Since 2011 the National Library of Trinidad and Tobago, located in Port of Spain, has been the home of NGC Bocas Lit Fest and now, for the second consecutive year, the National Library and Information System Authority (Nalis) has been named among the programmes sponsors of the festival which will run from April 26 to 30, 2017.

Nalis’ programmes, will include a preservation and conservation workshop to be facilitated by Danielle Fraser, preservation and conservation librarian. The workshop titled, Preservation and Conservation for Beginners, will be conducted from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon on April 26. This workshop will demonstrate preservation techniques for authors and other persons who are interested in preserving treasured books, documents and valuable manuscripts.

Also on the agenda for April 26, from 10:00 am, is the eighth annual First-Time Authors’ Appreciation Programme, This programme, to be hosted in the Audio Visual Room, will celebrate and recognise 38 authors who have published for the first time during the period January to December 2016.

The One Book, One Community (OBOC) Nationwide Reading Project, which resumes after a four-year hiatus, will be launched on April 27 at 6:30 pm at the Amphitheatre, National Library. NALIS’ selection for its eighth OBOC is Green Days by the River, written by Michael Anthony. This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of this book.

On Friday 28, a tour of the National Library building will be led by Debbie Goodman, NALIS’ Manager, Corporate Communications. Tour participants will view the Rare Books Room, which houses various collections, the Preservation and Conservation Laboratory and other facilities in the building.

Nalis views its continued partnership with the NGC Bocas Lit Fest as important and a natural synergy in the promotion of literacy skills and the celebration of writers, books and the region’s literary achievements.