On Sunday November 22nd 2009, the Philipsburg Jubilee Library’s Children’s Book week 2009 went into full swing with a parade and a festive opening manifestation, Lt. Governor Richards was present to address the public during that event.
The following is Lt. Governor Richards’ speech:
Boys and girls; Commissioner Hyacinth Richardson; director, Monique Alberts and staff of the Philipsburg Jubilee Library; parents; teachers; ladies and gentlemen:
I am most privileged to join you, once again, at the beginning of another Children’s Book week.
This year’s team for Children’s Book Week is: ‘Books are food for the brain’.
This yearly event organized by the Philipsburg Jubilee Library is a celebration of the written word, introducing particularly young people to new authors and ideas in your schools, at this library, and hopefully, also at home.
It also serves to encourage children to read more and discover a world beyond their experience through books.
Any book is magical when it opens new worlds, explores new ideas, or sparks enough of your interest, to decide to search for another book to read. The love of books and reading is a lifelong treasure that helps to uncover the secrets of the universe.
Reading is the cornerstone of education, allowing each individual to pursue knowledge. Knowledge is the finest skill we can give to our children; it is a means for achieving great things in life.
Nowadays, with the internet, there are so many possibilities for you to read even more, from the comfort of your home;
Did you know, for instance, that you can log on to the first ever online website for Caribbean children, such yourselves, interested in the Caribbean?
When you go home, visit this site: www.caribbeanchildren.com
There you can find free e-books, free ‘color me’ pages, free e-cards and story-telling adventures.
Reading helps keep you out of trouble; it is time well-spent. Therefore books should be your most constant friends.
Make it a habit to come to the library to find books, or like I said before, go online, to find interesting books.
In concluding, I’ll like to quote President Obama in this respect:
"At the moment that we persuade a child, any child, to cross that threshold, that magic threshold into a library, we change their lives forever, for the better. It’s an enormous force for good. We have to get books into our children’s hands early and often. At the dawn of the 21st century, where knowledge is literally power, where it unlocks the gates of opportunity and success, we all have responsibilities as parents, as librarians, as educators, as politicians, and as citizens to instill in our children a love of reading so that we can give them a chance to fulfill their dreams."
To all of you, have a most enjoyable time today and throughout this coming week; I now declare the 2009 Children’s Book week officially open.
I thank you.