Chateaubelair Methodist School hosts successful library opening

by Camille Aragon Tue, Dec 13. 2011

Chateaubelair Methodist School opened its new library on Tuesday December 6, 2011, to an excited audience of students, teachers, parents and community supporters.{{more}} The opening ceremony commemorated this milestone for North Leeward’s largest primary school.

Associate Peace Corps Director for SVG Cuthbert “Mr Cool” James delivered a keynote address, inspiring students and parents alike to utilize the library to its full potential, drawing on his own personal memories of reading books like Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. He also addressed the need for improved literacy in Vincentian communities and how he has helped to ensure that this primary school, where he once worked as a teacher, has received ongoing support from U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers.

During remarks by Principal Edmie Charles, gratitude was expressed to those who have supported this endeavour: the Ministry of Education; teachers who have assisted in various fundraising efforts; former Peace Corps Volunteer Stephanie Kistner, for soliciting book donations and acquiring funds to ship them from America; Harriet and Tom Linskey of Hands Across the Sea, a non-profit organisation dedicated to establishing school libraries throughout the Eastern Caribbean; ACE Hardware for donating paint for the floor; parents and community members who assisted in organising books, building bookshelves and moving furniture; and students who offered their help in preparing the library space.

The event concluded with a multimedia information session, which included photographs documenting the development of the library project, a virtual tour of the new library space, an introduction of the newly-elected Student Librarians, and an overview of the library rules and policies.

The new library now houses over 1,500 books ranging from pre-Kindergarten level reading material to adult fiction and encyclopedic reference sets. The purpose of the library is to help promote literacy, critical thinking, and creative education development for the students of Chateaubelair Methodist School. The students are particularly excited about this development at their school. “I like the school library, because we can learn things out of the books, like about dinosaurs at last,” shared fifth grader Caldria Jordon. Her classmate Antika Hooper also shared her appreciation for the new space: “I like the design, I like the books; I like everything within the library.”

Parents of students at Chateaubelair Methodist School are encouraged to visit the new library and assist their children to become library members and encourage a love of reading.