Summer programs aren't all boring. According to Duranique Minus, a student at St. John's College, participating in the Elizabeth Estates Public Library's summer camp over the years has helped her with her reading and schoolwork, and she also learned to appreciate books more.Duranique, 12, has participated in the summer program since its inception and was present at The Elizabeth Estates Public Library again this summer to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the program under the theme, "Books Are Hidden Treasures, Dig In".The library's head librarian, Princess Clarke, introduced the program in 2004. Through it she hoped to involve students in educational activities during the summer. Staff and volunteers engaged the students in mathematics, English, craft exercises and field trips during the four-week session. Clarke said that in the early years, the program averaged 90 students, but that number was reduced to 50 for manageability. The library staff is assisted by loyal volunteers, parents and students seeking to fulfill their community service requirement for their respective schools. Clarke was pleased at the enthusiasm the summer program continues to generate and the financial support from parents."One year, we even had a visitor from abroad who enrolled his two sons in the program while on vacation in [New Providence]," Clarke said. Clarke stated that over the years word had spread and parents from other communities throughout New Providence had registered their children in the summer library camp. In addition to celebrating the milestone, the library's staff and volunteers were presented with the Association of Caribbean University Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL) Presidential Award for Excellence in Summer Library Programs to Children and Adults by Dorcas Bowler, immediate past president of ACURIL and director of libraries in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

Bowler said the library won the highest recognition -- The President Award -- for the category in which it was nominated. "The Elizabeth Estates Library and the wider Bahamas, as a whole, have reason to be proud of this award because it [Elizabeth Estates Public Library] distinguished itself from among other Caribbean libraries for its community outreach efforts, exposing students to their history and parental involvement," said Bowler.She found it unique that the tour was guided by Miriam Roker, who is 90-plus years old and one of the oldest citizens of the Fox Hill community.

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