Books making a comeback
A school which once closed its library has seen a resurgence in the love of paper-based literature.
It marks a major turnaround for Cambridge High School which over a decade ago almost lost it’s library permanently when its principal of the time closed it to replace it with a $1.5 million cyber cafe.
The school’s current library manager Glenys Bichan said she was glad the controversial 2003 decision, to dismantle the library, was eventually reversed.
The original decision by principal Alison Annan, with the approval of the school’s Board of Trustees, caused a furore from the wider school community.
At the time Annan said students would have better access to the books once they were stored in classes instead of ‘‘being in one big room that is more like a museum’’.
Annan and the board resigned later in the year amid an array of controversy.
A school commissioner, Dennis Finn, was then brought in. He later said one of the Education Review Office’s most severe criticisms of the school was on the library’s closure.
‘‘Two years later, common sense prevailed and the library was restored. The community rallied to restock the [library] shelves,’’ Bichan said. To date, this year, the library had issued 7000 books, comprising, 4600 fiction and 1383 non-fiction, which was 550 up on last year’s figures.
‘‘Today’s library buzzes with students. During break times it’s packed with up to 140 students at a time.
‘‘Gone are the days when we would hush students. My philosophy is libraries should be a vibrant place.
‘‘It’s a place where we can encourage free learning, where students are making choices for themselves.’’
Students respect the no electronic device rule in the library unless using one of the supplied desktops.
‘‘My reason is to encourage students to engage face to face and have a conversation. If the conversation is about President Trump they can source information from the many books and magazines available.’’
Bichen puts the uptake of reading down to a series of authors including JK Rowling and Suzanne Collins
‘‘Publishers have woken up to the teenage audience and a larger range of books are available for them.’’
Moira Hunt leads a 64-strong student librarian team and admits the library was ‘‘a safe haven’’ when she came from a smaller school.
‘‘This is the place you come for escapism, fast cars, adventure, love, history, facts, and knowledge.’’
One of its biggest users is Year 12 student Sarah Eastwood who ‘‘loves’’ the library.
‘‘With all it contains it creates a certain amount anticipation,’’ Sarah said.
‘‘To me the library is like a horizon, you can only imagine what is contained on the other side and you have to explore.’’
Fellow student Elyshia Hunt, Year 13, summed up the students’ feelings.
‘‘Reading gives me time out, it’s like stress relief and provides a new outlook on life.’’
‘‘Reading gives me time out, it’s like stress relief and provides a new outlook on life.’’ Elyshia Hunt