World-renowned writer and academic Professor Germaine Greer officially named our state-of-the-art Devonshire Library yesterday and then declared “Libraries provide a place for people to blossom.”
The Devonshire Library, named after our President, the Duke of Devonshire, stands at the heart of the school, providing a central hub for all aspects of Trent College life.
The library boasts some 20,000 resources, including plenty of audio-visual material, periodicals and special collections, and caters for all academic subjects, ability levels and the different types of learners taught at Trent. It is an inspiring environment for teaching and learning, for relaxing, socialising and for group activities as well as intensive studying.
The official naming ceremony got underway with a fanfare welcome from a group of Trent musicians from years 9 – 13 as Trent Assistant Head (Curriculum), David Tidy, introduced Professor Greer to the gathered crowd of students, staff and VIPs. Three readings were conducted by pupils Jasper Severn, Lizzie Johnson and librarian Annike Dase before Head of Trent College, Gill Dixon, paid tribute to all those who had made the creation of the new library possible.
Australian-born Professor Greer is widely-regarded as one of the most significant feminist voices of the latter 20th century and is arguably best known for her best-selling 1970 book The Female Eunuch.
As she unveiled a plaque to mark the official opening of the Devonshire Library, the author and broadcaster said:
“I learned to read very young and I read all the time. I can read upside down as well as I can read right way up because I spent so much time reading my father’s newspaper the wrong way up! I read all of Dickens the year I was 12. I needed my books to be big because I read them voraciously and I was bereft when I finished a book. The most important thing about a library for me is that it is a place where everywhere is quiet, where you can actually get lost in your own mental processes. Libraries provide a place for people to blossom in a way that many people cannot on a sports field or in a classroom.”
Designed by Franklin Ellis Architects of Nottingham, and built by IH Moore Construction of Nottingham, the school’s former dining room has been sensitively adapted into this 21st century library. All demolition and enabling works were undertaken by Trent College’s own Estates team. Work commenced in February 2010 and was completed on 1 August 2010.
With beautiful custom-made oak shelves and high quality furnishings many of the room’s original features have been retained. A key objective of the project was to protect historical features including the Albert Ball Memorial Propeller and the more detailed wood panelling.
Meanwhile, the impressive new mezzanine gallery provides a wonderful study space for Sixth Form students and staff.
Head, Gill Dixon said:
“It has been a long, long journey to arrive at this point but we always dreamed about having an academic heart of our school and we now have that very strong heartbeat. It is a place for everyone; where older students, young students, teachers and support staff all sit shoulder to shoulder enjoying their learning.”
The Duke of Devonshire commented:
“I am absolutely delighted that the Devonshire Library has been opened at Trent College and named after my family. With new state-of-the-art facilities, the library will allow students at Trent College to have access to a wealth of information and resources, which play a vital role in the education of young people in this digital age.”
After opening the Devonshire Library, Professor Greer conducted a lecture for Sixth Form students entitled ‘40 years of fun with feminism’ as part of the Whole School Programme.