22 February 2010 | Minister Neletha Butterfield

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THIS OFFICIAL RE-OPENING OF THE UPPER LEVEL OF THE ADULT LIBRARY. I AM VERY PLEASED TO SEE THE FINE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE, AND I EXPECT THAT LIBRARY PATRONS WILL APPRECIATE THE ENHANCEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO IMPROVE THE READING AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

THE BERMUDA NATIONAL LIBRARY IS AN IMPORTANT INSTITUTION THAT ALLOWS US TO LEARN, IMAGINE, INTERACT, AND BE INFORMED.

ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT AN EASY TASK TO STORE AND CLEAN THE THOUSANDS OF BOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS IN THE LIBRARY HOLDINGS TO FACILITATE THE REPAIR WORK, THE JOB HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND THE BERMUDA NATIONAL LIBRARY IS ONCE AGAIN OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE STAFF AT THE ADULT LIBRARY WHO HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBILE SERVICE OVER MANY MONTHS AS THE REPAIR WORK PROCEEDED.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE WORKERS WHO MADE THIS FINAL PRODUCT POSSIBLE.

• BERMUDA WATER CONSULTANTS, IN PARTICULAR, JENNIFER CURRIE AND PHIL SEETO, FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE IN INDENTIFYING AND RECOMMENDATING THE PROTOCOLS TO ELIMINATE THE MOULDS WITHIN THE BUILDING.

• T.E.S. LTD, IN PARTICULAR, TERRY SARGEANT, MURRY ARMSTRONG, AND TOM AZEVEDO FOR COMPLETING THE MOULD REMEDIATION AND ASBESTOS ABATEMENT.
• FRANK BENTO AND STAFF OF ASSURED QUALITY CLEANING LTD., FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE WITH CLEANING THE BOOKS AND THE BUILDING.
• ACE INSTALLERS FOR INSTALLING THE NEW CARPETING THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.
• GSC LTD. FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS.
• THE STAFF OF FAST FORWARD FREIGHT FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN MOVING FURNITURE, EQUIPMENT AND THOUSANDS OF BOOKS.
• LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, MYRON BURCHALL, DALE THOMPSON, DWAYNE CAISEY, AND THE PAINTERS, CARPENTERS AND ELECTRICIANS FROM THE MINISTRY OF WORKS AND ENGINEERING.

ON BEHALF OF THE BERMUDA NATIONAL LIBRARY STAFF, THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND SOCIAL REHABILITATION, THE GOVERNMENT OF BERMUDA AND THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO USE THIS LIBRARY, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. YOU HAVE SUCCEEDED IN MAKING THIS A MORE PLEASANT ENVIRONMENT FOR THE STAFF AND THE PUBLIC WHO USE THE BERMUDA NATIONAL LIBRARY.

THANK YOU.