Jennifer Yarde of the National Library Service made the observation on Saturday at the Young Women's Christian Association's (YWCA) anniversary celebrations of its highly touted reading club.

Speaking to the DAILY NATION after children from selected primary schools had their readings, storytelling and presentations, Yarde said she wanted to make the public aware that people were still using the library and had not been severely affected by the main branch's closing back in 2006.

"We have seven branch libraries and people are still using the library, just the main one in Town is closed but the Library Service is not closed," she said.

Under the direction of president Marilyn Rice-Bowen, the YWCA has sought to ease the effects of the closing of the Library Service's Coleridge Street, The City branch by further promoting their Saturday morning reading club.

"What we've recognised in view of the fact that it [the main library] is closed is that we had to step up our programme," Rice-Bowen said.

"We've been going out and getting books for the children, we've been successful in securing some donations to ensure that the children were still exposed to reading," she said.

And, the YWCA has been active in youth participation in areas outside of promoting the importance of reading.

Under its social campaign: Saving Today's Children For Tomorrow's World, the internationally-based organisation has also implemented a breakfast programme, which feeds more than 200 children per day, and is going to start a homework club soon. (JM)