I had the opportunity to visit a secondary school library called The Horizon the other day.
It was mind-blowing. It shattered my stereotypes with respect to how a school library should look like. Goodbye, dark rooms and dusty shelves. Hello, thoughtful spaces and calming vibes.
Naval Base Secondary School has had its heritage anchored in naval elements, so it’s no surprise that the reformed library boasts serene undulating waves and curves.
The library also showcases different kinds of chill-out corners. I like how graphic novels are enticingly displayed on the reading nook, attracting the attention of visually-inclined teenagers.
Students who just want to hang out with their friends can borrow board games from the librarian and play at a designated cosy place.
Or you may choose to hibernate at one nook and immerse yourself in a book.
Come exam season, students can mug at bar top tables that allow them to feel the company of tasteful sculptures at the school garden. Alternatively, they can book the meeting rooms that come with glass panels so that they can write their learning points. Very grown-up. Very professional.
But the thing that impressed me the most was how The Horizon was imbued with a distinctly local character. From old photos and recent school magazines to students’ pottery and other artefacts, the library oozed a palpable sense of personal class. The Japanese are geniuses at complementing books with stylish merchandise in their bookstores, so The Horizon wouldn’t look out of place in a shopping mall in Japan.
I wouldn’t mind sending my children to study at this school in the future.