School History: The Beginnings of the A.J. Hobson Library

A. J. Hobson (bottom middle) surrounded by "The Perficean" team

All of us have visited our beloved School Library. We have studied, revised, and burrowed books countless times. But, what is the story behind the A.J. Hobson Library? To understand more about it, we need to make a trip back in time.

In 1954, the bookplates that would accompany every work were being decided, and a contest was held for choosing the design. The original designs of the three finalists are still preserved, the creators were A. Albanell, Gloria Lamas Maguire and Diana Leborgne. Nowadays, an adaptation of the winning one, made by Diana Leborgne, continues to be in use. However, they are now printed from the computer, when they used to be ordered from a print shop.

Some years later, the teacher A.J. Hobson reported in the school magazine that the library was suffering the disadvantages of having too little space. According to Hobson, the library needed to move from its cramped quarters into a spacious and quiet environment. Soon after, the dream for a bigger school became true, creating hope for a better library. They believed that, if the library was improved, it would play a much more valuable role in the students’ school life.

Some of the Book Plate Designs Through the Ages

Therefore, to make the library more attractive, basic furniture and lightning became a new future in 1959. Additionally, enough shelving capacity was achieved thanks to the Board of Governors along with the Parents-Teachers’ Association. The space for shelving was between 3000 and 3500 volumes and was installed in the Main Library Room. Eventually, the Smaller Room, used as the Librarian’s Work Room, also needed shelving.

Near the end of the year, new seating provisions were delivered. This meant that the seating space was now composed of three readers’ tables with four chairs each, and twelve tables with a corresponding number of chairs.

Around this time, the library suffered from book poverty. The stock had 800 volumes, of which at least 300 were in terrible conditions and there was a specific weakness in general fiction.

The following year, the library received significant news as an increase in its use was reported by Hobson. However, this was purely in the academic sections and the more cultural resources got limited attention. The library welcomed new assistants, who volunteered from “The Perficean” Society.

During its beginnings, the senior library had a different name from the one we know today. It was in 1962 that it was named The Arthur J. Hobson Library, in recognition of the magnificent teacher. Mr. Hobson always contributed to the Library and can be considered its alma mater, which is why he was honored in this way.

Original Plan for the First Carrasco Library (Downstairs)

Bibliography

N.A. (n.d.) Notes For A History of the “A.J. Hobson Library”. The British Schools. http://web.british.edu.uy/Senior_Library/Library-Info/Library-history_files/Library-history.htm