A PRIMARY school library has been turned into a magical storytelling space in memory of a much-missed librarian.

Medred’s Library of Curiosities was officially opened at Okehampton Primary School on Friday (December 14) by Dawn Medland’s family.

Librarian and school creative coordinator Luna Redhead has been working hard to give the library a new look in memory of her colleague Dawn.

The library is an amalgam of both their surnames, marking the time they spent running the library.

Dawn, who died of cancer aged 58 last November, was librarian at Okehampton Primary for 17 years.

During that time, she enthralled and inspired the children with her love of books and reading.

Her family joined staff and pupils on Friday for the official opening of the space, which includes a new storytelling chair donated by the school’s PTFA.

There was also storytelling by Rob Pudner of Okehampton-based Entertainingly Different.Luna has included artefacts collected by Dawn – including a fairytale chair – in her revamp of the library for Key Stage 2 children at the school.‘Dawn was monumental in encouraging our children to enjoy reading and progress in their ability to understand and enjoy literacy,’ she said.‘She dedicated the space we have in the school to a library some years ago and since then it has grown in popularity and style.‘When we lost Dawn to cancer last year, we decided to keep her memory alive with a memorial event. ‘I’ve taken on the wonderful venture to create a unique reading space for the school, which incorporates Dawn’s artefacts and my creations.’The library features a firefly cloche lamp donated by the school and dedicated to Dawn, to keep her in everyone’s thoughts.There is also a storytelling arch, decorated with a magical dragonfly donated by the town’s Museum of Dartmoor Life.