Open Letter To The Community: Solutions For St. Thomas Public Libraries

The Enid M. Baa Public Library on Main Street was closed over two years ago, and that historical structure remains vacant with a big chain and padlock under the name. The Gov. Charles W. Turnbull Regional Library in Tutu Park has been open sporadically with few activities and half empty shelves for two years, all while the roof is being replaced, the power system repaired, the landscaping completed and road constructed. The building itself is fabulous – the most beautiful building on the island; but it has yet to fulfill its mission as a community library.

On April 13th, to celebrate National Library week, the library staff invited the community to tour the new building and listen to tales of woe about lack of books, staff, computers and security. We all know the island’s literacy problems; the children reading far below grade level, the police candidates who can’t read and write on a seventh grade level, the government employees who lack the skills to do their jobs, and the EDC companies who feel they must bring employees from the states. There is no question that we need a fully functioning, community-involved, active library in order to be a 21st century literate community.

As we see it there are a number of solutions to each of the problems presented, and with the commitment of our community working together, we believe they can be accomplished.

PROBLEM: Current budget allotment for libraries does not provide enough funds to meet the need for programs, updated inventory, security, maintenance, staff, equipment, etc.

SOLUTIONS: We are missing out on millions of federal grants that we either make no effort to acquire or don’t know about. The recent audit of the Environmental side of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) uncovered lost federal monies of 87 million dollars over 10 years. The lost library grants far exceed that amount – in fact we lost a complete new library building which would have been paid for by the federal government. Obtaining the grants and monitoring their use is the responsibility of the Director of Libraries and the head Librarians. See grants.gov.

When a public building like a library, church or university is built, it is customary to provide the community with a “wish list’ and donors pay for furniture, collections, rooms, special features like chandeliers, security system, landscaping, etc. A donor’s scroll graces the lobby of the building and is continually updated. There are several persons willing to be the expeditors of this type of funding. It is not too late for the community to take ownership and bond with this magnificent building.

There was a plan to display the Taino artifacts that were discovered when the mall was built at the new library. This has not happened and the facilities to make it happen are not in place. The film class at UVI were excited to be able to produce a video which could accompany this display. This could be a destination activity for tourists who would pay money for the experience. Historic Preservation Commission, UVI and Tourism could make this happen.

PROBLEM: Library has empty shelves and uses many books on loan. The young adults and foreign language collections are in dire need of completion. Current non-fiction is limited, and inventory of the collections and a full time cataloger are needed. The library also needs to provide more materials of all kinds, including e-books for loan.

SOLUTION: Donations of books from personal libraries, books in good condition from the Humane Society, discards from private school libraries, and the purchase of books, audio books, talking books with donations and grants could fill this need. This will take effort from everyone.

PROBLEM: The library is only open from  9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the week when people are working and children are in school. The book mobile does not circulate on weekends when most patrons are available to visit.

SOLUTION: In 2007 a bill was passed by the Senate that would allow flexible time schedules in order to fulfill the needs of various government functions. It was vetoed by the governor. The Legislature needs to re-sponsor and pass the bill again. Flexible time is necessary for the libraries to serve the needs of the community.

PROBLEM: Getting to the library without a vehicle is nearly impossible and dangerous. The road is very steep and dangerous to walk on; making it impossible for seniors and small children to make regular visits.

SOLUTION: The VITRAN bus needs to include the library on its route. The mall should have a shuttle service which could be used for the library (ADA grants are available). The Leonardo Trotman Drive (Trotman Road) from the west should be completed promptly. Sidewalks need to be installed. The road that runs past Allied rental could be improved. Signage needs to be installed everywhere. Public Works, Tutu Mall and ADA Director could facilitate these solutions.

PROBLEM:  The library suffers from poor management. Under DPNR, where most are hired for their knowledge of environmental management, libraries and museums get short shift. The staff at the library needs more training and direction to develop programs, apply for grants, keep the collections current and service the needs of the community. More educators should be on the library’s staff and the Director of Libraries should be a librarian or an educator.

SOLUTION: Libraries in the United States are managed by Library Boards – citizens from all walks of life who have an interest in having a vibrant community library. The boards are given a budget by the government entity which they supplement with grants and fundraisers. They create programs, supervise staff and answer to the needs of the community. Most Library boards are voluntary but appointed. This would require change of thinking and actions by the administration with legislation from the senate.

PROBLEM:  The closing of Enid M. Baa Public Library left a very needy community without the library services that benefited four schools, children of downtown workers, recent immigrants and the lowest income area on the island. The popular Saturday morning reading program had operated for over fifty years. The ‘powers that be’ decided to turn a 300+ year old concrete structure in that high rent district, at sea level, without central temperature controls, without elevators or generator into an archive which would require thousands to retrofit and could never be expected to protect our valuable collections. When Governor Kenneth Mapp took office, he cancelled the contract for that project.

SOLUTION: The two main floor areas could be commercially leased the way the building was originally used. It is estimated the leases could bring in $180,000 annually, which would more than pay for staff and costs to continue the top two floors as a library.  The archives should be moved up to the new library. We would need to raise money to restock Enid M. Baa using the former Von Schulton area as a children’s room — which is the responsibility of the Senate, Property and Procurement, the Director of Libraries and DPNR.

PROBLEM: Public school libraries which hold the level and subject matter that students need to do their assignments are closed at 5 pm. Most students have activities or after school programs until 5. SOLUTION: Middle and high school libraries need to be open until 7 with security provided and open on Saturday and Sundays for 4-5 hours. To leave them dormant is a waste of valuable resources. This would also allow for book clubs, tutoring sessions, literacy classes, meetings, parent conferences and public meeting spaces. Anyone with a public library card should be able to use these libraries and their computer facilities. There are federal education funds for programs after school – surely some of these could fund keeping the school open later.  Department of Education could make this happen.

PROBLEM: The Book mobile is not being utilized to its best advantage.

SOLUTION: It could be servicing persons who cannot get to the library; visiting senior centers and housing developments during the week, parked in Nisky or Lockhart Malls on Saturdays and at the beaches on Sundays – it must go to the people where they are. The schedule needs to be well publicized. Director of Libraries and the Head Librarian could make this happen after the Senate passes a bill to provide for flexible time.

PROBLEM: We do not present the image of a literate community.

SOLUTION: Used book kiosks should be available for visitors at the cruise peer, the ferry docks, and the airport. These can be serviced by volunteers with books from the Humane Society and donations from the tourists themselves. We need to encourage our long term visitors to get involved in the library – They could pay a deposit to get a card and have it refunded when they leave.

As we begin to get these solutions together, we can introduce the new library with a gala Renaissance Fair to usher in our age of enlightenment as St. Thomas catches up with the 21st century; an event that would bond the community to their wonderful new community center of literacy.

“The only true equalizers in the world are books; the only treasure-house open to all comers is a library; the only wealth which will not decay is knowledge; the only jewel which you can carry beyond the grave is wisdom.”
– J. A. Langford

Submitted by:

Jason Budsan and Carol Lotz-Felix on April 20, 2015

The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the staff and management of the VI Consortium.

Feature Image: Charles W. Turnbull Library, St. Thomas

Image Credit: Local photographer Aisha Zakiya — her work can be found here.