THE LARGEST branch library building in the Jamaica Library Service (JLS) network was officially opened on Sunday, June 11 in Greater Portmore. The library was constructed at a cost of just over $7 million.
Speaking at the opening, Minister of Education and Culture Senator Burchell Whiteman, urged the community to safeguard the facility and make the best use of it. He said "it is said that quite apart from the youthfulness of the community, it has the highest number of tertiary and trained professionals in Jamaica and in the Caribbean. What you have and what is being enhanced is very challenging. You are a community that is being challenged with 21 century challenges."
The conception of the library started in 1975 but it was not until 1988 a site was found for its location. In 1996, the Greater Port-more Branch Library was completed by West Indies Home Contractors and the keys were handed over to the Jamaica Library Service.
However, there were snags in having the library opened. With the collaborative efforts of the Greater Portmore Joint Committee, the Jamaica Library Service formed a Branch Library Opening Committee in 1998 to garner support to facilitate the opening. With the help of the Social Development Commission, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Ministry of Education and Culture and Churches Co-op Credit Union, the library was able to open its doors to the public.
The library is equipped with a computer laboratory where the users can access the Internet. The community can use the library Mondays to Fridays, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
