~ Fundraiser, tours set for next Saturday ~
Looking forward to a positive future is a tall order for Philipsburg Jubilee Library (PJL), but that’s exactly what the diligent board, management and staff are doing as PJL marks 95 years of promoting literacy and serving the public.
In dire straits since the devastating hurricane season of 2017 and subsequent looting, PJL staff members have been trying to make the most of the situation, working in deplorable conditions as the structure continues to deteriorate.
Only 12 per cent of the building can be used, a small collection of the books is still accessible, and some services have been discontinued. The pictures on pages 6 through 11 tell some of the story.
Next Saturday, Laser 101 will be hosting a radiothon on the premises from 10:00am to 4:00pm, as a fundraiser for PJL in commemoration of the anniversary. Members of the public are welcome to join in the celebration, enjoy food and drink, and take a guided tour of the facilities.
Although many have fond memories of the library, not many realise just how bad things have gotten since the hurricanes. Donations of any amount are welcome.
All proceeds go towards a new, state-of-the art National Heritage and Knowledge Center, which PJL hopes to be able to move into in the coming years, along with Sint Maarten National Heritage Foundation & Museum and Sint Maarten Archaeological Center (SIMARC).
A memorandum of understanding for that project was signed between the three parties in May – plans had been in the making since 2008.
The new home will not only enable more collaboration on promoting literacy, preserving heritage, and the accessibility of knowledge, but it will be a much-welcomed permanent home for PJL.
The library has been displaced time and time again to make room for schools and offices, since its founding in 1923 – the year Queen Wilhelmina celebrated her silver jubilee. It settled at its current location in 1984. The ground-breaking had taken place the year before under pioneers Clemmy and Berthilde Carty.
Irmin Hughes, who became Interim Director in July, after Monique Alberts had served in the position for nine years, says that “it now feels like we got teleported back to 1978” – a small group working in a single hall space. “Our staff members have proven to be resilient under the circumstances.”
Hughes remembers starting fresh out of high school, under the leadership of pioneer librarian Blanca Hodge with about five other colleagues. “Storytime was given to the children, under a tree being that the library was very small; it was done in order to promote reading by any means necessary. No matter the size of the building or the space we had, we strived to provide information, literature and recreational activities for all.
“Fast forward to 1980, the library received our first mobile library bus. The bus was used to bring reading to the children during school hours, who otherwise were not able to make it to the library.”
On behalf of the board, its President Paul T.C. Martens: “Through awareness campaigns, conferences, workshops, reading competitions, courses, book presentations, poetry, Christmas markets, storytelling, summer learning camps, lectures and projects catered to the general public or to specific target groups (e.g., babies, toddlers, students, seniors and new St. Maarteners), PJL has been very creative in executing its main objective; the continuation of a public library.
“Educational, recreational and social aspects go most of the time hand in hand. Accessibility for all is an important condition for a public library; the only one in St. Maarten. PJL will continue to improve its services and remains dedicated to serve the public. After devastating Hurricane Irma, this is quite a challenge.
“The board of PJL would like to thank every individual, company, service club, institution; every funding agency and other local, regional or international entity that throughout the 95 years of existence supported PJL. The board also wants to thank all past staff members, board members and volunteers during all these years of existence.
“Special thanks go out to the staff for their dedication and to The Daily Herald for covering this milestone. As Mr. Kofi Annan said, ‘Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope’, which comes close to the objective of our founding fathers; or, remembering Voltaire, ‘Let us read and let us dance – two amusements that will never do any harm to the world.’ Thank you for celebrating our 95 years of existence together.”
