The roofless public library damaged by Hurricane Maria
The appeal organised by Dominica’s Society for History Architectural Preservation and Enhancement (SHAPE) to preserve/restore the Roseau Public Library has to date generated more than 5000 signatures.
SHAPE would like to thank all those who signed the appeal. Such numbers reflect the level of interest in and commitment by the public to our historic sites in general, and in the Library, one of Dominica’s most treasured buildings, in particular. While the public are expressing their support for the Library, and recognise its historic role, SHAPE is concerned that the government has failed to express a similar commitment and sense of urgency.
Members of the SHAPE board have met with The Honourable Mrs Melissa Skerrit, Parliamentary Representative for Roseau Central, to ask about the government’s plans for the Library. Mrs. Skerrit said that there were proposals for a three-storey building to house a library on the ground floor, a music studio on the first floor and a dance studio on the top floor. The SHAPE board suggested that the facade of the original building should be maintained. Mrs Skerrit also indicated that she favoured the maintenance of the green space, so beloved of users of the Library.
The SHAPE board also met with The Honourable Mrs. Octavia Alfred, Minister of Education, which is the ministry responsible for the Library and Information Services. SHAPE reiterated its commitment to the restoration of the library and rehabilitation of the green space.
The Roseau Public Library was built in 1906, and designed by the then administrator, Sir Hesketh Bell, whose sketches show that originally it was to have been a two-storey building. Its charm and importance lies in not just its function but also in its location, on the edge of the sea, in the heart of Dominica’s historic quarter. As SHAPE has said before, to allow this beautiful building to fall into further disrepair – only to be demolished – may seem to some like wilful neglect.
The library is made of solid cast concrete from top to bottom, exactly like the High Court building situated on the Bayfront, the Old State House and the Victoria Memorial. This method of construction was used for public buildings at the beginning of the 20th century and the buildings was designed to be extremely sturdy and withstand earthquakes and hurricanes. As an example, in the case of the Public Library, in both Hurricane David and Maria, it was only the wooden roof that was destroyed, but the building itself stood strong. It would be immensely difficult to demolish.
A decision becomes even more urgent now that there has been another fire – the third in less than four months – at the Library. According to one source, this time the fire started on Monday morning, 9 November, in the rafters of the basement, underneath the back office. Since Hurricane Maria took away its roof and many of its contents in September 2017, the building has become increasingly degraded. Its poor condition has been compounded by the vagrants who now call it home.
Considering the limited green space in Roseau, as well as limited parking, SHAPE feels that a three storey structure that takes up the green space and erases the history of this important site will be more detrimental than beneficial. Considering that there is major funding available for preserving heritage sites like the Library by organizations such as the World Monument Fund (which SHAPE has been in contact with), we recommend that the library, with its original design and infrastructure, be restored and the green space rehabilitated, while the dance & music studios be built as a separate entity elsewhere. The original plan for the library from the early 1900’s by Hesketh Bell was actually for a two-storey building which would provide the library services with the expanded space it needed, while staying true to the essence of this important building.
The restored library and the surrounding French Quarter could serve as a significant cultural and economic boon, much as Old San Juan in Puerto Rico is the most visited area on the island, or the French Quarter in New Orleans.
SHAPE is calling on the Government of Dominica to make a public declaration of intent to preserve this space, and asks that SHAPE be kept informed on the government’s plans for the library. SHAPE as an organization could seek funding if given the mandate to assist in restoring the Library. Concerned citizens can do their part by signing the appeal at www.change.org/p/roseaulibrary, or by contacting their parliamentary representatives or the Ministry of Education.
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Mellisa wants good dancers to join her band..so in the mean time to hell with the public which are deprived of a library…until then
Viewsexpressed
December 16, 2020
Who or what is Melissa and how on earth she got where she is? Her father is the worse Prime (Odd) Minister we have got in Dominica. No vision, no Respect for the poor families, our suffering villages, the lack of knowledge of Socioeconomic development. We have an obvious idiotic immnature illiterate dumbfounded Tramp Labour government in Dominica. How shameful and immature. Our Nature Isle Dominica is going nowhere as long as this fake incompetent Questionable inmature Skerrit and failed Labour goons are part of the Government of Dominica. Be reminded that this fake incompetent Labour government and its incompetent Labour party leadership has no literate knowledge of Socioeconomic development concept in order to plot the path for our Dominica our people and country overall. This Labour government is the worse we have witnessed over 20 long years. Shame on this disaster and Incompetence of this failed immnature Skerrit and his rotten Labour government. Our people have suffered…
Bobby
December 16, 2020
Why do you keep calling the Skerrits “The Honourable”? Neither of them are honourable. Skerrit has an honorary degree, they’re two completely different things. Honours (like knighthoods etc) is something you earn, and you then had a title at the front of your name, such as the Honourable, Lord, Sir etc. An honorary degree is a degree that involves no work at all, it’s not even a real degree. Skerrit didn’t go to university & complete courses, but instead, they gave them an honorary degree for doing fu.. all. But an honorary degree isn’t the same thing as an honours. His title isn’t “The Honourable” because he was never reward an honours. Two completed different things.
Nkrumah Kwame
December 16, 2020
You folks are right to be relentless on this issue and have my support. Indeed, I signed the first petition. However, I am of the view that this call is an exercise in intellectual futility. Not that it shouldn’t be done, but, based on EVIDENCE. Just a cursory glance at the workings of THIS GOVERNMENT, is sufficient for any REASONABLE person to conclude likewise. I am willing to place a bet against anyone who differs😉🤗. Did you notice that Melissa said something?? What was the response from the Education minister under whose portfolio the library falls?? These “distinguished delinquents” are not in the least concerned about building Dominica. Their emphasis is on themselves and power. All of them. The EVIDENCE generated over the years speaks for itself?? HOTEP!
Make it make sense
December 16, 2020
Melissa have good head to slap a *library with not even one but two music blasting places? Was she patting herself on the back as she said this? The lack of common sense in this room…
It’s also embarassing that we have to be begging for a library of all things. The Government’s priorities are so frustratingly backward I can’t wait to contribute to brain drain.
Viewsexpressed
December 16, 2020
Who or what is Melissa and how on earth she got where she is? Her father is the worse Prime (Odd) Minister we have got in Dominica. No vision, no Respect for the poor families, our suffering villages, the lack of knowledge of Socioeconomic development. We have an obvious idiotic immnature illiterate dumbfounded Tramp Labour government in Dominica. How shameful and immature. Our Nature Isle Dominica is going nowhere as long as this fake incompetent Questionable inmature Skerrit and failed Labour goons are part of the Government of Dominica. Be reminded that this fake incompetent Labour government and its incompetent Labour party leadership has no literate knowledge of Socioeconomic development concept in order to plot the path for our Dominica our people and country overall. This Labour government is the worse we have witnessed over 20 long years. Shame on this disaster and Incompetence of this failed immnature Skerrit and his rotten Labour government. Our people have suffered…
RastarMarn
December 15, 2020
The Library is a Public benefit for the general usage of all,,,
How allyou can have Skerrit paying one of his Buddies 32,000 dollars a month to stay in a place where he don’t need and he already have a state house, while the library still there without roof???
What aout all the materials that must be replaced!!!
How allyou could make Skerrit run a political campaign and win an election when allyou have allyou basic necessities being neglected,,,
And Allyou still dere wondering why Dominica the way it is???
Is because allyou still living in a mindset of pre-emancipation days, before the massive revolution came about to liberate the minds of our forefathers,,,
But as though Marn saw on youtube allyou had Bridal event!!!
How allyou can be dere pieassing and allyou doh have a working Public Library,,,
Stop having all these arbitrary social events and useless gatherings and start coming together to uplift allyou minds collectively for the greater good of ALL,,,
Willful neglect indeed, and right next door to one of the island’s premier hotels and just across the street from the State House! When 5,000 citizen’s sign a petition for historic preservation, best a democratically elected government sits up and takes notice. The last thing Dominica needs is another concrete monstrosity on one of the few remaining green spaces in Roseau. Èlas. What a crime it would be to demolish the historic Carnegie library, a place that has been so dear and meaningful to so many.
Library
December 15, 2020
SHAPE is right in trying to preserve this resilient, historic structure, but authorities must have different plans, since they are not committed to even acknowledge their request. Dominicans are aware that some business concern, has been eyeing that area, and, given the trends, will eventually be given that plac. SHAPE’s idea and the people will again be cast aside. Mark my words.
Roger Burnett
December 15, 2020
Retaining only the façade of a building that is of architectural and historical importance has never been found to be the best solution. This premise holds all the more true when a building is distinguished by its features in the round.
Furthermore, a library, music studio and dance studio are very different entities and demand different architectural approaches. They cannot be successfully be accommodated by a ground floor, first floor, second floor plan. A library requires tranquility; music requires acoustics that can only be achieved by the correct proportions of internal space and ceiling height; and a dance studio has its own specialized requirements.
The Carnegie Library building and the grounds within which it stands are worthy of being restored as originally built.
I can suggest alternative and sympathetic usages that the restored building could accommodate, thus allowing for the creation elsewhere, of a modern library, a music studio and a dance studio.
click here
December 17, 2020
Like why would you ever put a music studio on top a library? Melissa and her followers and her husband have no forward thinkingness. This is a dumb plan. The library should be strored to its former state with some adjustments to accommodate the disabled and proper toilets for its patrons. But DONT MIX THE USERS OF THE PROPERTY. Next they will say they want to put a “multipurpose” sports “complex” there too. Libraries need to be quiet places for reading and free thinking. You dont want musicians sitting outside the door of the library practicing and singing because they about to go upstairs to record..no you will disturb the people studying, reading quietly enjoying the environment.
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Mellisa wants good dancers to join her band..so in the mean time
to hell with the public which are deprived of a library…until then
Who or what is Melissa and how on earth she got where she is?
Her father is the worse Prime (Odd) Minister we have got in Dominica. No vision, no Respect for the poor families, our suffering villages, the lack of knowledge of Socioeconomic development.
We have an obvious idiotic immnature illiterate dumbfounded Tramp Labour government in Dominica. How shameful and immature.
Our Nature Isle Dominica is going nowhere as long as this fake incompetent Questionable inmature Skerrit and failed Labour goons are part of the Government of Dominica.
Be reminded that this fake incompetent Labour government and its incompetent Labour party leadership has no literate knowledge of Socioeconomic development concept in order to plot the path for our Dominica our people and country overall.
This Labour government is the worse we have witnessed over 20 long years. Shame on this disaster and Incompetence of this failed immnature Skerrit and his rotten Labour government.
Our people have suffered…
Why do you keep calling the Skerrits “The Honourable”? Neither of them are honourable. Skerrit has an honorary degree, they’re two completely different things. Honours (like knighthoods etc) is something you earn, and you then had a title at the front of your name, such as the Honourable, Lord, Sir etc. An honorary degree is a degree that involves no work at all, it’s not even a real degree. Skerrit didn’t go to university & complete courses, but instead, they gave them an honorary degree for doing fu.. all. But an honorary degree isn’t the same thing as an honours. His title isn’t “The Honourable” because he was never reward an honours. Two completed different things.
You folks are right to be relentless on this issue and have my support. Indeed, I signed the first petition. However, I am of the view that this call is an exercise in intellectual futility. Not that it shouldn’t be done, but, based on EVIDENCE. Just a cursory glance at the workings of THIS GOVERNMENT, is sufficient for any REASONABLE person to conclude likewise.
I am willing to place a bet against anyone who differs😉🤗.
Did you notice that Melissa said something?? What was the response from the Education minister under whose portfolio the library falls?? These “distinguished delinquents” are not in the least concerned about building Dominica. Their emphasis is on themselves and power. All of them. The EVIDENCE generated over the years speaks for itself??
HOTEP!
Melissa have good head to slap a *library with not even one but two music blasting places? Was she patting herself on the back as she said this? The lack of common sense in this room…
It’s also embarassing that we have to be begging for a library of all things. The Government’s priorities are so frustratingly backward I can’t wait to contribute to brain drain.
Who or what is Melissa and how on earth she got where she is?
Her father is the worse Prime (Odd) Minister we have got in Dominica. No vision, no Respect for the poor families, our suffering villages, the lack of knowledge of Socioeconomic development.
We have an obvious idiotic immnature illiterate dumbfounded Tramp Labour government in Dominica. How shameful and immature.
Our Nature Isle Dominica is going nowhere as long as this fake incompetent Questionable inmature Skerrit and failed Labour goons are part of the Government of Dominica.
Be reminded that this fake incompetent Labour government and its incompetent Labour party leadership has no literate knowledge of Socioeconomic development concept in order to plot the path for our Dominica our people and country overall.
This Labour government is the worse we have witnessed over 20 long years. Shame on this disaster and Incompetence of this failed immnature Skerrit and his rotten Labour government.
Our people have suffered…
The Library is a Public benefit for the general usage of all,,,
How allyou can have Skerrit paying one of his Buddies 32,000 dollars a month to stay in a place where he don’t need and he already have a state house, while the library still there without roof???
What aout all the materials that must be replaced!!!
How allyou could make Skerrit run a political campaign and win an election when allyou have allyou basic necessities being neglected,,,
And Allyou still dere wondering why Dominica the way it is???
Is because allyou still living in a mindset of pre-emancipation days, before the massive revolution came about to liberate the minds of our forefathers,,,
But as though Marn saw on youtube allyou had Bridal event!!!
How allyou can be dere pieassing and allyou doh have a working Public Library,,,
Stop having all these arbitrary social events and useless gatherings and start coming together to uplift allyou minds collectively for the greater good of ALL,,,
Willful neglect indeed, and right next door to one of the island’s premier hotels and just across the street from the State House! When 5,000 citizen’s sign a petition for historic preservation, best a democratically elected government sits up and takes notice. The last thing Dominica needs is another concrete monstrosity on one of the few remaining green spaces in Roseau. Èlas. What a crime it would be to demolish the historic Carnegie library, a place that has been so dear and meaningful to so many.
SHAPE is right in trying to preserve this resilient, historic structure, but authorities must have different plans, since they are not committed to even acknowledge their request. Dominicans are aware that some business concern, has been eyeing that area, and, given the trends, will eventually be given that plac. SHAPE’s idea and the people will again be cast aside. Mark my words.
Retaining only the façade of a building that is of architectural and historical importance has never been found to be the best solution. This premise holds all the more true when a building is distinguished by its features in the round.
Furthermore, a library, music studio and dance studio are very different entities and demand different architectural approaches. They cannot be successfully be accommodated by a ground floor, first floor, second floor plan. A library requires tranquility; music requires acoustics that can only be achieved by the correct proportions of internal space and ceiling height; and a dance studio has its own specialized requirements.
The Carnegie Library building and the grounds within which it stands are worthy of being restored as originally built.
I can suggest alternative and sympathetic usages that the restored building could accommodate, thus allowing for the creation elsewhere, of a modern library, a music studio and a dance studio.
Like why would you ever put a music studio on top a library? Melissa and her followers and her husband have no forward thinkingness. This is a dumb plan. The library should be strored to its former state with some adjustments to accommodate the disabled and proper toilets for its patrons. But DONT MIX THE USERS OF THE PROPERTY. Next they will say they want to put a “multipurpose” sports “complex” there too. Libraries need to be quiet places for reading and free thinking. You dont want musicians sitting outside the door of the library practicing and singing because they about to go upstairs to record..no you will disturb the people studying, reading quietly enjoying the environment.