A Library Fit for a King

Aaron Kelley

Cardboard boxes stacked the shelves where library books once sat as the library staff began reclaiming and packing Dalat's entire collection of library books for a monumental move to the newly completed CASTLE.

With construction on the CASTLE finally completed, the library staff has begun the long and arduous process of packing up every book the library owns, except textbooks that the students need for the remainder of the school year, and moving them to the new library on the middle floor of the CASTLE, Dalat's new center for learning. The library staff set the final deadline for returning books to April 29th in order to box up all the books for transfer.

            When asked about the reason for the book move, Mrs. Pamela Hoffmeyer, the head librarian, said, "With over 50,000 books in our entire school collection, we had run out of room in both the MS/HS and ES libraries." Mrs. Hoffmeyer also said that the CASTLE would provide "more room to display books to pique student interest" and an "atmosphere more like a bookstore with books shelved according to their various genre.

The CASTLE will house all of Dalat's library books, from elementary to high school, so that parents and students have the convenience of one unified library instead of two separate libraries. As for the atmosphere, Mrs. Hoffmeyer also mentioned that the new library will have "more seating and reading areas" and a "new ES library classroom...with its story area commanding a magnificent view" to "encourage kids' reading and creativity." What better way to encourage creativity in the minds of children than within the halls of a magical castle?

Construction workers have worked their own magic on the CASTLE in the form of persistent toil since last summer under the supervision of Mr. Brian Brewster. "The CASTLE [does not] represent the shape or function of the building, but rather the pieces that finally fell in that space," said Mr. Brewster. Consequently, the CASTLE stands for the "Center for the Arts, Science, Technology, Library and Educational services" to represent the classrooms, computer labs, and library housed within its walls. Mr. Brewster informed the Senior Scribble that the CASTLE will serve as "a central place on campus that [will] draw in students from all divisions and give students a place that they [want] to go into to learn." The centrality of the CASTLE will save both students and parents from having to scurry between buildings scattered across campus in order to gain access to different educational resources.

After months of discussion, planning, and construction on the CASTLE, Mrs. Hoffmeyer and Mr. Brewster still have much work to do. Even so, the end is in sight. Soon many essential educational services, including the new library and other classrooms, will come together under one roof rather than separated across campus. Thanks to the vision and hard work of people like Mrs. Hoffmeyer and Mr. Brewster, the CASTLE will bring Dalat students together within a stronghold of reading and learning, keeping in lockstep with the school motto, "Education for Life."

Both Mrs. Hoffmeyer and Mr. Brewster project that the CASTLE, as well as the library, will open in August of the 2016-2017 school year, pending permission from the Tanjung Bungah City Council to move in.