Click here to print
Old Road Gets New Library
Thu, August 28, 2014
Welcome back to 7news - for all those outside the city, we apologize for the 40 minute break in transmission; there is a citywide blackout in Belize City - which is still underway. BEL has not located the cause yet. But, we continue with the news for all our viewers outside the city.

In the age of electronic everything, the role of the library is often overlooked. But, the National Library Service is pushing on and pushing into remote communities with its mobile library service. One of those communities is Maskall which was serviced for decades by the mobile library - visiting the village on the old northern road in Landrovers, vans, and even taxi's! But, finally now Maskall has a library of its own. The building was opened today and 7News was there:..

Hon. Edmund Castro, Area Rep. - Bze Rural North
"It's the prettiest building in Maskall. As you pull the curve you see our library."

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
The papaya coloured library stands out indeed - and when the ribbon was cut today it opened a new world to the students from Lady of Lourdes RC.

Hon. Edmund Castro
"So this is the first time in the history of the old road that we now have a building that we can now call a library that is connected to the national library service of this country."

Today Educator Minister Patrick Faber tried to nurture a love of reading:

Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
(reading book)"Before I could say another word, she raise herself on her crooked stick and she came towards me point the stick at me, I can't take no botheration. You know what botheration means? Don't bother me right."

But in the electronic age are books still relevant?:

Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"I don't think that it is antiquated at all. This is something that we still certainly still encourage in the Ministry of Education right alongside the use to the technology."

Hon. Edmund Castro
"Library of old where you need to go there and read a book, it's no more. You can come here now and log on to the system and then you have the whole world library at your fingertips."

The computer lab is impressive - and it offers free wi-fi. Now, the national library service can only hope that it will be as full as this every day.

Next up for Maskall is a Water system.

Close this window