Hey Rebecca a thought came to me does Treasure beach have a library. I think it would be agret idea, for young and old. I would give people a varity of book to read to increase there knowledge. And for those who are not that well at reading there can be you a class maybe once a week to motivate and inspire them to learn to read. Aslo because ther are looksof books to read it will cause an interest.I also think it would be great for the children as well for doing projects for school, and just strike up a generally intrest in readind. I would also be great if ther were at least too computers. to increase the gateway of information. or those wanting to do resumee, school project or such other they can type it up and print it, afterall not everyone have computer and also the elders or those who don't know to use it they could be taught. I live in ottawa an there are libaries everywhere and people are always there. some to relax and escape in a book other to do research. anyway I think It's a great idea, what do all the otheres out there think.

Splendid idea. We need some good person,family and individual to donate a piece of land, minimum, one acre in a good area, we will need plenty of parking spaces and an possibility of expansion if needs be, plus some ancillaries to compliment the libray, Meeting room, computer, music room area, adult area, children area e.t.c. the best way will be to seek monetary and volunteers, may be an architect could draw the plan pro bono, and others in all walks of life. I promise to donate a new a computer when the time is ripe for it. Let us all put our money where our mouth is. This is a great let all team together on this.

Soji O has some good ideas, but seems to be putting the cart before the horse. We don't need all of those things in order to *start* the library. Those things can come later. In fact, if we had a small library up and running, it may even be easier to find support and donations for land and/or a larger space. Can we look at starting something modest first and bringing access to more books to the community ... and then focus on expansion?

Perhaps a modest start could be made by using the Treasure Beach Women's Group facility. It's a beautiful building, and there usually are not too many activities scheduled -- at least not in every room at the same time. This might not be the ultimate solution, but it could be a good beginning. If anyone from the TBWG is reading this, it would be nice if they could comment on the feasibility.

Mt guess is that finding appropriate space will be more difficult than finding books to stock a library. People are very willing to donate books if there would be a place to put them where they would be used and enjoyed.

I truly am surprise that there has been very little input on this subject. I guess they they do not realize the great use of a libray. Anyone who is in Farine or overseas know the great use that a library can bring to everyone of the community. A big space is not needde I agree just some where to start with, and so the people can actually start to read and learn and expand their knowledge. I truly am disappointed. To tell you the truth Jamiacan love too foolishness, that they would not see the immportance of such a facility infact I wonder if Jamaica actually have any public libraries?

Don't become the "Fox and the Grape" Carlette we do have public libraries. You are surprise but, don't go sour, wonderful idea but you don't need behave in this manner,,, yes we are slow but we'll get there in the end. Why don't you suggest ways of obtainig the site and books even have a fundraiser ideas do work but, it does with money Dear. You also directed your idea to Rebbeca you need to direct to the mass.

Well Carlette, I don't know where you're from,but to suggest that Jamaica has no public libraries tells me that you've led a very sheltered life with little exposure. There are public libraries in every town in Jamaica.As a child in the 1960's I used to spend hours at a time in Black River library reading with my friends and choosing books to borrow.I went to Black River School which also had a library.The impression you give is that we don't know the value of books.My love of books started with the Jamaica Library Service.As a personal treat make some time to visit the public libraries up and down the country, you might learn something useful.Your idea is a good one, but it's not original. I fully agree with Foxxee, it will need the support of the community to realise your ambition not one individual.Rebecca is part of the Treasure Beach community, she is not the community.

Jamaica does have a well-developed public library system.
The Jamaica Library Service (JLS) was established circa 1949 and has grown into a sophisticated island-wide network, headed by a CEO at the headquarters on Tom Redcam Avenue in Kingston.
The network includes 13 parish libraries, each located in the respective parish capital (The St. Elizabeth Parish Library is situated just above the hospital in Black River, branch libraries in most of the larger towns and book centers in smaller villages. Then there is the bookmobile service, which provides for those communities that are without a fixed location.
I well recall the fortnightly visits by the bookmobile to Sandy Bank primary school (and it was my main source of Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books!), providing books, not only for students but adults in the community as well.
I happen to know that consideration has been given to the establishment by the JLS of a branch library in Treasure Beach. There are other communities competing for the same facility, however, and local stakeholders might wish to pursue the idea on their own.
It is certainly not a project to be assigned to an individual, though!
There are now many opportunities for continuing education through correspondence, via the Internet, with offshore universities and with a growing number of tertiary institutions in Jamaica which have satellite campuses in rural parishes and towns, so it would be good to have a local library, which is appropriately stocked to meet some of their needs.
Then there are the books and other materials that might be relevant to the needs of our fishermen and farmers, or those for leisure.
By the way, those persons wishing to pursue research on Jamaican/ West Indian history, culture, anthropology etc could also go to the National Library of Jamaica, located at East Street in downtown Kingston.

Just as an FYI, the Treasure Beach Women's Group has hosted an unofficial library at its facility for quite a while now. It has a small selection of non-fiction, a few text books and a very large selection of fiction. I've been getting my books from there for months.

The Sandy Bank Primary School also has a library which is growing every day.

Thanks to all the folks who have donated books, supplies and computers to these facilities.

Please, please play nice everyone. If you submit a message for posting and are being accusatory of others your message will not be posted. It is such a waste of energy to tear each other down. Let's make useful suggestions which build each other up.

This forum is for positive vibes and exchanging of ideas, not criticisms.

I support libraries in all communities and enjoy

reading but remind that internet access allows

more information to the individual than any library

can.

One laptop per child and with wireless service

would take us a long way.

Well said TB Net. I read this site almost every day and get really nervous about posting anything.Some people seem to get so agitated and critical, often without reading the posts fully.
One love xx