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Fifty years ago, at the start of Term 2, Kilbreda’s Library was opened. Made possible through a Government Grant, the process began in 1971 with the removal of a beloved willow tree, which was written about poetically by many students including our own Mrs Le Bas, who was then Marian Kelly, a Form 2 or Year 8 student.
“Perhaps the most interesting event has been the beginning of the Library Block…” the 1971 annual reported. “…for which Commonwealth assistance is being received. As you have probably heard, the block will be a two-storey building, with the library on top. It will be open at the bottom with rooms to be walled in at a later date.” 1
For quite a few years, the area under the library was similar to our Undercroft, where students could congregate, particularly on hot days, out of the sun or rain. “The plans for the library should make it, according to Sir Brian Hone, the Victorian Chief of the Library Committee, one of the finest school libraries, and something of which Kilbreda can be very proud.” 2
In the late 70s, the area underneath was walled-in with large banks of windows (which remain) to become what was known for twenty years as the 'Glasshouse'. What are now Rooms 70 and 71 were used for gymnastic activities as can be seen in the photo included and the other side was the Meeting Room, prior to the Chapel’s conversion into the current Meeting Room in 1996. For a short time, some staff may recall, some of us would be sitting in the old meeting room waiting for a meeting which had already begun in the new one!
“The acquisition of the Library will be of great assistance in the development of library-orientated courses throughout the school, and the Librarian will have a key role in this project. The eventual result should be that the students will be trained in a greater use of initiative in acquiring information and have more maturity in approaching the various projects and assignments which have been planned. In the course of her recent visit overseas, Sister Barbara has specially studied the role of the library in education, so we feel that her information will be of considerable help in establishing the scheme on a satisfactory footing.” 3
To showcase the newly opened library, Parent-Teacher Meetings were held there in Term 2 1972, to give parents an opportunity to have a close inspection of its facilities.The librarian, Mrs C King, and her assistant, Miss K Fawkner, reported that, while 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, on the first day alone we had more than 200 students in the lunch break, which forced the library staff to introduce a timetable for library usage.” 4
The staff worked feverishly, with the number of volumes rising from none at the beginning of the year to 1100 at the end of first term, 3000 at the end of second and 5000 by the end of the year. It included “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”. 5
While I do not have a complete list of librarians, a snapshot of those who have spent significant periods as librarian includes Mary Drenen in the 80s and 90s, Julie Pagliaro 90s and 2000s, Trish Benson 2000s, Faye Jamieson 2010s and Angus Pearson 2020s.
How things have changed.
Damian Smith
Archives
1-3 Kilbreda Annual 1971 pp 45-6
4-5 Kilbreda Annual 1972 pp 54 -55