St. Eustatius:--- The Executive Council has formally placed the islandโs public library under higher supervision following concerns over its management and operations.
A letter issued to the Library Board outlines longstanding issues, including a lack of transparency in governance, failure to modernize operational structures, and non-compliance with financial reporting obligations. Despite repeated offers of assistance from the Government, the Board has declined support while requesting additional funding.
The intervention follows consultations with the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science (OCW) and the National Library, citing statutory requirements under the Law on Public Libraries. Under these provisions, public libraries must uphold values of accessibility, independence, and educational development.
As a result, a project team will be appointed for six months to oversee library affairs, develop a structured plan for governance, and ensure staff development. During this period, financial support will be provided every month to cover essential operations.
The decision aims to safeguard the libraryโs role in serving the community and to ensure compliance with national standards for public libraries.
