SCORES OF persons are signing up with the Greater Portmore Branch Library.
In an interview, Miss Shernette Bennett, librarian at the branch, said that they have approved over a 1,000 membership cards and have 525 transfers pending. Of this membership, 884 are juniors and 166 are adults.
Miss Bennett also disclosed that for the month of June, 525 books were loaned and there were almost 2,000 reference consultation. For the month of July, close to 2,000 books were lent out and there were 1,000 reference consultations.
Meanwhile, for the month of June there were 5,363 books that were read in the library and 2,000 for the month of July.
The library was officially opened by the Minister of Education Burchell Whiteman and is the largest branch library in Jamaica. It offers the following services: Reference and information services; computer services; Internet services; and word processing.
Miss Bennett said that next year the library will be having a story hour for children. She pointed out that the computer services have attracted some 137 persons so far. The cost for using the computers unassisted are $50 per half an hour and $60 assisted by a member of staff. There is a reduced rate of $40 per half an hour for students in uniform or with an ID. For e-mail access, the cost is $80 assisted and $60 unassisted. The library currently has 10 computers and opening hours are Mondays to Fridays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Miss Bennett is appealing to users of the library to co-operate with the staff by adhering to the existing rules.
