A NEWLY refurbished library at a Douglas school will allow children to "experience the joy of reading" according to the school's head teacher.
Steve Taylor, the head teacher of Murray's Road Junior School, believes the school's new look library will help children learn to love reading and writing.
The library was officially opened on Thursday (Nov 10) following a year's work of fundraising by the Friend's of Murray's Road Junior School.
They launched the Bookworm Appeal in September last year and organised a number of fundraising initiatives including school discos, car washes, fayres and a Murray's Road's Got Talent competition to raise the funds needed.
Mr Taylor explained: "We talked with the boys and girls and asked them what they wanted. They all said they wanted somewhere cool to read and select their books. So the Murray's Road Bookworm Appeal was launched.
"The Parent Teacher Association has worked really hard over the last year providing exciting events for children and their families from our school to enjoy which have raised money for our Bookworm Appeal.
"The children and parents have very kindly supported these events and have also donated books from their own homes to the appeal and for this we are very grateful."
Local author Chris Ewen, the creator of the popular A Good Thief's Guide To… novels, officially opened the library.
Speaking to the children he said he was a "big fan" of libraries because they changed his life.
He said: "When I was at primary school we had a school library and it was ok but we also had a brilliant town library and it was there that I fell in love with books and telling stories.
"I feel incredibly lucky for that because I think I've got just about the best job in the world. I get to spend my days making up stories and inventing characters.
"If you're very lucky, like me, when you are exploring your new library you might find that one book that speaks to you in the way the Silver Sword (Chris's favourite book) spoke to me and perhaps some of you might find it encourages you to become writers."
The library is now located on the first floor in the school and has been completely redecorated with new carpets and a new ceiling. Scottish Widows has also donated £300 to the school to buy a selection of new books for the library.
Speaking at the launch Mr Taylor said: "The power of a good book is its ability to draw you into the story so you actually feel you belong in there with the characters in those settings. This is something that film sometimes struggles to achieve.
"Our job is to inspire pupils by providing a wide variety of writing that engages and excites them and encourages them to look books, love reading and love writing.
"The library is a very special place in our school. It is somewhere the children will want to go, they'll be comfortable and it will be bright and welcoming and they can experience the joy of reading."
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