Susy Siel of Freedom to Read (left) and Mrs. Levada Ingraham, retired School Principal and volunteer Librarian (right) cut the official ribbon together.
(Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera, The Bahamas) – Following a small ceremony on the grounds of the Hatchet Bay administration building, the community re-opened its library, stocked with books and equipped with computers on the afternoon of Thursday July 30th. Freedom to Read, Inc. in partnership with the local government in Hatchet Bay has liaised for a year to re-establish the Library and Computer Resource Center.
Now retired school principal, Mrs. Levada Ingraham of Hatchet Bay, has committed to serve as the volunteer librarian for the community resource.
Susy Siel of Freedom to Read Inc, during brief remarks, promised to continue to help maintaining the collection of books at the reestablished Hatchet Bay Library and Community Resource Center, by sending new materials on an annual basis, so that the facility would continue to be a fresh, welcoming place for both education and the adventure of experiencing the world through books.
Siel also mentioned other community libraries which partner with Freedom to Read in Wemyss Bight, James Cistern, Gregory Town, Tarpum Bay, The Current, as well as communities in Andros.
“I am so grateful to be welcomed into this community, and I stand on the shoulders of giants,” said Susy, just moments before she was presented with a special plaque of appreciation by Hatchet Bay town council chairman, Mr. Ricardo Dean.
Librarians from other townships also made an effort to be there to celebrate with the Hatchet Bay community, including Susan Martin of The Current library, and Shanta Maurice of the Gregory Town library.
Member of Parliament for North Eleuthera, Mr. Theo Neilly, who attended the opening event also did not come empty handed, delivering an additional computer for the center.
The Hatchet Bay Local Government town committee members – including: Chairman, Mr. Ricardo Dean; Deputy Chairman, Mrs. Carol Pinder; Secretary, Latricia Cambridge; and Members, Daphne Cambridge; Robert Scavella, and Kennedy Scavella – called on the community to give of their time, talents, books and treasures to support this initiative.
Community members tour the new library and computer resource facility after the official opening ceremony.
Hatchet Bay Town Committee Chairman, Mr. Ricardo Dean addresses attendees at the opening ceremony.
Susy Siel of Freedom to Read (right) was presented with a special plaque of appreciation by Town Council Chairman, Mr. Ricardo Dean (left).
