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New minister visits libraries

Librarian Brigid Winters, right, of the Port of Spain Adult Library explains the benefits of using the Nalis library card to Minister Symon de Nobriga. The Minister received his very own card. -
Librarian Brigid Winters, right, of the Port of Spain Adult Library explains the benefits of using the Nalis library card to Minister Symon de Nobriga. The Minister received his very own card. -

MINISTER Symon de Nobriga reiterated the role libraries play in facilitating lifelong learning as he began his visits to Nalis’ libraries.

The newly appointed Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for communications and by extension Nalis, toured the National Library Building on September 11, said a media release.

Paula Greene, executive director (Ag) Nalis; Symon de Nobriga, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Communications; Keith Scotland, MP Port of Spain South; Neil Parsanlal, chairman of the Board of Nalis and Tamica Charles-Phillips, CEO (Ag.), UDeCOTT at the restoration site of the old public library/former Heritage Library. When restored, the Eric Williams Memorial Collection will be housed in this building. -

There he met with the members of the Board of Nalis, management and staff and explored the Heritage Library and its Rare Books Collection; the Adult, Children’s and Young Adult Libraries and the Preservation and Conservation Laboratory. de Nobriga, who was presented with his very own library card during his visit, tried his hand at deacidification (a process to increase the pH of acidic paper. This protects old books and paper based materials from degradation).

On September 15, joined by MP for Port of Spain South, Keith Scotland, de Nobriga visited the restoration site of the Eric Williams Memorial Collection, Knox Street, Port of Spain and the Beetham Gardens Community Library.

Deacidification:
Minister Symon de Nobriga tries his hand at the acid deacidification process in the Preservation and Conservation Lab, National Library Building.
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At the restoration site, which previously housed the Heritage Library, the minister announced that the Eric Williams Collection, which is currently curated and housed at the Alma Jordan Library, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, will be relocated to the restored library. At the Beetham Gardens Community Library de Nobriga said he was happy with the work being done by Nalis and Inter-Agency Task Force and that the community will benefit from the non-traditional learning and social interaction which occur at the facility. In addition to reading materials, the Beetham Gardens Community Library offers computer services and encourages the playing of games and other fun activities.

Keith Scotland, MP for Port of Spain South, centre, and at his left Minister Symon de Nobriga proudly show off their library cards during the Beetham Gardens Community Library tour. Looking on are from left: Paula Greene, executive director (Ag.), Nalis; Jesse-Ann Bernard, librarian and Neil Parsanlal, chairman, Board of Nalis. -

Scotland noticed that there was a PlayStation 4 Console (PS4) at the library, however what was noticeably absent was football simulation game - FIFA 2020. As promised, before the end of the day Scotland donated a brand new one to the library.

Showing off his new library card de Nobriga prompted Scotland to sign up for and receive his very own.

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