The big picture: The new library is part of a learning village constructed on-site as repairs continue in areas affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). Student library technicians volunteered to organise the 6,500 books in the new facility.
Why it matters: Libraries play a crucial role in education, fostering reading skills and providing resources for students. The reopening of this space will support learning and literacy at the school.
What they're saying:
Samuel Evemy, Year 9 student: "I love books, and a library is full of them – it's just such a nice quiet place to sit and read. It can expand your vocabulary, teach you a lot about the world and is great for things like spelling and grammar."
Ruby Parker, Year 8 student: "I always loved to read so was excited to help. I love being around books and I love the library because I find it so calming."
Angie Shaw, school librarian: "It's brilliant to have a permanent library again – it's amazing how many books in different subjects we have here. I'm really looking forward to getting the students in and showing them the books we have and the fascinating things they can learn."
Behind the scenes: Shaw started her role at the school just days before the RAAC was discovered. During the closure, she set up a temporary book club in a classroom with trolleys of books from the old library.
The bottom line: Principal Lee Walker said: "The new library space will be a hub for learning at the school, helping to instil a lifelong love of reading in our students. Thank you to our wonderful library technicians who have volunteered their time to this important project."
