Starting to look like a Library

Another busy week but the space is starting to look like a Library at last! Walked in on Monday to tables, picture book display shelves a Library counter and nails and cigarette butts all over the floor. Let's just say the workers were not the tidiest I have every seen. Unfortunately the workmanship is sloppy and badly finished on the counter. The main counter is okay but the drawers underneath are dreadful. Several of the display boards on the top of the picture book shelves are damaged through poor handling so it was a little frustrating after waiting all this time.

Still, the tables and computer desk are good and it does make it look more like a Library. Once the chairs arrive we will actually be able to use the tables.

The furniture company came back on Tuesday to install the dividing shelves on the picture book shelves so I have actually been able to put books on them! They also "supposedly" fixed the drawers at the counter but when I finally moved over yesterday and tried to put stuff in them, one of them fell to bits............there were no words!!

Furniture company will be coming back again next week to take the drawer units out and replace them with something that actually works.

Had to wait until yesterday for the network and power cables to be re-wired but finally moved to the counter yesterday morning. What a difference from being stuck in the corner. The children really like it too. I've now moved the work table to make a parents/work corner and it looks so much better.

My lovely display ladies were in on Wednesday and have transformed things. We now have a great colourful display of "Library" translated into all the different languages in the school and a bookshelf motif around the walls which really lifts the place. I've tried to take some pics and will upload more in the next few days.

Put in orders for more essentials like a cutter, rubbish bins, newspaper rack, clocks and book ends. Haven't even thought about book orders yet - still opening boxes and re-cataoguing .....

Interesting meetings with Oxford University Press and Bayard. Good contact with a Beijing supplier who came with the OUP rep and I now have 50 sample packs of the Box magazines to distribute to interested parents so hopefully we will get a free sub from that.

First Scholastic book club went well with over 130 orders. It's the first time I have done Scholastic and I have to say I am impressed with how much they do for us. Will see if all the books turn up as I have heard some comments that they run out of stock and then the kids are disappointed. I said I would do all the admin through the Library and place one school order giving the teachers the option to send me requests instead of individual class orders. Seems to have worked okay - got requests from two year group coordinators and I managed to find plenty to supplement the Library stock.

Repair supplies are on their way - they managed to source the stapler and staples locally and are now looking into the tape I asked for. Huge thanks to Andrea again for supplying samples of Raeco tape - otherwise I am sure I would end up with sellotape!!!!!

Massive post today, woke up early and took the opportunity to catch up.