PORT MARIA:
THE ST. Mary Parish Library achieved fifty years of valuable service to the community last year, despite many challenges.
There were many opportunities to offer information, as the service points throughout the parish remained focal centres. Among these are provision of computer services including internet and e-mail. Mounting of displays and exhibitions. Hosting lectures and panel discussions, sponsoring children's programmes.
This was stated by senior librarian, Janet Cousins, in a report given at the Annual General Meeting on July 18, in the Claude Stuart Park, Port Maria.
Highlights of activities and achievements during the period April 1, 2001 to March 2002 were outlined. Special events took place to mark the celebration of 50 years of service to the community. Celebrations started with a church service at the St. Mary Parish Church in June, 2001.
Extensive and varied programmes of outreach activities were undertaken. Significant increases in reference consultations, stock and membership were recorded. The book stock increased by 1,420, moving from 77,703 to 79,123. Recognition was given to the library on National Heroes Day for contributing to community development.
UNESCO sponsored a telecentre project, at the Annotto Bay Branch Library, which has boosted the computer services there. This arose out of a telecentre project sponsored by the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO. Annotto Bay was one of two libraries within the Jamaican Library Service chosen to house the centre. It will provide access to computer services, in order to assist community development. Annotto Bay also produced the runner-up in the National Reading Competition.
It was a good year for the main library, Miss Cousins noted, and one of the positive developments in service was to the visually impaired. There was an increase in membership and circulation.
Public defender Mr. Howard Hamilton challenged the sparse audience to develop their assets.
Jamaicans must be a people who can feed itself, as we are living in precarious and frightening times he said. Potential markets and scopes are open for herbal medicines, such as the Aloe Vera and Leaf of Life to name two.
"A new thinking and vision and a new beginning must be put in place immediately", he suggested, as St. Mary is an agricultural parish.
The rich earth is waiting to be utilised by farming, he said, and people must be made to believe in agriculture. Young men can be gainfully employed or self employed if they are interested in farming.
Another market demand is the Jamaican ginger, considered the best in the world, also the ackee where a new market has opened up. These will be able to bring in millions of dollars to the parish if cultivated, he said.
Mr. Hamilton's vision of the future is to work through the djs to motivate the youths using them as an avenue to get young people interested in agriculture. The parish and the nation must feed itself, he noted.
Mr. Hamilton commended the library for the tremendous milestone of achieving 50 years of service. Chairman of the Parish Library Board, George Magnus, chaired the evening's programme.
