Stavely school opens hallway library

By Rob Vogt

Books are hitting the hallways of Stavely Elementary School.
On Monday, April 14, the school opened its hallway library.
Lining the walls of the main hallway are books, that can be signed out of this hallway library every Monday at lunch time.
The hallway library is a throwback to old-school libraries where books were signed out by dating a card in the back of each book.
Annabelle Brehaut and Cody-Rae Loudon are the two student librarians who will open the hallway library every Monday at lunch time and sign out the books to their fellow students.
The hallway library offers a wide variety of books for early to advanced readers.
Principal Jill Coast said the hallway library is part of a larger initiative.
Last year, then Principal Leanne Watson applied for a Indigo Love of Reading Foundation Literacy Fund Grant.
The school was successful, receiving $10,000 over three years.
That equates to $3,333.33 each year to purchase books, with $333 eligible for shelving.
Coast said the school decided to use the grant funding in part for the hallway library.
The idea is to make the books visible and accessible.
“When they can see books all the time,” Coast said. “They’re going to be more passionate about reading.”
Moreover, more access to reading improves overall education and learning.
The school held an official opening for the hallway library for every grade in the school.
Brehaut and Loudon did a ribbon-cutting for each grade individually, with every student receiving a cookie afterwards.