A revamp of a school library has boosted attendance figures for the service.

The Berkeley Institute now has a Library Commons to coax more students into using the area for a variety of functions and they have responded in their droves.

Work on the zone from design to completion was the idea of Keisha Brown-Dixon, head librarian, who said: “I wrote the proposal and after it was accepted we moved on it with me passing on my knowledge of how libraries evolved and I researched on how small projects and others develop.

“I visited other libraries and searched on line to see what is trending and to see how students would use the space..”

A working group was set up to take the idea forward and Mrs Brown-Dixon added: “So from meeting vendors and discussing the design it took from March to until August to complete.

“Now we have officially opened our new Library Commons, a modern facility intentionally designed to meet the diverse needs of our student body.

“Moving away from the traditional library set up, this new space has been thoughtfully structured into four distinct functional zones to accommodate different learning styles and school activities.”

The four zones of Berkeley’s Library Commons are:

• The Quiet Reading Zone ― a peaceful environment dedicated to independent study, deep focus, and a love for reading

• The Collaboration Zone ― a dynamic area built for group work, peer-to-peer discussions, and project-based learning

• The Maker Space Zone ― a hands-on, creative hub where students can innovate, build, and explore practical Stem (science, technology, English and maths) projects

• The Instructional Zone ― a versatile teaching space tailored for guided lessons, presentations, and workshops.

Mrs Brown-Dixon added of the reaction from students and teachers: “It is surprising me the psychology of how a space can change your behaviour.

“For example, I see some students who came in occasionally and they are using it in a more proactive manner and others, who never came in are using it now, which is ideal.

“The teachers, too, are impressed and they like the aesthetics … and say it is colourful and lively.

“It provides an area where each student can learn and work. They are very excited about it and they appreciate the fact they are able to have several examples of places to work.

“The overarching goal of this new layout is to enhance student engagement, promote meaningful collaboration, and provide a highly versatile learning space.

“By tailoring our environment to a wide range of academic and creative pursuits, we are proud to foster a modern school culture that encourages and supports academic excellence.

“Since the school relocated more than 20 years ago, the Dame Marjorie Bean Library has welcomed generations of students. Its books, displays, study spaces and dedicated librarians helped shape a culture of curiosity and care.

“We celebrate the librarians who built and sustained that foundation, including Carmen Jones and Bernadette McIntosh-Tucker. Their work prepared the way for this next stage.”