Bermuda National Library’s 175th Anniversary

October 9, 2014

Earlier today [Oct 9] the Minister of Community Culture and Sports Wayne Scott held a press conference to launch the year-long celebration to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of the Bermuda National Library.

The Bermuda Library was founded in 1839 by Governor William Reid and was located in what is now the Cabinet Building, thus making our library one of Bermuda’s oldest cultural institutions. The Library started out with 276 volumes most of which were donations from Governor Reid.

Bermuda Library 175 years (3)

In 1917, the Bermuda Library moved to its current Par-la-Ville location; at the time the Children’s Library occupied one corner of the Main Library. Since then, the Children’s Library has had several locations, but has been at its present location on Church Street since July 1982 and was renamed the Youth Library.

In 1996, under the leadership of then Head Librarian, Ms Grace Rawlins, the name was officially changed to The Bermuda National Library.

Bermuda Library 175 years (2)

Minister Scott said, “As we all know, libraries play a fundamental role in society and are the gateways to knowledge and culture. Without libraries, it would be difficult to advance research and human knowledge; difficult to preserve the world’s cumulative knowledge and heritage. Preserving our culture for future generations is therefore one of the most important functions of libraries.”

Minister Scott added, “Today, the Bermuda National Library continues to provide a myriad of services, both in-house and online, to ensure that it continues to be a gateway to knowledge for all Bermudians. Currently, the holdings includes over 100,000 printed books.

Bermuda Library 175 years (1)

Through the website library members have access to approximately 60,000 e-books, a number of research databases, language learning services, and soon tutoring services.

The Bermuda National Library has over 20,000 members at the Adult Library and nearly 10,000 members at the Youth Library and serves approximately 15,000 people monthly.”

Also in attendance were Governor George Fergusson, US Consulate General Robert Settje, MP Susan Jackson and Senator Diallo Rabain.

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Comments (3)

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  1. JUNK YARD DOG says:

    The most intelligent persons in the world is not the persons who knows a lot but the persons who knows where they can find it out.

  2. Paulo Correia says:

    Happy Birthday, Bermuda National Library!
    I remember the first book report I did, when the Youth Library was over on Woodbourne Avenue! I spent many an hour in the Church Street and Par-la-Ville libraries as a youth, and (surprise, surprise!) I take my boys to the library every weekend now.
    Reading is a life long habit. Thank you to all the librarians who have enabled and continue to enable that habit!
    Seen recently on the internet… “Librarians are the generals on the war against ignorance.” Fight the good fight!

  3. Book Lover says:

    Congrats to the Bermuda Library! My love for reading began at an early age and the encouragement I received from the ladies at the library when I was young led to my very first summer job, at the Children’s Library back in 1970!! Thank you to the following women, Florence Maxwell, Grace Rawlins, Joan Brown and Mrs Nash you were great inspirations. My love for reading continues only now I read most of my books electronically. Here’s to another 175 years of reading!