Last week Saturday the Negla Ross Library at No. 53 Village/Union reopened its doors to the general public.
According to the Librarian, Daphnie Taylor, the library had to be closed because termites had damaged a large number of the books, and other structures were not aesthetically pleasing.
However, with the help of an overseas body the library is back in order. There are currently over 5,000 books in stock with less than 50 regular members.
At a simple reopening ceremony, a group of children who are also library members recited poems, sang songs and expressed appreciation for the efforts that restored the library.
According to Waveney Dorsett, an active member of the Leeds Restoration Community, 2010 will mark two decades since the initial opening of the library.
She told the small gathering that Negla Ross was a mother of 18 children, and a prominent citizen of No.53 Village.
Reading is fundamental, she noted. And children should recognize the power to be derived from the contents of books which can allow them to visit distant lands just by reading.
The 70-year-old former teacher said, “We need to stamp out illiteracy. Our children are attending secondary school but still can’t read.”
Meanwhile, efforts are being made to have the library opened five days a week instead of two days per week according to the present schedule.
She encouraged parents to be involved in reading as they are not too old to learn and there are a variety of books they can choose from.
She also referred to the performance of the children at the English A CSEC, describing it as poor and blaming this on the lack of love for reading.
