The following is the address made by FOSTPL President Judy King-Edmeade at the annual meeting held on Saturday, January 30, 2010:

> Read highlights of the annual meeting

The purpose of the FOSTPL is to support and promote library programs and services;  to focus public attention on the public libraries on St. Thomas and their services;  to receive and encourage gifts, grants, bequests and other appropriations to the libraries;  to establish and maintain liaisons between the Library and the community;  and generally, to act in the interest of the welfare and growth of the St. Thomas Public Libraries.  Through the commitment and work of the Board of Directors, a host of members and friend volunteers, we have succeeded on many fronts this past year in accomplishing our stated purpose.  Thank you each and every one for your determination and labor to ensure that our community understands the importance of libraries and books and is aware of the joy that reading a good book brings. Some accomplishments of the Friends in 2009 include

·      Collaborating with Editha Frett and other volunteers to host the African American Read In at the Romeo Malone Center in Savan.

·      Distributing free books and magazines at the annual Department of Education Read on the Green at the University of the Virgin Islands.

·      Co-Sponsoring two projects initiated by Enid Baa Library Associate, Annice Canton, the Remarkable Trees Project and the Survival and Redemption Discussion Series.  Thank you to the Virgin Islands Humanities Council for the funding both endeavors.

·      We provided literature for the book mobile. Thanks to many donations from the community.

·      We hosted the Gathering of Friends at the Enid Baa Library which showcased the talents of local authors and storytellers and kicked off National Friends of the Libraries week.

·      Free books and magazines were distributed to patients at the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital through The Hospital Book Cart.  God bless our volunteers Beth Gembus, Judy Moore, Rosary Harper, Sherry Lloyd, and Rita Coll.  Thank you Marriott Frenchman’s Reef Beach Resort for the generous donations of magazines for the cart.

·      The Day Care Literacy Program continues to bring joy to toddlers at Day Care centers island wide as volunteers stop by and read.  We received another grant from the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands to continue this project.  There are now 35 book bags featuring a variety of titles for the children to enjoy.  Thank you CFVI, Carol Lotz, the project leader and our dedicated volunteer readers:  Gwen Blyden, Clarence and Ruby Todman, and Diane Windisch.

·      For the 7th year, the Summer Reading program has provided our youth with an avenue to earn rewards for wisely using their time during the summer break to enjoy good books.  The Foundation for Enhanced Learning continues to bless the Friends with annual funding for this program and we say thank you very much.

·      Maintaining an interactive website for The Friends of St. Thomas Public Libraries that provides up to date news and information about library programs, community events, and the Friends has been vital to our maintaining an ongoing presence in the community thanks to the technological talents of our web mistress Ms. Anita Davis.  Visit us at www.fostpl.org.

·      Sharing positive information about libraries and the Friends organization using Public service announcements on the radio.  Again thanks to Anita Davis.

We accomplished a great deal through our collective efforts this past year.  Thank you all.

That was a look at the past. What does the present look like?  Two projects are on the table.  One is reviving the collection of local funeral booklets in order to archive them in  the Von Scholten Collection and possibly the Caribbean Genealogy Library.  The Friends see the need to ensure that local genealogical history is preserved and as such have begun working towards revitalizing this collection project that was initiated at UVI.  Secondly, we are strategizing on  how to pilot a reading program entitled EyeQ.  The program is designed to increase one’s reading speed.  We see it as a program that will benefit every one in the community but our goal is to target junior and senior high school students.  We will continue the Day Care Literacy, Hospital Book Cart and Summer Reading Programs and strive to make them better in servicing our community.

The future looks very bright too. The new library is the brightest and biggest star in the east.  The construction is ongoing and the building thus far is a sight to behold.  Congratulations to the powers that be for moving this project forward.  Conversations with Ms. Bough, Ms. Chinnery (Enid M. Baa Public Library’s Head Librarian), and Ms.  Lewis about the new library have generated a level of excitement and pride that is indescribable.  The Friends continue to pledge our service, time and talents to the Library and its staff to do whatever we can to ensure that the new facility is equipped and prepared to service our community efficiently.  One of our concerns is that there is sufficient staff to run this state of the art library and to keep its doors open seven days a week at hours that are conducive to community use, not staff availability.  We also want to see the Enid Baa Library maintain regular hours to serve the town area once the new facility is opened.  The Friends want to engage in open and honest dialogue about what is best for our libraries and the community and then act with the sole purpose of creating a more literate and knowledgeable society.

In this New Year, FOSTPL looks forward to sustaining our efforts in promoting and developing new and innovative programs and activities for and with the library…  Programs that will attract an abundance of clients to the facilities, kindle the joy to read and improve the basic reading skills of community members.  FOSTPL will need to enlist the services of more volunteers to work for the Hospital Book Cart (especially on Thursdays) as well as the Day Care Literacy Program.  We need to plan how to bolster the number of young people that are members of the Friends.  We have to brainstorm new opportunities to reach out to the community to inspire them to visit our libraries and to read a book and share its treasures.

At last year’s annual meeting I challenged those who were in attendance with a dare. I dared them to spend 15 minutes every week reading aloud to a child who is a family member 17 years or younger and then take another 15 minutes every week to read aloud to a child in their neighborhood, church or nearby school—if they thought reading and literacy were important to the future of the Virgin Islands.  I tried my best.  Did you?  I cannot tell an untruth and say I did it every week, but I made an effort to read to the students at my school regularly and gave them books for their home libraries.  It was amazing to see how surprised the children were when I told them they could keep the books and did not have to give them back.  I dare you again — Give a child a book and take time to read it to them before or after the gesture.  One opportunity is to come out to the Read on the Green in April.  Bring children and read to them or come and read to those who are present.  Even before April, in two days it will be February – Black History Month, and the 21st African American Read In sponsored by National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and the Black Caucus of NCTEs will begin.  Schools, churches, libraries, bookstores, community and professional organizations and interested citizens are urged to make literacy a significant part of Black History month by hosting and coordinating Read-Ins in their communities.  A read in can be as simple as getting together with a group of friends and their children, and sharing a book, written by a Black author preferably.  It’s not hard;  it just takes a little time and commitment.  Google “African American Read In” for more information.  Increasing literacy amongst our youngsters is a job of all of us, not just the schools.  Please make time to read to a child!

In closing, I challenge the new and standing Board members and the general membership of FOSTPL to become more active and proactive in this organization and with the library.  We have positions that need filling, committees that need chairing, and a need for volunteers.  Before you leave tonight share with us one way you can be of service to the library, the Friends or in reading to the children of St. Thomas.   I dare you to give more of yourselves to the community, especially to our youth for whom libraries and literacy are the keys to the future.  Our young men especially need to put down the guns and pick up the books.

If you haven’t already done so, please become a member of the Friends or just as important renew your membership as an individual or family.  Your membership dues help support our programs and activities.

Thank Board of Directors for entrusting me with the leadership of this organization. It is a pleasure to work with a talented and diverse group of people such as yourselves.  Thank you Ms. Symra Chinnery for working closely with the Friends and for the great job you are doing at our Library.  God bless.

FOSTPL VOLUNTEERS TO BE RECOGNIZED:

Hospital Book Cart – Beth Gembus, Judy Moore, Rosary Harper, Sherry Lloyd, Rita Coll

Day Care Literacy Program – Gwen Blyden – Winnie’s Day care, Clarence and Ruby Todman – Knud Hansen Head Start, Diane Windisch – New Testament Nursery schools, Carol Lotz – New Beginnings, Building blocks and Handy Spandy among others

LIBRARY STAFF RECOGNITION:

Stephanie Anderson-Roberts – Library Associate
Annice Canton – Library Associate
Shirley Colon – Library Aide
Symra Chinnery – Librarian
Annette Olsen – Library Associate
Blanche Owens – Library Technician
Beverly Smith – Library  Technician