Library Services Department Public Library Service of the British Virgin Islands

History and Founding

The Public Library Service of the British Virgin Islands was established under the Public Library Services Ordinance in 1974, though its origins trace back to 1943 when T. D. Green founded the territory's first library in the J.E.W. Georges building on lower Main Street, Road Town — a building that also served as a senior school at the time. The 1974 ordinance formally designated the service as the legal depository for all government annual and departmental publications and any other publications issued within the Virgin Islands. The service is administered under the Government of the British Virgin Islands, within the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports.

Collections and Holdings

The Library Services Department operates the Road Town Library on Tortola as its main branch, along with four community branches: the East End Community Library on Tortola, the Virgin Gorda Community Library in The Valley, the Anegada Community Library in The Settlement, and the Jost Van Dyke Community Library in Great Harbour. Collections include general reference materials, children's resources, local history, and official government publications. As the legal depository, the department holds the most comprehensive archive of BVI government publications available anywhere.

Access and Usage

The Road Town Library is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Branch library hours vary by location. Services are open to the general public. The department's website provides information on resources and branch locations.

Mission

The mission of the Library Services Department is to provide globally competitive information through technology and various formats to meet the educational, historical, recreational, and cultural needs of the general public of the British Virgin Islands. The service aims to be the first stop for the territory's information needs.