On Friday 5 February Archbishop John Dew officially opened the new Library extention at St Mary's School, Blenheim.
Principal Alister Bridgman welcomed a large community group of parents and parishioners and the official guests headed by Archbishop John Dew and including MP Colin King, Mayor Alistair Sowman, CSBL Chair, Gary Quirke, CEO, Mary Neazor, Manager Catholic Schools, Michele Lafferty, BoT Chair Moira Winter and the five "local" Principals from St Joseph's Kaikoura, St Joseph's Nelson, Garin College Nelson, St Paul's Richmond and St Peter Chanel Motueka.
In his welcome, Alister outlined how libraries have changed over time and how important a library is to a school.
Archbishop John urged the children to reflect on the school motto "Christ is the Light" and thanked all involved in bringing this project to completion. He went on to bless the library while the children sang for all those present.
The project, designed by Proarch Architects, has extended the existing library and upgraded the whole interior. This has been a joint project with the community raising the majority of the money to cover the extention, and CSBL providing a grant to upgrade the existing interior spaces.
Before everyone adjourned for a cup of tea, students and guests were invited to place library books on the new shelves of the extended library.