Philipsburg Jubilee Library
   Ch.E.W. Voges Street 12, Philipsburg, St Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
   tel. +599 542-2970 / fax +599 542-5805 info@stmaartenlibrary.org                                              
     
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Official opening of the new library bookmobile

 

Festive welcome for the new bookmobile
Speeches and merry music marked the official introduction of Philipsburg Jubilee Library's new bookmobile to the general public on Sunday February 1, 2009. The program consisted of brief speeches by Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards, Leader of Government Commissioner of Education Sarah Wescot-Williams, AMFO representative Hendrickje Stoffels and library director Ans Koolen. Music was provided by Mighty Dow and the Ebony Steel Band, Shabah Drummers and the Seventh Day Adventist Drum Corps.

The cheerfully decorated bus, depicting children with books in an island setting, made a dramatic entry at the library's parking lot. To the sound of drums mixes with appreciative applause from the audience, the bus was slowly driven through a sheet of paper carrying the library's logo.

The library has been offering service on wheels for 29 years. This is the third bus that will cater to St. Maarten's primary schools. The old bus has been up for retirement for a long time and had been kept on the roads with a lot of ingenuity and creativity. The new bus, manufactured in North Carolina by Matthews Vehicles, was designed specifically to cater to the library's needs. The bus will visit not only schools, but also several community centers. Library director Ans Koolen said Sunday that it would visit schools during the morning hours and the community centers in Belvèdere, Dutch Quarter and St. Peters in the afternoon. She sad community centers in other districts would be added to the schedule later.

The purchase of the bookmobile was made possible through a grant from Antillean co-funding agency AMFO.
(c: The Daily Herald, Monday February 2, 2009)

The library would like to thank everybody for their help: AMFO, Annemiek van Kerkhof who designed the colorful images on the outside of the bus and Mr Michael Ferrier who helped the library with the technical specifications and arranged the transportation. Bernuth Lines transported the bus free of charge from Miami. Four Star Cargo prepared the export documents free of charge as well. The St. Maarten Ports Authority waived all harbor fees. Bunchie’s Garage thoroughly cleaned the bookmobile after shipment. Brenda Wathey and again Annemiek van Kerkhof from Artemia Event Planners donated time en equipment for the inauguration of the bus. And Morena Ignacio did the outside decoration.

To read about the coloring contest, please go to coloring contest new library bookmobile. And don't forget to check library bus is @ your area too!


 

activities and exhibitions 2009 / library / donations / coloring contest new library bookmobile