How the library serves as a Community Hub

By Gibron Rahim

LIBRARIES are central to their communities. Nowhere is this clearer than when considering the National Library. Along with its programmes that are aimed at all age groups, the institution is a hub for the community. Despite the challenges faced, the National Library and its staff remain dedicated to continuing to fill that essential role.

There is much going on behind the scenes that a regular patron of the National Library may not be aware of. So the Pepperpot Magazine learned from its sit down with some of the staff. Nadine Moore, the Library’s Deputy Chief Librarian, explained that there is much planning that goes on behind the scenes, from the Chief Librarian’s office to the support staff. “We also have preparation and purchases of materials,” she noted. She added that there are also preparation of purchased materials for use by the public.

The staff is committed to exploring various means that the institution can provide updated and relevant services to the public.
The National Library’s junior staff have much on their agenda, even before the first patron of the day has entered the library. The Chief Librarian, Emiley King, explained that their first task, after signing in for the day, is to browse the collections.

Doing so, she noted, enables them to refamiliarise themselves with the items in the collection. They also shelf and reshelve the books. After patrons have browsed and removed books from their shelves, King noted that they have an order of putting them back to their places. Another important part of the process is removing books that are damaged.

It is only after the books that are considered tattered have been removed that the junior staffers proceed to the library’s various departments to charge and discharge books – the traditional task that people attribute to librarians. The staffers are also responsible for informing the senior librarian in charge of the titles or magazines patrons have been asking about. The National Library’s junior staffers additionally work along with the planning of the library’s outreach activities. Senior library assistants have numerous additional responsibilities. These staffers need to plan all of their respective programmes, in addition to formulating per quarter and per annum work plans.

This programming is very important as King said, “Apart from people coming to you, you also have to go to them.” The National Library, as well as all its branches, is a key supporter of education in Guyana. “We support the education system in terms of literacy and therefore, we need to have programmes which promote literacy,” she added.
Annis Craig, another professional librarian on the staff took the time to explain one of these upcoming programmes – the Adult Smart Skill programme.

The library hopes to launch this programme before the end of the first quarter of this year. “The Smart Skill Programme will be piloted first here at the central library and then we will extend it to the other branches,” said Craig. The programme will target working adults of various ages who are struggling with literacy. She also explained that the programme will also touch on entrepreneurial skills. “We are optimistic that it will be a welcome programme in the community,” she said.

One of the ongoing activities at the National Library is the Early Literacy Programme. Dihanne Saul, a librarian trainee, explained that the programme takes place on Saturdays and caters for children between the ages of six months and 13 years old. It takes the form of story hours and play in the Toy Library. Story hour is from 10:00hrs to 11:00hrs while the Toy Library is open from 11:00hrs to 12:00hrs. A special reading and phonics class is also held during the school term on Mondays and Wednesdays from 16:00hrs to 17:00hrs catering for children with reading difficulties.

King noted that the National Library’s collection at the central location at Main and Church Streets is approximately over 500 thousand books. “But if you extend it to branches and centres, it is much, much wider than that,” she said. “We don’t have all old books,” she emphasised, addressing a common misconception about libraries. “And the ‘old’ books that we do have are very, very pertinent,” she added. Among these is our country’s Constitution, as well as records of all the irrigation projects that were done in the 1920s. King noted that agencies, such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), call on them to use those records.

Under the Publication and Newspapers Act of 1972 that established the institution as a National library, it is given the responsibility of serving as a depository of books printed in Guyana. This designation, explained King, entitles the National Library to a free copy of every book written and published by Guyanese in the country. She noted that the library needs to re-advertise this role as some are affronted when the library requests a copy of their work. The library also purchases copies of those works so that they are available to a cross-section of libraries in the country as well.

The National Library is many things to many different people of all ages. King noted that there is a lack awareness of the National Library, and libraries in general, being community hubs “People come here for different reasons,” said King. “People come to sit and just make friends because a lot of friendships are made at the library.” Not only friendships either. “Romantic relationships are also made at the library,” King jokingly said.

Most recently, wedding vows were exchanged in the library’s reference department, with the couple surrounded by its books. The library is a place where people can go and the staff at the National Library are committed to maintaining and expanding its influence. “It is a meeting place. It is not only about books.”