for the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. As such, it is entitled to a copy of every publication that is printed in Guyana, and is responsible for storing and conserving this national collection. Since that time, the National Library has also been responsible for compiling and storing the Guyanese National Bibliography, a comprehensive list of every publication that is printed in Guyana. The Guyanese National Bibliography has been in publication since 1973. Public Library Services As a public library, the National Library of Guyana provides a nationwide library service. In addition to its Reference and Lending Departments, the central library in Georgetown runs a Juvenile Department, a phonograph records service (established in 1969) and a toy library service (established in 1981). Since 2002, it has also provided a free internet service. Areas of Guyana that are not served by the central library, or its five branches, are catered for by the Rural Library Service, the Mobile Service and the Prison Service. The Rural Library Service The Rural Library Service was inaugurated in 1950 with the establishment of a Rural Library Centres in Hague Village in August of that year. In 2012 the number of rural library centres throughout the country was listed at twenty-one. There are rural library centres in Aishalton, Albion, Anna Regina, Bartica, Buxton, Crabwood Creek, Hague Village, Mocha, Lethem, Santa Mission and Woodley Park. Rural library centres are managed by volunteer librarians and assistants. In 1955 a training-program was introduced for all voluntary assistants in the rural library centres. The Mobile Service Introduced in 1970, the Mobile Service caters for areas that are not covered by the National Library, its branches, or the rural centres. The National Library of Guyana operates two Mobile Services, the first introduced in 1970 (and serving areas such as Tucville, Peter's Hall, Houston, Providence and Soesdyke) and the second introduced in 1976. The Prison Service Inaugurated in 1966, the Prison service provides library services to the prisons in Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Mazaruni and Sibley Hall. Prison Service collections are managed by prison officers, who are provided with relevant training. Collection In 2007, the National Library of Guyana listed a collection of 397,893 books. The collection includes rare historical documents and manuscripts, a special collection of materials pertaining to Guyana, and the papers of two important Guyanese writers: A. J. Seymour and Ian McDonald. References Library buildings completed in 1909 Guyanese culture Guyana Libraries