The Ocho Rios Library recently received well-needed books for its children’s section following a donation by the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise which docked in the resort town, last month.

The donation was spearheaded by Damion Marley and family who encouraged people on the cruise to donate books to children in Jamaica. Some 200 books were donated to the library.

Regional Librarian Merlene Walker expressed gratitude for the donation.

“There is always a need for books in our libraries,” she said.

However, the budgetary allocation of libraries, she said, does not always allow for the purchase of some well-needed books. Walker assured those attending the handover ceremony that the books will be well used

“It is very important that we are able to read…it is easy to watch TV but we have to be able to read,” said Jerome Hamilton, Managing Director of Headline Entertainment, which organised the handover.

Former Custos of St Ann and board chairman of the St Ann Library Committee Radcliffe Walters also had high praises for the initiative to donate books to the library.

“Many shelves in the children section are wanting,” Walters said.

He congratulated the Marleys for the idea of getting guests on the cruise to donate books to the children in Jamaica and urged the children to take care of them.

Walters also lauded the reggae cruise stating that ‘enough was not being done to promote reggae”.