Reading is a way of life, a way to learn and escape from the world around you.
We have had a school library since the start of the school. If my memory of conversations with older member of the church serve me well, the books were housed in the small hall, which is where Sunday School was held. The library occupied what is our present day fiction section. A small classroom was then built next to the library, which has since become our non-fiction section.
We have had three librarians in the last 25 years. The incredible Gill van den Top, who built up the library to the amazing collection of books that it is today, was the first librarian. Gill is also the person who got us involved in the International Kids Lit Quiz and the Inter School’s General Knowledge Quiz. Gill was replaced by Tracey Pera who did a sterling job. Then myself.
Over the years we have had wonderful visits from authors situated all over the world, as well as South African authors. We have hosted the likes of Andy Cope, author of the amazing ‘Spy Dog’ Series, who visited us all the way from England. We have proudly showcased our own South African authors Niki Daly, Refiloe Moahloli, Elaine Macdonald and others.
Our children all have the opportunity to be part of increasing the collection of books in the library, as well as the Pre-School classrooms, every year, through donating a birthday book.
Our library may be in a small space, but it has an incredibly comprehensive collection. There is something for everyone, if you take the time to look.
I love to watch the children discovering books, they can venture far and wide and learn from just opening a few pages.
Literacy is of great importance to us as a school and, to this end, we have created whole school literacy events and we celebrate World Read Aloud Day every year. This year we challenged every pupil, parent and staff member, from Grade 1 – 12, to read for at least 40 hours during the year.
I would like to see our library being a place of creativity and enjoyment in the great traditions of the Library of Alexander, which was a place where people collected to learn, discover and create new ideas.
My vision for the library is to be where everyone can find a book that encourages every member of our school on the marvellous adventure of reading, taking them forward into the rest of their lives. You can always find a friend in a book.
Loren Frost
School Librarian
So please, oh please, we beg, we pray, go throw your TV set away, and in its place you can install a lovely bookshelf on the wall.”
Roald Dahl