of the public was hurt climbing a shaky outer stairway to the porch.

But the added work should not delay the facility's re-opening which was already three months behind schedule, a Government Minister said yesterday.

The stairway and porch had been open to the public during the interior renovations but Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs Yvette Swan said she decided to close off the area after the incident.

"I heard someone hurt themselves slightly so I have instructed that it be closed,'' she explained.

Dr. Swan added that she was awaiting a full report of what had happened and could not provide any further details about the incident. But she stressed that the work on the Library's porch would not mean further delays to its reopening.

And she said she did not anticipate the unexpected construction creating problems with the budget.

Dr. Swan said library staff would refill the building as soon as it was ready and that no extra staff would be needed.