A NEW tranquil and calming school library has won praise from acclaimed children’s author Anne Fine.
The space dedicated to reading at St Mary’s RC Primary School, in Barnard Castle, was designed mostly by the pupils, who chose the colours and the books.
It also features a large mural which the children created with the help of artist Linda Nelson. Headteacher Lesley Box said: “We used to have a little space in the corner called The Atrium, where we decided to create our ‘therapeutic’ library. We find it very calming.”
A serene green was chosen for the walls and it has been such a success that every classroom is now painted green and each has its own reading space.
The school was so thrilled with the new space that it invited the famous author to open it last week.
Mrs Fine said: “I am impressed. The idea of it being a soothing, peaceful place is wonderful because children live such frenetic lives these days. It is especially good for children who can take only so much social interaction. In a primary school this is really, really important.”
The author added that she was one of those children who hid away in the libraries of every school she attended.
