By Cindy Parkinson
LIBRARIES play a crucial role in our public life by facilitating communities’ access to ideas and knowledge and by fostering creativity, advancing equality and acting as a source of empowerment.

In honour of its 50th anniversary, the Guyana National Library hosted an award ceremony and cocktail reception, on Friday, at the Savannah Suite, Pegasus Hotel, Kingston.

The event was chaired be Michella Abraham-Ali. Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson, and US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch attended.
Delivering opening remarks, Chief Librarian, Emily King, lauded the institution as a “landmark which can be viewed as a symbol of our nation”.

“For us, 50 years as a national library means a working centre of knowledge as we aid in documenting the history of our country through our role as a legal repository,” King noted.

The National Library is legally vested to possess a copy of every publication printed in Guyana.

Aside from providing services and activities to all age groups, the library has facilitated the growth of authors by hosting writers’ workshops in collaboration with other agencies.

Chief Librarian King explained that the institution’s vision is “an annex with a national collection, which is rapidly outgrowing the current space.”

This, she said, will help to store the collection better and make it more accessible.

King also called for more technical training to build the respective capacities of staff members to carry out their roles.

Chief Education Officer, Dr Hutson, for his part, expressed how “elated” he was to be a part of such a significant occasion. He stressed the importance of libraries and the fundamental support provided to knowledge and culture.

“Libraries are synonymous with education; you can’t have an educated society without libraries where you can study and do various research,” Dr Hutson explained.

“In order for us to grow and develop as a country, it is important for us to share and not hide information from each other,” he added.

As much as the internet has created tremendous opportunities in terms of accessing information, going to the library and researching information for school and university is a unique experience.

The libraries have moved with the times by updating the collection of books but also investing in technology solutions.

Dr. Hutson commended the staff for the work done over the years, and pledged the support of the education ministry in providing necessary financing. Guyana chief education officer also took the time to call for more private sector support for the institution.

It is “fifty years of free access to knowledge and enlightenment for Guyanese” and it is a symbol of learning and an “immovable pillar of history that transcends time,” Prime Minister Mark Phillips told the gathering on Friday.

He plugged the institution as an essential element of Guyana’s national heritage, and charged the staff to continue the work of evolving Guyana’s population.

He also added that because it is a vital link in the progression of learning, libraries will not be overlooked in the Government of Guyana’s plans.

Prime Minister Phillips noted government’s current investment in the country’s educational system, including the building, expanding, and improving of educational facilities as well as Information and Communications Technology (ICT)-related enhancements.

Library staff were honoured for their stellar years of service with the institution.