Free up the library

Dennie Quill, Columnist

I heard someone complaining that children had recently been turned away from a library in rural Jamaica because they were not "properly dressed". I understand that the children who were turned away were wearing sleeveless tops and shorts.

Other persons have suggested that there is actually a dress code instituted by many libraries throughout the country. I find this disconcerting, and I hope that everyone reading this will feel as uncomfortable as I do about this practice.

First, I see this as rank discrimination. A child's mode of dress largely depends on what the parent or guardian can afford to buy for him. Children in rural Jamaica are mostly from agricultural families who are engaged in a daily struggle for survival. Outfitting a child for attending the library would be low down in the order of their priorities. Are we then saying the child whose parents cannot afford to get him fancy garments with sleeves ought to be denied an opportunity to enhance his intellectual growth?

The more I think about this proposition, the more incensed I have become. Imagine what this does to a child's self-esteem when he reflects on the fact that he is barred from using a public library because of what he is wearing. These libraries are financed by taxpayers and exist to provide information services to the general public. Access should be given to all, and we should not tolerate discrimination in our libraries.

Library usage may not, in itself, hold the key to Jamaica's economic prosperity, but I am certain that quality education delivered to the majority is the real path to progress.

Besides the formal school system, there are other ways of gaining knowledge and understanding, and the library is one of them. There is, therefore, a strong linkage between libraries and education. For example, many of our tradesmen, such as carpenters, plumbers and masons, should be able to access valuable information from libraries to assist them in becoming more efficient and enhancing safety in the workplace.

Design a grand plan

The library holds a unique position in a community, and I urge the leadership of the library association and the Ministry of Education to design a grand plan that will ensure that libraries operate as centres of learning where the emphasis is not on exclusion, but on access.

A common cry from users of local libraries is that the books and reading materials are usually dated and in poor condition. And many libraries have had to rely on donations by friends to keep their shelves stocked. This happens because libraries are underfunded and are not recognised for the role they were meant to play as a symbol of learning. Well-financed libraries are equipped with terminals and databases in keeping with new technology available in this Internet Age. In many cases, our libraries have no such facilities.

Let us not send mixed signals to our children as they seek to increase their knowledge and gain understanding. We must be clear why the libraries exist in a community.

I once worked at an institution that conducted summer school for neighbourhood children and I remember arriving in the lobby one day to hear the security guards shooing a little boy away because his shirt was a bit tacky.

I intervened on behalf of the boy and explained to the guards why it was important for them to allow him to participate. He later got some T-shirts from the company's management and was a happy participant. I felt pretty pleased with myself for securing a victory to allow one small boy to slake his thirst for knowledge.

Dennie Quill is a veteran media practitioner. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and denniequill@hotmail.com.