BUDDING bookworms are being inspired to read after parents raised more than £10,000 for a new school library.
Darlington’s MP Jenny Chapman performed the honours at a grand opening of the new facility at Holy Family RC Primary School in Darlington.
A parents’ steering group and the school council were instrumental in designing the library, which is already proving to be the perfect environment to encourage pupils to develop a love of books.
Comfortable seating, shelves full of alphabetised books and bright and welcoming surroundings are encouraging pupils to use the library in their droves.
Mrs Chapman cut the ribbon formally opening the Gerard Lavender library, named in honour of a former parish priest and school governor.
She said: “It really is very unusual in that every penny raised was by parents and that they and the children made all the choices, which makes this new library so lovely.”
Head teacher Chris Peacock said: “Parents and children have done an incredible job; they even visited other schools to examine what works best. They have really gone that extra mile.”
The school is part of the Carmel Education Trust. Chairman of the trust’s directors Cyndi Hughes said: “Everyone has done a fabulous job designing the new library and speaking to pupils to find out which books they wanted. This can’t fail to prepare young people for a love of reading.”
Trust chief executive Maura Regan added: “It is important that we make children comfortable in a library as ambitious readers will have great prospects for the future.
“The children here are part of a 3,000-strong community and the challenge is to maintain the love of reading they develop here into later life.”
