New library badly needed
The public library’s 70th anniversary this year is an opportune time to celebrate its achievements and commit to much-needed improvements.
Since it was founded as a small collection of books in the J.E.W. Georges Building on Main Street, the Virgin Islands’ library system has come a long way.
Today, it boasts two branches on Tortola and one each on Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke. Its services also include a bookmobile, Internet access, a multimedia collection and online databases.
Such achievements are important, and they should be recognised. Libraries, after all, are crucial in any community: They provide a place for people of all ages to gather in the pursuit of knowledge.
Unfortunately, the library system also has been plagued by serious challenges for far too long.
Perhaps the most obvious example is the physical condition of the main branch in Road Town, which urgently needs a new building.
In 2007, library consultants from New York assessed the Road Town facility and identified several problems. Many of them have yet to be rectified, and some constitute serious safety and health concerns. Further, the building’s steep stairs make it inaccessible by many would-be patrons who are disabled.
The consultants also identified a plot of land at the Old Agricultural Station for a new library, and preliminary plans were drafted. To date, however, government has not announced its intention to proceed.
A May 6, 2006 editorial in the Beacon opined, “While plans for a new public park and a boardwalk [in Road Town] would certainly be welcome additions, we feel that a proper library in a well thought out location is a vital part of the community, and one that has been missing for too many years.”
Since then, precious little has changed.
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