The new board of the National Library and Information System Authority (Nalis) will focus on raising literacy levels and encouraging more people to read.
Newly appointed chairman of the board Neil Parsanlal said this yesterday during an interview with the media.
Parsanlal and seven other people were given their instruments of appointment by Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie at the Old Fire Station on Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain.
“I am quite happy for the opportunity to serve as chairman. The question of libraries and our whole information system was a very integral part of the ministry when I served as minister,” Parsanlal said.
Parsanlal served as information minister prior to the 2010 general election.
“I am not coming to a situation that I am not aware of; there have been some changes in the last five years. The importance of libraries and what we bring to the table, I think, is going to be critical for us as a society.”
He said the board would look at the way T&T looked at libraries, the way the country invested in libraries and the question of the heritage library that is going to cost the country $21 million.
He said the board would also look at libraries in Toco, Mayaro, Moruga and Chaguanas.
He said when he looked at the front-page picture of a daily newspaper and saw students of Chaguanas North going into their schools he thought they were visiting a maximum security prison.
“I keep wondering whether if we build more libraries, would we need more prisons, and that is going to be one of my emphases.
“We will look at how we can use libraries, raise our literacy levels, encourage more people to read on a wider basis so that the language skills and literacy become more important for us, because when language ends that is when violence begins and, therefore, part of my remit as chairman is going to be to drive home that we must become a more literate society.”
Cuffie said he had been anxiously awaiting the appointment of the new board.
“There are several urgent matters to attend to. It has taken longer than we anticipated because it takes care in appointing the boards, getting the right people. Now they are on board, we have some urgent matters, construction of the Chaguanas library, Mayaro, and we have some issues with the Toco library.
“Those are the matters they will have to attend to immediately.”
Nalis board
Chairman, Neil Parsanlal, deputy chairman Charleen Philip, a former permanent secretary; Elmelinda Lara; Cathyan Townsend; Indrani Rampersad; Lynette Tyson-Noel; Karel Douglas; and Jefferson D Guy.
Nalis’ executive director Elizabeth Mahadeo is the ex-officio member of the board.