The Resource Centre

A year ago it looked like this… An outdated collection of moulding books in a room at the bottom of everyone's to-do list.

Last November, with a suitcase full of books after a summer of promoting the idea of a sponsored library, plans were approved to renovate the room. Several months later after an on-going battle with management, a carpenter was contracted and a date set for the work to be done. Several months later (again!) work started. Not completely trusting his understanding of the drawings we’d done, I kept a close eye but nevertheless it didn’t go according to plan. He told me that what I thought I wanted was not in fact what he thought I knew I needed so he changed it. There was a mini meltdown on my part and instructions to change it back which was duly done but little did I know that more issues awaited. After a couple more weeks, with various excuses as to why, he handed over the room… and it was dreadful. The wood was rubbish, the shelves weren’t straight, he’d filled the gaps with a sawdust and glue mixture that was all knobbly and bobbly, nails sticking out, splinters just waiting to creep under your skin and the walls and windows covered in paint and varnish– a mess. He said he could fix it. I said no. If you want a job done properly you do it yourself…

One trip to CashBuild later armed with paint, brushes, turpentine, more varnish, sandpaper and a hammer I set to work. One weekend later, not perfect but presentable it was ready for the shelves to be stacked with the books that have been sitting waiting.

Sorting the books was the fun bit - thanks again to everyone who donated something to the cause!

A few finishing touches here and there…. and it was finally ready for use.