With a focus on the 60th Anniversary of Trinidad and Tobago’s Independence, the National Library and Information System Authority’s (NALIS) public and community libraries across the country hosted July and August in-person vacation camps.

In keeping with NALIS’ mandate to preserve, promote and exploit our national heritage information and in an effort to encourage patriotism among the attendees, the majority of activities were based on the rich history of Trinidad and Tobago.

Know Your Country quizzes, Let’s Think Red, Black and White, Games We Used to Play and Celebration of Diamond Jubilee were among the themed activities at libraries. These took the form of bingos; lectures; arts and craft, meet the authors and storytelling sessions; fashion shows; movie day; career day and karaoke with local songs, to name a few.

Art and craft sessions involved the creation of replicas of the national instrument and the national flower. Educational videos focused on the national emblems and the history of Trinidad and Tobago’s Independence Day. At the end, the children were able to create a flip/scrapbook of their favourite camp memories.

NALIS libraries continue to provide safe spaces for children and offer services to facilitate the cultural, social, educational development of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Persons are invited to visit NALIS’ website and libraries’ Facebook pages to be updated on programmes and activities.

Computer Literacy session at the Sangre Grande Public Library.

Storytelling at the Sangre Grande Public Library

Re-creation of the Buccoo Reef at a Craft session.

A re-creation of the Bucco Reef.

Steel pans created during a Craft session at the St. James Public Library.