{"id":255148,"date":"2020-09-01T11:53:17","date_gmt":"2020-09-01T15:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/?p=255148"},"modified":"2020-09-01T11:53:17","modified_gmt":"2020-09-01T15:53:17","slug":"shape-mounts-appeal-for-restoration-of-roseau-library-in-the-wake-of-recent-fires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/homepage-carousel\/shape-mounts-appeal-for-restoration-of-roseau-library-in-the-wake-of-recent-fires\/","title":{"rendered":"SHAPE mounts appeal for restoration of Roseau Library in the wake of recent fires"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Roseau Library post-Maria before the fires<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The second fire in just days at the Roseau Public Library has once again drawn attention to the precarious state of Dominica\u2019s historic buildings.<\/p>\n

SHAPE, The Society for Historic Architectural Preservation and Enhancement<\/a>, has made a call for the building\u2019s restoration and preservation and is providing a platform for Dominicans to make their opinions heard.<\/p>\n

\u201cSHAPE calls for the rehabilitation of the Roseau Library and its surroundings as a multi-purpose space for arts and culture, and that its green space should be maintained and respected as a place for the public to enjoy,” the organization states in a release. “The library is of significant historic and architectural significance dating back to 1906, and the structure and its grounds have served as a quiet place for learning and inspiration to generations of Dominicans. In the continued congestion of Roseau, the preservation of this site is of even greater necessity.\u201d<\/p>\n

SHAPE is providing a platform to let Dominicans have their voices heard on the issue of the library and is inviting those who want to see the site preserved to sign the appeal at \u00a0<\/a>www.change.org\/p\/roseaulibrary<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“It is our hope that public opinion may inform government decisions, and we can work together for an optimal outcome,\u201d the released stated.<\/p>\n

The Roseau Public Library dates back over one hundred years. In 1906, it was constructed with a grant of \u00a31500 from the Scottish-American philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie and designed by the administrator, Sir Hesketh Bell. Carnegie\u2019s wealth built 2,509 public libraries throughout the world; five were in the Caribbean, of which one is in Dominica. The land served as a parade ground for troops at Fort Young in 1770s, and after the troops left in the 1850s, it became the first public gardens on the island in the 1860s. The building has weathered numerous hurricanes including Hurricane David in 1979, after which it was swiftly restored.<\/p>\n

The future of the site is currently undecided, although there have been talks of demolition to make space for a new structure.<\/p>\n

\u201cSHAPE recognises that the Roseau Public Library has become too small for 21st-century demands,\u201d a SHAPE representative said, \u201cbut we hope that a new space will be selected for the new library so as to preserve the old library building and green space.\u201d<\/p>\n

SHAPE invites interested persons to contact the organization by following @SHAPEDomnik on Facebook or emailing the group at shapedomnik@gmail.com<\/a> . <\/span><\/p>\n

“Every voice counts!\u201d the organization contends.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Roseau Library before Maria<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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