Belize National Library Service Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Joy Ysaguirre

The Belize National Library Service celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary with all day activities in Belize City. We stopped in at the festivities where students were hosted for lunch and educational activities. Over the years, the library has been promoting its services that are available online. Principal Librarian Joy Ysaguirre tells us more.

Joy Ysaguirre, Principal Librarian, Belize National Library Service

“We are especially pushing EBSCO services, which is a database we acquired a few years ago and it is available to each and every person within the country. What this allows you to do is to go on and do your own searches whether you are at home or at the library. Today we are especially pushing the whole aspect of being able to access e-books, via your mobile device or computer. We are saying to our young people it may not always be necessary to have to come to the library. We also have Belizean books on the database, as well as Caribbean books. That database was developed especially to assist in the Caribbean exams that are taken every year.   Whereas the library has to transition from the book base format of presenting information, we are still very relevant because we are now trying to present information in another format. So, our key mission from this day forward is to transition into other formats of presenting information.   As long as we continue to have those who cannot afford technology and internet services, we will have use here at the library. So, we continue to serve those persons who cannot access services normally.”