In a society where digital media technology has facilitated the easy access of written material at the click of a mouse, a senior government official has underscored the importance of libraries to the national landscape.
Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (Division of Culture), Hughland Allman, made this comment recently, as he addressed the Holetown Branch Library’s Time Capsule Treasures in Time event, in recognition of its National Library Service’s 175th Anniversary
He told the gathering that included members of the diplomatic corps, library staff, locals and tourists that libraries were pivotal to joining communities together through meaningful activities and learning experiences.
“Sometimes we believe that the effectiveness of libraries is lost in this digital age. But the library continues to be not only a provider of works of literacy, but it provides a safe haven, it provides a place where people can come together, where people can participate in social events, [and] meet and talk. It is now a community and has evolved from the classical definition of what used to be a library. It is about raising awareness of our cultural heritage in our communities in order to identify different tools that can be developed for their preservation,” Mr. Allman stated.
He continued: “The story of the library is a saga that is important enough to write down and to preserve in order to enlighten future readers. Time Capsules offer this possibility. The capsule to be stored today is a manifestation of our national or intangible cultural heritage. It is a story of the Holetown branch library, through the memories of its patrons, the adults, the children, the staff members who work at the library, and the visitors who have made lasting friendships and relationships with those who work at the library.”
He stressed that the library’s activities must always involve the communities, and groups where appropriate, so as to ensure that intangible cultural heritage remained an active part of today’s generation and be passed on to tomorrow’s generations.
Meanwhile, Acting Director of the NLS Jennifer Yarde, highlighted some of the services offered by the Library and its role in society.
“The National Library Service continues to play an increasingly important role as a technology provider with patrons having access to free Wi-Fi service and the use of 160 plus computers throughout the system for research, the creation of endless opportunities for browsing the internet, social media or playing games, thus fulfilling the library’s mission to educate and entertain,” she stated.
Staff Sergeant in the Barbados Cadet Corps, Sarah Downes presented the capsule to Mrs. Yarde during the event.
It contained memorabilia from the Holetown Branch including registration cards, pictures of Holetown, photos from the COVID-19 era and equipment currently being used.
The Barbados Police Service provided the morning’s musical interlude of popular Barbadian songs, while there were performances by three young patrons of the library and a spoken word piece from the Library’s Poetry Slam Contest winners, Akeem Chandler-Prescod, Theo Greenidge and Shamona Forrester.
One of the Library’s first patrons, Lorraine Best-Mascoll, a long-standing member since 1956, shared fond memories of the early origins of the branch as she heaped accolades on the staff describing them as “the best”.