Background | History | Mission Statement | Service Points and Hours of Opening
| The National Library service operates through a number of service points - the Central Library in Georgetown, Branches, Centres, bookmobile service, Deposit Collection and service to the prisons. The Central Library is the library for Georgetown and is also the administrative headquarters and as such is the policy making body, co-ordinates, monitors and evaluates the entire service. Branches are situated in towns. Rural areas are served by centres which operate on a part time basis and are manned by local library assistants, and the bookmobile service serves sparsely populated areas. A deposit collection is given to a community which is not large enough to support a library centre, or sometimes in special cases it is used to supplement the collection in a small existing library. |
Disposition of library service points by region
| Region 1 | Barima/Waini - No service |
| Region II | Pomeroon/Supernaam
Centre: Anna Regina |
| Region III | Essequibo Islands/West Demerara
Centres:Bagotville Hague Salem Stanleytown Uitvlugt |
| Region IV | Demerara/Mahaica - with the largest number of service points
Headquarters: Central Library, Georgetown Branch: Ruimveldt Centres: Beterverwagting Buxton Golden Grove/Nabaclis Mocha Prison Service: Georgetown Timehri Bookmobile Service: Peter’s Hall/Agricola (3 stops) Kuru-Kururu (3 stops) Relief/Supply (1 stop) Soesdyke/Coverden (3 stops) President’s College (1 stop) |
| Region V | Mahaica/Berbice
Centre: Mahaicony Woodley Park |
| RegionVI | East Berbice/Corentyne
Branches: New Amsterdam, Corriverton Centres:Albion Crabwood Creek Lancaster-Liverpool-Manchester Prison Service: New Amsterdam |
| Region VII | Cuyuni/Mazaruni
Centre: Bartica Prison Service: Mazaruni Sibley Hall |
| Region VIII | Potaro/Siparuni - No service |
| Region IX | Upper Takatu/Upper Essequibo
Centre:Lethem |
| Region X
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Upper Demerara/Berbice
Branch: Linden |
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Opening of the Georgetown Public Free Library in September 1909. The building was designed by Leonard Percival Hodge and constructed from funds donated by thephilanthropist Andrew Carnegie. It was operated on the "CLOSED ACCESS" system - the borrower had to request the material needed from the assistant. Borrowers were permitted toborrow one non-fiction and one fiction book on their tickets. |
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Upper storeys added to the wings of the building to accommodate the
British Guiana
Museum. |
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"OPEN ACCESS" system started - the borrower was now permitted to browse at the shelves and select whatever books he/she required. Library’s stock was re-classified by Dewey Decimal Classification. |
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Public lectures inaugurated Discussion Circle started. |
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The children’s library opened. Story Hour, exhibitions, film shows and quizz programmes were a few of the extension activities which this juvenile section provided. |
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Legislation enacted to empower the committee of the Library to provide library services outside of Georgetown. The name of the Library was changed form Georgetown Public Free Library to Public Free Library. Rural Library centres were opened at Hague (August), Plaisance (September) and Golden Grove (October). |
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Occupancy of the entire building was formally handed over to the Public Free Library as a result of the construction of the Racs building to house the Museum. |
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Opening of the New Amsterdam Branch Library. |
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Opening of the Linden Branch Library |
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Golden Jubilee of the Public Free Library. |
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Borrowing facilities widened - borrowers permitted to borrow any two books on their tickets.Opening hours of the Lending and Reference Departments extended by six hours per week.Rural service were extended, an in-service training programme inaugurated to upgrade the skills of the staff and professional training at Library School introduced. |
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Photocopying service commenced Public Free Library assumed responsibility for the Prison Library Service. |
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Public Free Library appointed depository for Unesco publications |
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Celebration of Diamond Jubilee Opening of Gramophone Record Library |
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Introduction of Bookmobile Service |
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Enactment of legislation for the establishment of National Library.
Amendment of
publication and Newspaper Act to make National Library the Legal Depository for all material printed in Guyana. |
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Publication of the Guyanese National Bibliography. First quarterly issue covering January to March produced in May. |
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First branch of the Central Library opened at Ruimveldt. |
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Service to the Rupununi commenced - Libraries in Aishalton and Lethem. |
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Introduction of the Certificate Course in Library Studies - a Government of Guyana/UnescoTraining Programme for Library Assistants were enrolled and three professional staff members were on the lecturing panel |
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Opening of Uitvlugt Library Centre |
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Opening of the Toy Library in the Juvenile Department of the Central Library. |
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Completion of Complex - provides recreational facilities for staff,
garages for library
vehicles and public convenience. |
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75th Anniversary |
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Work commenced on the construction of new Branch Library for New Amsterdam |
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Opening of the Library Centre at Albion Extension of bookmobile service to the President’s College |
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Completion of the renovation of the Linden Branch Library Building. |
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80th Anniversary celebrated |
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Deposit Collection established and re-established at Kuru Kuru and Kwakwani respectively |
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Deposit Collection established at Port Mourant. |
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50th Anniversary of separate service to children celebrated |
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1993 |
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Re-introduction of uniforms for general staff |
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Replacement of roof, Georgetown, and sections of the floor damaged
by the seepage of water.
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Electric Rewiring of Central Library
Installation of concrete trestle and water tank system, Georgetown Construction of Gardener’s Hut. Replacing guttering, Central Library Annex. Installing Air Conditioning Unit, New Amsterdam Library Repairing External toilet facilities and Guard Hut, Linden Library |
| Government | |
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Library controlled by an autonomous Committee of nine, nominated by Governmentand four by the Georgetown Town Council. |
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Ordinance - Committee to consist of a chairman and not more than twelve
or not less than nine other persons, six to be appointed by the Minister
and the reminder by local government authorities.
Present committee consist of a chairman and nine other persons |
| Finance | |
| Library financed by subvention from Government and a fixed amount from the Georgetown City Council. | |
| Laws | Present Legislation - National Library: Act
v.6: Chp. 40:01 of the Laws of Guyana i Principal Act and ii Regulations - National Library (Management and Control) Regulations National Library (Superannuation) Regulations and also relevant |
| Publication and Newspapers Act | |
| v.4: Chp. 21:01 of the Laws of Guyana ...
Section 6 deals with the obligation of publisher to supply copies of books. |
To satisfy both nationally and internationally, the information and recreational needs of the library’s users through the collection, organisation and dissemination and preservation of information in printed and other formats.
| CENTRAL:
Mon. - Fri. 09:00 - 18:00 hrs Sat. 09:00 - 12:00 hrs |
| BRANCHES
Ruimveldt:
New Amsterdam:
Linden:
Corriverton:
SERVICES
ACTIVITIES
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