Newton Abbot teens help choose books for town's new library
Young people from Newton Abbot have been busy helping Devon County Council choose books for the town’s revamped library in the Passmore Edwards Centre.
With a budget of £1,400 the group of keen readers from Newton Abbot College and Coombeshead Academy spent a morning in Waterstones with the Council's Library Children's Stock Manager Mark West picking books to stock the new dedicated teenage section of the library.
Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “Reading is a vital part of a person's development, so it is important that we encourage children and young people to enjoy books.
“Our libraries have lots to offer young people, and we have been keen to involve local youngsters throughout this project, from the design right through to helping us choose what sort of events and activities they would like to see in the building.
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“I am pleased that the students from Newton Abbot College and Coombeshead Academy enjoyed choosing some of the books that will be on the shelves in the teenage library, and I hope that they, and all their friends, make good use of it when it re-opens on Monday 25 June.”
The group selected a good range of authors and genres, with popular choices including Robert Muchamore, Anthony Horowitz, Michael Morpurgo and Darren Shan. There were a few classics in there too such as J. R. R. Tolkien, as well as some non fiction books.
The items the children selected will be marked with a special sticker on the front cover, so those borrowing the books will know they were specially chosen by young people.
Newton Abbot College student Jay Fawcett said: “This was a brilliant opportunity and I am glad I had the chance to really influence what others will be reading.”
Following the book choosing session, students also had the chance to go ‘behind the scenes’, and take a look at the how the extensive multimillion pound redevelopment to turn the Passmore Edwards Centre into a new multi-service facility is progressing.
The group were given a unique tour of the building by Project Manager Anna Matthews, who was able to show them where the new teenage library will be located once the building reopens in June. Students were also keen to see what else the building had to offer, and were delighted to hear that there will be an IT suite and WIFI technology available, as well as a café and community rooms for them to use.
Josh Ballard, a year 7 student at Newton Abbot college, said: “It was amazing to see the new library as it neared its completion, as not many people will have the chance to see this. I am looking forward to going back and seeing it when it’s finished.”
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