New Library

i think we need to ask ourselves what we consider a library to be.

please visit the friends of st. thomas public libraries web site (disclaimer, i am a board member) ... and see how the library engages young people in many hands-on ways, through the library youth volunteers, summer reading program, and saturday reading program. it's www.fostpl.org.

the hospital library cart brings books to those who are infirm; our book redistribution program keeps reading material out of the dumpster/landfill as long as possible, and we support local authors with book readings, attend book signings, and encourage reading and writing for people of all ages.

we also encourage storytelling (the original social medium), because we know that the root of all communication is person to person.

due to lack of funding (the community needs to see this as important and lean on those who hold the purse strings, the legislature!), the computers are in disrepair, but then everyone's computer needs maintenance. even mine. so, if upset that computers are not functioning, do something about it and get behind us and make your voice heard instead of declaring that "locals" don't read.

pay attention to the locals who DO read, and help them AND their children.

as the new library comes to fruition, some of these programs are on hiatus, but they still exist. will you help?

http://fostpl.org/main/?page_id=22 - saturday reading
http://fostpl.org/main/?page_id=50 - summer reading (we hope the new library is open, but if not, the governor sponsored a reading program last year to pick up the slack)
http://fostpl.org/main/?page_id=16 - day care literacy program (absolutely invaluable!)
http://fostpl.org/main/?page_id=24 - student volunteers

enid m. baa, who in high school used her spare time to help create the first libraries here - http://fostpl.org/main/?page_id=6

constructive and fun stuff we do - http://fostpl.org/main/?category_name=photo-pages

the library is NOT a building just as a church is not a building. but having that building makes it easier for us to gather, fellowship and share, read, surf the web, enjoy the digital offerings and archives and expand our own minds. anything you want, you CAN be, without question, if you want it. and it can happen in a library.

in order to be more germane to the forum section, i have created a post in the community listing... please visit that thread, weigh in, and if so moved, take action.

https://www.vimovingcenter.com/talk/read.php?8,156147 - thread: "a name for our new library!"

With all of the stuff you and other have mentioned it really sounds like a good rec center or a good boys and girls club or a YMCA would be more valuable. A YMCA would be much more valuable to the whole community and could easily include a computer center, library, gym, basketball courts, swimming pool, etc and still be cheaper.

I'm a huge book worm and have always loved books but libraries are becoming more and more a thing of the past. They just aren't needed. And they cost so much to upkeep properly when this is not what the islands needs at all.

There are so many more things the islands could use, especially to help the kids.

the library is NOT a building just as a church is not a building. but having that building makes it easier for us to gather, fellowship and share, read, surf the web, enjoy the digital offerings and archives and expand our own minds. anything you want, you CAN be, without question, if you want it. and it can happen in a library.

Except, a "library" is where you go to do general reading or research / study for school. A "church" is where you go to worship or preach to which ever god you follow.

Nobody, especially kids (even when I was a kid/in college) saw a "library" as anything other than "place to go study" or "place to check out books." You can't redefine "library" within a generation.

I agree with Hiya. But, I wouldn't say a YMCA--that's has some negative connotations here state-side. And "Boys and Girls club" has that "kids club" feel to it (a turn off for most HS students). A simple community center is a better approach that can connect with everybody. I hear great things about the Roulette Community Center, and JCC ( http://www.jccdallas.org/) here in Dallas. If you want a place that does stuff for the community, you need a "St. Thomas Community Center (STTCC)" not a "St. Thomas Library."
(or is there already a CC there? If so, money should go into that!)

A Community Center will do far more for the community, both in perception (important!) and acceptance among your Middle School and HS students, than any single-focused library could ever do.

Many of you are thinking about what libraries USED to be.....just a place to study, research books, etc.

Next time any of you are in the States or maybe the VI libraries, I suggest that you pop into a neighborhood library and see what's going on in there. You will find a section for young children where there is story telling and other age appropriate activities. Digital archives are there and you can even get dvds at the library.

There's tutoring going on for students. What better place is there for students to congregate and do homework after school? This is what's going on in local libraries nationwide.

Senior Citizen and physically challenged activities.

Libraries ARE Community Centers! That also have multiple rooms, like a quiet/study room, for the folks that want to read/study in quiet.

the library is NOT a building just as a church is not a building. but having that building makes it easier for us to gather, fellowship and share, read, surf the web, enjoy the digital offerings and archives and expand our own minds. anything you want, you CAN be, without question, if you want it. and it can happen in a library.

Except, a "library" is where you go to do general reading or research / study for school. A "church" is where you go to worship or preach to which ever god you follow.

Nobody, especially kids (even when I was a kid/in college) saw a "library" as anything other than "place to go study" or "place to check out books." You can't redefine "library" within a generation.

I think you're missing her point.....libraries and churches are more than what you're defining them as. And what they both share in common is that they can be used as fellowship and gathering places. It's what you make of it.

And I'm not sure of your age, but your perspective is very outdated or misinformed. I suggest you go visit some libraries, because your comments are telling me that you haven't visited one lately.

I think you're missing her point.....libraries and churches are more than what you're defining them as. And what they both share in common is that they can be used as fellowship and gathering places. It's what you make of it.

And I'm not sure of your age, but your perspective is very outdated or misinformed. I suggest you go visit some libraries, because your comments are telling me that you haven't visited one lately.

Touché. You are right; I hadn't been to a public library since the late '90s--which should say something, too. When I think library, I think: "a place set apart to contain books, periodicals, and other material for reading, viewing, listening, study, or reference, as a room, set of rooms, or building where books may be read or borrowed." -- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/library

I don't see that definition really changing.

This is just the perception of a guy that doesn't go to libraries. I'm sure perceptions of ones that do are different. Now I ask what's the percentage of people that /do/ go vs that /don't/ go? And what's the greater perception?

The issue I see here is you're attempting to redefine something that I see already has an in-stone--greater perception--definition. That's a long hard task, better spent on other routes.

*Edit: Disclaimer: My definition of church also comes from an non-religious person, too.

Libraries ARE Community Centers! That also have multiple rooms, like a quiet/study room, for the folks that want to read/study in quiet.

Do they have weight room? Do they have soccer leagues? Do they have swiming/surfing team (for your area)? A community center encompasses so much more than library. Just pure base definition of the words, which is what the general perception is. Yes, somebody in a library say see differently. But you're trying to redefine it to something we already have a name for "community center." Except, a community center focuses on the community more than books. A library will focus more on books -- that's just the definition of a library (see post above).

I'd LOVE to see a community center. Why? When (if) I move down there, I need a good weight training gym. A community center has this, a library does not. Here state-side; a community center has this--a library does not.

Cruz what do you mean "Senior Citizen and physically challenged activities."?

The rest of the stuff you mentioned has been going on in libraries for decades! But a modern library mets the needs of a very view. It's not going to be a place the youth is going to want to hang out. We need to get the kids to be somewhere they want to be and have room for them to study and use computers as needed.

They are not community centers, they are too limited in what they offer. Kids already have to be quiet and behave all the time in school. They need somewhere where they can be physical and learn at the same time IMO. Children don't even get to ride bikes anymore because their parents cant watch them. My generation was one of the last that got to roam free. Kids/teenagers need more constructive outlets on this island.

I would be more excited about a new basketball/tennis/track etc field. The one across from Gallows Bay is always packed and not just with kids, we have a real need for these kinds of things on island.

Guice we are not cut off from the mainland. I've never heard of the YMCA as having a serious reputation problem. There are good ones and bad ones. You should see some of the ones in Southern California, amazing! And my husband had a similar experience with the ones in Kentucky. Either way, YMCA is just another name for community rec center.

Public libraries serve an educational function when computers are available for the public, especially and particularly when library staff is available to assist in computer use.

Watch the beginning of the 2002 documentary Spellbound where it is explained that knowledge and learning have always been considered by Americans to have a communitarian aspect. This is one of the unique features of American society. Public libraries are thought of as being a community concern because their advancement benefits society as a whole and not just a few university students and favored private citizens.

I doubt it really and truly matters who we name a new library after if the larger issue of increasing the benefit to the public is advanced.

There is the counter-argument that American public libraries trivialize knowledge and learning and transform these into mere recreation. But the danger is the gradual monopolization of these goods by a few, the reverse of what we think of as democracy.

in case anyone's interested, wednesday the naming of the library will be part of the legislative session.

From http://www.legvi.org:

Calendar: LEGVI CALENDAR

Title: (STT) LEGISLATIVE SESSION

When: 03.23.2011 10:00 - 11:00

Location: St.Thomas, Earl B. Ottley Legislative Hall

AMONG OTHER ITEMS, CONSIDERATION OF BILL:

Bill No. 29 – 0012 – An Act renaming the new Regional Public Library in Estate Tutu, St. Thomas “The Charles Wesley Turnbull Regional Library” in honor of Governor Charles Wesley Turnbull, the sixth elected Governor of the United States Virgin Islands; to confer the Virgin Islands Medal of Honor on Governor Charles Wesley Turnbull in recognition of his outstanding public service and contributions to the people of the Virgin Islands

There is a move to ask the senate to name the library for June A Lindqvist who worked hard at the Enid Baa library most of her adult life, rather that Turnbull who it really should not be named for. Call your senators. Email them. It will be much better.

There is a move to ask the senate to name the library for June A Lindqvist who worked hard at the Enid Baa library most of her adult life, rather that Turnbull who it really should not be named for. Call your senators. Email them. It will be much better.

from the legislature's web site: http://www.legvi.org/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=1&Itemid=205

How to Email Senators or Legislative Staff:
firstinitiallastname@legvi.org
example: rrussell@legvi.org

here are your senators: http://www.legvi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=170&Itemid=47