National library extended on West Bank

Residents of La Grange, Bagotville and Nismes through a community effort and donor assistance have contributed to the Bagotville Library Centre being upgraded to an official branch of the National Library.

The effort was spearheaded by the La Grange Group of Concerned Cit-izens, a community action group, and funded by the community, private citizens, businesses and the US Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund, a press release from the Ministry of Health stated.

The 20′ X 20′ extension cost $2.2M and the Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund contributed about $1.6M. According to US Peace Corps Volunteer Assistant Secretary Margaret Logan Pulvermann, the aim is to stimulate the minds and bodies of youths and to re-engage them in positive and healthy activities.

A simple ceremony marked the inaugural opening of the library branch recently at the Bagotville Community Centre ground. In attendance and commending the group were Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Mission Di-rector of USAID Dr. Fenton Sands; Peace Corps Country Director James Geenen, Chief Librarian of the National Library Gillian Thompson, National Library Rural Supervisor Allison Gittens and Chairman of the Group Michael Scotland.

The new library branch will also facilitate the establishment of documentation and computer centres, to which President Bharrat Jagdeo has promised additional computers, the release added.