Better administration needed at the National Library

Jan 06, 2011 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I have been a member of The National Library in Georgetown for about 10 years and I observed some flaws in the administration, which I wish to address in this letter. Since I joined the library I have been borrowing two books every two weeks or per month, depending on the size of the book I am borrowing.
When I returned the two books I borrowed last month, I was told by the library staff that as from the first of December 2010 the over dues fees per day was raised to $20 per day that used to be $10 for the two books borrowed. I paid my over dues fees and left.
I returned on January 4th 2011, to return the books I had borrowed last month. When I borrowed two more books, I was told by the staff working that I had to pay an overdue of $280 for six days. I asked back for the books, I returned and counted the days from the date that was stamped in the book. She told me that there has been an increase since last December for over dues. I told her I was aware of that from another staff since I brought in my books borrowed since last December.
I told her she calculated my over dues wrong that the amount I had to pay was $120 since I had paid $20 per day for over dues since last month from another staff. She told me the staff in December who collected my over dues made a mistake and asked me to look at the notice she directed me to that was stuck in a corner on a post. When I read the notice, it reads: ‘’Over Dues per day $20’’ I told her she owed me some money that she needed to returned to me since the notice stated ‘’Over Dues was $20 per day’’.
She went on to tell me that it meant it was $20 per day per book. I told her I am a teacher of English and if that was the case then it should have read:’’ Over Dues per day $20 for one book borrowed’’ or ‘’Over Dues per day $40 for two books borrowed’’.
She then brought in a supervisor who heard my query and told me I can talk to the chief librarian if I wish. I told her I would be happy to do so. She called the chief librarian and told me to go upstairs.
I went up to meet her but found a boy sitting in the Chief Librarian secretary’s chair. When I asked for the secretary I was told she had gone to the wash room but I can wait. I waited for 15 minutes. She came but never identified herself to me, but asked if I wanted to speak with the Chief Librarian, I told her yes. She said let me state my problem to her and she will convey it to her boss. I told her I am here to meet her boss and not her but still explained my problem to her.
She went to the Chief Librarian and came back and said to me it was a mistake made in December with the staff who charged me $20 per day for the books over due that was to be $40 per day. I then read to her what was written on the notice they have downstairs ‘’Over Dues per day $20’’.
I insisted to see the Chief Librarian, she did not called me into her office but came out to meet me, I am still not too sure if she was the Chief Librarian, because she did not had on her identification card to identify to me who she was. She listened to my concern and still tried to defend herself and staff by telling me it was a mistake. I told her then she needs to get her notice board downstairs in the library in a more strategic place and the raised fees stipulated must be written in more explicit language to avoid further confrontation with members of the public.
I told her instead of having ‘’Over Dues per day $20’’ it should have been: ‘’Over Dues per day for one book borrowed $20’’.
She goes on to say that the decision to raise the over due fees was done by a board. I asked her if she was aware that the increase is 300% more and it will create more and more bad business for them. She did not answer but I realised that she and her board never calculated the maths when they raised the over due fees. From $10 per day to $20 per day is 100% increase for two books. From $10 per day to $40 per day for two books is an increase of 300%. It means those who lived and work outside of Georgetown like myself will not be borrowing any more books or reduce the amount of books they will borrow. It means if I were to over due two books for one month then I will have to pay $1,240 that may not be a lot of money for me to pay but what about students borrowing books?
What about poor public servants who are living on a day to day budget?
What about University students who has to pay the government loan?
Over the years I have been a member of the National Library I have seen tons of old out dated books, some should be burned or given away. Some of these old books are badly damaged yet they are stitching and pasting them up. It seems as if the administration lacks vision about contemporary books. Much more needs to be done to improve the standard and quality of books in the National Library.
I am also concerned about the dress code notice the National Library has on the gate. I have seen that dress code violated constantly. Why is that so? Just recently, I saw a male in the library with a short pants, that’s a violation of the dress code notice. Yet the security guard allowed that person in the library. Even the library staff will wear some very short mini skirts with a big split at the back. Looks like the Chief Librarian is putting a blind eye to their own dress code ethics they have on their notice board.
I think the dress code notice should be removed because most tourists from the USA, Canada, England, Europe both male and female will dress in shorts & three quarter pants. That dress code they have at the National Library will definitely hinder tourism in our country. I don’t have a dress code on my church board because it will hinder people to enter the building. Those who make the laws in this country are the same people who break them; it looks like very soon the National Library will be another white elephant in Georgetown. I would be very happy to buy the National Library to give it, its rightful place in society.
Rev. Gideon Cecil

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