East End Public Library to be renamed in honour of H. Lynden Smith
The announcement was made in a press release issued by the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. According to the Ministry, the renaming honours Mrs H. Lynden Smith’s sustained work to foster a culture of reading and to create opportunities for students to experience books as sources of knowledge, joy and discovery.
The announcement came during Reading Is Fun Week 2026, which was observed throughout the Territory from October 5 to 9 under the theme “Read More, Know More.” Mrs Smith founded both the BVI Reading Council and Reading Is Fun Week, initiatives that have helped generations of Virgin Islanders develop an appreciation for reading.
'Fitting tribute'- Hon De Castro
Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro (AL), said the decision to name the library after Mrs Smith is a fitting tribute to her enduring legacy.
“It is fitting that a public library, a place dedicated to knowledge, exploration, and lifelong learning, will carry her name,” Minister de Castro said in the press release. “Through this honour, we celebrate her service and preserve her legacy in a space where that work can continue to inspire our community.”
The Minister added that Mrs Smith’s vision has united public and private schools across the Territory in the annual celebration of reading.
“Her contribution reminds us of the lasting difference one committed educator can make across generations,” Minister de Castro said. “Mrs Smith, thank you for your vision, your devotion, and your enduring contribution to the Virgin Islands.”
Reading is Fun Week
Reading Is Fun Week featured storytelling, reading sessions and other literacy-focused activities in schools throughout the Virgin Islands. The Ministry said the observance is intended to encourage students to develop a lifelong appreciation for books.
Honourable de Castro also underscored the importance of literacy as the foundation for learning and personal development.
“Every time we open a book, we open ourselves to new possibilities,” she said. “Reading expands our knowledge, strengthens our imagination, and helps us understand ourselves, one another, and the world around us.”
The Ministry said it will continue to support literacy development in schools across the Territory, noting that students’ performance in local and regional examinations reflects the work of teachers, families and literacy advocates.
The renaming of the East End Public Library is expected to ensure that Mrs Smith’s contribution to education and literacy remains visible to residents and visitors for generations to come.
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4 Responses to “East End Public Library to be renamed in honour of H. Lynden Smith”
There was even a slot on the time table from 1:00 -1:30, everyday, where everybody - principal, teacher, janitor, student, even the visitor or parent who came in the school had to engage in DEAR which is the acronym for Drop Everything And Read.
No computer, no television, no IPad but a BOOK.
I became a bookworm. It was fun.
I don't know if the schools still do DEAR In this age.
Reading is the key to knowledge.