Minister: Library Youth Outreach Programme
Speaking in the House of Assembly on Friday [Apr.13], Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Patrice Minors said over 600 people attended the annual Children’s Reading Festival held by the Youth Library recently.
The Minister also spoke on the Outreach Program which runs on Saturdays and alternates between the West End and East End of the island.
At the West End, the Youth Services Department will deliver library services at Sandys 360 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and then at The Rubber Tree Market in Warwick from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. In the East End, they will be at White’s Southside from 10am – 12 noon and at the Olde Towne Market from 2:00 – 4:00 pm.
Library vehicle which was recently dedicated:
“At each site there will be a story time and then the children will be able to browse and read books as well as select books to check out and take home,” said Minister Minors.
“Parents will be able to register their children for a library card by presenting their picture identification and a piece of mail with their mailing address. Library membership is free.”
The Youth Outreach Program started on March 10th and will run until the end of May in the first instance. There will be an assessment of the Program during the summer and it will resume again in the Fall.
The Minister’s full statement follows below:
Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to inform the members of this Honourable House about the Children’s Reading Festival and the new Outreach Programme started by the Bermuda National Library.
Mr. Speaker, the purpose of Library programs is to promote the love of reading to children, both educational and recreational, and to impress upon parents the importance of reading to their children every day and from an early age. The Youth Library staff is reaching beyond the physical building of the library to extend its services to the community.
Mr. Speaker, the Youth Library recently held their annual Children’s Reading Festival which was attended by over 600 people. Children heard stories read by community mascots such as BELCO Bird, the KBB Litter Critter, AJ the Little Gombey, Libro Lion and the Cat in the Hat.
There were dancers, games, crafts, singing and a magic show. Children were able to get library cards and check out books. The aim of the festival is to encourage use of the library and to demonstrate the wonderful places you can go and things you can learn through books and the many various medium that are available at the library.
Mr. Speaker, the Outreach Program runs on Saturdays and alternates between the West End and East End of the island. At the West End, the Youth Services Department will deliver library services at Sandys 360 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and then at The Rubber Tree Market in Warwick from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
In the East End, they will be at White’s Southside from 10am – 12 noon and at the Olde Towne Market from 2:00 – 4:00 pm.
Mr. Speaker, at each site there will be a story time and then the children will be able to browse and read books as well as select books to check out and take home. Parents will be able to register their children for a library card by presenting their picture identification and a piece of mail with their mailing address. Library membership is free.
Mr. Speaker, the Youth Outreach Program started on March 10th and will run until the end of May in the first instance. There will be an assessment of the Program during the summer and it will resume again in the Fall. The public can go the Bermuda National Library website for details of the Outreach Program schedule.
Mr. Speaker, The Youth Services Department of the Bermuda National Library is thankful to the End to End Walk Committee, The Friends of the Bermuda National Library, The Stempel Foundation, CellOne and the International Women’s Club of Bermuda for sponsoring the vehicle, laptop, internet service and outreach equipment.
The vehicle was dedicated this morning and on behalf of the Bermuda Government we express our sincerest thanks to the donors and sponsors for supporting this program.
Mr. Speaker, the Youth Library offers the Outreach Program in addition to their regular weekly programs that consist of a Book Babies reading program, Tiny Tunes music program, Saturday Story times, Boys’ Club, Girls’ Club, Chess Club, their Teen Advisory Board and monthly movie days.
Mr. Speaker, as the Minister responsible for the Bermuda National Library, I would like to commend the Youth Library staff reaching beyond the library to offer services that will entertain, educate and foster a love of reading and learning in our children.
Thank You, Mr. Speaker.
-
Read More About
Category: All
You are kidding, right???? In the middle of all the uproar over the more than 200% increase of GP cars under the PLP, they go $ get another one complete with not cheap graphics. Unbelievable!!!!!
A van, available at half the price & capable of carrying more than twice the load, & they go & buy an expensive car. Good grief….typical of the PLP.
If you have ever seen this van, you will see that on the side that it has been donated by various charities! Stop blaming PLP for everything, this is a good iniative by the govt… and no I am not a PLP supporter.
Don’t be so quick to run ya mouth.