First "Gathering of Friends" hosted on October 18, 2009
October 18, 2009: The Friends of St. Thomas Public Libraries (FOSTPL) hosted the first of a series of events entitled "A Gathering of Friends" on the afternoon of Sunday October 18th at the Enid M. Baa Public Library.The program was opened by FOSTPL President Judy King-Edmeade, who introduced the local authors and storytellers, with input from the Territorial Director of Libraries, Archives and Museums, Ingrid Bough. Bough greeted the crowd warmly, letting everyone know that the long awaited St. Thomas Regional Library (Tutu Library) is well under way, while offering her support to the Friends and the Enid M. Baa Public Library staff members on hand, including Symra Chinnery, Annette Olsen, and Annice Canton.
Divided into two concurrent modules, the event provided readings and book discussions in the Adults' Room by local authors Dr. Gilbert Sprauve ("Soundings over Cultural Shoals" and its Spanish translation, "Andazas Bajo el Sol"); Wendy Diaz ("Claude's Adventures" and "A High Price for Justice"); and Elaine Warren Jacobs, Hilda Lewis Joyce, Jeanne O'Day and Tregenza A. Roach ("All This is Love"). The authors were also on hand to autograph their works for an appreciative audience.
The second module offered a space for storytelling in the Children's Room featuring Elaine Warren Jacobs and Dr. Gilbert Sprauve. Jacobs' engaging rendition involved traditional call-and-response participation by a delighted audience, and Dr. Sprauve regaled eager listeners in French as a youngster provided English translation, then moving on to Anansi stories. Following his presentation, one young lady tried her hand at "story-oke", taking on the a tale with a moral involving a mongoose and a thrushie. This is hoped to help to encourage the next generation of storytellers, karaoke style but without music.
Enid M. Baa Public Library staff provided much-appreciated support by meeting and greeting, participating in all sessions, and offering guidance to all in attendance. Materials on the Peter von Scholten Collection were distributed, and attendees were treated to the enjoyment of touring the newly-refurbished Library. The community was also encouraged to contribute to the Library's Archives by submitting funeral booklets of loved ones, which offer rich slices of the life and times of the deceased as well as information vital to tracing genealogy.
Following the event, attendees enjoyed light refreshments and browsed used books from the Friends of St. Thomas Public Libraries' Book Depot at Fortress Self Storage as part of the Book Redistribution Project. Volunteer signup sheets, and membership applications were also available.
The group continues to seek volunteer assistance with its Hospital Library Cart and the Day Care Literacy programs. Email helping@fostpl.org for more information, or call 714-2783.
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