Campaign for Culford Update AUTUMN 2015
Culford Unveils Stunning New Library The Campaign for Culford fundraising project reached a milestone on Tuesday 8 September when the new £2.2 million landmark Library building was officially opened. Almost exactly a year from the day that construction began, pupils, alumni, teachers and staff gathered outside the completed building to watch Old Culfordian and generous benefactor to the project, Professor Harry Watson, cut the ribbon and declare the library officially open. We were also delighted to welcome: the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Clare, Countess of Euston; Patrick Chung, Mayor of Bury St Edmunds; and the Reverend David Deeks, Chairman of the Methodist Independent Schools Trust. Professor Watson travelled from Australia with his wife Adrienne to attend the event. He praised the hard work of the Foundation team for overseeing the project, but also recognised the dedication shown by the alumni and friends of the school who had contributed the funds that made the venture possible. Built by Suffolk-based Seamans Builders and with bookcases designed and built by local specialist joinery company TMJ Interiors, the new Library houses ten thousand books and an 80-seat lecture theatre for guest speakers and author visits. There is also a mezzanine floor exclusively for use by Sixth Formers with coffee facilities, quiet study areas, group discussion areas and comprehensive IT facilities and wi-fi.
“An inviting, light and open space for our pupils to go and study.” Headmaster Julian Johnson-Munday was keen to promote the Library as more than just a storage space for literature. He stressed that, “This stunning new building offers an inviting, light and open space for our pupils to go and study and a place where they can fulfil their potential as independent learners.”
Why did Culford build a new Library? The old Library was too small and poorly located in Culford Hall, away from the classrooms; the new Library is at the academic heart of the school, next to all the teaching facilities and nearer the Houses. Almost everyone will have to walk past the Library every day!
“The old Library was too small and poorly located away from the classrooms.� Mobile shelving and creative use of furnishings means that the library can be zoned for different activities.
The building includes a social learning foyer, a coffee bar, an 80- Tablets, netbooks, hard-wired computers and bring-your-owndevice capability combines with an excellent stock of some seat lecture theatre and a galleried mezzanine area, reserved 10,000 books, newspapers and magazines. for Sixth Formers. It is a vibrant and engaging space with flexibility to accommodate individual quiet study, collaborative work, class work, lectures, presentations, reading for pleasure and social learning.
E-book lending, subscription databases, an excellent library management system and Moodle (an open-source online learning platform) offers a 24/7 virtual library in addition to the new physical space and virtual resources.
How will the new Library be used? The old Library was primarily used for private study, prep and English reading lessons. The new Library continues to serve these functions but is now also a hub for independent learning and enquiry, individual research, collaborative work, class research and teaching, lectures and seminars.
The new lecture theatre is a flexible space that serves as an additional performance space for seminars, debates and presentation skills training, a peer teaching venue and as a drop in centre for Learning Support, IT and careers.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for the Campaign? The Foundation was charged with raising £750,000 towards the new Library and we are delighted to report that The Campaign for Culford has raised in excess of £800,000 to date. We continue to seek support for other projects as part of the Campaign, including: the development of the main Art Studio (please see the adjacent artist’s impression); the refurbishment of Hastings and Skinner teaching block; the upgrading of the Ashby dining room; and the refurbishment of other key rooms in Culford Hall such as the Hartley Wing. If you would like more information about these and other aspects of The Campaign for Culford, please contact the Foundation and Communications Director, Mrs Jo Johnson-Munday, on 01284 385306 or email jjm@culford.co.uk.
Artist’s impression of the proposed re-designed Art Studio adjacent to Pringle
Photographs from the Library Opening 8 September, 2015
The Headmaster, Julian Johnson-Munday, addressing the guests
Air Vice Marshal Steven Abbott, Chairman of Governors, Adrienne and Prof Harry Watson and Tony Crane, Governor and OC
The Culford Oak Donor Tree is now situated in pride of place at the front of the Library
Air Vice Marshal Steven Abbott, Chairman of Governors
The Headmaster with Clare and James Taylor, current parents and Directors of TMJ Ltd and Jo Johnson-Munday, Foundation and Communications Director
Former governors and Old Culfordians Michael Keall & Robert Jacklin
The Rev David Deeks, Clare, Countess of Euston, Prof Roy Swanston (former Chairman of Governors) and Air Vice Marshal Steven Abbott.
Head of Prep School, Mike Schofield with Cllr Patrick Chung, Mayor of Bury St Edmunds and Culford’s Head Boy.