"My Library is...Where I have fun learning."

It's free to join any NALIS Public or Mobile Library

A child's parent or guardian must follow these three (3) steps:

1. Download and print the Children's Registration Form Form from the NALIS Join the Library Page or collect a form from any of our libraries. You can also join the library by registering online. Please call and schedule an appointment first.
2. Fill out the form
3. Take the completed form to a NALIS library with the following:

• The child's computer generated birth certificate
• Valid parent's/guardian identification (passport, national ID or driver's permit)
• Parent's/guardian's proof of mailing address (a utility bill or bank statement)

• Parents and family members
• Adults working with children
• Caregivers
• Special needs groups

For the tiny tot you will find

• Board books
• Picture books
• Chapter books
• Audio books
• Games
• CDs and DVDs

For the older child you will find

• Books in different languages
• Caribbean books
• Books on local folklore
• DVDs
• Braille books

Fiction:

Titles include detective and adventure stories, musicals, fmaily stories, drama, horror and suspense

Non-Fiction:

Non-Fiction material include topics such as art, music, history, literature, Caribbean stories, comics, children's issues and much more.

ARRANGEMENT OF LIBRARY MATERIAL

Material housed in the library is available in different formats, including: books, magazines, films, tapes, newspapers, CDs, DVDs, charts and electronic databases. A catalogue is a guide to locating materials in a library. There are two kinds of catalogues, which may be found in our libraries: Card catalogue and Online Public Access Catalogue or OPAC. To help you to locate books on the OPAC or on the library shelves, please refer to the Dewey Decimal System.

DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM

With so many books and other materials at the Library, a special system had to be created to help librarians keep a record of everything there is. This is called a classification system. One example of a classification system is the Dewey Decimal Classification System (DDC), which is used in schools and public libraries in Trinidad and Tobago. The DDC System was developed by Melville Dewey, an American librarian.

This system arranges non-fiction books in number and subject order. Books are placed into ten large groups or categories. Each group is given one hundred broad numbers from 000 to 999. Each number within this group stands for a specific topic Books with the same numbers are placed in A-Z order by the author’s last name

000-099 – General Reference
100-199 – Philosophy
200-299 – Religion
300-399 – Social Sciences
400-499 – Languages
500-599 – Natural Sciences and Mathematics
600-699 – Technology
700-799 – The Arts (art, music, sports, hobbies)
800-899 – Literature (poetry, drama)
900-999 – History, Geography, Travel

Click here for a complete listing of the Dewey Decimal System

• Storytelling
• Art and craft
• Computer literacy classes
• Baby lap-sits
• Book clubs
• Group tours
• Vacation reading programmes
• Internet services
• Photocopying services

Online Activities

In every library you will find computers for public use. The library offers: 

• Free Internet Access
• Printing services
• Wireless Access
• Free access to software applications
• Free access to databases
• Free eBooks via eBooks on EBSCOHOST

A NALIS library card is your "passport to information". As a member of a NALIS library you can borrow:

• up to six (6) books at one time for a period of 28 days (overdue books cannot be renewed).
• Cds and DVDs up to 4 days
• 2 items from the audio visual collection at one time
• 2 eBooks from eBooks on Overdrive up to 14 days

To encourage the safe return of items for use by other persons, the library has implemented a fine for overdue or damaged material.

• Fines will be charged for books and DVDs not returned on time
• Fines are also paid for damaged or lost materials

To ensure the safety and protection of the child as well as the material and equipment in the library, we ask parents and children to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Parents are advised that children 7 years and under must not be left unattended at anytime while in the library.
• Loud, abusive, agressive, threatening or obscene language/ behaviour is not allowed.
• Mobile phones must be put on silent mode an all calls must be take outside the library.
• Viewing of pornographic websites or misuse of internet facilities is not allowed.
• Furniture and equipment must not be removed unless directed by library staff.
• Food/drink must not be consumed in the library.
• No littering.
• No possession of weapons.