GROUND was broken at Glenmuir High School in May Pen, Clarendon, last week for the construction of a $30 million library. Principal of the school Clement Radcliffe told JIS News that the two-storey building will also house computer service and reading room facilities for the students.

“We are hoping to establish this library as a major resource centre for our students. They need to be able to carry out proper research for examinations, for their school-based assessments and so on. We are not always able to travel to the University of the West Indies library in Kingston, so this facility will assist in this regard,” Radcliffe said.

“One of the ways we want to accomplish this, is by providing more exposure to computers, to internet access and to generally keep them abreast of what is happening technologically. The library will also assist in terms of research for some of the more academic extra curricular involvements, such as debate and quiz,” he added.

The facility is being funded by the JAMALCO bauxite/alumina plant in the parish, which has donated $2.3 million, school savings, and donations from corporate Jamaica and Alumni associations locally and internationally.

“We have produced a brochure which outlines the rationale for this kind of facility and we have pledge forms which are being sent out to corporate Jamaica and all past students to come on board,” he said.

According to Radcliffe, the project was conceptualised about two years ago and it is hoped that it will be completed as part of the school’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2008.