–to usher in Easter activities

The National Library on Friday ushered in the Easter festivities with a grand ‘Hat Show’ which brought together about 100 dandily dressed cuties sporting a dazzling array of uniquely-designed hats.

The activities kicked off with a colourful parade through the streets of Cummingsburg, Georgetown, under a banner which read: “Rising to Greater Heights through Reading.” Also on parade were two huge Easter Bunnies and novel creations of two huge Easter eggs designed as hats.

The children who participated were drawn from the Central Library, the Ruimveldt Library and the Bagotville Library in West Demerara. At 10:00 hrs, the jubilant band of parading children moved off from outside the

Library.

With upbeat musical accompaniment from the Prisons Steel Band, the kids, full of excitement, took to the streets, first wending their way east along Church Street, then north into Carmichael Street before turning west into Lamaha Street and south into Main Street, then back into Church Street, before the parade culminated in the National Library compound with a mini fair. There they had fun, jumping on the trampoline, enjoying snacks and playing games.

Senior Library Assistant and Supervisor of the Juvenile Department, Ms. Francica Burgess, who coordinated the activities, outlined that the Hat Show, being held for the second time around, was the initiative of the late Chief Librarian, Ms. Gillian Thompson, and was a good way of perpetuating her memory.

Meanwhile, Chief Librarian Ms. Emily King, commenting on the morning’s show, said the staff was all nostalgic about it, put their all into the planning and execution, and look forward to seeing it grow from strength to strength, with more creativity in designs.

She is hopeful that, with the passage of time, the Hat Show will become bigger and more competitive. While there is no judging of hats at this stage, Coordinator Ms. Burgess said that in order to reward participation and sustain interest, incentives in the form of kites will be given the kids for really good creations.

(By Shirley Thomas)