LIBRARY SERVICES MARKS 60TH ANNIVERSARY

Minister of Education and Culture the Honourable Andrew Fahie has lauded 
the Library Services Department for the significant strides it has made 
since 1943.

The Department is celebrating the 60th anniversary of library services in 
the BVI, with activities throughout the year. The theme is "Libraries are 
as Valuable as Diamonds".

Minister Fahie pointed out that the operation began as a 
government-financed system offering most of its services free to the 
public. He said the theme is indicative of the important contribution that 
libraries make in our society, especially in their role as centres of 
knowledge and lifelong learning.

"Libraries play a vital role in helping people of all ages to connect with 
resources which are needed to help them grow intellectually, socially, 
culturally and spiritually," Minister Fahie stated. "While the Internet is 
fantastic and fascinating in many ways, one of the basic services offered 
by the library is the opportunity for the user to read and the book is 
still the most important carrier of knowledge in the history of mankind."
He said the issue of literacy and the ability of students to read and read 
well is a matter being discussed at the Ministry of Education. He said a 
plan for promoting and developing reading levels at all schools is one that 
is being vigorously pursued.

Hon. Fahie said in spite of physical infrastructural limitations, the 
library in the BVI has come a long way - from a staff of two or three to a 
staff of approximately 25; from a basic lending service to the out-lying 
communities out of boxes in the back of the librarian's car to a modern 
bookmobile service to all schools and communities; from a few service 
points to a network of service locations throughout the territory extending 
from Anegada and Virgin Gorda in the northwest; from basic lending of books to extensive lending and reference services, various educational and 
cultural programmes, special collections, multi-media resources and the 
Internet.

"For these and other valuable services provided by the library, I wish to 
commend the efforts of all persons who were members of the staff of the BVI library system over the years," the Education Minister said.
Over the next eleven months, the library will engage in a number of 
activities to commemorate the 60th anniversary. These include the 
production of a documentary on the library's development for television 
viewing, workshops in various areas of interest for the public, creative 
arts competitions and provision of special services to the shut-in and 
other groups unable to visit the library.