Students at Kingsmeadow School in Dunston, Gateshead, have turned the pages to an even brighter future following the official opening of their newly refurbished library.

North East company Manners, which completed the work for client EQUANS, joined staff, students and acclaimed children’s author David Almond to celebrate the opening of the transformed space in the National Year of Reading.

Designed to inspire curiosity, creativity and a love of reading, the library provides a welcoming environment where students can learn, explore and discover new stories.

The opening ceremony gave students their first opportunity to experience the revamped library, with Manners colleagues Joe Reed, Jonny Pears and Nicola Coulthard joining them to share stories and celebrate the occasion.

Recognising that a great library is about more than just the space itself, Manners also donated £1,000 worth of new books to help fill the shelves and encourage students to develop a lifelong passion for reading.

Joe Reed, Head of Small Works at Manners, said: “It was a privilege to see the library officially opened and, most importantly, filled with students enjoying the space.

“Creating high-quality learning environments is something we’re incredibly proud to be part of, and we hope this library will inspire generations of young readers.

“Our donation of new books is a small way of helping ensure the library continues to be a place where imagination, curiosity and learning can flourish.”

Joanne McGarry, Head of English at Kingsmeadow School, added: “We’re thrilled with the space that Manners has created for us and look forward to it benefitting the whole school community as we move towards engendering a lifelong love of stories, vocabulary and learning.”