The National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) opened its 24th Public Library service point in Debe on Tuesday 12 March, 2002. This new service point is expected to serve the 10,000 residents of Barrackpore, Debe, Wellington Road, Lalbeharry Trace and Penal. As with the other 23 public libraries, users of the Debe Public Library will have free access to the Internet and a variety of Adult Fiction and Non-ficton, Children’s Fiction and Non-fiction, General Reference, Caribbeana, a Baby Collection as well as a Student Pool of SAT text, and other subject area school texts.

Delivering the greetings on behalf of the community, Carl Dabideen, Chairman, of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation recounted that in 1999, while on a “meet the community visit” a little boy shared his desire for the establishment of a library in the area. Since then, Dabideen said, the Corporation along with NALIS had been working assiduously to ensure that the little boy’s request became a reality. Dabideen thanked the former Member of Parliament, Trevor Sudama and the Real Estate and Property Services Division of the Ministry of Works for their efforts in providing the building.

Pamella Benson, executive director, NALIS who delivered the feature address beseeched students, teachers and principals to encourage their peers to use the library. Benson also encouraged members of the community to become “Friends of the Library” and actively participate in providing additional reading material for users as Central government funding is inadequate to supply all the materials needed.

Benson revealed that prior to the opening of this Debe Public Library, the residents of the area received library services when the Central Library offered an intermittent Bookmobile service from 1970 to 1984. She reiterated that NALIS is committed to providing efficient delivery of information in all formats to the entire population and as such is expanding its services to Carenage, Toco, Tableland, New Grant and Rio Claro through the acquisition of a new Bookmobile Library, and the opening of a library in St. Helena by mid year. Last December, NALIS started providing a serve to the populace of Cedros.