faces at the checkout desk. Absolutely beautiful.

I'm post-dating this entry, but must say almost 4 weeks later, the students are giving way to the culture of reading. Every day during the 25 minute interval (break) I manage lines of 20-40 students coming back for more books. It is incredibly inspiring to see the students literally eating up the books.

I had waited to spend the monies raised from donations to fill the gaps where need be. Turns out the girls are longing for romance books and the boys for adventure. Plus, I've had the chance to see how students respond to contemporary non-fiction books with bright, bold pictures (as opposed to the antiquated 1970s volumes our library boasts). With this in mind, I've started making my purchases.

To give you an idea of the importance of filling cultural desires, someone donated 2 copies of a High School Musical book - the book is constantly out and everyday at least 5 students ask if it's been returned! Not usually one to go for the mass-market, I'm finding if a TV show is the reason a book goes into someone's hands, well, it's a job well done.

The pictures displayed show the activity in the library the day of the official Launch. We were written up in the Atlantic Sun, a small community newspaper (not online), which has already led to some more donations. The choir did a serious number singing in the library - it truly felt like the library received a blessing, an oral ablution. It was a good start to what I hope will be a lasting legacy for the school and it's learners.