Here Come the Books! P-A-A-S-S the Books!

We did it! We moved the elementary library! What exuberance! What a common purpose! I knew that the chance to participate in moving the library would create a sense of community and ownership. Like a barn raising or a fire brigade line, we all learned that many hands together make a job a lot of fun. What I didn't expect was that children would be shouting out titles and commenting excitedly about favorites: it turned into a reading promotion as good as any booktalk. Children were chanting, singing, counting (424), and talking non-stop about books.


Laura Hardy, our director of buildings and maintenance and the hero of the entire renovation, said there was enough energy out there to power the whole campus.

Herewith, few photos and comments (with profuse thanks to Kathleen Everett, Tracy Delgado and Dennis Diamond):

We lined up from the old to the new building with parents at each end.
Waiting....waiting... And -- enormous speculation: "What do you think the first book will be?"
(For the record: The Secrets of Droon, by Tony Abbot -- J ABB).






My ever-supportive colleague José began the drumbeat and within seconds, hundreds of kids were chanting: Here come the books! Pass the books!



Starting out with the old library...
"Hey, it's the Hardy Boys -- I've read every one of these" (By a parent passer)



Junior high students joined in, reminiscing...





"This is a good one, oh, and this one . . . "




Paul B. inspects the troops.


Don't stop passing, even when you're next to your little sister.





The line stre-e-e-tched as the 5 and 6 year olds slipped away and the upper elementary students filled in.

"Alright! Here come the Sisters Grimm!!"

Never in my career have I felt more like a rock star than when slapping hands with the passers.

Said one child to his teacher, "Why is Natalie running around? Why isn't she helping us pass the books?"

Scott rallies the troops.






"Slow down!!!"



To break up the monotony, we passed the occasional stuffed animal or puppet. Teacher Cecelia Caines recalled the shock of getting something soft and furry thrust into her hands when she was expecting a book.

"Slither him to me!" (Passing the purple python down the line)

Up the stairs ... through the hall... Are we having fun or what?





And onto the new shelves -- in order!

Anselm the Owl of Wisdom leaves the old library. Permit from Ga. Dept of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Federal Migratory Bird Act.





Welcome! Welcome! The book brigade line gets their first look at the new space.





A happy librarian and a happy headmaster.







Checking out our new home.




With Anselm and my sh-shhing-librarian action figure.

My profound gratitude to the Paideia community for building a new library and celebrating the opening by pitching in to help. Your commitment is inspiring. Please come see the new space.