THE EDITOR, Sir:
IT IS a well known fact that learning can take place anywhere, anytime.
I therefore urge educators, administrators, principals, subject and classroom teachers to give the school library the premier place it should occupy in the learning facilities of the school and stop relying so much on the prescribed texts as evident from the back-to-school debates.
The Jamaica Library Service with the Schools Library Service has been providing quality material for children and young people for over fifty years. In addition, Book Development Companies and concerned Jamaicans overseas have sent thousands of worthwhile books and other learning material to augment these collections.
Material is chosen to assist learning for all ages and intelligence levels. Books for curriculum support and reading pleasure are emphasised. Picture and picture story books reflect the diverse offerings of artists from many lands, thus allowing exposure to different artistic styles and cultures from an early age. However, despite the close involvement and support of the Ministry of Education and Culture in public and school libraries, seldom is reference made by educational personnel to the value of the library in teaching and learning.
As part of recent projects many school libraries have been upgraded, teacher librarians trained and manuals prepared and distributed. It is therefore time that all concerned persons work to ensure maximum utilisation of this resource. We cannot continue to bemoan the low levels of adolescent and adult literacy while one of the major tools to foster growth and development continues to be ignored.
I am etc.,
AMY ROBERTSON (Mrs)
Retired Librarian
1 Hobart Road
Kingston 5
