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Branch workers going door to door
Published on: 10/24/2009.
STAFF OF the Barbados Library Service are preparing to hit the road.
Acting Director of the Barbados Library Service, Avonda Callender, said she and her staff would be canvassing the districts in St Joseph to get people to use the new facilities at Tamarind Hall in the Eric Holder Jr. Complex.
"We're going out there, foot to foot. This is the first time the library will do it. It's a new marketing strategy we're introducing and we are going to do it in St Joseph.
"We are going to do like the politicians. We're going to go into the villages and knock house to house. And we will do that based on the information we get from the schools and the community development officer; they will know where we need to go and who we need to speak to," she said.
Transportation to the new complex is apparently an issue for the residents of St Joseph as well, since some routes stop short. Callender said she planned to speak to the relevant authorities to get the bus services rerouted to bring people into the facility.
Discussions are also under way with the St Joseph Parish Church to use their bus to transport people from some districts to the library.
"I don't want this [the library] to be a white elephant, so because of all the problems, we're going to work with all the different players," Callender said.
She added: "This is going to be librarianship in the 21st Century. We have to compete so we can't sit down. We cannot idle by and allow libraries to die."
Callender was speaking to the SATURDAY SUN after the official opening of the ultra-modern facility, which brings the number of libraries across the country to eight.
The Barbados Library Service is celebrating 162 years, and the new Tamarind Hall branch is the first to be opened in the 21st century.
Callender said the library at Valley, St George, was currently being refurbished. (YB)
4 comment found!
: 10/24/2009
I am really happy for the complex,equally happy that the library is ready for use. Please try to ensure that the residents of Lammings and surrounding areas are not left out of this mix.
Technology : 10/24/2009
As a child I loved the visits from the Book Mobile as we called it. However, today you've gotta go high-tech and reach out to the youngsters through facebooks etc. You've gotta have the services posted online and have as much as the catalog online as well. Sponsor scavenger hunts for kids which require them visiting the library to win prizes etc. You've gotta be creative and move with the times.
I like it : 10/24/2009
Good strategy. Not all Civil Servants are a lazy bunch of uncouth 'army of occupation ' as some would want project. You should consider utilising the mobile library service at locations around this parish and others later on) as a resolution to the transportation problem too. This can also go along way in solving the problems with overdue books. Retired
Wish You all LUCK : 10/24/2009
Truly, the head of the Labrary Service really believe that those of us without means of transportation in getting to the library will come all the way to Horse Hill. it is much more convemnient for those of us not living on Route 6, to go into Bridgetown to conduct our business.Neither Goverment ever seems to take into consideration the difficulty in traversing this very small yet comlpicated parish.Before last elections the M.P had finally recognise this major problem and had promised a round the parish bus service. Districts from Cambridge, Bissex, Lower Parks and Parks Road, Dark Hole, Melvins Hill, Mellows Hill,Spa Hill, Fruitful Hill, St. Bernard's Village, Lammings and Sugar Hill are all left out of any major decisions for this parish. Bathsheba is always the area which benefits and those areas on Route 6. Now you are asking a resident from Cambridge to Melvin's Hill and surrounding areas to catch a Chalky Mount bus ($1.50), disembark at Todd's Corner to await the Sugar Hill bus (another $1.50) to disembark at Blackman's Corner, to either walk from there to Horse Hill and if you are not fit enough for the trek another ($1.50) if you await the Bathsheba bus. That's $3.00 or $4.50 to get to the library. So all I'm asking if for the Goverment to face the facts, it's about time. The Library was airmarked as The Out Patient's Clinic and we are still having to wait in sun and rain and in a very small space to be seen by a doctor when they come. Don't we deserve better, it's time somebody listened to us. WE ARE PEOPLE TOO.
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