ht. Libr. Rev. (1976) 8,265-270

Black Reading Power

BARBARA FOSTER*

Aside from the purest waters in the West Indies, a splendid complement of floral riches and perenially clement weather, Barbados has an ex- cellent public library complex that houses 200 000 volumes. The charter- ing of this dynamic system took place in 1847, antedating developments in England by several years, with the help of Andrew Carnegie’ funds. Visiting this land of sun and sugar cane, one can no less admire the diminutive island’s (166 fts) educational establishment that has genera- ted a 98% literacy rate-the highest in the West Indies. To attribute this astounding progress to the library alone is over-simplified and im- possible to substantiate; however, a visit there in February 1975 demonstrated to me the vital part the library does play-along with other physical and cultural factors-in providing a fulcrum for those who wish to expand their cultural horizons through books: these in- quisitive Bejans help to explain Barbados’ rank in the forefront of the emerging Caribbean.

Browsing through the main library at Bridgetown one is struck by its inviting aspect. Bright sunlight floods through open doors illuminating the wide assortment of fiction and non-fiction within. The main floor (there are two) contains the bulk of the holdings which are particularly rich in West Indian authors. A steady barrage of request for indigenous writers encourages the librarians to hunt continually for new possibilities in bibliographies and publisher’s catalogues. In recent years the awaken- ing of a “local consciousness” has shifted the emphasis from British- European themes and authors to those closer to home, and this trend has had its impact on patron’s reading habits. These days Bejans are showing a keen appreciation for their regional bards. When Bruce St. John, a local poet, gave a reading at the library in February the crowds turned out and applauded with gusto, demanding an encore. George Lamming, another local poet, is in such demand that his books are never on the shelves. Anything on emerging nations-especially Barbados itself-has an avid readership in Bridgetown.

* Assistant Prof. Head, Hunter Midtown Library, New York, U.S.A.

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Another shift in reading patterns has been the turning away from Black American revolutionary writers. In the later 60’s books by Cleaver and Malcolm X enjoyed a frenzied vogue as disaffected youth flocked to the library to take them out. Any book on the black power theme was in great demand and the library couldn’t purchase enough to satisfy this vocal public, which today has turned elsewhere for its controversy.

As well, fiction has taken an alarming slump and non-fiction has captured its market; some exceptions are romances and mysteries that still keep their devotees. The 600’s and 700’s of the Dewey section get the heaviest use, while cookery, electronics and practical sciences are the busiest of these categories. A total of 27588 non-fiction items were borrowed in February 1975 as opposed to 13422 fiction, while the overall total represented a decline from previous months. A downward spiral in circulation statistics has shown up over the last few years. This dimunition is a matter of concern and speculation among the profes- sional staff who are in the throes of debating its ramifications. One librarian attributes this lag to the advent of CBC, a new television station. Another staff member claims that television has stimulated readership by encouraging viewers to request books on which the tele- vision shows were based. Very shortly this down turn will be systema- tically studied so that remedies can be drawn up.

Patrons at Bridgetown face a classified catalogue which has baffled some of the less sophisticated users; the catalogue was set up on quite modern principles (with author and title approaches), but it is seldom used due to its seeming complexity. Rather than attempt its intricacies, the readers resort to an old dictionary catalogue which is now out of date, or they go directly to the stacks to avoid these troublesome inter- mediaries. The stacks at Bridgetown are rapidly reaching capacity- to my eyes they seemed terribly packed-and crowded shelves make finding one’s selections awkward. A new building is on the planning board, that will occupy an adjacent lot, but lack of space here will shortly reach crisis proportions. To keep even minimum manoeuvring room the librarians must vigilantly discard older books that might other- wise enrich the collection.

About 80000 members use the facilities and this represents approxi- mately one third of the 247000 island population. Adult patrons may borrow three books each for two weeks and are able to renew them by telephone. The books are charged out by the Brown charging system, a book card method that is popular in Europe and Asia as well. Thefts and lack of returns are all too frequent and as a result the budget is regularly thinned out to replace lost stock. The charge of one penny per day (one U.S. dollar equals two Barbados) for overdue books in no way

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makes up for the sizeable losses. At this time Bridgetown does not have a general circulating record collection; however, they do have a few on specialized subjects that can be played on the premises. Tourists to Barbados may use the library as well as the luxuriant beaches. Visitors may leave a small deposit which allows them six months of borrowing rights, and when all loans are returned the deposit is refunded and a tourist may join again for six more months. In gratitude not a few satisfied visitors have donated books to the library and over the years some choice benefices have come in this way. But gifts are not a reliable source of material, despite the fact that a few exchange programmes are carried on.

The library, with its eight branches, is responsible to the Ministry of Education and functions as a civil service department within the central government. The education ministers decide on the library’s yearly budget, which in 1974 was 438734 Bd. Out of these funds two students are being subsidized at the Cave Hill branch of the University of the West Indies while they earn degrees in Library Science. Until a few years ago all candidates in Library Science-and most other disciplines -went to England for advanced training. Even though the Library Science degree is completed in the West Indies a graduate still takes an exam made up by the Library Association of Great Britain; this year an appointed committee is setting up exams for candidates who have had library training at home or abroad that will quality them to work in Barbados.

Out of 71 staff members about five are fully accredited professionals, while the rest are non or para-professionals of one sort or another. The eight branches are operated by para-professionals who have been sub- jected to rigorous in-service library training. In these days of escalating inflation-which is causing concern in Barbados, too-the Librarian finds it taxing to stretch his budget to cover the necessary books and staff, not to mention the sundry essentials that a dynamic public institution requires.

Following precedent and economic realities, books are purchased from Great Britain-even American titles-which has so far proved reasonably expeditious and economical. A caucus of librarians gets together regularly to decide on new purchases and to thrash out general policy. Oddly enough, despite a genuine flowering of Bejan literature, there are no sizeable commercial presses operating in Bridgetown- though scattered smaller presses do exist. Caribbean authors have traditionally been published in England rather than by local outlets, and those didn’t exist at all until very recently. Bibliographic control of Bejan publications is at present chaotic, and the Librarian must

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personally hunt for local publications to insure that one copy is at Bridgetown, since they act as the national depository. A National Bibliography of Barbados is now envisioned that will systematize this helterskelter situation.

Magazines are coveted items at the main library. Out of the 140 magazines on subscription a few American ones are in continual demand, such as M&ah, Redbook, Ebony and Essence. The magazines go out for two weeks, except the latest issues which do not. Newspapers are read daily by this politically concerned citizenry, who are cognizant of affairs at home and abroad. The local Aduocate is seldom on its stand since from the earliest morning borrowers eagerly compete for its company; all back issues are retained so that historians and students will have the wherewithal for research. As well, papers from Trinidad, Jamaica and other islands are selectively purchased to round out this sample of news dailies.

Evaluating the reading quotient of Bejans, one must look as well to the rural areas, where education goes on at a healthy rate. Country folk have been drawn into the literacy matrix by a system of bookmobiles that reaches into the corners of the sylvan countryside. Two book- mobiles leave Bridgetown daily taking varied items for the eager inhabitants of parishes along the route: Saint James, Saint Joseph and Saint Michael seem to disgorge waves of excited children who know exactly when the book bus will pull up. Lines of expectant youngsters push and jostle each other in their enthusiasm to exchange old books for new ones. One of these bookmobiles concentrates on exclusively rural schools that do not have a library of their own; these handy buses fill a bibliographic gap that would otherwise disenfranchise the rural youngsters, cut off from the learning centres of the metropolis.

The days I went bookmobiling nourished the spirit of this New York librarian. Young students entered the book bus, dressed in blue uni- forms reminiscent of the English public school outfit, to make their literary demands vociferously known. The throngs outside had to be trimmed down to ten individuals when inside, for the streamlined bus only has a modest capacity; the shouts of the youths outside encouraged the insiders to hurry up and complete their business. Once on the bus, each student pounced on his five books as if they were precious treasures, while the one week interval between the buses rearrival allowed the novices time to savour each tome lovingly. Though children make up the main bulk of the bookmobilers, I noticed a quantity of adult titles aboard too. The mature selection on the bus is of a light nature and heavily slanted toward science fiction, mysteries and romances (many titles of Isaac Asimov were in evidence). These unsophisticated devotees

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have become a loyal public for the library on wheels and are very appreciative of the library’s concern for them. According to the driver and the two para-professionals, who work as circulation assistants- reader’s advisors, any attempt to change the route or curtail service meets with a calamitous outcry from parents, school teachers and, most of all, from the juveniles concerned.

Bookmobiles are a common sight in the capital, too, though there they take a very specialized course. A regular book deposit is made at the Elizabeth hospital at Bridgetown, where the patients get weekly infusions of new books. The older patients, especially the bed-ridden ones, are obviously grateful for this delivery which keeps them in touch with the outside world of print. In addition, the library doesn’t neglect the prisons and correctional institutions. These units get recent books especially chosen to guide the inmates toward hobbies, careers and self development. In these cases no professional or non-professional staff is supplied to dispense the stock, for the receiving institution must set up its own circulation system. Braille books will shortly join the book- mobile array, but at this time the choice is scanty for only Reader’s Digest is now available in this format. In the future a substantial effort will be made to amass a good selection of braille literature for dissemination. These mobile learning centres link city and country, shut-in and bubbling youth-keeping the Bejan citizenry abreast of the world of ideas that will entertain as well as keep up their marvellous literacy achievements.

Due to an excellent transportation system outlying Bejans are never far from the centre: day and night a stream of buses goes all over the island, assuring that one can get from place to place easily. A trip to Bridgetown for business-library or otherwise-becomes something all can afford without straining. Another way the hamlets are tied to the centre is through radio rediffusion, an apparatus that one rents for 1.20 Bd deposit and a minimal charge per month. This hook up brings the latest political-cultural news into every town and country dwelling since most Bejans subscribe. Even the most isolated hamlets have had their fill of Watergate, energy crises and Vietnam-all the issues of the 70’s have been broadcast for the benefit of this alert populace who demand to know the latest happenings. At one point the library had its own programme, but it was discontinued in 1971 due to changes in library staff. This healthy flow of information and transportation assures that non-urban Bejans are not consigned to a mere cultural backwater.

Moreover, the British have left a rich educational legacy which the Bejans are adapting to suit their needs. Public school systems were set up in Barbados patterned on English models and each child was firmly

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grounded in the 3 R’s. Not a few talented Bejans went to England for further training and many have come back to put their skills to good use at home. The Bejan educational establishment is utilizing the best of the British contribution, and in many instances, is creating their own methods better suited to a progressive Caribbean republic with an eye toward economic and social advance. The Cave Hill branch of the University of the West Indies, opened a few years ago, is a bustling centre where many young people are studying toward meaningful careers. Cave Hill’s library science programme is really diversified and is attracting foreign as well as local students. In addition, an organized network of junior colleges is being set up that will complement the university system by offering shorter degrees of a more practical slant.

This liberal atmosphere and cultural fertility set Barbados apart from the typical sun-drenched resort and help to explain the vaunted reading power of Bejans. While tourists don’t normally notice such a plus as reading power, that does not mean it’s not there and growing.