About A School Librarian - Story

This is the story of a school library that was beautifully organised but nobody ever used. The librarian just sat at the desk all day in a big room, which was full of books.

It was very boring. She wanted to encourage students to use the books but, whatever she did, the students just didn’t seem interested.

One day the librarian was sent a soccer magazine by a friend in the city. For a change she cut out and pinned up some of the best pictures at the far end of the room. Then she wrote on the chalk board in every form room: ‘Who won the World Cup? The answer is in your library.’

It wasn’t long before three students were standing at the library door. ‘Can we come in wearing our sports clothes?’ they asked. The librarian laughed. ‘Of course you can, your clothes don’t matter. Everyone can use the library!’

The students hurried past the bookshelves and started looking at their heroes in action. They were thrilled by the pictures and told each other so with enthusiasm.

Some girls came to the library door, ‘What’s all the noise in here?’ asked one. The librarian explained that some Form 2 soccer fans were looking at pictures of the World Cup. ‘But I thought people had to be quiet in the library, like in church,’ said the student. ‘Oh no,’ replied the librarian, ‘you can talk in here if you want, especially if it is about things you find in the library, but try not to shout!’

The girls went over to the posters just as the first group of students had finished. Instead of walking straight out of the library the boys began to look around and see what else they could do. One saw a large map of the country and went to find his village; another began flicking through a copy of Time magazine and one, who hoped to be the school’s team captain, began looking for a big book on soccer tips.

That is how students at Riki Oye School found out about the books in their library. Since then the library has been used by students every day, sometimes for study and sometimes just to enjoy looking at pictures of soccer stars!

Story source: VISO Library