A new chapter (From Basingstoke Gazette)

A new chapter

1:00pm Friday 9th March 2012 in Education By Emily Roberts, Chief Reporter

A CHILDREN’S author has officially opened a new library at a local school – signalling the end of a long fundraising campaign.

The facilities at Old Basing Infant School, in Milkingpen Lane, Old Basing, took 14 weeks to build and cost more than £100,000.

Julie Sykes, from Odiham, who wrote I Don’t Want To Go To Bed, Dora’s Eggs and Little Tiger’s Big Surprise, read to children at the school following the grand opening.

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller was also a special guest at the event.

Tracey McCarley, head teacher, said: “We have saved money for quite a few years to build the library. The previous library space was very small and this is much bigger.

“It’s a fairly traditional library but it’s much more of a learning space rather than just somewhere to store books.

“We can have classes in there now. Every class during the day had a storytime session with Julie Sykes so they were all involved in the opening.”

The old library space will now be used for study group sessions.

Mrs McCarley added: “We are absolutely delighted with the library. It’s a big, airy room and the children love it.”