Chief Librarian Vernanda Raymond has described this year’s Library Week as “a great week! well-received by the public.”
The Dominica Library and Information Service observed Library week from Monday 13th May to Friday 18th May 2019 with a focus on the sub theme, “ The Law and Public Records.” Throughout the week, staff of the Public Documentation Centre and Archives engaged the public with information about the centre’s function and purpose.
Staff of the centre attended a workshop on Friday which, it is expected, will enhance their skills on researching legal documents such as the laws of Dominica.
“This will help to build staff capacity, how to search the law books and improve delivery of service to the public,” Raymond stated.
An exposition entitled “Info- Splosion” was also held on Friday downstairs government headquarters where the library and other partners such as Solid Waste Management and Waitikubuli Writers Club, showcased their products and services.
Indexer Assistant Sam Toussaint encouraged the public to utilize their online services.
“Presently, there are 14 online magazines such as Essence, Ebony and Time , a research database and home improvement reference centre,” Toussaint told DNO. He said that the home improvement research centre is very useful for property owners as Dominicans rebuild after the hurricane because it give very valuable information with “complete instructions”.
Chief Librarian Raymond and her staff say they are looking forward to the opening of the Portsmouth and Grand Bay branches of the library and more particularly, to a new state of the art library in the very near future.
The Roseau Public Library was badly damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Many of the reading books were lost. However, the valuable documents were not lost as they are housed in a more secure location in Roseau. Flow Dominica has pledged US$200,000 towards the rebuilding of a new Library.
But we dont have a public library. That building is still in disrepair. The Public Documentation Centre and Archives is not a Public library nor is is suitable to function as such. Instead of wasting millions on campaign and stagin and lighting, transportation of potential voters etc for this election can the nation have some money put aside to rebuild a proper library for our citizens? Long overdue
I still Red but I must admit that what we saw in Roseau today is very telling. Honestly speaking with where we are at after Maria, with people broke, unemployed, many still under blue taps and the only person with money, the Hon. PM giving money in every village corner and towns, I really didn’t think people would show out in massive numbers like they did today. I was very impressed with every speaker as no one gave mapwee and everyone spoke the same language of hope for the future, love and respect for everyone and a clear vision to rebuild Dominica. With what has been in social media this past weekend, on PM, I really thought uwp would bake him but to my surprise not one single person attacked his private life or really his public life. Instead they stayed focus on the task ahead which is to build Dominica. I must say I have been red but when I think of where we are after 20 yrs and to see day by day is worse we getting, this time around I am leaning blue because Da comes first
Amen brother. Being aligned to something that doesnt elevate you or inspire you to be greater whether it is red or blue or green doesnt help you or your community or your country. Vote based on who in your constituency is going to represent you. Too many Dominicans thinking that they are voting in Vielle Case and it is the PM’s name that is on their ballot.
St.josepj library is the best in the world no roof no books for over twenty years..vina royer the real and false st joe mp is working hard to keep the children unread but jah soon burst her cat.amen
When is the DLP GOVERNMENT going to give us a proper library instead of this make shift.
All the MONIES giving the people around the country campaigning and want to bringing this artists, that monies would do us well in constructing a library.
I hope that in addition to a “new state of the art library” the historic Roseau library building will be sympathetically restored.
As for the new library, why not use the palatial building just across the road from the old library.