Book fair promotes reading
While political activists expressed their views at Social Security, across Princess Margaret Drive another group of Belizeans were busy in the pursuit of learning. Patrick Jones reports from the Leo Bradley Library.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
The annual book fair gave the public, especially students, a chance to sample the literary work of Belizean authors and thousands of books in the national library system. Chairman of the National Library Board Orton Clarke says it?s an exciting world in which to get the children interested.
Orton Clarke, Chairman, National Library Board
?And so it?s a way of enlightening them and getting them to know what is good in literature, in library works, especially in these days when computerization is the thing that is affecting most children.?
The children were given a chance to take part in interactive activities, such as reading, storytelling and poster making competitions focusing on the theme: reading today for tomorrow. Library Assistant Glen Barrera says while the focus was on children, books are for everyone.
Glen Barrera, Library Assistant
?It?s for the entire population. Because we also have a senior citizens program that we promote every other Friday and they are also a part of today?s book fair, but basically what we are trying to do right now is target the younger children so that we can develop them into reading. The older ones it?s kind of difficult to get them to read because they already mould, but if we can get to the little ones and get then bring them up that could introduce the library to them and got a better understanding of reading.?
The day?s event also offered an amnesty for persons with outstanding library books who got to turn them in without penalty and new members also got to sign up at half price. Clarke says more Belizeans should join the library.
Orton Clarke
?We certainly would love for everybody to join the library. We can accommodate everybody. And I must say that in this very day?s activities we?ve had donation to the library of well deserved literature from different firms. So today is also a very good day for us.?
Patrick Jones, for News Five.
