Special guest for the day Arabella Storyteller (also known as Valmai Redhead) assisted Tokanui School's oldest pupil, Henry Buckingham (13), and the youngest pupil, Richard Lingard (5), to cut the official ribbon and declare the library open.
Arabella first went around all the children in the school spreading magic with her wand before conducting the children in a song about books she had composed especially for the occasion.
The children then trooped into the library, where they were treated to a storytelling session with Arabella.
Principal Lynne Richmond said the library was part of the school's administration area upgrade that had taken place over the past three years.
‘‘This is the first time we have had a room absolutely dedicated as a library.
‘‘We've had a library, but it has always been in a room used for other things.
‘‘The new library is just wonderful,'' she said.
Mrs Richmond said the new room created an ‘‘amazing environment'' for the children.
‘‘It's so bright and colourful, they just love it. They come in here and play games on the wet days.''
She said the school had decided to make a real feature of the opening day and allow the children to express themselves by dressing up.
‘‘Almost everyone in the school has got into the spirit of the occasion, including all the teachers and a number of the parents.
‘‘A lot of the parents have gone to an awful lot of trouble to prepare for this day.
‘‘We have such amazing parental support here at Tokanui - it's incredible.
‘‘Everyone is thrilled with the day,'' she said.
