‘Libraries are trusted and treasured institutions’

A proclamation signing was held last week to designate a week for the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library and a day for its bookmobile.

Lt. Gov. Victor B. Hocog signed a proclamation last Thursday designating the week from April 9 to April 15 to honor the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, the only public library on Saipan.

According to the proclamation signed by Hocog, libraries are an investment for the advancement of the islands. Libraries were established as an institution that provides that are trust worthy and treasurable.

Librarians are experts on the information stored inside the library. They are there to assist people to obtain the best informative resources that that library has to offer.

This year, JKPL will go beyond the ordinary roles of its institution. The library will be opening new opportunities to get the community to take part in its activities. The library will be providing services that will meet the needs of the people.

JKPL supports change and equality. According to the proclamation, the library is committed to providing access of information to every one regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, ability, sexual orientation, or economic status.

In celebration of National Library Week, JKPL will be hosting a series of events.

The events that the library will host will be free library card day, slide show presentation, face-painting & bookmark making, cooking demo, National Library Workers Appreciation Day Service Recognition Ceremony, Photoshop class, free blood pressure monitoring outreach, National Bookmobile Day, and many more to be announced.

To kick off the start of Library Week, JKPL issued free library cards last Sunday. Citizens with no fines in their record were allowed to apply for a library card for free.

Also last Sunday the library had a slide show presentation.

A Face Painting & Bookmark Making activity was also held yesterday. Participants met at the Children’s Library for fun face painting and creating and coloring bookmarks for library books.

Northern Marianas College’s CREES Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) also held a Healthy Cooking Demo at the library yesterday.

The slew of events continue today with the commemoration of National Library Workers Appreciation Day. The library will hold a Service Recognition Ceremony. NLWD is a day for library staff, users, administrators and Friends to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers.

The library will also be holding a Photoshop Class today from 2pm to 4pm. This class will cover the basic essentials you need to start editing photos like a pro.

Also from 3pm to 4:30pm today, the NMC Nursing Club will be offering a free Blood Pressure Monitoring Outreach at the library. The meet up will be at the Young Adults section of the library.

The proclamation also designated tomorrow, Wednesday, April 12, as National Bookmobile Day. In celebration, the library encourages the community to join as they celebrate the nation’s bookmobiles and the dedicated library professionals who provide services to the community.

Bookmobile Day is an opportunity for bookmobile fans to make their support known through thanking bookmobile staff, writing a letter, or emailing their libraries.

The library’s Bookmobile will be en route to visit all Saipan public school libraries, select private schools, the Office on Aging (Man’amko Center), and the Juvenile Detention Unit.

The library has many more events throughout the month of April that are yet to be announced.