CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (NOVEMBER 02, 2009) - Principal Education Officer on Nevis Mrs. Lornette Queely- Connor, urged students on Nevis to take advantage of the hundreds of reading books available to them at the island’s libraries.
The call came while she delivered remarks at a book presentation ceremony at the Nisbet Plantation Beach Club in Newcastle on Tuesday. She also stressed the importance of reading, citing that it was a stimulant for the mind at any age.
“We try to encourage reading to stimulate young minds and not just young minds we want to stimulate every body’s mind. Reading is to the mind as physical exercise is to the body and so we know that when we read and the more we read, the more stimulated we will become,” she said.
Mrs. Queely-Connor explained that reading also opened op opportunities which allowed the reader to travel round the world, back in time, in the future and offered an opportunity to experience all life had to offer.
The top Education Official used the opportunity to praise librarians for their work and encouraged them to continue to persuade the children to continue reading.
She also thanked the management and staff of the Nisbet Plantation Beach Club for having facilitated the book programme and also their guests who have contributed to the project.
Meantime, Director of Library Services Mrs Sonita Daniel lauded the project and said it was the view of those in the Nevis Library Service that if the children were to become enthusiastic life-long readers, they had to have access to high quality books.
“So we are working acidulously to make sure that all of our school libraries have a comprehensive collection of current material for curriculum support and for recreational reading.
“We are therefore pleased that Nisbet Plantation has decided to partner with us to ensure that our school libraries do have resources,” she said.
Mrs. Daniel referred to the collection of books was a valued investment in the children of Nevis and a tool that would help to build a culture of reading.
“An investment in our children is an investment in the workforce of the future for this country. It is an investment in the development of the country of Nevis.
“So we are happy to receive these books we want you to convey our thanks and appreciation to your guests for their contribution. We look forward for future contributions of books so that we can develop our school libraries,” she said.
Other remarks came from School Librarian and President of the Nevis Association for the Development of School Libraries (NADSL) Ms. Londa Browne. The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Teacher-Librarian of the Charlestown Primary School Mrs. Thelma Parris-Mills and the ceremony was chaired by Ms. Marva Roberts.
