With the establishment of a library at Bush Lot, West Berbice by the Madray Mootoo Foundation (MMF), villagers have a chance to widen their knowledge through reading.

At a simple commissioning ceremony recently at the Bush Lot Sports Club Ground where the library has been set up, a member of the Canada-based foundation said it “would be wonderful news to hear that the books were worn out and more books are needed.”

He said that the library belongs to the community and what he “did not want to hear was that the books are neatly packed and never used.”

Persons checking out books in the library just after the opening

He pointed out the foundation helps people in different parts of the world and that members thought of helping with the development of education by setting up libraries.

The members helped to construct the building at Bush Lot in three days with pre-fabricated materials from Canex Building Supplies.

The foundation had set up three other libraries: at Bath Settlement, Number 30 Village and at Mahaicony.
Former headmaster and prominent member of the community, Arnold Persaud emphasized the importance of reading and said parents should direct children to read anything, including labels from products.

He told the gathering that at one time, although the Bush Lot Secondary had a large library the students were not enthused to read. As a result, the school never had “more than five passes in English” until he inspired the students to read and to share what they learnt from each book.

President of the sports club, Rabindranauth Saywack assured the MMF that the library “would work” and said they plan to go around to homes and encourage parents and children to make full use of the facility.

He told the gathering that he had made progress with getting children – who had been drinking and gambling instead of enjoying games and reading – to join the cricket club. He said he took it a step further to ask for the establishment of the library so the children can develop their reading ability.