After over a century of dedicated service to the Guyanese populace, the Guyana National Library has achieved another significant milestone, celebrating its 103rd birthday on September 9 last.
Although founded in 1909, the groundwork for the establishment of the then Carnegie Free Library actually began in 1907, after entrepreneur Andrew Carnegie provided a grant of £7,000 towards its construction. After several name changes along the years, in 1972, the Library Ordinance was amended which resulted in yet another name change from the Public Library to the National Library. The library now had dual responsibility for National and Library Services.
Appointed by Sir FM Hodgson, the then governor, the Provisional Committee met on December 23, 1908, and gave effect to the proposal to establish a Public Free Library for Georgetown in a