New library opens

A NOVEL project to boost the popularity of the written word for school children has opened.Bright colours, curtains and refurbished seating make up the new-look Dereham Church Infant School library.

A NOVEL project to boost the popularity of the written word for school children has opened.

Bright colours, curtains and refurbished seating make up the new-look Dereham Church Infant School

library.

The school has recently put a big emphasis on reading and set upon the idea of having a more appealing library to keep on encouraging pupils to read.

Deputy headteacher Julie Wilton said at the opening on Tuesday: “The children have always been involved in reading but we wanted them to be more enthusiastic about it.

“We've done all sorts of activities to encourage them. They've responded really well.

“Before the new library when the children had to choose new books they would whizz in and whizz out again.

“Now they spend time looking at all the different sorts of books available and are keener to spend time in there.

“I have pupils come up to me in the corridor and tell me what books they read over the weekend or in the evening.”

The library is now in a larger room, which gives youngsters the chance to sit down and gives teachers better access to resources.

And thanks to a £1,000 donation from the Parent Teacher Association there are new chairs, seating and shelves, which means books are organised into different categories.

Parent volunteers painted bookcases in vibrant colours, designed and made curtains, and renovated the seating.

The library is part of a successful long-running scheme involving a reading competition, classes researching an author, visits from a librarian and book swaps.