Library Lovers Day in the KIP | The Power of Reading

In the KIP, we believe passionately in the power of reading and with 14 February also being Library Lover’s Day, what better time than now to remind us all of the benefits of reading and libraries.

Our KIP isn't your typical hushed library space with rows of neatly aligned bookshelves. Instead, it's a busy and vibrant hub in the College and at times it provides a welcome respite from the heat during the day. It’s a social space, especially before school and lunchtime, and a place to catch up with friends. The many chess boards, board games and cards offer plenty of opportunities for downtime with friends during breaks in the school day. Its also a space for homework, for research, a place to ask questions and a place to find a great book to read.

This Library Lover’s Day we encourage students of all ages to sprawl out, curl up, and lose themselves in the magic of words in reading nooks and spaces, be that at home or in the KIP. Our latest Young Adult space provides a quiet and cozy nook for older students and the many pillows in reading pods provide other welcoming spaces. Our new art installation by alumni artist Victoria Reichelt (Class of 1996) has provided a popular space as well for students. This art piece is fresh from the HOTA Children’s Gallery exhibit on reading, Colour Your Imagination.

We have a wide range of new books from vibrant picture books to some thought-provoking and contemporary great YA reads. Come in and browse the shelves or ask for some recommendations. With the shelves organised by genre, it's easier than ever to find books that you will love. Since our change to genrifying the collection, our borrowing numbers have increased dramatically.

Reading isn't just about escaping reality; it's about understanding the world better. It fosters empathy, imagination, critical thinking, and creativity. When you open a book, you step into someone else's shoes, explore their world, and gain insights into the perspectives of others that enriches your own life. We also know that reading builds our own writing and literacy skills – it expands vocabulary, improves grammar and comprehension, sharpens analytical skills and stimulates our brain.

At times, when our own lives get busy, reading offers us many ways to disconnect, recharge and relax, all with the added, almost super-power benefits that reading brings. Find time for a book today.