Harris Primary Academy Croydon Celebrates Opening of New Library
~ Library is the first of 25 new Coronation Libraries being opened through partnership between Bloomberg and the National Literacy Trust ~
On 1st November 2023, Harris Primary Academy Croydon pupils and staff welcomed guests to the official opening of their brand-new library.
The library has been opened as part of the Coronation Libraries programme – a collaboration between the National Literacy Trust and Bloomberg which will see 25 Coronation Libraries opened this academic year. Announced by Her Majesty Queen Camilla, the programme seeks to create reading spaces filled with age-appropriate and diverse books designed to inspire a life-long love of reading.
Harris Primary Academy Croydon’s library is the first to open as part of the programme and the pupils can’t wait to start exploring the new reading space.
Year 6 pupil Frankie said:
“I am very excited for the new school library. I love reading and I’m even my class librarian. It looks amazing and I cannot wait!”
To mark the official opening, the pupils were joined by children’s author duo Chris Smith and Greg James and Bloomberg’s Head of Corporate Philanthropy for Europe, Caroline Rowley. Chris and Greg ran fun and interactive workshops for the pupils, sharing tips on writing, answering everyone’s questions and sharing their love of reading and writing.
Commenting on the importance of nurturing a love of reading, Verity Lambert-Dale, Principal of Harris Primary Academy Croydon, said:
“It’s vital that our pupils develop strong literary skills so they can excel across the curriculum and fully enjoy the very best of English literature. Our new Coronation Library provides the perfect environment to promote our pupils’ reading skills. As well as being a wonderful place to learn, the library is fully equipped with some superb books and our pupils have thoroughly enjoyed browsing the shelves.
“We are very grateful to the National Literacy Trust and Bloomberg for making our library a reality and I have every confidence that it will benefit our school’s pupils for generations to come.”
On the importance of having a great library space, National Literacy Trust’s CEO, Jonathan Douglas CBE, said:
“We know how important it is for children at primary school to have access to a dedicated reading space, full of books that they want to pick of the shelf. Reading for pleasure benefits children’s well-being, academic performance and their chances of being successful in life.”
Caroline Rowley, Bloomberg’s Head of Corporate Philanthropy, Europe, who unveiled a plaque to commemorate the opening of the library, added:
“At Bloomberg, we understand the importance that access to books and a joy of reading can have on a child's education and how this in turn impacts social mobility. That is why we are proud to support the Coronation Libraries programme and excited to see reading spaces created in schools including Harris Primary Academy Croydon.”
