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Dear Sir,

I am writing in response to your article in Friday November 28 edition of the Bermuda Sun:  entitled: 'Library delays hamper key research'.

  First I would like to thank you. As President of the Friends of the Bermuda National Library (Charity 309), I am very pleased that you have raised the issue that the Library has not been fully functional since April 2008. What does it say about Bermuda? That it doesn't care! I know that sounds harsh but that is what we feel.  

The Bermuda National Library has a staff of 25 amazing, talented, dedicated employees who have been working in untenable conditions so that a skeleton service may be provided to the public.  They have not had a visit from a member of parliament, their Minister, the Premier, yet day in and day out they continue to be cheerful, happy and upbeat to the members of the public that have continued to support the Library in its current form.  

  As head of the charity that was  set up to support the Bermuda National Library (A government department), our hands are often tied:  due to protocol in the government...we are not able to "spread the word about the current state" for fear of saying "too much" or not saying the right thing....it is time there was a public outcry.

Last free service  

The Library is I dare say the last and only entirely "FREE" service provided to every member of the community.  Where people from all walks of life can come in and use ALL the services entirely for free...such an important service that needs to be kept going. Sometimes I feel that it has to get REALLY bad before anyone (government) will take notice.  I dare say that no one would want to see the library closer permanently, and if faced with that possibility, perhaps then we would get the recognition we deserve.

  Did you know "we" have a dream of a purpose built facility that would house the Adult and Youth Libraries, as well as other services: an Arts Centre, a theatre... the list goes on. The mould problem in the current Adult Library and the fact that the Youth Library are on a recently renegotiated annual lease in their premises, serve to highlight the fact it would be great to fulfil our dream.  What better thought is there than to have families, business people, and visitors enjoying such a facility?  However, in these economic times, this dream appears to be disappearing, and the meantime we have to make do in the current locations.  

  I can only hope that with your articles, people will realize that the library is still functioning barely, and will continue to support and hang in there with us.

  Thank you for bringing us to the forefront.  Hopefully it will result in more "care" for a most wonderful facility.

Ardleigh Young

President, Friends of the Bermuda National Library[[In-content Ad]]

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