WICK’s creative writing workshop: The need for an institutionalised creative writing workshop is exposed especially around the award season of The Guyana Prize for Literature. And there would be a few calls for the implementation of such an institution. But as the glow of the award season fades, so, too the call for writing workshop dims. That in no way diminishes the need, which is an ever-present concern.
Writers in Concert (WICK) has forged ahead in this area by successfully conducting a five-day creative writing workshop. In keeping with its motto, ‘Igniting the Landscape of Guyanese Literature’, WICK was able to lobby UNESCO for a grant for such a project.
UNESCO saw it viable to finance WICK’s proposal for a creative writing workshop.
That creative writing workshop was held from August 8 to 12, 2011. The venue was the National Library, Church Street, Georgetown. Three spaces of the institution was utilised for the workshop that catered for three groups. The three groups were emerging writers, open category for persons over 18 years of age, and a category writing for children.
Initially, there were 45 participants, forty of whom completed the course. There were two visually impaired persons who operated with an ‘able-bodied’ assistant. The organisers of the project were commended for incorporating people with disabilities for such an exacting discipline.
During the course of five days, there were three ‘special activities’, all of which were designed to foster conducive working relationships among the organisers, the participants, the facilitators, members of the public and members of Guyana Commission for UNESCO.
There is a follow-up component of the project, which is to produce a publication of quality works emanating from the workshop. The follow-up component is designed to elicit continued interaction and collaboration among the facilitators, participants and other stakeholders.

National Library Medal of Service: The National Library is a vibrant institution constantly seeking ways of meeting the literary needs of the country, the Caribbean, and the wider world community. Recently, the institution has taken to the streets in order to reach more people by being part of the Float Parade for Mashramani. The National Library has also staged a full musical, ‘Echoes of Love’, at the National Cultural Centre.
The National Library, Georgetown, Guyana, was institutionalised in 1909. Although funding provided by American philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, was available, it took about two years of preparatory works to qualify for that funding.
A site for erection of 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 enactment of the Georgetown Public Free Library Ordinance and the laying of the foundation stone one year later in 1908.
In 1935, the original erection was extended to house the Economic Science, Anthropological and Historical Sections of the Museum. That was a blessing in disguise, for there was need of space for a separate children’s library. So when, in 1951, the museum exhibits were moved to the new museum building, the library utilised the whole structure for its operation.
At the turn of the new millennium, there was need for more space for 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, creating more space for the Reference and Juvenile Departments.
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). Other branches across the country were set up eventually.
What needs the central library and its branches couldn’t satisfy had to be met by the operation of a bookmobile. The first bookmobile service was established in 1970, catering for areas like Tucville, Peter’s Hall, Houston, Agricola, Providence and Soesdyke. 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. The most significant was 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 depositories 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 operation, which came on stream in 1966; a gramophone record library opened in 1969; a reading room, and a toy library established in 1981 in the juvenile department to cater for the needs of preschoolers.
The National Library has become so entrenched in the psyche of Guyanese people that more and greater demands are being made of its services. 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’.

The Annual Guyana Book Foundation Book Fair: The Guyana Book Foundation’s 10th Annual Book Fair was held in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) on November 2 and 3, 2011 at the Bartica Resource Centre.
The Guyana Book Foundation (GBF), funded by CODE/CIDA, collaborated with seven organisations — Austin’s Book Services, the National Library, Varqa Foundation, The University of Guyana Library, Hope Foundation, VSO and the Department of Education, Region Seven — to exhibit under the theme:  Books: A Key to our Growth and Development.
The book fair was one of the Foundation’s yearly activities to bring children and books together; books for the stimulation and enjoyment of reading, which are not ordinarily within children’s reach.
Participating organisations exhibited a wide range of books:  Relevant and appropriate Local, Caribbean and North American children’s reading books at all levels, teacher’s resources, parent’s guides for the teaching of reading, fiction for the young  and adults,  Classics for Boys and Girls, books for reluctant readers and some supplementary text books.
GBF launched, at the book fair, two of its recent publications: The Discovery’  written by Guyanese writer and poet, Grace Nichols, and ‘Waldorf the Water Drop’, written by Pamela O’Toole and read to the children under the reading tent by VSO, Shelly Dixon.
Over 120 children and citizens from Bartica, together with GBF’s Board of Directors and invitees attended the opening ceremony, where speakers included the Regional Chairman, Holbert Knights, and RC Bishop, Francis Alleyne, who gave the keynote address.
Over 560 children and 28 teachers from 13 schools viewed the exhibits, purchased books, and participated in the activities, including a reading tent, managed by the VSOs.
The attendance of children from six riverine schools was made possible by the Regional Administration, which supplied the boats for their transportation.
That the children (and adults) were interested in and appreciated this event was evident in their comments and desire to have such an activity more often in their community.
GBF has hosted in the past years, Book Fairs in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Three (West Demerara-Essequibo Islands); Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
This 2011 Annual National Book Fair, held in Bartica, the 10th since the practice of holding the Annual National Book Fair started, has fulfilled the objective of bringing the Book Fair to as many regions as possible within the country, and stimulating the culture of reading.
Those were some activities that transpired during 2011, contributing to the shaping and preservation of Guyanese Literature.  And, of course, there was another deluge of books. But that’s for another article.

What’s Happening
•    Another welcomed autobiography to Guyana’s shortlist of such publications, GROWING UP IN BRITISH GUYANA, 1945-1964 by Joseph G. Singh, with an introduction by Rupert R. Roopnaraine, printed and published by Sheik Hassan Printery Inc. 2011.
•    Coming to the Guyana bookshelf soon: LANTANA STRANGLING IXORA, a new collection of poems by Sasenarine Persaud, CARIBBEAN PUBLISHING IN BRITAIN by Asher & Martin Hoyles, and books by Stephanie Bowry, Neil Primus, Madan Gopaul and many others.

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