The Bermuda National Library’s Youth Library has welcomed back young readers after months of repairs to the Church Street property.

Diallo Rabain, the Minister of the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, said at a ribbon cutting that the reopening was the result of months of planning, hard work and collaboration, and thanked the property’s owner, Gibbons Management Services Ltd.

“The Youth Library has long served as a cornerstone of our community, providing a safe, inclusive space where young people can explore, learn and grow,” he said.

“As old as I am, as a young boy under 10 years old I can remember spending hours on a Saturday afternoon here reading books like the Hardy Boys mystery novels or the detective adventures of Encyclopaedia Brown.

“Today, we unveil a refreshed and revitalised library, one that not only honours its history but is now better able to serve future generations.”

Mr Rabain said the reopened facility came with new ceiling tiles, fresh flooring, energy-efficient LED lighting and a repainted interior and exterior.

“We have also replaced the original 40-year-old shelving with modern, safer units,” he added.

“While the new ground-level bathrooms will be completed shortly after reopening, they’ll soon eliminate the need for our young visitors to leave the building just to use the facilities.”

The Youth Library closed its doors last August for roof and structural repairs.

It hoped to reopen to the public last October but the date was pushed back with the Bermuda National Library citing the need for “ongoing remediation”.

Mr Rabain said the project had encountered challenges with weather delays and unexpected roof repairs.

He praised the landlord for making the most of the opportunity to improve the site.

“I am excited that we made it to the end,” he said. “Whenever you do renovations, there are always things that come up that you couldn’t foresee until you cut into the wall, until you pull something down.

“I am just grateful that they kept their shoulder to the wheel and got to the end point, and we see what we have now — a new, beautifully renovated space for our children.”

Mr Rabain said the library has already launched its Golden Ticket challenge, with readers who find golden tickets hidden inside the facility’s books entered into a draw for a prize.

“All previous programmes will resume the week of April 14 and the Youth Library team is preparing to roll out new initiatives that will strengthen literacy skills and spark a lifelong love of reading,” he said.

Mr Rabain added: “Even though we have modern technology and we can find things at our fingertips, it is an important feature to learn how to read and how to read properly and develop a love of reading.

“Reading allows you to develop a vocabulary that allows you to be much more expressive when you talk and able to have conversations with persons instead of stand-offs as you tend to see being proliferated with our youth today.”

Mr Rabain encouraged the public to join Bermuda’s libraries and make use of the resources at hand.

“You would be extremely surprised how many resources are available, especially for adults at our adult library,” he said.

“There are things you can do in the libraries that you certainly couldn’t do when we were younger. If you want to learn a language, you can actually do that for free.

“Students who are having a little trouble with homework can use tutor.com, which is run through the library and gives free access to tutors that can help you with your homework.

“There are a myriad of things that you can do through our libraries, both the youth and the senior library, and I would encourage all Bermudians to get involved.”