One hundred years of service
Pull Quote: I choose free libraries as the best agencies for improving the masses of the people, because …they only help those who help themselves. They never pauperize…A taste for reading drives out lower tastes.
[Andrew Carnegie 1835-1918]

FOR THE first half of 2005, there were 211,643 recorded users of the National Library, while for whole of 2004, there were 181,539. Those records indicate a substantial year-to- year increase in usage of the facility, a trend that was set in train since the beginning of that noble institution.

It took some time for the idea of a public library to take root, during which time the commercial and subscription libraries floundered, and the enabling laws had to be passed in order to establish a different type of library — a public library. The main characteristic of a public library is that it is owned by the public and supported financially by the public it serves.

The National Library in Georgetown, Guyana was opened to the public in September 1909. Although funding — provided by Scottish-born American philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie — was available, it took about two years of preparatory works to qualify for that funding. A site for the erection of the building had to be located, design for erection approved and ordinances for the purchase of books and other requisites had to be passed. A Provisional Committee, appointed in 1907, effectively dealt with those issues resulting in the enactment of the Georgetown Public Free Library Ordinance, and the laying of the foundation stone one year later, in 1908.

In 1909, there were 57,000 books and 1500 members. A 2007 survey revealed that the central library boasts a collection of 397,893 books, and 22,058 registered borrowers.

The National Library is situated at the juncture of Main and Church Streets here in the city. The original building was in the form of an inverted cross. Down the ages, there were numerous modifications to the original structure. In 1935, the original edifice was extended to house the Economic Science, Anthropological and Historical Sections of the Museum. That was a blessing in disguise, for when in 1951, the museum’s exhibits were moved to the new museum building, the library was able to utilise the entire building for its operations. One of the more important target groups to make use of this additional space was the juveniles — children having a separate space.

At the turn of the new millennium, there was need for more space at the headquarters of the library, and so a new wing was added. Completed in 2001, the extension housed the Administrative Department, Technical Services and Rural Departments, thereby creating more space for the Reference and Juvenile Departments.

But even with the extension, the central library could not meet the literacy needs of the whole country. Branches of the library were established after the 1950 legislation was passed to extend the library services outside of Georgetown; first in New Amsterdam (1953), then Mackenzie (1955). Now the library has a presence in all ten administrative regions of the country, with the establishment of branches in New Amsterdam, Linden, Ruimveldt, Bagotville and Corriverton, twenty library centres in rural areas, deposit collections, and providing service to four prisons.

What needs the central library and its branches could not satisfy had to be met by the operation of a bookmobile. The first such service was established in 1970, catering for areas like Tucville (on the outskirts of the city), and at Peter’s Hall, Houston, Agricola, Providence and Soesdyke on the East Bank Demerara. A second bookmobile was put into service in 1976.

Apart from the physical improvements to the building, there were numerous developments in services offered by the library. Two of the more significant developments were the ‘open access’ system in 1940 and the publication of a Guyanese National Bibliography in 1973. That invaluable recording of our literary heritage became possible as a National Library came into being when, in 1972, the Public Free Library Ordinance became the National Library Act.

The compilation of a Guyanese National Bibliography was made more favourable when the Newspaper Ordinance was amended in 1972 to make the National Library one of the legal repositories for all materials printed and published in Guyana. That meant that one copy of every material that is printed or published in Guyana must be deposited at the National Library.

Other services offered by the National Library include a photocopying facility, which came on stream in 1966; a gramophone record library, opened in 1969; a reading room; a toy library, established in 1981 in the juvenile department to cater for the needs of preschoolers; and an Internet service.

The operation of the library is managed by the Committee of the National Library, which should consist of a chairman and not more than twelve, or less than nine, other persons.

The National Library has become so entrenched in the psyche of Guyanese people that more and greater demands are being made of its services as an educational, social, cultural and recreational institution.

And each time, the stakeholders of that noble institution rise to the occasion, demonstrating a commitment to the maintenance and upkeep of the facility. All in keeping with the library’s mission statement, which is: “To satisfy both nationally and internationally the information and recreational needs of the library’s users through the collection, organisation, dissemination and preservation of information in printed and other formats.”

To respond to this author, either call him on (592) 226-0065 or send him an email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

What’s Happening:
• The Guyana Annual magazine is inviting entries to its eight literary competitions namely: Open Story and Open Poetry, Youth Story and Youth Poetry, The Henry Josiah Story-Writing for Children, The Rajkumari Singh Poetry-Writing for Children, Martin Carter Essay (Under-13), Egbert Martin Poetry (Under-13) and to its art and photography competitions. Closing date for entries is September 30, 2009. For further information, please contact me via above.

• On Between the Lines today on NCN TV (Ch. 11) at 2100 hours, you could view a discourse on ‘The Movement Of Man’ [with emphasis on slavery and indentureship] featuring Nalini Mohabir, whose PhD dissertation is on the last return ship from British Guiana to India, and Juliet Alexander, whose PhD dissertation is on the movement of enslaved Africans from the Caribbean to Australia.