April 5, 2003 – "Come and See What's New @ Your Library" is an invitation local librarians hope the public will find too good to refuse. It's the theme adopted to celebrate National Library Week, Sunday through April 13.
"It's a showcase to encourage people to come in," sayd Sharlene Harris, director of the Division of Libraries of the Planning and Natural Resources Department.
If you're already a library user, it's also the week to take back those overdue books. All four of the territory's public libraries are waiving fines for overdue books returned during National Library Week.
This is also a good time to try out the new online Gale Periodical Databases available at the library. The databases, a gift to the libraries from Trust Asset Management on St. Thomas, include information from a vast number of periodicals, newspapers and books. There are six separate databases with information for all segments of the community, from elementary school children to business investors.
Harris says that eventually library patrons with Internet access will be able to access the databases from their computers by using their library card numbers. Until some glitches are worked out, she says, patrons can call up the data bases on the library's computers or call to ask for the password.
Special events are planned on St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix.
On St. Thomas, Enid M. Baa Library will celebrate National Library Week Monday through Friday with an after-school program beginning at 3 p.m. On Monday, Rosalia Payne will read stories. On Tuesday, Nancy Christie will do the same. Wednesday will see April Phillips painting faces. On Thursday; Irvin "Brownie" Brown and Christian Doute will perform skits. On Friday, clown Steve Prosterman will entertain.
Harris points out that Baa Library patrons now can return books after hours at the library's book drop, located on the Main Street side of the building.
On St. John, Elaine Ione Sprauve Library in Cruz Bay is featuring a exhibit of works by St. John photographer Carol Beckowitz. It opens with a reception to be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The public is invited.
On St. Croix, Florence Williams Library in Christiansted will hold several events. Librarian Wallace Williams says there will be poetry reading and an open microphone at 6 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, the day starts with a Run to Your Library starting at 6 a.m. The course starts at the library, loops around Christiansted town and returns to the library. Also on Saturday, at 8 a.m., the library will host storytelling.
To learn more about the territory's library system, visit the Division of Libraries Web site.
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