Library 

Happy 50th Anniversary Dear Library

This term, we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Library.  So I thought I could be justifiably lazy (or is it ‘efficient’) and go back in time to two articles on the new Library, which were written for the 1972 Kilbreda Annual. I would like to thank the College Archivist, Mr Damian Smith, for access to the relevant archival materials.

The first was written by the library staff, Mrs C. King and her assistant Miss K. Faulkner. 

The Kilbreda College Library opened second term. Unfortunately, the first few days were marred by a lacking of chairs, catalogue, some of the storage equipment, and the audio-visual carrells. This, however, was more than compensated by the enthusiasm of the students.  For example, the first day alone we had more than two hundred students in the lunch break, which forced the library staff to introduce a timetable for library usage.

Since then there have been many improvements. All classes have had instruction on library usage, and it is hoped that the succeeding years will see this basic instruction consolidated.

The number of processed volumes has risen from none at the beginning of the year, to eleven hundred at the end of first term, to three thousand at the end of second term.  It is hoped that five thousand will be available at the end of the year. There are, in addition, two hundred and fifteen periodical titles.

Perhaps at this point it is pertinent to talk about library policy.  It is fundamental that the library was established to help staff and students and the library staff have endeavoured to establish personal contact with as many as possible.  Service rather than organization, if a choice must be made, would be an adequate summary of that policy.  Library staff have endeavoured to make the students realize that requesting to help find a book, information, addresses, and/or facts is expected and appreciated. Suggestion for improvements of library service is also welcomed.

I feel sure that Kilbreda staff and students will join with us in thanking the library monitors.  Without them the Library could not possibly have achieved the above statistics nor have given the individual help at which we aim.

Finally, we would like to thank all staff, and particularly the students.  You have been most sympathetic to our cause and patient in your understanding that the building of a library is a process which takes many years

The second is an article from the same Annual written by Jennifer McSpeerin, who was a student in Form 3.

Towards the end of last year there was a lot of discussion about the loss of the willow.  Instead of a tree we now have a library from which all pupils and staff will, and already are benefiting.  The Library has approximately 1,500 books and many encyclopedias.  It is well furnished with chairs, tables, working desks and carpet. There are also situated a classroom, three soundproof study rooms, a teacher’s room and the main area of books. We are hoping to raise enough money to equip the library with tape-recorders, record players, film strips with discussion added, and slides.

The Library is run by Mrs. King and her assistant, Miss Faulkner. As in most libraries, we have a few rules to keep.  Our two assistants take a great part in the control of the Library and are helpful to students who are faced with the problem of acquiring reference.  The majority of pupils prefer the Library to the willow.  The primary school are not suffering due to the loss of the tree because the Library is situated on stilts which is enabling the smaller children to have recreation there. I’m sure many of the up and coming pupils will benefit from the Library.  I would like to say, and probably others would, too, thank you to the parents of present and past pupils for making this scheme possible.

1972 compared to 2022

A very brief comparison with today is in order.  Thanks to 50 years’ support for the Library by students and staff, we can now boast a collection of over 19,000 items – although we no longer have tape recorders or record players!  

On a normal day between 800 to 1100 students and staff will walk through the doors for some service or other, and we try to provide that service with a smile just like they did back in ’72.  On busy lunchtimes we may see about 300 students come through – but we still have silent study rooms, so even on very noisy days, we are able to provide oases of quiet for contemplation and research.

Happy Birthday Dear Library

With love from Mr Angus Pearson, Ms Dianne Saugy and Ms Yvonne Langford