Road Town Tortola - The Library Services Department will celebrate Library Week from April 17 to 23 under the theme, “Libraries: Bridging the Past, Present and Future”.

The week’s activities are aimed at advancing literacy, promoting reading and highlighting the department’s services. Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Andrew Fahie will declare the week open on April 17 with a radio and television message.

Chief Librarian Mrs. Suzanne Greenaway told the Department of Information and Public Relations that libraries are institutions that last for centuries. “Libraries are visible institutions which have been a part of the community for years. Therefore our values and services are still needed as we are an institution that withstands time,” she said.

“The theme was selected because when working with different stakeholders, librarians serve as bridges in many ways. For example we act as bridges between a teacher and student when we assist children with their homework and when we assist a customer to find the information they are seeking,” the Chief Librarian explained.

Activities for the week will include Library Career Day at Ebenezer Thomas, Joyce Samuel, Corner Stone and Jost Van Dyke Primary Schools on Tuesday, April 19.

On Wednesday, April 20 the department will have a Book and Movie Day where students of the Enis Adams, Ivan Dawson, Isabella Morris and Leonora Delville Primary Schools will enjoy movies of classical books.

On April 23 representatives from the department will visit the senior citizens’ centre in Road Town, East End/Long Look and Virgin Gorda accompanied by students of selected schools in the respective community. The seniors will be sharing stories with the students about the olden days and the use of certain household utensils.

During the week the Road Town library will showcase a series of books from which movies were made including The Colour Purple by Alice Walker, Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, The Firm by John Grisham and others.

Additionally, throughout the week the department will highlight the library’s history and information on World Book and Copyright Day on ZBVI Radio’s Almanac Programme.

World Book and Copyright Day will be observed on April 23 and the Library Services Department in collaboration with the Department of Culture will host a seminar on “Protecting your Intellectual Property”. The seminar, which is for musicians and writers, will be held at Maria’s By the Sea conference room at 7 p.m.

The facilitator is Ms. Kayanne E. Anderson of Media Entertainment, Telecom and Intellectual Property Management, Jamaica. The registration fee is $10 and persons can register at the Library Services Department or on the evening of the seminar. For more information, persons may contact the Library Services Department at 468-3701, extension 4931 and 4932 or the Department of Culture at 468-3701 ext. 4372.

The mission of the Library Services Department is to provide globally competitive information through technology and other available means to meet the educational, historical, recreational and cultural needs of the public. The Department has libraries in Road Town, Virgin Gorda, East End, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke.