Minister Praises Library’s Outreach Service
The Minister of Public Information Services Neletha Butterfield praised staff of The Bermuda National Library’s Outreach Service this week for all their good work delivering books and other educational materials to Bermuda’s seniors and disabled.
The Ernest P. Stempel Foundation provided a van as a gift to the Library to enable the Library to operate the Outreach Service.
Library Outreach Assistant, Ms. Joan Vidale, operates the service for seniors and disabled adults, and visits both public and private seniors’ residences throughout the island, where she disseminates books in print and audio, magazines, DVDs, and music CDs. The seniors are particularly interested in large print books. In addition, paperbacks, foreign language discs and tapes, and foreign language books are available for circulation.
Visits are scheduled weekly, bi-weekly or on request, depending on the needs of her clients. Ms. Vidale also pays return visits to pick up the items when the borrower is finished with the material.
Minister Butterfield said: “I am very pleased that the Bermuda National Library is providing such a worthwhile service. For many seniors and disabled people in our community the simple act of borrowing books is hampered by transportation or mobility issues. The Library Outreach Service ensures everyone has access to these materials and for that I wish to extend my deepest thanks.”
In response to the seniors’ interests, short readings on Bermuda History and Culture are provided as they can particularly relate to Bermuda trailblazers and personalities of the past. Other areas of interest are religion, folktales, poetry and anecdotes. The Library has recently purchased sing-along style music CDs for their enjoyment. On occasion, local newspapers are read.
Ms. Vidale said: “As Outreach Assistant with the Bermuda National Library, I have had the wonderful privilege of meeting and interacting with some of Bermuda’s National Treasures – seniors who have made a lifetime contribution to our country. Their personalities are varied and interesting to say the least!
“The Outreach Service attempts to offer a hassle-free option of choices to our seniors from our varied collection of printed and audio literature. I must also emphasize that this is a public service offered by the Bermuda National Library, a department within the Ministry of Public Information Services.”
On Fridays, service is offered to the women at the Co-Ed facility and men at the Prison Farm. Ms. Vidale accepts special requests inclusive of favourite authors and genre. She also provides minimal reference services to these clients.
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The photo-ops continue.
Perhaps the Minister of Public Information Services’ time could be better spent implementing PATI legislation in support of the Government’s (reported but not widely adopted) commitment to transparency?