Assistant Librarian visits Rotary Club of Liamuiga’s Breakfast meeting
Basseterre, St. Kitts – The UNESCO Director General, Irina Bokova, during his message for International Literacy Day on September 9th, 2012, stated that “literacy is the foundation of learning. It provides individuals with the skills to understand the world and shape it, to participate in democratic processes and have a voice, and also to strengthen their cultural identity.” This view is wholly embraced by the members of the Rotary Club of Liamuiga (RCL).
On October 10th, 2012, Mrs. Carmen Blanchard-Browne, Assistant Librarian, visited the Rotary Club of Liamuiga’s weekly breakfast meeting and highlighted some of the literacy programmes and activities of the Charles A. Halbert Public Library. She noted that “one of the mandates of the Public Library is to provide opportunities to ensure that every child in the Federation learns to read and to get them hooked on reading.”
“The Public Library has over the years evaluated its programmes and activities in response to the need to promote literacy at an early age. In this regard, we have embarked on an initiative with some of the health centres in St. Kitts to establish an outreach programme. The objective is to expose parents and caregivers to books and learning material that they can read to their children,” said Mrs. Blanchard-Browne.
Other Public Library outreach programmes include the annual summer library camp, weekly literacy activities with the McKnight Pre-School, annual library hour programme in collaboration with the ECCB, periodic book displays and more.
Some of the new services that the Public Library would like to offer include binding services, the provision of Nooks and Kindles and other technological devices that would enable access to eBooks thus ensuring the Public Library integrates the use of technology with their literacy initiatives. Mrs. Blanchard-Browne outlined several new programmes under consideration which include, a story hour broadcast, homework assistance for primary and secondary students and the expansion of the Public Library’s pilot programmes in the rural areas.
“Each year the Rotary Club of Liamuiga partners with the Public Library and their Easter Read-A-Thon programme,” said RCL President, Mr. Lester Hanley. “Reading is the core skill every child needs if they are to succeed in any aspect of life and our Club remains relentless in our pursuit of 100% literacy for our nation’s young people.”
The Charles A Halbert Public Library is located on Cunningham Street, Basseterre and serves the general public six (6) days a week: Monday – Thursday (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.), Friday (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and Saturday (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
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