Library to reopen in January:
Open house gives preview peek

(November 29, 2003) The Sir George W. K. Roberts Memorial Library on Harbour Island is being restored and is soon ready to open. The Reopening Celebration is set for Friday, January 23, at 6 p.m. on the lovely library grounds. The following day, Saturday, January 24, is designated as "Membership Day", the first day the library will officially open for business.

To give a peek at ongoing preparations, an open house was held November 28.

Volunteers G. Kelly (left) and Don Savage (below) gave tours to visitors.

The new children's corner is almost ready.

A time line of Bahamian history has drawn quite a bit of interest from teachers at the school.

And behind the scenes, volunteers Judy Savage and G. Kelly plugged away at the job of cataloging books, a most pleasant way for a bibliophile to spend an afternoon; and drop-in helpers are eagerly welcomed.

Harbour Island's library is rich in history being the second oldest library in the Bahamas. Originally established on Church Street in 1853, the Lieutenant Governor granted six pounds sterling to go towards a library and reading room. It has been moved twice before finding its current home on Dunmore Street in a newly dedicated Sir George W. K. Roberts Memorial Library in 1968. After a history of use, disuse, hurricanes, lack of funding and interest, a group of interested people met in November 2002 to discuss its refurbishing.

Amazing what a group of dedicated people can accomplish! The community has been working and pulling together since November 2002 to renovate and plan for the revitalization of the facility. With three CO-chairpersons, Pascale Saunders, Ricky Mackey, and Judy Savage leading the way; a United Nations Manual and the Haynes Library in Governors Harbour's guidance; support from our Administrator and Local Government; generous local builders, and six committees of dedicated people -" the vision" presented at that first all island meeting is very close to becoming a reality. January 23 and 24, 2004 will be days to celebrate as once again the Sir George W. K. Roberts Memorial Library will open its doors and again be operational.

You will see many changes as the walls have been waterproofed and painted a pale sky blue, the shelves are rebuilt and ceiling fans installed allowing for air circulation, updated, clean books are on the shelves, and a "Reference-Reading area is housed in the South Wing. A Bahamian/Caribbean book collection has been started. In addition to the physical changes, a Membership and Lending Policy will be implemented. Anyone can read the books and use the library, but a "membership" will be required to check books out of the library. As in all libraries, reference books will not be able to be checked out. Volunteer community librarians are being trained to operate and assist both adults and children as the Dewy Decimal System has been used to categorize and shelve the books.

As one young child responded as he looked around seeing the changes, "This is going to be like a real library - like in Nassau, isn't it?" Yes, Harbour Island's community - its people, its winter residents, and its visitors alike can be joyful and celebrate.

Co-chair Judy Savage, said "The celebration day will just be the beginning. Ongoing celebration will take the form of books used and checked out, projects completed for school, knowledge learned and talked about, a book enjoyed, a new author discovered, a program attended -- What is more lasting and important than the gift of learning and knowledge! Join us for the "Celebration".

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