JKPL pulls out of LibDay Parade

The Joeten-Kiyu Public Library has been forced to pull out of tomorrow’s Liberation Day Parade as well as cancel its much-anticipated Bookmobile Outreach Services’ Summer Reading Program for the Tanapag Youth Center due to a shocking act of vandalism.

The Summer Reading Program was originally scheduled for July 10-12, 2024.

According to a press release JKPL shared yesterday, on the morning of June 28, an unknown perpetrator or perpetrators caused severe damage to both the Bookmobile and the Technology Mobile Express while the vehicles were parked at the library’s lot in Susupe. The culprits cut the fuel lines and siphoned the gas from both vehicles, rendering them inoperable.

JKPL’s Vincent Sablan expressed his deep disappointment over the incident, stating, “The staff and management of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library are deeply saddened by this turn of events and are working diligently to rectify the situation as quickly as possible. We are cooperating with local law enforcement to investigate the incident and ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.”

Sablan assured the public that the library is committed to finding alternative solutions and resuming the program at the earliest opportunity, once the vehicles are deemed safe and operable.

“We understand the disappointment and inconvenience this may cause to our community members, particularly the children who were eagerly anticipating the Summer Reading Program at Tanapag Youth Center. Rest assured, we are committed to finding alternative solutions and continuing the program at the earliest available opportunity should both vehicles be safe to operate for our community and by our team,” he added.

In an interview with JKPL director Erlinda Naputi, she expressed that it was truly heartbreaking to see these careless acts, and watch them effect the children.

“It is really a sad incident. Children are now affected by criminal acts.”

She shared that along with the halt of the summer program, they also had to pull out of this year’s Liberation Day festivities, and the incident wasn’t the first incident.

“We also had our typhoon shutters stolen last April. We have evidence to prove who did it, but the police have yet to make an arrest.”

She told Saipan Tribune that the same day thieves took the shutters, she and staff looked around the island, checking all recycling centers on island, and they finally located their shutters at the Triple Star Recycling Center in As Lito. Naputi said that she called the police with the new information, and evidence, but have yet to see any arrests made.

She said that there was surveillance footage at the recycling center that captured the men who sold the shutters to the center, and now almost two months later their own security cameras got footage that caught vandals messing with the vans.

Naputi shared that even with all these, and her constant follow ups, there has been no arrest made by DPS.

“There’s a video that captured all the men who sold the shutters to the recycling center, but still no arrest. These criminals are attacking the library because they think they got away from what they did in April. So, they figured that the library is an easy target.” She finds the whole situation disheartening and upsetting.

As of press time, Saipan Tribune has yet to get a response from DPS.

The library is appealing to the community for any information that could lead to the identification and apprehension of the perpetrators. Anyone with information is urged to contact DPS at 911 or the Crime Stoppers hotline at (670) 234-7272.

Despite the setback, JKPL shared that they strive to serve their community and its children, while offering a range of resources and services for everyone, and they hope that with the support of the community, the summer reading program can resume soon.

According to JKPL, the Summer Reading Program had been made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Grant.

Patrons are encouraged to visit the library’s website at www.cnmilib.org and follow their social media pages for updates on the situation and other library programs.

The library’s temporary summer hours are Tuesday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm, Friday from 1:30pm to 7pm, and Saturday from 10am to 3pm. The library is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and holidays.

For more information on library activities, contact the JKPL at (670) 235-7322/7318.