Brackenbury Primary School is to have a new library after a mammoth fund raising effort by parents and staff.

The total raised has already reached £66,000 and the parents hope to hit their target of £80,000 with events in May and June.

What started as an offer of some money for books from the PTA two years ago became a full blown project to redesign, rebuild and restock the library at the primary school, with parents combining their expertise to get the scheme off the ground.

Architect and parent Jessica McIntosh said: "The PTA wanted to give £1,000 to the library for books and we looked at the library and thought, actually, new shelves would be more useful. They then said to me, 'You’re an architect, do some drawings'."

With the school being unable to pay for a librarian, Mrs McIntosh contacted the librarian at her old university, and he offered to do a course for parents. 
  
"Some of the year 5s and 6s were also interested, so the borough is going to give them a day at Westfield Library, learning about how they work and how to re-shelve books," she said. "The kids are really excited and involved."

The school meanwhile will host these events in the coming weeks to help reach that £80,000 goal:

Brackenbury Library Project Bazaar, Saturday May 11, 11am - 2pm

Library Project Auction, the evening of June 20, with a chance to bid on some amazing prizes.

There will also be a Summer Fair on Saturday July 13.

 

May 2, 2013