The library resources at the Anguilla Community College have been strengthened by a gift of textbooks from one of the island’s intellectuals, Dr.Arthur Richardson, Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus,Barbados.
The Anguillian scholar presented the books on June 29 at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Community College at which the President of the institution, Professor Delroy Louden, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs.Chanelle Petty-Barrett, were also in attendance.
“The distinguished textbooks come at a very timely moment for the College, when we are about to introduce diploma programmes for [regular] teachers and also teachers in Early Childhood Education,” Professor Louden said. “The books are very relevant and up-to-date. They cover not just textbooks, but journals and so forth. One of the things we are going to need, as we move towards accrediting our programmes at the College, is the build-up of a substantial library despite the fact that an electronic library is there. But physical copies of texts for students are important as primary resources are one of the hallmarks of an institution like ours.”
Chairperson of the Anguilla Community College Board, Mrs.Rhona Richardson-Royden, was pleased to have met Professor Richardson during the formative years of the College. “On behalf of the Board, I wish to thank you most profoundly for your contribution,” she told him. “A library is one of the things most needed particularly here inAnguilla. Given the economic times we are going through, your gift is most welcome. It is good for a person of a certain calibre as yours to give back toAnguilla. It sets a precedent for other Anguillians abroad to follow in your footsteps.”
Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Petty-Barrett, placed on record the gratitude of the Ministry of Education to Professor Richardson for his generous donation. “We at the Ministry are very concerned about the advancement of the College and we make every effort to support it as much as we can,” she stated. “We feel it is such a privilege when persons who have benefitted from tertiary education, and part of tertiary institutions for so long, and are in fact born and bred Anguillians, can in fact give back to our community. It speaks volumes about that person who sees it fit to give back, to do so. It really indicates to us the calibre of the person you are. We appreciate the gesture and know that it will benefit the College greatly in terms of making sure that its library stays current.”
Three other Board members also spoke. Mrs. Rosena Brooks said it was a pleasure that someone who was schooled inAnguilla, and excelled in tertiary education, to have contributed to the island. “I think that is a perfect example especially for our young people,” she added.
Mrs.Yolande Richardson, who was one of Professor Richardson’s Secondary School and University of the West Indies fellow students, in Anguilla andJamaica, said she was proud of his achievements. “We congratulate you for all your efforts in education and particularly for your contributions toAnguilla,” she concluded.
Mr. Vanburn Brooks also expressed gratitude for the books. “I appeal to anyone who has good material that the College can make use of, to follow your example,” he stated. “We look forward not only to your gift of books, but your experience and any other way in which you can be of benefit to the College.”
Replying, Professor Richardson said he had always been committed to the development of education inAnguilla. It was a distinct honour for him to present the textbooks to the Government and the Anguilla Community College. “I give back volumes of textbooks in the disciplines of psychology, teacher education, research methods, and education and academic journals of the American Educational Research Association as well as the British Psychological Society,” he explained.
He expressed the hope that students at the College would find in the textbooks material that could enhance their insight into education and offer them the motivation to continue their studies in the field of education or related fields of study. He also hoped that the lecturers at the College would find the material as a good resource for their own preparation of lectures and research.
