Dear Editor,
It’s hard to imagine how some people cherish life without going to a library and enjoying reading good books, magazines, newspapers, and other periodicals. This is essentially important to an affluent society. A library reflects the educational qualities of great leaders. We shouldn’t play politics with this public access educational institution, because it helps to develop excellent reading habits, independent research, and bring people together in the community.
A public library is a treasure for community reading, and a piece of history to society. Public Jubilee Library has served the citizens of St. Maarten for over 75 years. It’s sad to see the public access centre close its door to teachers, students, adults, tourists, and the general public at large. The area has now become a parking lot for automobiles. Hurricane Irma destroyed the building one year and few months ago.
The structure is still in a state of shock. Saddened by the disappearance! Its parking lot is overrun by cars, and children sitting on the entrance side wall, hoping that one day, it will reopen. I cannot understand why a library should be in so much political tensions. It’s a sad and dismal day for children, parents, teachers, tourists, and other readers. If our elected officials are interested in the future of our children, a library would be a priority choice to them. Negligence will have serious reading defects among the youths in the community, and will lead to a delinquent society.
Hard-working and struggling parents who are trying to make ends meet, would like to have the library open to host their children in the afternoon school programme. If the officials are educationally conscious, a library will be a high priority. Some can afford to purchase a cell phone, and go online to access reading and materials, while others cannot afford to do so. This is why a public library is important to the community for children to access free or affordable reading materials. This public access centre should not have anything to do with politics.
If members of the operational board are not functioning, get rid of them and install a new board. The public desperately needs to have the library reopened or rebuilt soon. I cannot understand why a library should be caught up in politics. The children are in need of a place to study quietly for their tests, examinations, home work, and general reading. Teachers depend on it for research and knowledge purposes. We need a state-of-the-art public library where students could access help in their homework, get world news online, do research, and access reading materials online.
The establishment of the new institution would be of great benefit for students, teachers, and adults. A public library is the ideal choice for everyone in search of historical events and information. It is a symbol of a cultural icon, and a place of knowledge acquisition and a research centre, and also a place for learning, and an attraction for visitors. Without a library, is like going back to the days of cave men searching for information for future development.
The purpose of a library: It is a place to access reading materials, and enjoy reading quietly. Reading develops mental effectiveness. Our education system requires reading and writing, and a place to study these skills in a quiet setting, such as a library. I am appealing to the general public at large to help finance a state-of-the-art public library on St. Maarten for the students, teachers, parents and visitors.
In summary; I will be happy to see everyone involved in getting the library project off the ground.
Joseph Harvey
