i
Edited by Cheryl Peltier-Davis and Shamin Renwick
Medford, New Jersey
ii First Printing, 2007 Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century: Changes, Challenges, and Choices Copyright © 2007 by Cheryl Peltier-Davis and Shamin Renwick All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by Information Today, Inc., 143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, New Jersey 08055. Publisher’s Note: The author and publisher have taken care in preparation of this book but make no expressed or implied warranty of any kind and assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of the information contained herein. Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Information Today, Inc. was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Caribbean libraries in the 21st century : changes, challenges, and choices / edited by Cheryl Peltier-Davis and Shamin Renwick p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-57387-301-7 1. Libraries--Caribbean Area. 2. Libraries--West Indies. I. Peltier-Davis, Cheryl Ann. II. Renwick, Shamin, 1961Z753.A1C37 2007 027.0729--dc22 2007009440 Printed and bound in the United States of America President and CEO: Thomas H. Hogan, Sr. Editor-in-Chief and Publisher: John B. Bryans Managing Editor: Amy M. Reeve VP Graphics and Production: M. Heide Dengler Cover Designer: Dana Kruse Book Designer: Kara Mia Jalkowski Proofreader: Barbara Brynko Copyeditor: Pat Hadley-Miller Indexer: Wendy Catalano
Contents List of Figures and Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix Foreword, by Stephney Ferguson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xv Introduction by Cheryl Peltier-Davis and Shamin Renwick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvii
PART I: Historical Perspective Chapter 1
From Then ’Til Now: The Development of Rural Library Services in Trinidad and Tobago . . . . . . . . . 3 Jennifer M. Joseph and Claudia Hill (Trinidad and Tobago, United States)
Chapter 2
Libraries in Suriname: An Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Jane W. F. Smith (Suriname)
Chapter 3
Historical Development of Libraries in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Monique Alberts-Luijdjens (St. Maarten)
Chapter 4
Broadening the Academy’s Influence: A Glance at Two Academic Libraries in the Caribbean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Willamae M. Johnson (The Bahamas)
iii
iv
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
PART II: Management of the 21st-Century Library—Collections, Staff, and Services Chapter 5
Transformation and Impact: The Experience of Two Academic Libraries in Jamaica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Hermine C. Salmon and Heather Rodriguez-James (Jamaica)
Chapter 6
Collection Development and Management in Small AcademicLibraries in Jamaica: Where Is My Budget? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Dorothy M. Palmer (Jamaica)
Chapter 7
Ephemera and the Academic Library: The Response of the Main Library, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Beverley A. Wood and Barbara A. Chase (Barbados)
Chapter 8
School Libraries in the Caribbean: A Jamaican Case Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Cherrell Shelley-Robinson (Jamaica)
Chapter 9
Use of the Elizabeth Moys Classification Scheme for Legal Materials in the Caribbean . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Janice A. Modeste and Yemisi Dina (The Bahamas, Canada)
PART III: Innovative Services Chapter 10
Out of the Darkness: Library Services for the Blind and Print Disabled in Trinidad and Tobago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 Annette Wallace (Trinidad and Tobago)
Chapter 11
Reading Between the Lines in Jamaica’s Rural Libraries: Some Personal Impressions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Beryl W. Johnson, Dolsy Smith, and Gwendolynn G. Amsbury (United States)
Contents
Chapter 12
v
Experiences in Developing Customised Information Services for a Competitive AgriculturalSector: The Case of the CaribbeanQuestion and Answer Service (QAS) . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Claudette de Freitas (Trinidad and Tobago)
PART IV: Integration and Impact of Information Technology on Library Services Chapter 13
The Impact of Modern Information Technology in the Caribbean: Exploring the Challenges for the Technical Services Division . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Gwyneth E. George (Guyana)
Chapter 14
Internet Access Management in Jamaican Public Libraries: The Role of Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 Barbara A. Gordon (Jamaica)
Chapter 15
Digitization Initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 Angela Ramnarine-Rieks (Trinidad and Tobago)
PART V: Library Cooperation and Resource Sharing in the 21st Century Chapter 16
COLINET: Making a Difference in College Library Development in Jamaica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217 Hermine C. Salmon and Marva Bradford (Jamaica)
Chapter 17
The Caribbean Library in Diaspora: Perspectives from Scholarship and Librarianship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227 Nancy Cirillo, Linda Naru, and Ellen Starkman (United States)
vi
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Chapter 18
Building a Digital Library of the Caribbean: Crossing Borders . . . . . . . . . . 243 Erich Kesse, Catherine M. Marsicek, and Judith V. Rogers (United States, St. Croix, USVI)
PART VI: Education and Training of Library Users Chapter 19
Information Literacy Best Practices and Models within Caribbean Academic Libraries: The Role of Information Literacy Standards . . . . . . . 257 Vanessa Middleton (United States)
Chapter 20
Librarian and Lecturer in Partnership: A Caribbean Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269 Petronetta Pierre-Robertson (Trinidad and Tobago)
Chapter 21
Library Use in Academia: A Bahamian Perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279 Berthamae L. Walker and Raynold K. Cartwright (The Bahamas)
PART VII: Distance Education Chapter 22
Equivalent Library Services for International Students? A Comparison of Students’ Responsesin Jamaica and The Bahamas withthe Results of a University-Wide Survey . . . . . . . . . . 291 Sandra Ramdial and Johanna Tuñón (United States)
Chapter 23
Blended E-Learning Techniques: Lessons Learned from the Delivery of Distance Learning Courses to The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303 Carole Compton-Smith, Wendy Duff, and John McDonald (Canada)
Contents
vii
PART VIII: Caribbean Librarians Chapter 24
Whither Our Thoughts? A Decade of Scholarly Publishing by the Librarians of UWI St. Augustine Libraries, Trinidad and Tobago . . . . . . . . 317 Tamara Brathwaite and Niala Dwarika-Bhagat (Trinidad and Tobago)
Chapter 25
Change Management in Caribbean Special Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333 Sandra E. John (Trinidad and Tobago)
List of Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347 About the Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353 About the Reviewers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355 About the Contributors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
viii
List of Figures and Tables Figures Figure 1.1 Figure 1.2 Figure 1.3 Figure 1.4 Figure 13.1
Figure 13.2 Figure 13.3 Figure 24.1 Figure 24.2 Figure 25.1 Figure 25.2
Library training class and staff, March 1944 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Book van during the 1960s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Bookmobile service points in Trinidad . . . . . . 13 Bookmobile service points in Tobago . . . . . . . 13 Acquisitions functions: Summary of the activities undertaken in an acquisitions department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Cataloguing functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 ICTs and the total technical services functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 Number of articles published in refereed journals by year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325 Percentage publication output by type of library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326 Adapted from Steven Covey’s time-management matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338 Message to research staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Tables Table 2.1 Table 5.1 Table 5.2 Table 8.1
Facts on Major Libraries in Suriname . . . . . . . 25 Educational Status of Library Staff at UTech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Educational Status of Library Staff at NCU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Availability of Space for Activities . . . . . . . . 103 ix
x
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Table 8.2 Table 8.3 Table 8.4 Table 14.1 Table 14.2 Table 14.3 Table 21.1 Table 21.2 Table 21.3 Table 21.4 Table 21.5 Table 22.1 Table 22.2
Table 22.3
Services Offered to Teachers and Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Qualifications of Persons in Charge of School Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Source of Funding for School Libraries . . . . . 110 Content of Training for Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Content of Training for Users . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Content of Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Education Student Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 Law Student Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 Library Usage Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284 Reasons for Library Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284 Home Internet Access Among Education and Law Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285 Satisfaction Levels for the Resources and Services Offered by NSU Libraries . . . . . 295 Results to Question: “When Doing Research for NSU Classes, I Prefer to Start by Using” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 Results to Question: “Indicate Your Use of the Library Resources and Services” . . . . . 296
Foreword Although libraries have been a part of the Caribbean landscape since the 18th and 19th centuries, Caribbean librarianship can be said to have made its debut only as recently as the mid-20th century when the first Caribbean librarians with professional certification began to provide leadership for the development of all types of library services in the region. The work of the early pioneers laid a solid foundation for their successors, and it is true to say that, by and large, the accomplishments of Caribbean librarianship have been noteworthy. This is evident by the level of success achieved in the development of libraries and library systems to meet the information needs of the community, especially when it is recognized that these libraries and library systems have been developed and are being operated in a challenging environment characterized by crippling resource constraints and expensive fastpaced technological developments. Records of the challenges faced, the solutions attempted, or even the accomplishments achieved by Caribbean librarians are not easily available as there is a dearth of library literature emanating from the region. Previous publications from the English-speaking region include Alma Jordan’s seminal work based on her doctoral thesis, The Development of Library Service in the West Indies through Interlibrary Cooperation, Scarecrow Press, 1970; Libraries and the Challenge of Change, Proceedings of the International conference held in Kingston, Jamaica 24–29 April 1972, Mansell, 1975, and Libraries, Literacy and Learning: Essays in Honour of Joyce Lilieth Robinson OJ, CD, MBE, FLA, LLD (Hon), published by the Jamaica Library Association in 1994. These have been complemented by articles in refereed journals published by librarians in academic institutions who seek to survive the “publish or perish” requirements of their institutions as well as conference proceedings primarily from the annual conferences of the Association of Caribbean Universities Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL), which was founded in 1969. It is, therefore, with pleasure that I welcome the publication of Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century: Changes, Challenges, and Choices as an effort to help fill the gap in the literature of librarianship in this unique multicultural, multiethnic, multilingual Caribbean region. The collection of papers is an eclectic mix of topics, approaches and styles. Topics include the traditional public, school, academic, and special xi
xii
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
libraries as well as the challenges associated with modern technological applications and the issues involved in the delivery of services in the modern information environment. Approaches include case studies, research findings, and historical perspectives, while styles range from the scholarly and the thought-provoking through to the critical. Altogether, the collection should satisfy a wide range of interests for students of international librarianship in schools of Library and Information Science, professional practitioners in developing countries who face similar challenges, or those who merely want to learn about developments in library and information work in different parts of the world. The editors, Cheryl Peltier-Davis and Shamin Renwick, two relatively young Caribbean librarians, deserve congratulations on this bold initiative, which has provided yet another outlet for Caribbean librarians who wish to contribute to the literature of librarianship in the region. —Stephney Ferguson, former Campus Librarian, UWI, Mona, 1997–2004, and University Librarian for The University of the West Indies, 1998–2004
Acknowledgments The editors wish to thank the many individuals who have supported us in the successful completion of this venture. Our thanks and appreciation to our publishers Information Today Inc, primarily to John Bryans, editor-inchief and publisher, books division, who courageously supported our proposal, and Amy Reeve, managing editor, who tirelessly and patiently responded to an abundance of queries. To our distinguished panel of external reviewers, Stephney Ferguson, Derek Law, Maurice Line, and Margaret Rouse-Jones, we are indebted for your help in resolving many of the difficult issues of selection, review, and editing of individual articles. A remarkable group of contributors has made this book possible, and we would like to express our gratitude to all who have willingly endured our editorial comments with good grace and timely response. To our friends and families who have given unstinting support and much needed advice, we are eternally grateful.
xiii
xiv
Preface There are two seminal publications that are considered valuable compilations for tracing the development of library services in the Caribbean which stimulated ideas for this publication: The Development of Library Service in the West Indies through Interlibrary Cooperation by Alma Jordan, former Campus Librarian at The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago,1 and British Caribbean by Daphne Douglas, former Head of the Department of Library and Information Studies, UWI, Mona, Jamaica.2 Editor Shamin Renwick has also produced a work titled Electronic Information Resources in the Caribbean, which complements this publication as it collates papers and presentations at the 34th annual conference of the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL) held in Trinidad and Tobago in 2004.3 During preliminary discussions about this book on Caribbean libraries, our intent was clearly articulated: tap the burgeoning and established writing talents of library and information professionals within the Caribbean region to produce a work that describes their concerns, efforts, and experiences in addressing the myriad of issues affecting libraries in the region. We believe that we were successful in this endeavor. Overall, there were 36 proposals for articles from 55 contributors. For the final manuscript, 25 articles were selected from 41 professionals employed in academic, public, national, special, and school libraries as well as an archivist, an information consultant, and two university lecturers. These contributors come from St. Maarten; The Bahamas; Barbados; Guyana; Jamaica; Suriname; St. Croix; Trinidad and Tobago; Canada; and the U.S. These contributions provide in-depth analysis and coverage of topics relevant not only to libraries and other information centers in the Caribbean but may also be of interest to libraries in other parts of the world. Subject areas include management of collections, staff and services, implementing innovative services, integration and impact of information technology on library services, library cooperation and resource sharing, education and training of library users, delivering courses to distance learners, and the role of the 21st-century librarian. Articles were selected and reviewed based on contribution to the field of library and information science, clarity, and relevance, and where applicable, xv
xvi
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
literature review and methodology were criteria considered as well. The review system was two-tiered. The editors did the initial selection and notified contributors, accordingly. After submission, the contributions were reviewed by the editors and a panel of external reviewers. Authors were contacted for editorial changes as necessary. As with any publication of this nature, which attempts to be comprehensive in its coverage of a geographically dispersed, multilingual, multicultural region with a wide range of topics, there were some limitations, many of which related to the constraints of time allotted to the completion of the manuscript and the fact that both editors reside in different countries. Fortunately, with the extensive use of modern technology (mainly e-mail and online chat), we successfully managed to overcome these difficulties and met our stated deadlines. Another factor that came under consideration was the usage of both the British and American English spelling. We made the editorial decision—wishing to maintain the influence of the Caribbean where both forms are in common use—that within any one chapter the spelling will be consistent but no single style (British or American) was chosen for the entire book. We hope that this book will serve as a valuable research tool and provide practical lessons for librarians, information professionals, computer scientists, bibliographers, documentalists, educators, library science students, and persons with a casual or passing interest in learning more about libraries in the Caribbean. We strongly believe that this book captures the core body of knowledge of an established profession in a rapidly changing information environment in a comprehensive and up-to-date manner. Our ultimate goal: to produce a work that informs, educates, and stimulates discussion among librarians and other information specialists about future strategic directions for libraries in the Caribbean region and the rest of the world. —Cheryl Peltier-Davis and Shamin Renwick
ENDNOTES 1. Alma Jordan, The Development of Library Service in the West Indies through Interlibrary Cooperation (Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1970). 2. Daphne Douglas, “British Caribbean,” in International Handbook of Contemporary Developments in Librarianship, ed. M. Jackson (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1981). 3. Shamin Renwick and Jaishree Kochhar, eds., Electronic Information Resources in the Caribbean: Trends and Issues: Proceedings of the ACURIL XXXIV Conference, May 23–29, 2004, Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad: UWI, 2005).
Introduction Cheryl Peltier-Davis and Shamin Renwick The term Caribbean, if applied in its widest geographic context, is said to describe all the lands washed by the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The definition thought appropriate for this book is the definition used by the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL) in its guidelines for membership.1 This description includes those countries in the Caribbean archipelago, the mainland countries (including the Guianas), and the states of the United States of America, which border on the Caribbean Sea or Gulf of Mexico.2 This region, which includes many territories with historical, political, linguistic, and cultural affiliations that are as varied as their past, has been greatly influenced by the relationships of the pre- and postcolonial era. English, French, Dutch, and Spanish are the main languages but local languages such as Papiamento (in the Dutch Islands) and Creole (in the French Islands) are also spoken (Ferguson 46). This book seeks to document the state of Caribbean libraries in the 21st century by examining the responses by these institutions to the changes, challenges, and choices in an increasingly electronic and virtual information environment. This is a topic that has generated considerable discussion among practitioners in the field and is an issue often highlighted during presentations at local, regional, and international library conferences. The changes are self-evident: the emergence of the Internet, the unprecedented growth of information and communication technologies (ICTs), and the multitude of formats now available for storing and retrieving information. The challenges are not unique to Caribbean libraries but also affect libraries in the developing and developed world: budget cuts and shrinking resources, retraining staff and reorganizing workflows, delivering traditional and innovative services to an increasingly technologically savvy consumer. The choices, although seemingly obvious in this complex information environment, are not always easily and readily adopted: redesign and reorganization of existing infrastructure; make efficient and effective use of available resources; harness and integrate new technologies into existing services; cultivate alliances and partnerships with aggressive competitors in the information arena such as Google, Yahoo!, and other information providers. xvii
xviii
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
This collection of selected articles attempts to address the myriad issues identified above by providing information that is theoretical as well as practical, utilizing original research, surveys and case studies, personal narratives, and insightful opinion pieces drawn from regional and international perspectives. The approaches of our contributors are almost as diverse as the libraries and information centers they describe. From the variety of approaches and indepth (perhaps distinctive) analyses provided, a number of common themes can be readily identified. These themes are discussed below using the headings as outlined in the book’s 25 chapters and are considered by the editors as significant and worthy of mention as they clearly link the development of modern-day Caribbean libraries within a global construct.
PART I: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Articles in the introductory chapters trace the development of different library types (academic, public, school, special, and national) in the Englishspeaking Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas, and Grenada; and the Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries of Suriname, the Netherlands Antilles, and Aruba. Collectively, the four chapters in this section adequately give the reader a sense of the historical past from which many of the libraries have developed as the authors present comprehensive overviews and analyses of the influence and development of Caribbean libraries in their countries. Perhaps what is most significant about these introductory chapters is the fact that the contributors effectively relate the history of individual libraries to the social, political, economic, and intellectual environment in which these libraries were developed. Johnson, in Chapter 4, which examines the development of two academic libraries in the Caribbean, encapsulates this approach when she suggests that “libraries are not an end in themselves but rather are the images of the political, social and economic fabric of the societies in which they exist. Their evolution and sustainability over time are greatly influenced by the prevailing socio-economic development of individual nations and that of the global community.” The value of the content of this section is enhanced by the fact that all contributors Joseph, Hill, Smith, Alberts-Luijdjens, and Johnson provide unique information that has not been previously unearthed and documented. For example, the comprehensive chapter by Smith on the development of libraries in Suriname has not been documented in such detail before and, certainly, not in English.
PART II: MANAGEMENT OF THE 21ST-CENTURY LIBRARY: COLLECTIONS, STAFF, AND SERVICES One identifiable theme in many chapters is the challenge of managing Caribbean libraries in countries where national budget allocations have been
Introduction
xix
substantially reduced over time. The reality of working with reduced budgets has coerced many library directors and managers into becoming more creative in their response to increasing calls by stakeholders for new and improved facilities, products, and services. Chapter 5 in Part II shares the experience of two academic libraries in Jamaica, whose parent institutions successfully made the transition from college to university status. In an environment where efficient management of resources—financial, physical, human, and technological—is considered vital for success, the authors Salmon and Rodriguez-James provide instructive advice for peer institutions hoping to attain similar status: “The transition of a college to university requires careful planning, enthusiastic implementation and critical review of goals and objectives. The political, social, economic and intellectual environment in which the institution operates must always be studied and anticipated in order to be appropriately responsive.” Two chapters in this section allude to the challenges of managing library collections that now include a mix of traditional materials (printed books, journals, audio-visual) and emerging formats (e-books, e-journals, e-newspapers, e-theses, Internet resources, digital objects, multimedia). Palmer, in her examination of collection development and management in small academic libraries in Jamaica, maintains that management of such an eclectic collection within this technological age is critical and challenging. Critical because library users will judge the effectiveness of the service by the quality of the collection and its ability to satisfy their needs and expose them to trends in new and existing subject areas, and challenging because of the financial and economic constraints alluded to above. Within such an environment, Palmer views the development of a collection development policy as an essential tool. According to Palmer, such a policy will provide the basic guidelines for the selection, acquisition, and evaluation of resources in all formats including print and electronic. In addition to managing print and electronic resources, should Caribbean libraries have responsibility for collecting, managing, and providing access to ephemeral materials that document important aspects of our Caribbean cultural heritage? Authors Wood and Chase in Chapter 7 provide convincing reasons why the Main Library at The University of the West Indies in Cave Hill, Barbados should aggressively take on this role and also highlight the intrinsic value of ephemeral material to research and teaching within the academic environment. In Chapter 8, Shelley-Robinson provides a detailed and insightful overview of the historical development of school libraries in the Englishspeaking Caribbean using data gathered from a national survey of school libraries in Jamaica and by consulting current literature on the topic. ShelleyRobinson appeals to regional governments to provide direct financial support for school libraries. She does this by reiterating the basic tenets of the IFLA/UNESCO School Library Manifesto, which states that “… the school
xx
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
library is essential to every long-term strategy for literacy, education, information provision and economic, social and cultural development.” ShelleyRobinson urges Caribbean librarians to act as advocates, forming strategic alliances with pressure groups to strengthen their case in their bid to lobby government to recognize the important contribution these [school] libraries can make in helping the society to produce information-literate citizens capable of functioning successfully in an information society. This section on the management of the 21st-century library concludes with a chapter jointly authored by Modeste and Dina who evaluate the historical significance and usefulness of the Moys Classification scheme to law libraries in the Caribbean and suggests directions for future developments of this scheme.
PART III: INNOVATIVE SERVICES In an environment where change is constant, there is one challenge that can be identified as continually affecting libraries and other knowledgebased centers. The challenge is this: how to harness and use information technology to provide core or traditional information services to a diverse clientele while simultaneously introducing new and innovative services. These innovative services must be relevant and accessible to diverse communities; emphasize the library’s role as a center for life-long learning and self-development; underscore the social responsibilities of libraries in bridging cultural gaps; and promote libraries as enablers, providing information for decision and policy-making. Chapters in this section profile innovative library services in different library types. In Chapter 10, Wallace discusses library services for the blind and print disabled in Trinidad and Tobago. She describes this service as a model for local and Caribbean libraries. This service also has the distinction of being awarded the Prime Minister’s Innovating for Service Excellence—the Social Inclusion Award in 2004. Wallace attributes this successful implementation of assistive technology to several factors: library legislation that mandated that the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) provide a national information service for the benefit of the physically disadvantaged; donations and support from philanthropic organizations, and the opening of a state-of-the-art national library in 2003 with the infrastructure to support these enhanced services. For the expansive public and school library service network in Jamaica (121 branch libraries and approximately 900 school libraries), the key to developing innovative service lies in the central administrative agency’s, that is, the Jamaica Library Service’s (JLS) willingness to delegate administrative independence and promote the potential benefits of shared resources among the network of rural branch libraries in Jamaica. This is the somewhat defiant view put forward in Chapter 11 by authors Johnson, Smith, and
Introduction
xxi
Amsbury in what can best be described as an anecdotal overview of the rural library service in Jamaica. The authors envision rural libraries in Jamaica as serving as an important source of information and as a social institution. They strongly believe that rural libraries would benefit from each other by sharing ideas and best practices on how to utilize scarce resources to provide patrons with appropriate, timely, and quality services. But, for this to become a reality, “there would first need to be autonomy in the JLS management at the regional and parish levels, that would ultimately give branches the freedom, along with the requisite resources and support, to develop programs and collections that reflect the needs and characteristics of their unique communities.” De Freitas builds on this concept of collaboration and shared resources in Chapter 12, which chronicles the challenges in the development of a regional network of customized information and reference services known as QAS (Question and Answer Service) for the Caribbean agricultural sector. De Freitas thinks that the need for developing such a network was essential because QAS provides the resources and services required for policy makers and other priority stakeholders to make the critical link between research, information, and development, which will ultimately improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector. As de Freitas notes in the opening lines of the chapter: “With the advent of the information technology revolution, information is now viewed as critical element in the development process.” This view of information as a valuable economic resource is strongly supported in the management literature. One such proponent was noted management consultant Peter Drucker, who in describing the knowledge society stated that “the basic economic resource is no longer capital, nor natural resources, nor labor. It is and will be knowledge” (Drucker 233). The QAS, if it can overcome some of the challenges as outlined by de Freitas, has the potential to develop into a 24/7 virtual reference cooperative, delivering round-the-clock, live reference services to virtual and walk-in clientele.
PART IV: INTEGRATION AND IMPACT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON LIBRARY SERVICES The opportunities presented by the advances in information and communications technologies (ICTs) is one of the underlying themes of Chapters 13–15 in Part IV. These chapters focus on libraries’ efforts to harness these emerging technologies and integrate ICTs into existing services in their bid to invade users’ spaces, taking services and content to users where they need it the most. In Chapter 13, George provides a comparative analysis of the impact of modern information technology and the challenges it poses for the Technical Services Division of libraries in developed and developing countries.
xxii
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
In Chapter 14, Gordon’s article is devoted to Internet access management. This emphasis on the Internet is deemed appropriate, given the fact that since its widespread public adoption in the 1990s, the Internet has inextricably woven itself into every facet of human existence, influencing and in some ways reshaping every aspect of modern life—our communications pattern, the way we seek information, the way we think, and, in some instances, the way we act. As a result, the demand to provide this service is pervasive throughout libraries in the Caribbean despite the low levels of resource allocations by some regional governments. Gordon evaluates the implementation of Internet access policies within the public library system in Jamaica. She clearly articulates the need for such policies that will guide librarians through a maze of moral, ethical, and legal challenges associated with access to the Internet. Chapter 15 explores initiatives to develop digital collections in the Caribbean and to make these collections accessible via the Internet. According to Ramnarine-Rieks, this major push to develop digital collections is an attempt to satisfy the needs of the 21st-century library user, often characterized as information-addicts, eager for quick access to current and personalized electronic information (De Rosa et al. 5) who are demanding access to information packaged in a manner that they have grown accustomed to on the basis of their Web surfing experiences. The value of Chapter 15 lies in the in-depth profiles and citations provided, leading readers to discover existing digital collections and digital networks in the Caribbean and Latin American region.
PART V: LIBRARY COOPERATION AND RESOURCE SHARING IN THE 21ST CENTURY This section on library cooperation comprises three chapters, and it is one of the few sections where all the chapters were the output of collaborative writing. This is deliberate because collaboration and the formation of strategic alliances can assist in the equitable acquisition of and access to resources and services, and can be viewed as the panacea to many of the challenges currently faced by Caribbean libraries, which have been discussed in many of the chapters. Chapter 16, which focuses on the operations of the College Libraries Information Network (COLINET) is the first of two chapters that outline the existing infrastructures in place to promote collaboration among Caribbean libraries. Salmon and Bradford examine the role of COLINET in developing and improving the status of libraries in tertiary education institutions in Jamaica. Given the success of this network, the authors are of the opinion that it may already have the resources and characteristics required to evolve into a full-fledged consortium. These include its present role as a catalyst for change, its ability to provide logistical support through consultations, library visits, meetings, seminars, workshops, and its promotion of the use of standards.
Introduction
xxiii
The commitment of the University of Illinois at Chicago Library to initiate collaborative projects with peer institutions in the Caribbean to preserve the H. D. Carberry Collection is discussed in Chapter 17, “The Caribbean Library in Diaspora: Perspectives from Scholarship and Librarianship,” which is a unique chapter written by an academic and two librarians. As the authors note in the chapter, there are ethical questions about such purchases of rare collections and the subsequent removal from their country of origin (in this case Jamaica). In fact, some readers—on reading this chapter—may view this acquisition as a visible manifestation of 21st-century imperialism. The solution—as proposed by the authors—is a dynamic, collaborative effort, with Caribbean libraries, in which technology can be harnessed to make the valuable works in this collection of Caribbean literature widely accessible, in a sense, returning the collection back to the Caribbean. Chapter 18 in Part V provides tangible evidence that Caribbean libraries are successfully engaged in creating a Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC). Described as a regional cooperative for construction and administration of an electronic gateway to Caribbean collections, dLOC builds on the collaborative experience of institutions in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) and the state of Florida. The article identifies the various institutions from which dLOC have already gained pledged support to digitize and contribute rare and valuable resources and concludes by inviting all eligible institutions to become members and contribute to the growing collections of Caribbean resources within this regional network.
PART VI: EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF LIBRARY USERS How do information professionals maintain relevancy in a world where the Internet is perceived as satisfying the information needs of our clients, usurping our primacy in a field that we have long dominated? A logical answer may be that librarians and other information professionals must now assume the role of instructor, identifying specific competencies that the library user needs to access information and developing strategies to help these users acquire these competencies. This instructional role is now “as great or even greater than the traditional reference role” (Birks and Oesleby 33). Chapters in Part VI address this issue as contributors focus on the education and training of library users. Middleton (Chapter 19) conducts a survey of information-literacy practices and models within Caribbean academic libraries and also examines the role of existing information-literacy standards. Pierre-Robertson (Chapter 20) discusses the benefits and challenges of collaboration between lecturer and librarian in teaching an integrated course built on library research and critical-thinking skills. In Chapter 21, authors Walker and Cartwright focus on the role of library as place by surveying undergraduates and postgraduates
xxiv
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
who use the facilities and services provided by The College of The Bahamas Libraries.
PART VII: DISTANCE EDUCATION The chapters in Part VI are ably complemented by the two chapters in this section on distance education. Ramdial and Tuñón (Chapter 22) provide a comparative analysis of library services for on-campus students at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in Florida and NSU’s international students based in The Bahamas and Jamaica. Authors Compton-Smith, Duff, and McDonald (Chapter 23) report on the lessons learned in delivering two onesemester distance learning courses on records management at the Department of Library and Information Studies (DLIS) at UWI in Mona, Jamaica, using both Web-conferencing technology and learning management software.
PART VIII: CARIBBEAN LIBRARIANS Chapters 24 and 25 provide some insight into the role, function, and character of Caribbean librarians. Issues identified in this section should be of much interest, and perhaps are all too familiar, to librarians and other information professionals. Two chapters are not adequate to provide the in-depth scrutiny and analysis required for such a topic, and we hope that our colleagues will address these and similar issues in future publications. Chapter 24 is a study by Braithwaite and Dwarika-Bhagat, which seeks to determine if the professional librarians at the UWI St. Augustine Campus Libraries System have noted the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) within their academic library publishing efforts. Given the impact and wide-scale adoption of ICTs discussed in many of the preceding chapters, this study is an appropriate topic to end this collection of selected articles on Caribbean libraries. The authors’ list of published scholarly works, included as an appendix at the end of the chapter, is a fair indicator of an increase in publication output by librarians at this institution over a 10-year period and evidence that many librarians have found it necessary to document the impact of ICTs on librarianship. John, in “Change Management in Caribbean Special Libraries” (Chapter 25), analyzes the various factors that have altered the environment in which Caribbean special libraries function today. John is quick to point out that many of the lessons she alludes to will be relevant to libraries of all types and sizes. She identifies one of the most dramatic shifts as occurring in the relationship between the library service and its users. In this new increasingly electronic environment, the user is made suddenly independent of the modest efforts of the library by the infinite
Introduction
xxv
research possibilities available via the Internet—now regarded by most librarians as the reference source of first choice. In the face of this and other challenges, how must the librarian respond? John provides compelling advice in this instructive chapter.
ENDNOTES 1. This geographic description was obtained from the ACURIL Web site (acuril.uprrp.edu/que.htm). One of the major objectives of this regional library association as stated on the Web site is to facilitate the development and use of libraries, archives, and information services, and the identification, collection, and preservation of information resources in support of the whole range of intellectual and educational endeavors throughout the Caribbean area. 2. A map of the Caribbean is provided on page xxvi. Map reproduced from John Macpherson, Caribbean Lands (Trinidad: Longman, 1981): p. 194.
WORKS CITED Birks, Jane and Liz Oesleby. “Mere Mortals Need Not Apply.” In Expectations of Librarians in the 21st Century, ed. Karl Bridges. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2003. De Rosa, Cathy et al. The 2003 OCLC Environmental Scan: Pattern Recognition: A Report to the OCLC Membership. Dublin, OH: Online Computer Library Center, 2004. Drucker, Peter F. Managing in a Time of Great Change. New York: Truman Talley Books/Plume, 1998. Ferguson, Stephney. “Caribbean.” In International Encyclopedia of Information and Library Science, eds. J. Feather and P. Sturges. London: Routhledge, 1997.
xxvi
1
PA R T I
Historical Perspective
2
CHAPTER 1
From Then ’Til Now: The Development of Rural Library Services in Trinidad and Tobago Jennifer M. Joseph The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
Claudia Hill Harvard College Library, Massachusetts, USA ABSTRACT This chapter traces the development of the rural library services in Trinidad and Tobago from its inception in the 1940s and examines the successes and failures of the efforts to provide free public library services to the entire population. After a fairly rapid growth to 1962, the service to rural communities was severely affected by issues of unsuitable accommodation for branch libraries, defective vehicles, and lack of adequate attention by the government. After a long period of stagnation, the services experienced a resurgence, as the national library system came into focus and began to equip itself for the 21st century with the establishment of the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) and the construction of a national library building. The vision for a functional network of information services for the 21st century is presented.
BACKGROUND The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, with a population of 1.3 million people, is a twin-island state at the southern end of the chain of Caribbean islands, close to Venezuela. Trinidad, the larger island (4,828 square kilometers), has two main cities—Port-of-Spain (the capital) in the northwest peninsula and San Fernando in the southwest. Tobago, the smaller island, is a landmass of 300 square kilometers. In the context of this chapter, “rural” will be defined as those areas that are not located within the two main cities on the island of Trinidad and, therefore, includes the entire island of Tobago. 3
4
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
STANDARDS AND GOALS OF RURAL LIBRARY SERVICES In countries with a long tradition of library services, several methods of book distribution are used to serve their rural populations including branch libraries, bookmobile services, book deposit collections, and postal services/books-by-mail.1 In essence, the main goal of rural library services is to ensure that the widest number of persons who reside outside of the main cities and towns have access to books and information. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Public Library Manifesto, which was revised in 1994 with the assistance of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), advocates the promotion of equal opportunity and gives public libraries strong legal and social responsibilities. The Manifesto strongly suggests that there should be clear policies for the provision of service to all and specifically articulates that library services must be adapted to the different needs of communities in rural and urban settings. It also recognizes the need for libraries in the 21st century to be transformed from leisure reading centres to places that are central to the provision of information and staffed by a cadre of professionals. This chapter, therefore, also comments on the relevance of the library services provided in the context of the needs of the people of Trinidad and Tobago in the 21st century.
GENESIS In 1932, Ernest Savage, Honorary Secretary of the Library Association of Great Britain and librarian of the Edinburgh Public Library, was requested by the Carnegie Corporation to survey the “Libraries in British and American possessions in the Caribbean.” In 1934, the British Library Association published Savage’s report after his tour of the West Indies (Savage 79). In the section under Trinidad and Tobago, it was reported that the few existing libraries did not provide a service to the population as a whole. In Port-of-Spain, there were the Trinidad Public Library (a subscription library) and a law library (which was part of the Judiciary of the colony); a Research Library at the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture in St. Augustine (now the Main Library of The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine); the San Fernando Carnegie Free Library; and the Tobago Public Library (a subscription library). Other smaller libraries could be found in select secondary schools (e.g., Queen’s Royal College, Port-of-Spain). Savage saw the need for the introduction of a public library service in the country that would attempt to serve the entire population. He made four recommendations: 1. The alteration of library legislation to make libraries public, as that term is understood in Britain and the U.S. 2. Greater financial support and better use of the income at present available.
From Then ‘Til Now
5
3. A successful scheme of recruiting educated and trained librarians and assistants. 4. Administration of all the libraries as one service for the whole area, or of groups of libraries united as services within the present governmental boundaries (Savage 43). As a result of Savage’s report, the government of Trinidad and Tobago (referred to hereafter as Government) received an offer of US$70,000 in 1936 for the establishment of a Central Library Scheme and an additional US$10,000 for the subsequent establishment of a similar type of service in the Eastern Caribbean and British Guiana (now Guyana). The agreement was that after the first four years of the scheme, the Government would undertake to finance and develop a free public library service. Trinidad and Tobago accepted the offer of the Carnegie Corporation and, in 1941, a Canadian librarian, Helen Gordon Stewart who had done similar pioneering work in Western Canada, was appointed as Director and the Central Library Scheme was launched (Carnegie Corporation 1).2 By 1943, Stewart had laid a solid foundation for the Central Library Services in Trinidad and Tobago through the establishment of a network of distribution agencies consisting of book van stops, branch libraries, and deposit collections. Statistics at the end of 1943 showed that the Central Library Scheme was serving a population in Trinidad and Tobago between 300,000 and 350,000, exclusive of Port-of-Spain and San Fernando (Stewart 5).
EDUCATION AND TRAINING A key area of Stewart’s work was in the training of library personnel. In fact, it has been suggested that the first training program for Caribbean librarian assistants was Stewart’s most important contribution to West Indian Librarianship (Coombs 76). She instituted an annual six-month training course in Trinidad that would provide elementary training in modern methods for existing staff and recruits from other British territories in the region and was designed to provide a pool of persons basically qualified to carry out the work. A certificate of competency that was purely of local value was given at the end of the course. A further programme of training was available to persons who had successfully completed the initial course. This was designed to meet the requirements of the elementary or intermediate certificate of the British Library Association. Stewart sought financial assistance from the British Council to facilitate the inclusion of persons from other islands in the training. Her annual report for the Central Library Scheme in 1943 stated that: The British Council cooperated generously by offering up to ten (10) studentships for candidates outside of Port-of-Spain consisting of (a) travel expenses, and (b) a maintenance
6
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century allowance of $300 each for the six months of the course. Two students from Barbados and one each from Antigua, British Guiana and San Fernando took advantage of the offer, all recommended by their respective Library Boards, and all granted leave on half pay. Two young men from Port-of-Spain joined the class, but are not in receipt of grants…the class ends in February 1944, so that the students will be ready to help with the reorganization programme in their respective islands during and after the visits of the Director next year. (Stewart 3)
The inscription on the back of the original photograph in Figure 1.1 indicated that the group was the “Library training class & staff, March 1944” and confirms the inclusion of persons from other territories in the region— Antigua, Barbados, British Guiana. Former Dartmouth Professor Errol Hill,3 late father of co-author of this chapter, appears in the photograph and was probably one of the two young men from Port-of-Spain, referred to previously, who had attended that training course. Also identified is Marjorie Lumsden, who later became a Director of Library Services in Trinidad and Tobago. The photograph was taken in 1944, the last year that the Central Library Scheme received funding from the Carnegie Corporation. However, the British Council agreed to sponsor an extension of the programme for another five years.4 Except for a change of name from the Central Library Scheme to Regional Library, and the relocation of headquarters from 1 Hayes Street,
Figure 1.1 Library training class and staff, March 1944 (Copyright ©2006 by the Estate of Errol Gaston Hill)
From Then ‘Til Now
7
Port-of-Spain, to rooms in the British Council Head Office in a nearby building named “Whitehall,” the training and work went on without a break. In 1945, the Government assumed full responsibility for the Central Library Organization and the service to the rural areas pushed steadily ahead. A bill, drafted in 1947 to establish the Central Library as a Department of the Government service, was finally enacted in 1949. In 1948, it was decided to base training on the regulations and examination system of the British Library Association and the Regional Library was made an official examination centre. The first six-month training course was held January–June 1949, and there were 100 percent passes. Soon after this, the system changed to correspondence courses and students from other territories came to Trinidad for the examination. Persons who benefited from the early training have stated that it was extremely thorough and covered all aspects of librarianship. The practical aspect was a major component.
THE EARLY YEARS OF CENTRAL LIBRARY AND ITS RURAL SERVICES
The Vision for the Central Library Scheme As envisioned, the Central Library Scheme would have a main library in each island or group of islands. The main library would function as the headquarters from which the entire population would be served through branches, book vans or deposit collections, schools or other organizations. Under Stewart’s directorship, the idea was promulgated to lay the foundations of a permanent library system with an adequate book stock, trained and qualified staff, proper accommodations, and, of course, a system of distribution that reached into the rural districts. The original book distribution system of the Central Library Scheme consisted of a headquarters in Port-of-Spain and 11 branches throughout Trinidad, and Scarborough as a divisional centre for Tobago. Stewart’s vision was for the centres to be served by the book van for the first two or three years and then be converted to branch libraries.
Deposit Collections The method of deposit collections employed during Stewart’s tenure remained in use until about 1974. During the years 1943–1944, approximately 25 collections were established on a temporary basis in certain schools in an attempt to test suitable principles and methods for a permanent policy. By 1946, there were collections in approximately 10 villages and towns in Trinidad and in Tobago. However, some collections were discontinued in 1954 partly through lack of children’s books and partly through pending agreements with the educational authorities. In 1974, there were deposit collections in the villages of Guayaguayare and Moruga in Trinidad, and at Belle Garden, Moriah and Roxborough in Tobago.
8
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
The Mobile Services 1942–1962: Golden Years On November 4, 1942, the book van started to serve the main centres of population that had been identified. The first van had a capacity of 350 books and had been locally assembled because World War II made it impractical to import a sophisticated vehicle. The book van that is featured in Errol Hill’s photograph (see Figure 1.1) may have been a replacement for an earlier prototype that may have been a converted station wagon (Flood 21). The photograph shows that books were placed on exterior shelving on the side of the van. Raised panels on the side of the van shielded the books from the sun, while allowing patrons to view the collection. In the initial years, there was a small, enthusiastic staff that got their inspiration from the spirit and drive of Stewart. By her own self-discipline and personal example, she imbued all her staff with a high sense of dedication and service, encouraging them to learn about the villages/towns, the lifestyle, and the needs of the library’s clientele. Before the service started in 1942, Stewart had made a survey of the distribution of population in relation to interconnecting transport routes. She spoke to local people in an attempt to assess the needs of the area, and practical demonstrations were staged so that people could see for themselves what was being offered. Arrangements were also made for suitable places for the book van to stop. Trips were made fortnightly or monthly utilizing a book stock that comprised gifts from the British Council and items ordered from New York and England. By the end of 1944, there were 26 points of call to a number of schools and some of the major areas of population. The book van stops were usually very busy, with the staff issuing an average of 75–100 books per hour. From the early days, inadequate book stock was a problem, and it was only from September 1945 that two books were issued to adult readers only. Children were not registered but parents borrowed for them. By the end of 1944, 95,058 volumes had been borrowed from the book van routes and headquarters by the 4,578 members registered (Trinidad and Tobago, Central Library, Annual Report for Central Library for 1944). On October 4, 1948, the Central Library established a regional headquarters at the Carnegie Free Library in San Fernando for its south centres and the routes were transferred to the schedule of the south book van. Some of the book van stops in the southernmost ends of Trinidad, which had previously been discontinued, were then reinstated. On October 26, 1948, the Tobago Public Library was incorporated into the Central Library and was formally opened as a regional branch of the Central Library. Book van routes were started in Tobago when the older van was sent over from Trinidad to service these routes. By 1949, there were eight book van centres in Tobago. A mobile library service to schools in Tobago began as an experimental scheme in 1959, but with the limited resources on hand, it could serve only 13 schools. Statistics prepared in 1962 show that there were 133 stops scattered throughout Trinidad and Tobago, which were served by
From Then ‘Til Now
9
Figure 1.2 Book van during the 1960s (Courtesy National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS), Trinidad and Tobago) two vans in Trinidad and one in Tobago. (Trinidad and Tobago, Central Library, Annual Report for Central Library). Figure 1.2 shows the book van during the 1960s.
The Mobile Services 1962–1974: Problem Years There was very little activity and no major changes in the bookmobile service between 1962 and 1974. The service in the two islands was plagued by defective vehicles, which curtailed visits for prolonged periods of time. Bookmobile repairs proved to be quite expensive, making it more economical to acquire a new vehicle—a process that took an exceedingly long time. In 1962, the number of stops dropped to 35, when only one of the three bookmobiles remained functioning in Tobago. The annual reports of the Central Library for the period 1962–1974 are replete with details of the suspension and resumption of the bookmobile services throughout the two islands. In addition to the perennial problem of defective vehicles, the runs were suspended in 1970 in both islands because of the state of emergency that followed social unrest and a failed military coup. In 1970, overall circulation figures for the book van in Tobago reflected a drop of more than 30
10
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
percent over the previous year’s figures. On the positive side, however, a new van was purchased under the Government’s Better Village Development Programme, and the bookmobile resumed operations in Tobago in September 1973.5 In 1972, as part of the International Book Year celebrations, Central Library prepared a travelling exhibition of books to educate the public on the type of rural mobile service that should be in place. Although this exhibition brought the libraries and their deficiencies into public focus, the library services continued to struggle to provide service without adequate financial support from the Government. The editorial of the Trinidad Guardian on October 3, 1972, commented on the Minister of Education’s speech at the launch of the exhibition: and while it is true that the cost of books has risen appreciably, it is doubtful whether the Ministry of Education appreciates how much greater effort is needed to provide an adequate library service. There is not only need for more money, but also a more tolerant approach to books and reading on the part of the Establishment. Following International Book Year and some direct lobbying by the director, the Central Library received an injection of funds from the Government in 1973 for further development in the rural areas. A 4,000-capacity bookmobile was stocked for the extension of service to areas in northeast Trinidad where there had been no services. Unfortunately, problems with the vehicle eventually led to the cessation of this service in 1974.
Branch Libraries 1942–1974: Developmental Years As indicated earlier, the original system of book distribution as envisaged by Stewart was expected to serve the major areas of population by book van for the first two or three years, and then some of the centres would be converted to branch libraries. In May 1946, branches were opened in the towns of Couva and San Juan as well as in Point Fortin at the end of 1947. In 1948, the book van centre at Tunapuna was converted into a branch library. Additionally, when a new building was being constructed for the Arima Borough Council in 1950, the authorities were persuaded to include space and facilities for a new branch library. By 1958, the Central Library Service had a total of 10 branch libraries—Arima, San Juan, Tunapuna, Sangre Grande, Couva, Siparia, Princes Town, Point Fortin, La Brea, and Tobago. The branch library in Tobago was opened in Charlotteville in 1956. It provided service to Tobago along with Scarborough, the regional headquarters. Eventually, another branch was opened at Roxborough in Tobago in 1979. The first branch libraries were housed in makeshift buildings. In fact, the first library at Siparia was housed in a funeral parlour, while the first three
From Then ‘Til Now
11
part-time libraries at Couva, San Juan, and Point Fortin only had an average area of 500–600 square feet. The 1957 Annual Report of Central Library included a description of the Sangre Grande branch library: The branch library is too small and lacks any convenience for the staff that has to travel there and remain on duty until late evening. The flooring is beginning to go and wood lice are on the rampage. More and more children are coming into the library and as they are all crammed into a small space, it is becoming impossible to control them without losing one’s voice. In 1957, the library management made very strong recommendations to the Government on the need for new buildings. As a result, two new buildings were specially constructed for branch libraries at Sangre Grande and La Brea and officially opened in 1960. However, with the exception of these libraries and a few that moved to new “rented” premises, the situation remained largely the same as it was in the early days. Recommendations had also been made for the establishment of a branch library at Chaguanas, a heavily populated and fast-growing urban area. However, in 1974, Chaguanas was still being served by the book van, which proved to be inadequate for such a large centre.
SUCCESSES, FAILURES, AND STAGNATION The history of the rural services, until 1974, describes a time of rapid growth followed by a period of stagnation to 1992. Major successes were achieved in the initial years, as a solid foundation was laid for the network of services. Of significance was the high quality of education and training, which was offered to the local and regional students of librarianship. However, during the period 1974 to 1992, there was relatively no developmental activity in the public library services and by extension, the rural library services. No new branch libraries were built and the bookmobiles came to a complete stop. The directors who followed Stewart also displayed the same high level of commitment to the development of the library services and worked tirelessly for the improvement and expansion of the library services.6 However, despite the directors’ best efforts, the services continued to be plagued by inadequate funding, defective vehicles, accommodation in unsuitable buildings, and a minimum of attention from a government that seemed to have its priorities elsewhere. The fact that the library services were part of the Ministry of Education also seemed to further hamper its development since attention was apparently concentrated on other educational services and the construction of school buildings. The Director of Library Services in the early 1980s cited as one of the main obstacles “inadequate attention to the library services through their allocation to a ministry with related but extensive commitments” (Raymond). Overall, the library services
12
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
of Trinidad and Tobago encountered their “darkest” days in the late 1970s and 1980s.
RESURGENCE: 1990s AND BEYOND During the period of stagnation when there were limited funds for the development of libraries, Central Library staff provided advice and guidance as several community libraries were established through the initiative and support of the parliamentary representatives for various areas. Under the stewardship of Director Vere Achong, community libraries in Mayaro, Diego Martin, and Maloney were brought under the umbrella of the Central Library in the early 1990s and continued to function as branches of the national library system. The library services received a locally assembled mobile library from the Scotia Bank in 1990. This gift facilitated the resumption of mobile library services after an absence of 16 years. An additional mobile service with a book stock of 3,500 volumes was launched on September 30, 1996, to serve 12 locations in central and northwest Trinidad. Lending services were introduced for one hour at the community centre and/or school in each location. The public and rural library services slowly began its resurgence. The unwavering efforts of the Secretariat of the Council for National Library and Information Services (CONALIS) that was established in 1990 under Pamella Benson, (who later became the first Executive Director of NALIS), resulted in the integration of the three public library services under a single national library authority and the subsequent construction of a national library building.7 By Act of Parliament No. 18 of 1998, NALIS was established and serves as the umbrella organization under which all national library and information services are administered. The services enjoyed a period of consolidation during the years 1998–2005.
RURAL LIBRARY SERVICES IN THE 21ST CENTURY Figures 1.3 and 1.4 show maps of the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, respectively. The service points that exist in 2006 are identified. Trinidad and Tobago is served by a network of 23 libraries, including three regional headquarters as well as four mobile libraries that visit the various locations once every three weeks. In Trinidad, 27 locations in the north and central part of the island are served by two mobile libraries; the 20 locations in the southern end of the island are supplied by one bookmobile from the Carnegie Free Library in San Fernando. The Tobago bookmobile provides fortnightly service to 30 primary schools. In addition, NALIS is expected to acquire a digital mobile library in 2006, which would be fully equipped to offer wireless connection to the Internet and the online catalogue as well as audiovisual services. The Information Networks Division is in the process of upgrading the network infrastructure at all locations that are currently served
From Then ‘Til Now
13
Figure 1.3 Bookmobile service points in Trinidad (Courtesy National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS), Trinidad and Tobago)
Figure 1.4 Bookmobile service points in Tobago (Courtesy National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS), Trinidad and Tobago)
14
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
by 102 public access computers. There is also a partnership between the North Rural mobile library and one community to promote literacy through a spelling competition for children in 17 schools.
VISION FOR THE RURAL LIBRARY SERVICES The 2006–2020 Public Library Development Plan prepared by NALIS envisages the provision of services to all communities in the country through mobile libraries and district libraries that would serve as the headquarters of the book distribution network. The plan includes the construction of purpose-built libraries in the larger towns of Chaguanas and Tunapuna to replace rented premises, as well as the addition of a library in another large centre (Rio Claro) to replace the bookmobile service. With the advances in information technology, the rural library services in Trinidad and Tobago are poised to function as library/information referral centres that offer online access to all users. The service points should also function as centres for the promotion of national culture and oral history. It is anticipated that full-time professionals would be assigned to support these services, which would also include assistive technologies for the print disabled. There would be functional bookmobiles and fully stocked alternatives that could serve as replacements in emergency situations. In addition, the introduction of the postal service would assist the housebound and other disadvantaged citizens, particularly in view of recent improvements in the local postal services.
CONCLUSION The rural library services of Trinidad and Tobago are on the path to achieving the standards for service as articulated in the UNESCO/IFLA Public Library Manifesto. As described in this paper, the developmental years were fraught with some difficulties. However, with the financial and political support that the services are currently enjoying, it is anticipated that the necessary advancements will be made in the not too distant future. Authors’ Note: The authors wish to acknowledge the following persons and organizations for their assistance with this article: Mrs. Grace Hope Hill, librarians at the Trinidad and Tobago NALIS, and other retired librarians, Mr. Peter Bloor of the British Council, the Harvard Administrative Fellows Program, and the Harvard College Library.
ENDNOTES 1.
Joan Reitz, ODLIS: The Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science, 3 Apr. 2006, Libraries Unlimited, 2 July 2006. lu.com/odlis/odlis_b.cfm. See ODLIS for definitions. In the paper, the terms “Book Van” and “Bookmobile” are used interchangeably.
From Then ‘Til Now
15
2.
“Dr. Helen Gordon Stewart’s association with the Carnegie Corporation of New York dates back to the 1930s. The corporation had funded a five-year demonstration programme from 1930 to 1934 designed to promote the feasibility of regional libraries in the remote areas of Fraser Valley, British Columbia. Stewart, the first chairman of the Public Library Commission (PLC) and one of the founding members of the British Columbia Library Association, was appointed director of the PLC’s Fraser Valley Library unit demonstration program, which…involved the use of a travelling library system of books in a book van or bookmobile which she brought to the rural residents in Fraser Valley. Using the custom-built bookmobile, she brought the idea of public libraries to rural residents at deposit stations and newly established branches... The success of the travelling ‘demonstration’ libraries led to the establishment of other regional library units. The Carnegie Corporation turned to Stewart to repeat the success of Fraser Valley in the Eastern Caribbean and to administer the Central Library Scheme.” See Marion Gilroy and Samuel Rothstein, eds., As We Remember It: Interviews with Pioneering Librarians of British Columbia. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia, 1979. 24–26, 80, 142, and 157.
3.
See Errol Gaston Hill’s obituary (1921–2003): Dartmouth College’s. 9 Apr. 2006. www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2003/09/16.html.These albums and scrapbooks are among Hill’s personal papers (acquired in 2003) in Rauner Library Special Collections, Dartmouth College.
4.
British Council and the Colonial Development and Welfare Office had expressed interest in taking over the management of the Central Library Scheme from the Carnegie Corporation as early as 1943. The British Council was interested in expanding the Scheme to other islands in the Eastern Caribbean region. Negotiations began in 1944 and were formalized January 1, 1945. Information is from e-mail dated 6 June 2004 from Peter Bloor, Records Management Officer, the British Council quoting British Council’s Annual Reports for 1944–1945 and 1945–1946.
5.
Annual reports for the Central Library for the period provide detailed statistics and information.
6.
The following persons served as Principal Librarian/Director of Library Services after Titles: Principal Librarian 1941–1970; Director 1970–1998; Executive Director 1998–present. Persons to hold the post: 1941–1948 Dr. Helen Gordon Stewart; 1952 William Eric Gocking; 1959 Sydney W. Hockey; 1960 Vacant, Marjorie Lumsden (Deputy Principal Librarian); 1961–1970 Marjorie Lumsden; 1971–1984 Lynette Hutchinson; 1984–1986 Ursula Raymond; 1986–1989 Angela Bernard; 1989–1994 Vere Achong; 1994–2004 Pamella Benson; 2004–2006 Patricia Zephyrine; 2006–present Annette Wallace.
7.
In July 1993, the government of Trinidad and Tobago agreed to the integration of the three library authorities—Central Library, the Trinidad Public Library, and the Carnegie Free Library.
WORKS CITED Carnegie Corporation. A Report of the Central Library Scheme for the Year ending February 28th, 1942. Report on Progress. [unsigned, Helen Gordon Stewart, Director?] Carnegie Corporation of New York Records; Rare Book and Manuscript Library: Columbia University Libraries. Series III.A (grant files), Box 63.6. [1942?].
16
The Caribbean Libraries of the 21st Century
Coombs, Douglas. Spreading the Word: The Library Work of the British Council. London: Mansell Publishing Library, 1988. Flood, R. A. Public Libraries in the Colonies. London: Library Association, 1951. IFLA/UNESCO. Public Library Manifesto. The Hague: IFLA, 1994. Jordan, Alma. The Development of Library Service in the West Indies through Interlibrary Cooperation. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1970. Joseph, Jennifer M. “The Development of the Rural Library Services in Trinidad and Tobago.” BA Caribbean Studies Paper. UWI St. Augustine, 1974. Osborne, Joan. “The Public Library System in Trinidad and Tobago: Its Development and Impact on Public Education, Literacy, Culture and Heritage.” MA. Research Paper, UWI St. Augustine, 2003. Raymond, Ursula. Draft Library Development Plan for Trinidad and Tobago 1973–1988: The Challenge of Change. Port-of-Spain, Trinidad: Ministry of Education, 1973. Savage, Ernest A. The Libraries of Bermuda, The Bahamas, the British West Indies, British Guiana, British Honduras, Puerto Rico, and the American Virgin Islands: A Report to the Carnegie Corporation of New York. London: Library Association, 1934. Stewart, Helen Gordon. A Report of the Central Library Scheme for the Year Ending December 31st 1943. (c. 1944). Tate, Thelma H. “Moving Information Systems and the Implementation of the UNESCO Public Library Manifesto: New Paradigms for Literacy.” Rural Libraries 15.1 (1996): 48–54. Trinidad and Tobago. Central Library. Annual Report for Central Library for 1944. Portof-Spain, Trinidad: Central Library, 1951. —-. —-. Annual Report for Central Library. Port-of-Spain, Trinidad: Central Library, 1962. —-. National Library and Information System. Public Library Development Plan 2006–2010. Port-of-Spain, Trinidad: NALIS, 2006.
CHAPTER 2
Libraries in Suriname: An Overview Jane W. F. Smith Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Suriname ABSTRACT This chapter traces the development of librarianship in Suriname. The historical development of librarianship is closely aligned with the political and cultural history and parallels the socioeconomic development of the country. As a former colony of the Netherlands, librarianship in Suriname is modelled on the Dutch system and there still exists formal ties with the motherland. For example, the Netherlands continues to provide funding for local libraries, all librarians are trained in the Netherlands, and there are more cooperative relationships with libraries in the Netherlands than with other libraries in the Caribbean region. Statistics on the resources, services, and use of the major libraries in Suriname are described in tabular format. The challenges and opportunities for libraries in Suriname are also reviewed. At present, some libraries are taking advantage of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to participate in regional and international networks and to automate different library activities, such as cataloguing and circulation. Although collaboration with libraries and organizations in the Caribbean region is slowly increasing, this chapter emphasizes the need for more cooperation between libraries in Suriname and other regional and international libraries. The creation of the Nationale Database Suriname, a collaborative effort among libraries in Suriname, is evidence of the beginning and benefits of such cooperative projects.
INTRODUCTION On the subject of librarianship in Suriname, there is little or no information in English. Even in Dutch, the official language of Suriname, not much has been published. As Suriname is now part of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), it is very important to share information about different aspects of the country. Renewed membership in the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL) has made it easier to network with other librarians, share experiences and information on the Surinamese libraries and learn from feedback.1 17
18
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
THE REPUBLIC OF SURINAME IN BRIEF Suriname, officially Republic of Suriname (Republiek Suriname) is on the northern coast of South America. It is bordered on the north by the Atlantic Ocean, on the east by French Guiana, on the south by Brazil, and on the west by Guyana. The capital city is Paramaribo. The population is approximately 500,000.
History Suriname was colonized by the Spanish (1593), the Dutch (1602), and the English (1650). The Dutch then ruled the country from 1667 onwards, except during two brief wartime periods from 1795 to 1802 and from 1804 to 1816 when the British regained possession. During Dutch rule, several regulations were implemented and included: • In accordance with Dutch law in 1865, Suriname was granted self-government to a limited degree. • The Interim Regulation, effected in January 1950, and a new constitutional regulation allowed Suriname to have a cabinet government. In 1954, the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands marked the discontinuation of colonization with regard to the former colonies Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles. Suriname got limited autonomy, restricted to home rule, with decisions on foreign affairs and defence remaining under the control of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. On November 25, 1975, following race-rioting over unemployment and inflation, the Netherlands granted Suriname complete independence. Prior to independence, some 100,000 Surinamese, mainly of Asian descent, migrated to the Netherlands. A coup d’état in 1980 resulted in military rule and, during much of the 1980s, Suriname was under the repressive control of the military. The Netherlands curtailed all aid in 1982 when Suriname soldiers killed 15 persons: journalists, politicians, lawyers, and union officials. Democracy was restored in 1988.
Culture Suriname is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the Americas. Suriname’s earliest inhabitants were Amerindians (the Surinen Indians, after whom the country is named). However, now the majority of its population are descendants from African slaves (Creoles and Maroons) as well as Indian (Hindustanis) and Indonesian (Javanese) indentured servants brought by the Dutch to work as agricultural labourers. African slaves worked on the coffee and sugarcane plantations until the abolition of slavery in 1863. The slaves (originally called “Bush Negroes” by the Dutch but now referred to as
Libraries in Suriname: An Overview
19
Maroons), who escaped into the interior, revived their African culture. There was large-scale introduction of labourers because of the shortage of workers created by the abolition of slavery. The immigration of labourers commenced in 1853. Chinese labourers came from Java (1853), Portuguese labourers from Madeira (1853–1854), and another influx of Chinese immigrants (this time from China) came during the period 1858 to 1869. Ten years after the abolition of slavery, the immigration of East Indian labourers from British India started, and, in 1890, the Javanese immigrants from the Dutch East Indies came to Suriname. Cultural policy is currently the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and Community Development, and it allows every ethnic group to retain its own culture. All ethnic groups have their own food, religion, cultural traditions, and native language. Public holidays, for instance, are designated not only for traditional Christian holidays, but also for the religious festivals of Hindus and Muslims. Dutch, the official language, is used for education and to conduct business. Surinamese-Dutch, a variant of the Dutch language differs significantly from Dutch. Sranan Tongo or Sranan, the lingua franca is the second most important language. In addition to these two languages, the descendants of the immigrants use the language of their ancestors, Sarnami Hindi and Javanese. Thus, several languages, about 22, are spoken in Suriname: Amerindian languages, Creole languages, and Asian languages. The educational system consists of primary and secondary education, technical and vocational training, and higher education. Education is not only governmental. Denominational education, set up by private and religious organizations and partially controlled by the government, also exist. Since 1867, there has been compulsory education for children between the ages of 7 and 12. In the early years, not much literature was published in Suriname. Oral communication was predominant. The stories, mostly originating from the Creole population and obtained from their ancestors, were the Anansi stories and the songs from the winti-religion. In modern times, literature is mainly expressed in Surinamese-Dutch, Sranan Tongo, and Sarnami, and is based on the cultural history of Suriname. Most of the oral literature consisted of poems and these existed long before prose was written. The poems were for a Dutch audience and, only during the World War II, with the increasing social conscious awareness of the Surinamese-Creole, literature in Sranan Tongo was published. In 1943, J.G.A. (Papa) Koenders developed guidelines for Sranan Tongo spelling. Some well-known Surinamese writers/poets are Trefossa, Dobru, Shrinivasi, Astrid Roemer, Bea Vianen, and Edgar Cairo. In 1977, writers founded the “Writers group ’77 (Schrijversgroep ’77),” an association to encourage writers to publish. This group regularly organized literary activities such as book presentations and poetry meetings.
20
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
LIBRARIANSHIP IN SURINAME
Historical Development The development of librarianship is closely related to scientific development, as in the 18th century the first scientific library was established. Wolbers (417) reported that scientists who were united in societies brought together books from private libraries with diverse subjects. Before 1857, the libraries that existed were available only to the elite. In 1857, physicians Dumontier and Landré founded the Colonial Library (Koloniale Bibliotheek). In later years, a museum was added to the library. The government assumed administrative responsibility for this library in 1875 and the name was changed to “Koloniaal Museum,” which indicated that this was more a museum than a library. However, both the library and the museum functions were neglected. In 1908, the collection of the museum was removed and the library was renamed Koloniale Landsboekerij. Due to the scientific quality of the collection, it was not useful to the general public. Therefore, in 1957, the Surinamese government decided to dissolve the Koloniale Landsboekerij, and the collection was distributed among different libraries in Suriname and the Netherlands. There are many private libraries in existence at this time, for example, the libraries of the Moravian congregation, the Roman Catholic congregation, the Teachers’ Society, and the Free Masons. However, these collections were not open to the public (Encyclopedie 67–68).
Librarianship in General Although the Ministry of Education and Community Development shares partial responsibility, the Directorate of Culture is officially responsible for librarianship. In practice, each organization is responsible for creating library policy for their individual libraries. Official records show that there are more than 50 libraries or documentation centres (Sedney and Smith). At present, there is one major university library, a public library system with branches, a school library system and several special libraries, which exist in government departments, private companies, and private organizations. There is no national library. To a large extent, the printed cultural heritage of Suriname is stored in libraries and archives not in Suriname, but in the Netherlands and the U.S. In the latter country, most of this data is available online. In 2005, the Nationale Database Suriname, a Web site with bibliographic data about Suriname, was launched. The majority of libraries and documentation centres are in Paramaribo. In the outlying districts, there are branches of the public library, some school libraries and special libraries.
Libraries in Suriname: An Overview
21
Training For years, there was no formal training in the area of librarianship in Suriname. All qualified librarians obtained their professional qualifications in the Netherlands through: • Courses of the Association for Librarians in the Netherlands (until 1965) • Library and Documentation Academy (two years basic library education and one year for specialization) (1964–1990) • Courses for assistants in academic, special, or research libraries (one year) • Postgraduate courses for librarians at the University of Amsterdam (one year) These professional librarians then proceeded to train library personnel on-the-job. Despite this effort, however, the development of librarianship in Suriname was restricted because of the shortage of professional library staff. When a committee created in 1972 to implement library training did not produce the desired result, the Cultural Centre Suriname (CCS) initiated a course to provide basic training for library assistants in 1975. This two-year practically oriented course was offered four times between 1975 and 1990. The final result was an improvement of information services in most libraries, as employees were trained in library skills and general knowledge. The only advanced training for library assistants was organized in 1982. In 1997, another organization, Stichting Documentaire Informatie Opleidingen Suriname (DIOS), organized training for library personnel and management training for library assistants. Additional training on specific library subjects and automation were also organized for library assistants. At present, there is need for formal library training. This is due mainly to the high turnover of staff and an increase in the number of libraries and information centres. It is anticipated that in 2006 certificate training for library personnel will be offered.
Automation in Libraries Information professionals in Suriname over the years have acquired an awareness of and skills in library automation and library information systems through workshops, reading relevant literature, and training. The library information systems currently in use are CDS-ISIS (Computerized Documentation System/Integrated Set of Information System), WINISIS (the Windows version of CDS/ISIS), CARDBOX, and ADLIB. The Nationale Database Suriname utilizes WINISIS. Although not all libraries are equipped with computers, the use of the Internet has been widely adopted.
22
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
PUBLIC LIBRARIES The CCS Library, established in 1949, is the only public library system. The CCS has coordinated all cultural activities since 1947 and became a foundation in 1948. STICUSA (Stichting Culturele Samenwerking), a foundation for cultural cooperation aimed at strengthening cultural ties among the Netherlands, Suriname, and the Netherlands Antilles, is the organization responsible for sponsoring the CCS. For example, in 1948, CCS received a collection of Dutch literature, spanning the years 1885 to 1948, and subscriptions to journals from STICUSA. The CCS Library was relocated several times, until 1953 when a new library building was opened at the Gravenstraat in the centre of Paramaribo. Because of the increase in loan activities from 1959 onwards, especially in the circulation of youth literature, the first of many library branches was established in 1964 and a bookmobile was introduced in 1973. In 1960, the CCS Library inherited what was formerly the task of the Ministry of Education and Community Development, the task of providing the suburbs and the districts with rotating collections. A rotating collection service was established in 1971 because of the great demand for literature in schools in the districts. After the liquidation of the Koloniale Landsboekerij in 1957, public librarianship became the responsibility of the CCS Library. At present, the CCS Library consists of a main library, where the youth library is housed, and some branches in the districts. The branches in the suburbs are not in use.
Library Staff As in all libraries in Suriname, there was a need for qualified library staff in the CCS Library. In 1954, STICUSA recruited qualified librarians from the Netherlands to manage the library and to train the administrative staff onthe-job. Some Surinamese library employees were sponsored by STICUSA and trained in the Netherlands. As a result of this training provided by the CCS for library assistants, the need for qualified personnel was markedly reduced.
Library Collection Initially, the CCS Library collection was developed with financial aid from STICUSA. Books, journal subscriptions, and newspapers were part of the early collection. In the library, a documentation centre was set up to meet the demands for reference material. This collection consists of photocopies of reference books, newspaper articles, and magazines. In the main library, there are books and journals for adults and a separate collection in the youth library. The reference collection includes popular reference books and the Caribbean collection, which consists of information about Caribbean countries. Books about Suriname are a very important part
Libraries in Suriname: An Overview
23
of the present collection. Some old and valuable volumes from the collection of the Koloniale Landsboekerij are also available. The bookmobile collection was developed mainly for the youth and the elderly as a result of the regular visits to schools and the homes for the elderly.
SPECIAL LIBRARIES Special libraries are located at ministries, corporate companies, and organizations. It is a common trend that there are no library personnel employed in these institutions, and responsibility for individual libraries falls under the purview of the secretary’s office. This has proven to be a grave disadvantage, as most activities relating to archives and librarianship are probably nonexistent. At some ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Justice and Police, the library is perceived as a valuable resource and this is reflected in the frequent use of its services. The Educational Library (Algemene Onderwijsbibliotheek) at the Ministry of Education and Community Development has a collection on educational subjects for use by secondary school students. Many of these special libraries provide a service mainly to their staff and are accessible to the public only by appointment. Examples of special libraries that are accessible to the general public in need of special information include the library of the Suriname Museum (Stichting Surinaams Museum), which has a valuable collection on Suriname subjects, and the library at the Centre for Agricultural Research in Suriname (CELOS). Other special libraries worth mentioning are the Library Staatsolie (State Oil Company), the Library of the Central Bank of Suriname, and the Library Telesur (Telecommunication Company).
ACADEMIC LIBRARIES The Koloniale Bibliotheek (mentioned earlier) was the first academic library in Suriname. With the proclamation to establish the University of Suriname in 1968, the scientific collection from the Koloniale Bibliotheek was relocated and stored at different locations at the University of Suriname campus. After being closed for 10 months as a result of the political turmoil in Suriname, the University was reopened in October 1983 and it was renamed the “Anton de Kom University of Suriname.” The University Library is the only academic library in Suriname. It consists of the Central Library and the Medical Library. The collection was housed in several locations until 1983, when the library building on the University campus was completed. With the exception of the medical collection, all other collections are in the University Library. The Medical Library is in the building of the Medical Research Institute.
24
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Library Staff The library staff consists of a librarian, library assistants, and paraprofessionals. All library assistants are graduates from the CCS or DIOS library training. Paraprofessionals are educated by means of in-house training they receive at the start of employment. As the library is opened until 9 P.M. weekly, and on Saturdays, nonlibrary personnel are hired to work part-time. Additional training is offered by the library to improve the quality of information services provided.
Library Collection The collection of the University Library supports the three Faculties at the University, namely the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Technological Sciences. An important part of this collection is publications about Suriname. The University Library has the status of Depository Library for the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the United Nations (UN). As the national coordinator or focal point for some regional and international networks, the University Library contributes bibliographic data to databases and offers electronic information through these databases. The turbulent political situation has also had an impact on the University Library. Before the military period, there were no problems with collection building. Shortly afterwards, the University Library suffered because of discontinued foreign aid and new import regulations. Unfortunately, at the moment, the majority of the library’s acquisitions are obtained by gifts and exchanges and there are relatively few purchases. In 1990, the library’s catalogue was first automated using the CDS/ISIS software. Currently, the library’s collection is accessible via an online catalogue, which is based on the WINISIS software. The University Library also coordinates activities to guarantee the online accessibility of information about Suriname via the Nationale Database Suriname. Nonconfidential information regarding Suriname is processed by the participants and sent to the University Library, which is responsible for uploading the data on the Web site.2
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THE INFORMATION SOCIETY IN THE 21ST CENTURY To identify the future challenges and opportunities, it is important to provide an overview of libraries in Suriname. The information for this overview of the major libraries was gathered by this author through personal interviews with librarians. Table 2.1 presents factual information on the major libraries in Suriname.
Libraries in Suriname: An Overview
25
Table 2.1on Major Facts oninMajor Table 2.1 Facts Libraries Suriname Libraries in Suriname Personnel
Public library
Special library
Special library
Academic library
(CCS Library)
(Library, Central Bank of
(Educational Library)
(Library, Anton de Kom
Suriname)
University of Suriname)
Total number
28
7
50 (mostly teacher-librarians)
44 (inclusive of part-time staff)
Qualified personnel
7
4
6
12
On-the-job trained
10
2
None
21
Continuing
No formal structure in place
• Correspondence courses
None
Regularly, when necessary
Education, CE
for CE training
• Read specialized literature
Fiction (youth literature) and
Literature on financial matters,
Science (all fields of study),
Literature which supports the
non-fiction (literature for
economics, banking, and law
literature
curricula of the University
Approx. 320,000
Approx. 10,000
Approx. 30,000
Approx. 100,000
• loan
• loan
• loan
• loan
• reference
• information mediation
• study facilities
• study facilities
• PCs for Internet access and
• reference material
• photocopy facilities
• information mediation
• current contents
• documentation
• photocopy facilities
• information mediation
• photocopy facilities
• school library service
• reference material
• bookmobile
• study facilities
(additional training) Collections Composition
adults) Number of volumes
Services
data-processing
• PCs for Internet access and data-
• PCs for Internet access and
processing
data-processing Library Users Type of users
General public (youth and
Bank employees, students (by
Students and teachers
University community: students,
adults)
appointment)
(primary education to higher
lecturers and scientists
education) Major target group
Youth
Bank employees
Students secondary education
Students
Number of users
11,837
2,035
56,315
Approx. 90,000
No
Yes (ADLIB)
No
Yes (WINISIS)
Circulation
No
Yes (ADLIB)
No
No
Other activities
Partner: Nationale Database
Partner: Nationale Database
Partner: Nationale Database
Partner: Nationale Database
Suriname
Suriname
Suriname
Suriname
Automation Catalogue/Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC)
OPPORTUNITIES FOR COOPERATION Many libraries in Suriname maintain interlibrary loans with various institutions, locally and abroad (mainly in the Netherlands).
Cooperation within Suriname Little documentation on cooperation among library staff is currently available. In March 1976, the Centrale Vereniging van Werkers in Archieven, bibliotheken en andere documentatiediensten, a foundation for employees in
26
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
archives, libraries, and documentation centres, was formed. The aim was to join forces in order to improve communication, creation of an information policy with emphasis on the division of job responsibilities and protection of the employees’ interests. In 1976, there was a second attempt to unite professionals with the establishment of ALVABED, the Association of Archivists, Librarians and Documentalists (Vereniging van archivarissen, bibliothecarissen en documentalisten). The objective was similar to the first attempt to bring library personnel together, but with one difference, namely that of centralization of services, for example, the creation of a central catalogue. From the two committees of ALVABED, the first, the Archive Committee, became a joint committee of government departments in 1981. The second one, the Library Committee, started with matters concerning librarianship, for example, the position of librarians and library assistants, manpower planning. But, similar to the first attempt to come together, ALVABED has also petered out. In 1986, a few librarians made a frantic attempt to regroup to improve librarianship in Suriname. The Association of Library Personnel in Suriname (Vereniging van Bibliotheekpersoneel in Suriname) (VBS) was founded. The purpose of this association was to improve librarianship in Suriname. The VBS organized educational and informative activities with the maintenance of relationships with governmental institutions (regarding library training and library rank system) and with regional and international library organizations being identified as a priority. Regrettably, this association is also currently inactive. Since 2005, there has been a new collaborative effort among information centres in Suriname, that is, the establishment of the Nationale Database Suriname. As there is no national library, information is located in various centres all over the country. Unfortunately, this information is not only unknown, but it is also inaccessible to the general public. For this reason, Surinamese libraries joined forces to make information about Suriname more accessible. After a Train-the-Trainers course that focused on library techniques for nonlibrarians, WINISIS (adapted from Caribbean Information System for Economic and Social Planning [CARISPLAN]), and developing a Macro thesaurus, the participants (from 25 institutions) are currently processing documents about Suriname using the knowledge and techniques learned at the course to ensure that the database is updated regularly. Monthly meetings are held to discuss the project’s successes and problems encountered. The data is sent to the University Library, coordinator of the Nationale Database Suriname.
Cooperation in the Dutch Caribbean Regrettably, there are no extensive cooperative efforts in the Dutch Caribbean, although some libraries in Suriname have developed exchange relations with libraries in the Netherlands Antilles.
Libraries in Suriname: An Overview
27
Cooperation in the Wider Caribbean The University Library and a few special libraries participated in CARISPLAN in the 1980s. At the moment, only the University Library collaborates with other universities in the Caribbean, as a participant in regional networks. These networks include: • CDL: The Caribbean Digital Library of the UN/Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), a virtual collection of Caribbean documents on socioeconomic subjects • SIDALC: The Agricultural Information and Documentation System of the Americas, a hemispheric network of agricultural information resources found in Latin America and the Caribbean and sponsored by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) • MEDCARIB: English Caribbean component of LILACS (the Latin American and Caribbean Centre on Health Sciences Information, sponsored by the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO) • PDBA: The Political Database of the Americas, sponsored by the Organisation of American States (OAS) Only the University Library and the Library of the Central Bank of Suriname are members of ACURIL at this time. Suriname is represented on the Executive Council of ACURIL for the period 2005–2008. The Library of the Central Bank of Suriname collaborates with the Library of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago.
International Cooperation Currently, the University Library is involved with international cooperative efforts, such as: • AGRIS/CARIS (International Information System for the Agricultural Sciences and Technology) sponsored by the FAO – The university serves as the national coordinator • PAHO (Pan American Health Organisation) Publication Centre – The Medical Library has a special PAHO collection • SIAMAZ (Amazonian Information System for Environmental Data) • KIT (Royal Institute of the Tropics) and KITLV (Royal Institute of the Tropics and Cultural Anthropology) in the Netherlands
28
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
The Educational Library and the CCS Library have an agreement to collaborate with Belgium, as per the Municipal relation Paramaribo-Antwerpen (Stedenband Paramaribo-Antwerpen). The CCS Library signed a declaration of intent in 1990 with the Nederlands Bibliotheek en Lektuur Centrum (NBLC), an organization that oversees the interest of the public library system in the Netherlands. Of note is the support the NBLC gave to the CCS Library by providing literature for the collection, professional advice, and training for library staff.
CHALLENGES FOR LIBRARIES IN SURINAME The 21st-century information society challenges libraries to keep abreast with changes. Taking all factors into account, it is simply not fully recognized that the global changes that are taking place are linked to the provision of information. The quantity of information—a massive amount of information on the Internet is accessible by every employee with a personal computer and online access—and the availability of new ICTs require new methods and approaches. Libraries can play an essential role in promoting the new ways of using this information and ICTs. But, in order to provide this service and perform other traditional functions, they must have the necessary resources—professional library personnel, equipment, and more importantly, funding. Within this 21st-century electronic environment, providing access to electronic information resources, as part of collection development, will be an opportunity and a challenge for libraries. With the development of information mediation, a proactive approach is possible and if this approach is adopted, it will result in greater satisfaction for library users. The goal of most libraries in Suriname is to become virtual libraries. The plan is to realize this objective as soon as possible, with or without the cooperation of libraries at home or abroad: • The CCS Library is now in the process of reorganization to expand its services through a decentralization plan. The aim is to provide this extended service to all districts of Suriname. • The Educational Library is working on constructing a new library building to accommodate students, and this building will have all the advantages of modern technology. • The Central Bank of Suriname Library has plans to be certified according to ISO-standards by providing the employees with relevant certification information through an intranet. • The Library of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname plans to offer up-to-date services to support the education and research activities of students and faculty.
Libraries in Suriname: An Overview
29
CONCLUSION Libraries in Suriname are challenged to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the information revolution in the context of rapid change throughout the world. Much work is needed. The Nationale Database Suriname is a promising start. Libraries that do not have the necessary resources will be able to join forces with libraries that are equipped and have the required experience. As a result of the vagaries in the socioeconomic conditions, libraries in Suriname cannot manage the challenges of the information society in isolation. Based on individual needs, close cooperation on selected areas of librarianship will be a guarantee for success. Cooperation depends on the relationship established between libraries in Suriname and their international counterparts. It is important that more libraries take advantage of the opportunities provided by membership in regional associations, such as, ACURIL, and organizations relevant to their subject area. Librarians in Suriname need to emphasize the importance of relationships with libraries in the region. This is the challenge for the 21st century.
ENDNOTES 1.
These are the main reasons the author was motivated to write an article on the development and challenges of libraries in Suriname. Because of the lack of documented information, interviews with colleagues provided the major source of data about the current state of affairs in libraries. Colleagues were able to provide some useful links to the cited resources used in this chapter.
2.
Nationale Database Suriname, 10 Sept. 2006. www.nationallibrary.sr.
WORKS CITED Afdeling Bibliotheekwezen. Jaarverslag 2004 Afdeling Bibliotheekwezen. Paramaribo: Afdeling Bibliotheekwezen, n.d. Augustuszoon, Marcella. Personal interview. 13 Feb. 2006. Bibliotheek Anton de Kom Universiteit van Suriname. Jaarverslag Academisch jaar 2004–2005. Paramaribo: Bibliotheek Anton de Kom Universiteit van Suriname, 2005. Blokland, A. Bibliotheekwerk in Suriname en de Nationale Crisis: Conceptrapport n.a.v. het werkbezoek van A. Blokland aan het Cultureel Centrum Suriname in augustus 1990. Den Haag: NBLC, 1990. Encyclopedie van Suriname. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1977. Helman, Albert, ed. Cultureel mozaik van Suriname: Bijdrage tot onderling begrip. Zutphen: Walburg pers, 1978. Het culturele erfgoed moet bewaard blijven. Kompas. (1996): 12–15. Gobardhan-Rambocus, Sabitrie Lilawatie. Onderwijs als sleutel tot maatschappelijke vooruitgang: een taal-en onderwijsgeschiedenis van Suriname, 1651–1975. Zuthpen: Walburg pers, 2001. Gordijn, W., ed., Culturele kroniek ’48–’68. Amsterdam: Nederlandse Stichting voor Culturele Samenwerking met Suriname en de Nederlandse, [c. 1968].
30
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Jansen van Galen, Jon. Laatste gouverneur, eerste president: de eeuw van Johan Ferrier, Surinamer. Leiden: KITLV, 2005. Kempen, Michiel van. Een geschiedenis van de Surinaamse literatuur 1957–2000. Breda: Uitgeverij de Geus, 2003. Lont, Ch. R. W. Ontwikkeling van het bibliotheekwezen. In 100 jaar Suriname, gedenkboek i.v.m. een eeuw immigratie. (1973): 158–166. Mac Intosch, Anita. Personal interview. 15 Feb. 2006. Oudschans Dentz, Fred. De Koloniale Boekerij te Paramaribo. Neerlandia 23 (1919): 78–79. Pollack-Leeflang, Stella. Personal interview. 23 Feb. 2006. Runs, Alfred. Ontwikkeling van het bibliotheekwezen in Suriname. Open 16 (1984): 70–78. Sedney, Jules. De toekomst van ons verleden: Democratie, etniciteit en politieke machtsvorming in Suriname. Paramaribo: Vaco, 1997. Sedney, Vivian and Jane W. F. Smith, eds., Bibliotheek-en documentatiegids voor Suriname. Paramaribo: Vereniging van Bibliotheekpersoneel in Suriname, 1990. Tsai-Meu-Chong, Ine. “Availability of publications in Suriname.” Paper presented at the XX Annual ACURIL Conference, Jamaica, 1989. Wolbers, J. Geschiedenis van Suriname. Amsterdam: Emmering, (1970): 415–421. [Unchanged reprint of the original edition: Amsterdam, 1861].
CHAPTER 3
Historical Development of Libraries in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Monique Alberts-Luijdjens Philipsburg Jubilee Library, St. Maarten ABSTRACT After some background on the cultural history and the languages spoken in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, an historical overview is given of the development of libraries on the Dutch Caribbean islands in the 19th and 20th centuries. Emphasis is placed on the cultural changes that the islands experienced and the effects of these changes on libraries. An account of the development of public libraries in the Netherlands Antilles follows. These public libraries, originally established by the colonial government to promote the Dutch language and culture during the last decades of the 20th century, developed into cultural centres in which local culture acquired a prominent place. In the second half of this chapter, the collections and the main activities of the academic libraries are described as well as some basic information on the most important special libraries on the Dutch islands. An account of the developments in library automation and the international contacts of the Antillean and Aruban libraries are also provided. The author concludes that the libraries have developed significantly since they have been established, but regional and international cooperation at home as well as abroad is necessary for the continued survival of Antillean and Aruban libraries.
INTRODUCTION In this chapter, the historical development of libraries in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba is depicted against the background of the cultural history of the Dutch West Indies. There is a dearth of literature on culture and library history of the Dutch Caribbean and there are few texts on these subjects in languages other than Dutch. Wim Rutgers, a linguist, and the historian Johan Hartog are the only academics who did extensive research on the history of Antillean and Aruban libraries and recorded their findings in some essential books and articles 31
32
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
written in Dutch. The writings of these two men as well as local newspaper articles, annual reports of various libraries, and general works on the colonial history of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba were used in developing this chapter. The author hopes to contribute to a wider knowledge and understanding on the subject of library development in the Dutch Caribbean by making this valuable information accessible to persons outside the Dutch linguistic area.
BASIC FACTS ON THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES AND ARUBA The islands of the Dutch Caribbean are part of the Lesser Antilles and are geographically divided into two groups—the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands. The former group comprises Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao (the ABC-islands), and the latter group consists of St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, and Saba. From 1955 onwards, these six islands were politically united to form the Netherlands Antilles, as nominally equal partners in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in addition to the Netherlands and Suriname. Suriname gained statehood in 1975. Ten years later, Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles to acquire its separate status as a self-governing body within the Kingdom, the so-called “status aparte.” From January 1986, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has consisted of three partners: the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, and Aruba.
COLONIAL HISTORY AND LANGUAGE IN THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES AND ARUBA Cultural life in the Netherlands Antilles can be characterized as multicultural and multilingual. On the Leeward Islands, four different languages, Dutch, English, Spanish and Papiamento (a Creole language) are spoken. On the Windward Islands, English has always been dominant, although Dutch has remained the official language. The multilingual character of the Antillean societies can be ascribed to the way the Dutch colonial administration governed its territories in the Caribbean, which were acquired in the 17th century. The Dutch colonial attitude can best be described as mercantile in character. Neither empire-building nor the dissemination of Dutch culture and language were among the aspirations of the Dutch colonial policy in the Caribbean. Creole languages, such as Papiamento (with roots in Spanish and Portuguese) in the Leeward Islands and Sranan Tongo (with roots in English) in Suriname and English in the Windward Islands, survived centuries of Dutch rule. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Dutch lost the majority of their colonial possessions. However, the Dutch East Indies, (presently, Indonesia), the six Antillean islands, and Suriname remained as dependencies. In the age of empire, towards the end of the 19th century, the East Indies were of far more
Historical Development of Libraries …
33
importance to the Dutch than their territories in the Caribbean as the West Indies had less economic potential, and were smaller and less populated. The colonial policy of the Dutch in the Caribbean region can, therefore, be characterized as rather uninspired and inactive. Oostindie and Klinkers stated: the absence of an energetic and visionary approach by the Netherlands contributed greatly to the failure of the West Indies to ever rise above the status of ‘poor cousin’ to the Dutch East Indies. (57) The fairly passive colonial policy of the Dutch contributed to the weak cultural link between the mother country and the colonial possessions in the Caribbean. This led to the rather peculiar situation that, although, the islands have been in the Dutch realm since the 17th century, the Dutch language never became the dominant language. It was dominant only in the sphere of administration and education, but it played a very limited role in the everyday life of the island populations. The Papiamento-speaking Leeward-islands were traditionally focused on their Spanish-American surroundings and the Windward Islands on their own English-speaking region. In both cases the ‘mother country’ was considered far away. (Oostindie and Klinkers 62)
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF LIBRARIES In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba went through different cultural phases that influenced library development in this region.
Libraries in 19th-Century Curaçao The main social groups in colonial Curaçao of the 19th century were the European settlers, the Jews and the African slaves and their descendants. The European settlers, mainly white Protestants, together with the Sephardic Jews formed the colonial elite. Some members of the colonial elite had their private book collections. The Dutch settler, Cornelis Goslinga, turned his collection into a private “lending” library operating from his home in 1842. Historical records also mention the “reading-table” of Abraham Capriles in his hotel, Concordia, which eventually became a reading association with its own reading room (Hartog, Gedrukte 23). At the end of the 19th century, reading became increasingly popular as a pastime among the colonial elite. As a result of this trend, most social clubs in Curaçao had libraries for the exclusive use of their members. There were
34
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
also a few specific reading societies. The user records of most of these reading societies show that the monthly contributions and fees required to become a member were rather high. It is clear that these were upper-class initiatives. Another striking detail is that the membership lists of these associations do not mention any female members. Apparently, women were not supposed to read in the 19th century (Rutgers 61). The private and society libraries were not the only libraries in existence in 19th-century Curaçao. The records show that, in the second half of this century, at least two commercial libraries existed. These libraries were linked to bookshops and oriented towards the more popular genres. The bookshops charged the clients of their libraries a monthly or quarterly fee. Specific books were acquired for the library whenever 10 clients asked for the same book titles. Clients also had the opportunity, and were motivated by the staff, to purchase the books of their choice after they borrowed them. Through this early form of lease contract, there was a clear link between the bookshops and the commercial libraries. The collections of the 19th-century private, social, club, and commercial libraries reflected the multilingual character of the society. Some libraries, such as the library of the Dutch Society (de Gezelligheid), primarily collected books in Dutch. On the other hand, the commercial libraries of the “Jonckheer brothers” and the publishing house/bookstore Betancourt y hijos were oriented towards Spanish literature. All private and semi-public libraries, however, offered their clients books in more than one language (Rutgers 183). The Catholic mission developed its own collections, the so-called safe libraries. The objective of the Catholic libraries was to protect the population against the “pernicious stream of Spanish and English reading matter that threatened to ruin religious life in so many hearts and families” (Rutgers 121).
Aruba and Curaçao—The Spanish Period Towards the end of the 19th century, cultural life on Aruba and Curaçao became increasingly culturally diversified. Venezuela went through a period of severe political turmoil around 1855. This political instability had consequences for Curaçao’s Jewish elite with interests in both countries. These Jews were expelled from Venezuela and took up permanent residence in Curaçao. They were responsible for establishing Spanish-speaking highquality elite colleges, which played a major role in 19th-century cultural life on the island. A complete community of Venezuelan writers and poets-inexile came to live on Curaçao. There was even an influential Spanish magazine called Notas y Letras in which exiliado poets published their works (Rutgers 86). The publishing house and bookstore Betancourt y hijos became an important publishing centre that also exported Spanish literature published in Curaçao.
Historical Development of Libraries …
35
On Aruba, as well, the Spanish/Venezuelan influence was also significant. Second to Curaçao, Aruba was a favourite haven for political refugees from the mainland. Cultural and linguistic connections to the Latin American continent were strong in all respects. Until 1849, all Catholic priests in Aruba were Venezuelan.
Growing Dutch Influence in the 20th Century A noted characteristic of cultural life on Curaçao around the turn of the 20th century was the diminishing role of the Spanish language and a sudden revival of the Dutch interest in their West Indian colonies. There were a number of political incidents resulting in tension between Curaçao and Venezuela from 1900 to 1910. These incidents fell short of outright war but, nevertheless, had repercussions on the cultural life on the islands. Venezuelan students and exiles felt obliged to return to their native country. The Spanish colegios were closed and the literary magazines in Spanish were no longer published on the island. During the same period, leading intellectuals in the Netherlands developed a renewed interest in the Antilles. They felt that the motherland, until then, had only focused on the economic exploitation of the islands and that it was time for the Netherlands to take up its responsibility for the cultural development of the islands. The Dutch Caribbean should be educated culturally and the cultural ties with the Netherlands should be strengthened. Wim Rutgers, an expert on Antillean literature, introduced the term Holandisashon for this new policy (144). The main instrument through which the Dutch colonial powers sought to promote the Dutch language was the education system. In 1907, a new law determined that Dutch would become the sole language of instruction at schools. Until then, the Catholic Church had dominated the education system with its popular education in Papiamento. The curriculum in Curaçao and the other islands now became a copy of the Dutch system. On Curaçao, the Dutch culture was further boosted by the establishment of the Dutch/British oil company Shell. The purpose of the new libraries, which the colonial government established on the islands in the 1920s, was to support the education system and to be instruments of Holandisashon. On the Windward Islands, this policy was a total failure because the population remained focused on the English-speaking neighbouring islands. World War II marked the end of the Holandisashon policy when the ties with the mother country were abruptly severed. American soldiers were stationed on the islands and, instead of Dutch literature, American bestsellers and magazines were imported and read. On the Leeward Islands, the war and the postwar periods marked the emancipation of Papiamento as a language. In the 1950s, several authors started to write short stories and poems in Papiamento and a number of literary magazines in Papiamento were published. In the
36
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
meantime, however, the education system and the libraries remained strongly oriented towards the Dutch language.
LIBRARIES IN THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES AND ARUBA IN THE 20TH CENTURY The first semi-public libraries on the islands were the General Dutch League (Algemeen Nederlands Verbond [ANV]) libraries. The General Dutch League, an organization that is comparable to the British Council but working on a much more limited scale, had started to direct its attention to the Dutch Caribbean since 1900. The mission of the ANV was to unite Dutchspeaking people all over the world. Since 1899, ANV was represented in Indonesia and Suriname and, in 1902, the organization succeeded in finding representatives on each of the Antillean islands. In Aruba, Bonaire, St. Maarten, and St. Eustatius, the ANV representatives established small libraries. Shipping containers filled with books were sent over from the Netherlands to fill the shelves. But none of the ANV libraries ever flourished and their organization remained rather amateurish. The libraries never fulfilled their intended role as the people’s libraries. They were frequented mainly by members of the Dutch colonial elite and by the schoolchildren who had to read books in Dutch because it had become the language used in schools. The library of Bonaire even had to expand its youth department in 1904 because of the number of schoolchildren who wanted to make use of the department’s facilities (Hartog, Gedrukte 118).
Antillean Public Libraries in the 1920s and 1930s In 1920, the government of Curaçao took over a military library. The new library became part of the Department of Education, which assured its appearance of being a library, more or less, for educational purposes, but it evolved into a public lending library (Hartog , Libraries 46). This became the first public library in the Netherlands Antilles operated by the government and, in 1922, it became officially known as the Government Library. The library was successful but was frequented by only a small fraction of the island population. On the three Windward Islands (St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, and Saba), semi-public libraries were founded in 1923. These libraries were operated by private organizations but funded by the governments of the islands. The year, 1923, marked the 25th jubilee of the reign of Queen Wilhelmina and, therefore, the St. Maarten library was renamed “Philipsburg Jubilee Library” and the library of Saba “Queen Wilhelmina Library.” The new libraries on the Windward Islands did not really thrive. According to historical records, the St. Maarten library had to close in 1936 when membership dropped to a mere 14 members. The library of Saba, meanwhile, was
Historical Development of Libraries …
37
criticized for being racist and only oriented towards the white colonial elite by an anonymous writer describing himself as “a bookworm” (Rutgers 186). The reasons for the lack of success of the libraries on the Windward Islands were, probably, because the libraries were very small and were managed by nonprofessionals. Another obstacle for their growth may have been that the libraries were promoted by the colonial government, which was trying to incorporate the libraries in the Dutch language education system. This effort did not make the libraries very popular among the local population (Rutgers 186).
Professionalism Since the 1950s The post-World War II years were important for the development of the public libraries on the islands. In 1949, Aruba opened its own public library. The Aruban library successfully organized a number of new activities and became a cultural centre on the island during the 1950s. The Curaçao public library also extended its activities. Another important development in the library world of the 1950s was the increasing professionalism of library staff. The management of the library was no longer left to volunteers. Professional librarians were appointed to the libraries of Curaçao and Aruba. In the early years, Dutch librarians were sent to the islands, but local librarians were trained to manage the libraries starting in the late 1950s. However, the membership records show that on all six islands, the libraries still only reached a very limited percentage of the population throughout the 1950s and 1960s (Rutgers 287). In the 1980s, there was a remarkable growth in number and in professionalism of the staff of the public libraries on the Dutch islands. Apparently, the governments made public library work a high priority, which resulted in new buildings for the libraries of Curaçao, Aruba, and St. Maarten. These new buildings were multifunctional, opening possibilities for the libraries to develop new activities. The newly established Antillean Public Library Association (APLA) organized training courses for its staff members. The libraries became active in promoting reading and use of local literature. As a result of these new activities, the number of visitors as well as membership rose.
Collections of the Public Libraries The book collections of the public libraries on the Leeward Islands still consist mainly of books in the Dutch language with English and Spanish ranking second and third, respectively. The libraries of the three Leeward Islands also strive to acquire all reading material published in Papiamento. The number of books published in Papiamento, however, remains comparatively small, as does their share in the collections of the public libraries.
38
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
On the Windward Islands, the collections are oriented towards books in English. Apart from their regular collections, the public libraries developed special Antilliana/Caribiana collections consisting of books and other local documents published on the islands and in the Caribbean region. In this way, the libraries are preserving the written cultural heritage of their countries. Noteworthy is the valuable collection of historical maps, which is part of the Antilliana collection of the public library of Curaçao. The Arubiana/ Caribiana collection of the library of Aruba became the national collection of the country after Aruba got independent status in 1986 from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
ACADEMIC AND SPECIAL LIBRARIES IN THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES AND ARUBA The most important academic library in the Netherlands Antilles is the University Library of the University of the Netherlands Antilles (UNA) on the island of Curaçao. There is also a small library at the University of Aruba. In 1950, the scientific library of Curaçao, which was the first academic library in the Netherlands Antilles, was established. In 1978, this scientific library became part of the UNA Library (Hartog, Gedrukte 51). At present, the UNA Library is primarily focused on supporting the education and research of the four faculties of the university. The Antillean room of the library houses valuable historical book collections. The compilation of a central catalogue of all scientific works on the Antilles and Aruba, which was started in the 1950s, culminated in the Bibliography Dutch Caribbean (BDC). The BDC includes publications in many forms that relate to the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, and is part of the online catalogue of the UNA library. The library catalogue is accessible via the Internet. Curaçao has three special libraries containing valuable historical collections. The library of the S.A.L. (Mongui) Maduro foundation houses huge quantities of historical materials collected over more than 85 years. This library focuses on the history of the Jewish community in Curaçao and is a member of the association of Jewish libraries (Langenfeld 15). The two other professional special libraries on Curaçao are the library of the Historical Archive of Curaçao and the library of the Jacob Gelt Dekker Foundation.
LIBRARY AUTOMATION AND THE INTERNET IN THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES AND ARUBA The public library of St. Maarten was the first library in the Netherlands Antilles that automated its catalogue and circulation services in 1984. In 1997, the Aruban library followed. The public library of Curaçao completed its library automation project in 2004 (Fundashon Biblioteka Publiko Korsou 5). Since 2005, the catalogue of the Curaçao library became accessible via the
Historical Development of Libraries …
39
Internet. The catalogue of the UNA library can also be consulted on the World Wide Web.
COOPERATION EFFORTS OF ANTILLEAN AND ARUBAN LIBRARIES Contacts and cooperation projects between the different libraries of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruban libraries are frequent and extensive. One such cooperation project, which played a pivotal role, was the training program organized by the Antillean Public Libraries Association (APLA). This association was active on the islands from 1983 to 1996. Apart from collaboration among Antillean libraries, there are international contacts. Understandably, the libraries have remained strongly oriented towards their mother country. The staff is trained, almost exclusively, in the Netherlands and the libraries have always been oriented towards the Dutch-based education system. But notwithstanding their close relationship with the mother country, the Antillean and Aruban libraries have also extended their contacts in the Caribbean. The public libraries of Curaçao, Aruba, and St. Maarten have been members of the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL) since its inception in 1969. In 1980, Maritza Eustatius, librarian of the University Library of Curaçao was elected president of ACURIL (Hartog, Libraries 118). Directors of the public libraries of Aruba and St. Maarten have held executive office in ACURIL during the 1980s and 1990s. Curaçao and Aruba have hosted several ACURIL conferences in the past decades.
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE The libraries of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba have come a long way. In the colonial era, these libraries primarily existed to facilitate the educational and recreational needs of the colonial elites. In the 1920s and 1930s, the colonial power used libraries as instruments for the acculturation of the local population. Traditional cultural expressions of the island population as well as the Creole language, Papiamento, were disregarded in the policy of the first Antillean public libraries. Since the 1950s, there was a change in policy and the local literature, culture, and language was given greater recognition. The libraries that were already conserving the written cultural heritage of their countries observed this development and became cultural centres in which local culture acquired a prominent place. At the same time, the libraries were challenged to keep pace with technological developments in the Information Age. In most of the libraries the circulation and cataloguing processes were automated in the 1980s and 1990s. These libraries also have Web sites (see Appendix A at the end of this chapter). Microfilming and digitizing of
40
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
important historical documents from the collections of the libraries would be an important next step in order to preserve the written cultural heritage of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. Due to the socioeconomic situation of their countries, the libraries cannot take up the challenges of the information society by themselves. Cooperation between library organizations at home and abroad is a necessary requirement for the survival of the libraries. It is important that more libraries take advantage of the opportunities of the membership of regional associations, such as ACURIL. Jesse Shera, American Library theorist, stated: “the library is an important element in the total communication system by which society is held together and culture is created and maintained” (Amadi 206).
WORKS CITED Amadi, Adolphe O. Western Tradition and Colonial Brainwashing. London: Scarecrow, 1981. Fundashon Biblioteka Publiko Korsou (FBPK) Stichting Openbare Bibliotheek Curaçao. Jaarverslag 2004. Curaçao: FBPK, 2005. Hartog, Johan. “Libraries in the Netherlands Antilles.” Bulletin of the Library Association of Trinidad and Tobago 1.4 (1962): 46–48. —-. Het gedrukte woord in de Nederlandse Antillen en Aruba. Zutphen: Walburg Pers, 1992. Langenfeld, Els. 30 years S.A.L. (Mongui) Maduro Foundation: The Past, a Present for our Future. Curaçao: Mongui Maduro Foundation, 2004. Oostindie, Gert and Inge Klinkers. Decolonising the Caribbean: Dutch Policies in a Comparative Perspective. Amsterdam: University Press Amsterdam, 2003. Rutgers, Wim. Beneden en boven de wind: Literatuur van de Nederlandse Antillen en Aruba. Amsterdam: De Bezige Bij, 1996.
APPENDIX A LIBRARY WEB SITES: NETHERLANDS ANTILLES AND ARUBA ARUBA Aruba National Library, www.bibliotecanacional.aw
CURAÇAO Library Landhuis Bloemhof, www.bloemhof.an/library.php Mongui Maduro Library, www.madurolibrary.org Public library Curaçao, www.curacaopubliclibrary.an University of the Netherlands Antilles (UNA) Library, www.una.an/en/diensten/ bibliotheek/default.asp
ST. MAARTEN Philipsburg Jubilee Library, www.pjlibrary.an
CHAPTER 4
Broadening the Academy’s Influence: A Glance at Two Academic Libraries in the Caribbean Willamae M. Johnson The College of The Bahamas, The Bahamas ABSTRACT Libraries are not an end in themselves but rather are the images of the political, social, and economic fabric of the societies in which they exist. Their evolution and sustainability over time are greatly influenced by the prevailing socioeconomic development of individual nations and that of the global community. The development of academic librarianship in the Caribbean had been slow until the 1960s. During this period, many islands attained their statehood and established tertiary level institutions in an attempt to shape and enhance their educational system outside the colonial past. These national education developments led to greater focus on the role of the library in the academy and the provision of resources to support the curricula and scholarship. Against this backdrop, this study examines the development of two academic libraries—The College of The Bahamas (COB) and St. George’s University (SGU), Grenada. It illustrates how these libraries have contributed to the growth of their institution’s repute. Reference is made to developments in other academic libraries, as well as to the contributions of library associations and technology in furthering the image enhancement of these higher education institutions and the fostering of collaborations and partnerships.
INTRODUCTION “Library services exist, not as an end in themselves, but as an essential part of the social and educational structure, and it is in this context that future library development should be sought and planned”(Jordan 378). Those words penned by Alma Jordan in her dissertation remain true even at this early part of the 21st century. Libraries are not an end in themselves but rather are the images of the political, social, and economic fabric of the societies in which they exist. Their evolution, and sustainability over time, is 41
42
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
greatly influenced by the prevailing socioeconomic development of individual nations and that of the global community. Academic libraries are key contributors to the accomplishments and influence enjoyed by their parent institutions, primarily through the provision and access to resources that students and faculty use for instruction, learning, and scholarship. Use of these libraries by external patrons for a variety of research purposes further enhances their public stature. This study will, therefore, examine the contributions of academic libraries like the COB, The Bahamas, and SGU, Grenada, in this regard. Reference will also be made to developments in other academic libraries as documented in the literature in the absence of timely responses to the survey distributed by this author.
DEFINING “INFLUENCE” “Influence” is defined as “action invisibly exercised” (Fowler and Fowler 413). Thus, the influence, of which this writer refers, is that of the “presence,” which the academy exerts without deliberate effort but which it engenders as a result of the respect it has gained through the strength of its institutional programmes, resources, and graduates. The institution is known by its byproducts (graduates, research, and publications) and its affiliations.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT Up to 1895, Codrington College (an Anglican school) in Barbados was the only institution in the region offering university degrees, mainly in theological studies, through affiliation with the University of Durham in England (Bacchus 274). It was the first higher education institution in the Caribbean established in 1743 to train priests, and remained the only college offering higher education in the English-speaking Caribbean until 1921, when the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture (ICTA) was established in Trinidad and Tobago (Howe 2). Prior to 1948, the main source of higher education for English-speaking Caribbean students was London University’s external degree programme, while those who could afford to, or received scholarship, went to British universities. The University College of the West Indies (UCWI) (now known as The University of the West Indies) was established at Mona, Jamaica in 1948 to broaden access to higher education in the region. There has been a proliferation of institutions of higher learning from the period of the establishment of UCWI and now. The World Bank Country Study estimates that there were 75 such institutions established (153); this growth has been attributed to “the achievement of statehood by many of the nations since the 1960s and their desire to make their individual countrywide educational systems more self-sufficient” (Craig 2). New institutions included the University of the Virgin Islands, with campuses in St. Thomas and St. Croix established in 1963, the College of Arts, Science and Technology in Jamaica in the early 1970s, COB in 1974, the Antigua State College in 1977,
Broadening the Academy’s Influence
43
the Clifton Dupigny Community College (Dominica) in 1983, the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in St. Lucia in 1986, St. Kitts College of Further Education in 1988, the Grenada National College in 1988, the Barbados Community College and the Herman Lavity Stoutt Community College in Tortola, British Virgin Islands (Howe 20). With the establishment of universities/colleges, the expectation usually is that library facilities would be a natural offshoot. In fact, an excellent example of this is the library at the UCWI where approval for the draft library legislation was granted in its first budget (Hall 11). This speaks volumes for the crucial importance of libraries in the academy as corroborated in the World Bank Country Study: “… institutions will need to take steps to secure financing for the non-salary inputs vital for quality improvements. This may require economies elsewhere to ensure adequate supplies of library books, equipment, periodicals and scientific journals, which research has shown are key factors in quality gains” (World Bank 178). Jordan in her thesis also referenced the centrality of the academic library to national development (341, 343, 350).
DATA COLLECTION METHOD This study documents the role that academic libraries play in bringing recognition and prominence to their parent institutions. The goal was to gather details through a survey of selected institutions, representative of the English-, Spanish-, and French-speaking countries, and a review of the literature to determine the extent to which changes and choices in academic librarianship have helped to shape and propel the influence of the various colleges and universities. The author attempted to gather information on the historical and current situation by contacting selected institutions in the English-, French-, and Spanish-speaking countries. E-mail addresses were sought for the identified institutions and, in most cases, were located through the institutions’ Web site.1 Another approach was contacting colleagues in the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL). Neither method yielded the desired response and, hence, research of other sources was explored and the study narrowed to developments within the COB and the SGU Library in Grenada, the only respondent to the survey.
THE STUDY Roger Prichard in his essay “Future Directions for Research in Caribbean Higher Education Institutions” throws out a challenge to Caribbean countries to embrace the world information economy. He notes that access is heavily reliant on research and that “the most important dividend from research is not the new information that is created directly, but rather the ability of people engaged in research to access and integrate information
44
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
from around the world on a sustainable basis” (Howe 253). Libraries as learning organizations, particularly within the academy, nurture expanded thinking and collaborative learning. Research and teaching expound on old and new knowledge and ensure that the learning cycle continues. Libraries facilitate access to, integration and interpretation, and further examination of this knowledge and are, therefore, an essential component in the learning cycle. Through their dynamism, libraries provide environments and services that facilitate easy access to scholars engaged in the knowledge economy and ensure their relevance well beyond the 21st century.
THE COLLEGE OF THE BAHAMAS LIBRARY The history of the COB Library is as dated as that of its parent institution, which was established through legislation in October 1974. Evolving from primarily print collections dispersed across three institutions—the former Bahamas Teachers’ Colleges in New Providence, and San Salvador islands, and the Bahamas Technical Institute (Rolle 53)—the existing collection of approximately 85,000 volumes has diverse resources available in print, nonprint, and electronic formats. Though a publicly funded tertiary-level institution, the COB has over the years invested in the building of a dynamic and wellresourced library. Despite its best efforts, however, funding has not always been adequate due to other national budgetary priorities. Nevertheless, the library has maintained its central place in the academy and is highly regarded in the nation as the leader in provision and delivery of library services. The generosity of donors and the commitment and dedication of highly skilled library employees have been critical contributing factors. The Bahamas does not have a national library. In its absence, the library at the COB is regarded as the de facto national library, the one to which researchers turn in their quest for information, especially information on The Bahamas. While the primary objective of the library remains the support of the curricula, building collections of Bahamiana that support instruction and learning has been central to the delivery of the programmes, hence the notion that the library is the de facto national institution (College of The Bahamas, College/University 6). The COB Library has enjoyed strong leadership over the years. The four Chief Librarians (now referred to as Library Director) and their teams, have contributed to the expansion and strengthening of collections, services, programmes, and local, regional, and international partnerships and affiliations. The library’s membership in prestigious regional and international library associations such as ACURIL, International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), the American Library Association (ALA), the Medical Library Association (MLA), and the Caribbean Law Library Association (CARALL) has provided exposure to the COB. Further, through the election of members of its professional library personnel to substantive positions on local and regional library boards and committees that provide important
Broadening the Academy’s Influence
45
contributions to regional and global library development, the image of the institution broadens exponentially in the international arena. The library has had many milestones along the way, including the acquisition of collections like the Caribbean dissertations (more than 2,000 titles, in varied languages, e.g., English, Dutch, Spanish, and French), other West Indian resources, microforms, CD-ROM, and online periodical titles; the expansion to five branches; membership in the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC); and the integration of technology into its operations. The 1970s were devoted to upgrading the knowledge and skills of library personnel with the introduction of a certificate programme in Library Studies. The 1980s brought much needed expansion of facilities and resources as collections of three small branches were merged with that at the main library and another branch was established on the island of Grand Bahama to support degree programmes. In 1991, the nursing programme was amalgamated into the COB and a branch library was established at the site of the former Bahamas School of Nursing to support offerings in nursing and allied health studies. This branch was later named the Hilda Bowen Library in honour of the first Bahamian nursing officer, Hilda Valerie Bowen in May 1994. In the 1990s, technology was more heavily integrated into the processes of technical and public services. DataTrek stand-alone automated system assisted in building an electronic database, and CD-ROM and other electronic databases such as ProQuest were acquired. This thrust with technology was strengthened with the newly acquired Voyager integrated library system, which was launched as the COBWEB online catalogue in January 2003. Through these initiatives, the college’s name was publicised as its records for library’s holdings are accessible to the global community. In 2000, the library was further expanded through the establishment of a law library to facilitate the joint COB/The University of the West Indies (UWI) programme, which commenced in September 2000. During that same year, the government mandated that the COB assume responsibility for training in the area of tourism and hospitality studies, and this resulted in the acquisition of a small library, which became the fifth branch of the college library system. Both the law and hospitality libraries are in the complex that was the former Bahamas Hotel Training College. The main library has also been providing materials for a small centre through which the COB offers offshore certificate and degree courses on the island of Exuma since the late 1990s. In these times of shrinking financial resources, access to resources has become equally as important as ownership. Through the advances in technology, the role of intra-library cooperation has become easier and a more feasible option. Influentially, then, the library through its automated system has created a gateway for the COB to bring exposure to materials in which it has invested its limited financial resources and, at the same time, collaborate with other organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organization (WTO), World Health Organization (WHO), and the Caribbean
46
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA). This gateway enables the library to respond to general inquiries about the COB and the islands of The Bahamas, and the library’s requests to other libraries can be facilitated with much ease and immediacy. Further, the library’s Web page has been linked to Web sites of libraries that use the Voyager automated system, such as the Library of Congress. The library has sought to introduce programmes and services that might strengthen the COB’s community outreach. Such services include facilitation of internships by library students (local, regional, and international), hosting of the Meet the Writer Forum, regional conferences, administration and distribution of the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) programme, acting as the clearinghouse for WTO resources and as a deposit library of collections from the UN, WHO, and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The library administration agreed to partial depository status for UN documents since March 1977, during the tenure of librarian Ruth Mason. ISBN service was introduced at the COB in 1995 and, since then, a proliferation of interest in indigenous writing has been observed. More recently in 2005, the COB library was one of three local centres at which the Caribbean Trade Database [supplied by the Foreign Trade Information Systems (SICE) and the Organization of American States (OAS)] was established and ground was broken for the Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre purposely built to support the COB’s evolvement to university status. Of course, developments of the nature described above are not unique to the COB Library. One such example is provided from the SGU, Grenada.
ST. GEORGE’S UNIVERSITY LIBRARY SGU, a private educational institution, was established in 1977 when its School of Medicine was founded by Charles Modica, a lawyer by profession, who became its first chancellor. Soon afterwards, the first library, called the Marion Library—named in honour of the mother of Chancellor Modica— was established. A new library was planned in the late 1990s and this facility, named Founders Library in commemoration of the group that assisted Modica with the establishment of the university, was opened in January 2000. In responding to the survey questions on the influence of the Founders Library, John McGuirk, Library Director, noted that the library is perceived as the outstanding library in the island of Grenada, offering facilities and an environment far in advance of the national library and the community college library. He states “… membership is sought by many more than can be accommodated. As a library of recent origin and whose purpose is specifically to support the programmes of the university, it is not known to have either regional or international impact.” While McGuirk’s perception of his library’s low impact may seem correct, his viewpoint is not held by everyone. Based on his disclosure of the library’s contributions nationally through the availability and access to collections,
Broadening the Academy’s Influence
47
the introduction of modern technology, and the appointment of library personnel on local and regional boards, it appears that the impact is more positive and far-reaching than he imagines. Though the contributions may seem miniscule, they render tremendous value in broadening the institution’s reputation in the local, regional, and international communities.
DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS OTHER ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN THE CARIBBEAN In the absence of responses from other institutions to the survey, visits to Web sites and consulting documentation in annual reports, conference proceedings, and other supporting literature provided the writer with an insight of developments within other academic institutions. For instance, the various campuses of UWI have built reputable special collections like the West Indian Reference Collection at Mona, Jamaica and the Eric Williams Memorial Collection at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. Further, many of the academic librarians are participating and facilitating conferences, publishing, being appointed to prestigious leadership roles in the library community regionally and internationally, as well as serving on consultative committees. All such activities benefit their institutions—broadening their image and reputation. Addressing the Library and Information Association of Jamaica in February 2006, Rex Nettleford, former Vice-Chancellor (UWI), spoke highly of librarians in Jamaica and drew reference to the contributions of academic librarians: “It is all the more remarkable that the Jamaica Library Service has been effectively manned by a crew of formidable women who have brought distinction to the profession, professional commitment to the outreach dimension of public service, and intellectual authority honed in institutions like The University of the West Indies”(1).
INFLUENCES IN THE AREA OF TECHNOLOGY Advances in technology have tremendously influenced the evolution of modern-day tertiary level institutions over the past 20 years. The provision, nature, and range of library services have been impacted, existing at varying levels across academic libraries as suggested by McGuirk’s comments “several times we have suggested or responded to consideration of a regional consortia for electronic system and information but no progress has been seen. At the local island level, our institution is seen as leading the way.” Despite this lack of follow-through to facilitate the better use of resources, it is evident that the larger institutions have maximised use of the available technology. The presence of academic libraries on their institution’s Web site and the use of Internet and e-mail facilities are enabling them to have a more global outreach and appeal, especially as it relates to intralibrary cooperation. The idea of consortia in relation to maximising limited and shrinking
48
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
financial resources is one that can have profound regional sustainability, and such initiatives ought to be pursued vigorously. However, there are challenges of which Daphne Douglas reminded us when she commented that “resource sharing just does not happen; the infrastructures can be costly, and what we need is to give thought to how we are going to achieve the optimum conditions” (Douglas 46). Resource-sharing experiences in Puerto Rico, fuelled by use of technology, are well-documented. Academic libraries in Puerto Rico have since the beginning of the 1950s championed the cause of interlibrary cooperation, despite a complete absence of tools facilitating interlibrary loan processes. In 1959, Josò M. Lázaro, director of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), General Library at Rio Piedras, met with the library directors of the UPR Mayaguez campus, Catholic University, and the Inter-American University. They reached some agreements concerning the organization, functioning and maintenance of a union catalogue that should represent the collections of all four institutions. The proposed union catalogue was “to facilitate the bibliographic control of both the collections and the interlibrary loans” (Maura 75).
ROLE OF LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS In countries throughout the region, librarians in the different types of libraries have united and formed national library associations. These associations serve as vehicles through which libraries are promoted and issues related to the profession of librarianship are addressed. They also facilitate professional development activities and intra-regional cooperation. Most of these associations are affiliated with ACURIL, the regional library association, which was founded in 1969 (Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries 2). The Bahamas Library Association (BLA), founded in June 1979, emerged from the amalgamation of the Bahamas School Library Association and the Bahamas Public Library Association both of which had been established in 1975 (Bahamas Library Association, Celebrating 1). Though not as vibrant as it has been in the past when it sponsored annual conferences and workshops for professional development and summer reading programmes in support of literacy development, this association developed standards for school media programmes, which were adopted into Ministry of Education schools in 1992 and drafted the Bill for an Act to establish a national library and a national library and information system in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.2 Members of the COB library were actively engaged in these initiatives, with several of the librarians having served as President of the Association. ACURIL has contributed to the broadening of the influence that libraries bring to their institutions. Many of the librarians have held prestigious positions within this regional association, made presentations at various conferences as a result of their affiliations with this body, and contributed to
Broadening the Academy’s Influence
49
building the literature base of the region through publishing efforts such as CARINDEX, sponsored by ACURIL and disseminated by the UWI Library, St. Augustine Campus (Greene 557). Through IFLA, ALA, Seminar on the Acquisitions of Latin American Library Materials (SALALM), and other library associations, librarians continue to have opportunities for publishing and presentations. This is our charge as stated by Alma Jordan, ACURIL’s first President: “the responsibility to contribute professionally …, and by other university service to the library profession is perhaps most significant. In particular, the university’s academic staff as a large and influential group of educationists, could, and should play an important part in promoting the development of library services throughout the region” (Jordan 351).
LOOKING AHEAD Academic libraries have progressed exponentially from the small 900square-foot room, which comprised the library and reading room space at Codrington College and even smaller spaces at many of the teachers’ colleges. The infusion of technology into the functions and operations of the libraries have made routine tasks easier and more efficient. Additionally, the establishment of numerous regional associations has provided opportunities for networking and collaboration. Nevertheless, there is still more that can be done to meet common challenges like that of regional consortia in acquiring expensive databases and automated systems. McGuirk is correct in voicing this as a concern and others probably share similar views. Such collaboration can only benefit all positively, especially those libraries that are struggling to provide automated library services or access to essential databases. Pooling all our limited resources would make better sense than continuing to try to meet individual needs that are often delayed due to financial limitations. Cooperative ventures have benefited libraries and librarians over the years, and a renewed commitment in this area is even more crucial to providing timely and easy access to information for library patrons. Just as collections, facilities, and training methods have changed, so have the needs of library users, who now have greater exposure to technology. Finding ways to offer different tools to these users and to demonstrate how these tools can be integrated with their existing knowledge and skills will be the challenge. Perhaps that transition for libraries and librarians in our region has already begun and is being observed and appreciated, even when not openly expressed as in this quote, “… I have been impressed with the growth of the profession in acquiring the texture needed to deal with the growth … to deal with what is referred to as the knowledge-economy of this 21st century….” (Nettleford 1). Academic libraries’ relevance and influence can well support their institutions in meeting the associated challenges that this knowledge economy presents.
50
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
ENDNOTES 1. 2.
Web sites of institutions that proved useful have been added to the reference list. The Bill has been drafted and revised several times, but it has not been enacted.
WORKS CITED Association of Caribbean University, Research, and Institutional Libraries. A Proposal for a Feasibility Study of Information System Capabilities for Linkage Among Caribbean Libraries. Paper presented at the XXIII Annual Conference of the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries. Barbados, 1993. Bacchus, M. Kazim. Education for Economic, Social and Political Development in the British Caribbean Colonies from 1896 to 1945. London, Ontario: Althouse Press, 2005. Bahamas Library Association. A Bill for an Act to Establish a National Library and a National Library and Information System in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Nassau, Bahamas: BLA, [1985]. —-. Celebrating 5 Decades of Professional Development and Information Provision in Bahamian Libraries Awards and Recognition Ceremony Programme. Nassau, Bahamas: BLA, 2003. —-. Standards for School Media Programmes. Nassau, Bahamas: BLA, 1991. —-. Unpublished Typewritten Minutes, Papers and Other Documents of the Association. Nassau, Bahamas: BLA, 1979. College of The Bahamas. The College of The Bahamas Celebrates 20 Years of Academic Excellence 1974–1994: A Glance. Nassau, Bahamas: COB, 1995. —-. College/University of The Bahamas: Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre. Nassau, Bahamas: COB, 2005. Craig, Dennis, ed. Education in the West Indies: Developments and Perspectives 1948–1988. Mona, Jamaica: The University of the West Indies, 1996. Douglas, Daphne. “Strategies for Resource Sharing.” In Caribbean Collections: Recession Management Strategies for Libraries. Ed. Mina Jane Grothey. Papers of the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Seminar on the Acquisitions of Latin American Library Materials held jointly with the XVIII Annual Conference of the Association of Caribbean University, Research, and Institutional Libraries, James L. Knight International Conference Center, Miami, Fl, May 10–15, 1987. Madison, WI: SALALM Secretariat, Memorial Library, University of Wisconsin, 1988. Fowler, F. G. and H. W. Fowler. The Pocket Oxford Dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1969. Greene, J. E. “Two Reports from the Caribbean: Research and Information Support Systems.” International Social Science Journal 32.3 (1980): 555–559. Hall, Douglas. The University of the West Indies: A Quinquagenary Calendar 1948–1998. Kingston: UWI Press, 1998. Howe, Glenford, ed. Higher Education in the Caribbean: Past, Present and Future Directions. Barbados: UWI Press, 2000. Howells, Eyrie. Barbados Community College Home Page. Feb. 8, 2006. www.bcc.edu.bb. Jordan, Alma. The Development of Library Service in the West Indies through Interlibrary Cooperation. New York: Columbia University, 1966. Layne, Anthony. “Educational Reform in Barbados in the Post-War Period.” In Educational Reform in the Commonwealth Caribbean. Ed. Errol Miller, Washington, DC: OAS General Secretariat, 1999, 119–148.
Broadening the Academy’s Influence
51
The Main Library, The University of the West Indies. The University of the West Indies. 1 Feb. 2006. www.mainlib.uwi.tt. Maura, Mariano. “Resource-Sharing Experiences in Puerto Rico and Possibilities for Expanding Resource Sharing in the Caribbean.” In Caribbean Collections: Recession Management Strategies for Libraries. Ed. Mina Jane Grothey. Papers of the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Seminar on the Acquisitions of Latin American Library Materials held jointly with the Eighteenth Conference of the Association of Caribbean University, Research, and Institutional Libraries, James L. Knight International Conference Center, Miami, Fl, May 10–15, 1987. Madison, WI: SALALM Secretariat, Memorial Library, University of Wisconsin, 1988. Nettleford, Rex. Challenges of Intellectual Property System. Paper presented to the Library and Information Association of Jamaica. 18 Feb. 2006. Office of the Vice Chancellor Home Page. University of Guyana. 28 Feb. 2006. www.uog.edu.gy/VC/ar.htm. Roberts, Vivienne, and Nigel Brissett. Pathways to Tertiary Education in the EnglishSpeaking Caribbean. Barbados: The University of the West Indies, 2003. Rolle, Vanrea. “The Library.” Tenth Anniversary Booklet. Nassau, Bahamas: COB, 1985, 53. Walker, Berthamae L. “Casting into the Deep: A History of Library Technology in The Bahamas.” Computers in Libraries 20.10 (2000): 48–53. World Bank. Caribbean region: Access, Quality and Efficiency in Education. Washington, DC: Organisation of American States, 1993.
APPENDIX A QUESTIONNAIRE BROADENING THE INFLUENCE: CONTRIBUTIONS OF ACADEMIC LIBRARIES TO THE ACADEMY, 1950–PRESENT 1. Does your library have a unique name? Why was that name selected? Has this had an impact on how your library or institution is used and/or viewed? If so, how? When was your library established? Please provide some brief historical details. 2. How has your library contributed to the strengthening of your institution’s reputation over the years (a) locally (b) regionally (c) internationally? (For example, specialised collections, programmes, etc.) 3. What has been the single most effective programme of the library that has enhanced the institution’s reputation and success? 4. How have library personnel contributed to the broadening of the institution’s influence (a) locally (b) regionally (c) internationally? (For example, librarians serving as representatives on local/regional/international boards, research and publications, etc.) 5. What have been the greatest challenge(s) to your library’s development and how were they addressed? 6. How has technology assisted in broadening the influence of your institution in the local, regional, and international communities? 7. What do you see as the challenges facing regional academic libraries now and in the next decade? 8. Other comments that describe or outline the library’s contribution in broadening the influence of the institution. Thank You for Your Valuable Time!
52
53
PA R T I I
Management of the 21st-Century Library— Collections, Staff, and Services
54
CHAPTER 5
Transformation and Impact: The Experience of Two Academic Libraries in Jamaica Hermine C. Salmon University of Technology, Jamaica
Heather Rodriguez-James Northern Caribbean University, Jamaica ABSTRACT Many colleges are seeking to achieve university status. The article proposes to share the experience of two academic libraries whose respective institutions evolved from college to university in the 1990s. The University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica, formerly the College of Arts, Science and Technology and Northern Caribbean University (NCU), formerly West Indies College, achieved this status. The transition of a college to university requires careful planning, enthusiastic implementation, and critical review of goals and objectives. The political, social, economic, and intellectual environment in which the institution operates must always be studied and anticipated in order to be appropriately responsive. The article will discuss how the UTech–Jamaica and the NCU libraries managed this change, some of the challenges faced and choices made. It will examine the transformation of physical, material, and technological services and human resources in the libraries as the librarians worked assiduously to meet acceptable standards to satisfy the needs of their institutions.
INTRODUCTION In Jamaica today, many colleges are seeking to achieve university status. Colleges such as Mico Teachers’ College and Excelsior Community College are developing programmes and activities towards accomplishing this goal. UTech and NCU led the way, having attained this status in the 1990s. One cannot discuss the history of an academic library without mentioning the history of its parent institution. UTech was established in 1958 as the Jamaica Institute of Technology, whereas NCU dated back to 1907, having started as the West Indian Training School. The universities began with student 55
56
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
populations of 56 and 12, respectively, each institution having a different focus. The Jamaica Institute of Technology provided tertiary-level training for technical and middle management professionals for technical schools, business, and industrial entities. A year later, its name was changed to the College of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST). CAST quickly became a household name in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Its graduates were well received by commerce, industry, and schools. The college awarded its first degree, the Bachelor of Education, in 1986. The West Indian Training School was established to train missionaries for the West Indies and Africa at the secondary school level. In 1919, there were fewer than 30 students. Since then, the institution’s name and status changed a number of times: first to West Indies Training College, offering associate degrees, then to West Indies College, awarding four-year undergraduate degrees. West Indies College also became a household name and, like CAST, was eagerly sought after by students in Jamaica and the Caribbean. The transition from college to university involved a lengthy process of preparation and planning, and attainment of this status was a great achievement. The process included continued scanning of the political, social, economic, and intellectual environment to determine appropriate responses in terms of types and levels of programmes to be offered, number of students to cater to, and the anticipated duration of courses. In addition, courses must be regularly reviewed to ensure their continued relevance. An important consideration was the need to achieve a standard to meet and maintain accreditation requirements of the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) and other accrediting bodies. After years of careful preparation and planning, enthusiastic review of goals and objectives, and the development and implementation of relevant programmes, CAST was granted university status in 1995. It had the distinction of being the first national university in Jamaica. By this time, the student population had grown to approximately 7,000. The university underwent an exciting period of transition offering more than 100 courses at certificate, diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate degree levels. UTech declared its mission as follows: “Our Mission is the promotion of learning. To this end, we are committed to providing an environment that supports: Excellence in teaching, scholarship, research and service; creativity and innovation; an ethic of service and professionalism; the effective application of knowledge; and new technologies through research and development” (UTech, Strategic Plan 54). West Indies College, too, after much planning and preparation, achieved university status in 1999, becoming NCU, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Student enrollment increased to more than 5,000. As the institution evolved, so did its mission. The university stated its mission as follows: “quality Christ-centered education achieved through academic excellence,
Transformation and Impact
57
social interaction, physical and spiritual development and a strong work ethic, thereby fitting each student for committed professional service to country and to God” (NCU, Master Plan 6).
IMPACT ON LIBRARY SERVICE The quest for university status impacted the libraries in a major way. It involved a number of changes in which the library played a significant role. During the process, goals and strategies were developed in tandem with the universities. The librarians at UTech and NCU were fully involved in the development of plans and activities related to the transformation, from proposal to implementation. Baba postulates that: “change is inevitable and can be brought about by internal or external factors. If organizations do not anticipate or plan strategically for change and change is not managed, it will have to react to, or accommodate changes exerted by external preserve” (377).1 This article shares with readers how both libraries managed the change from college to university status, some of the challenges faced, and choices made as the institutions evolved. It looks at the role the librarians played in the transition process and examines the transformation of resources to meet acceptable standards and to satisfy the needs of their respective institutions. The Calvin McKain2 Library was established at the inception of CAST. Over the years, the library made significant progress in its physical facilities, information and material resources, human resource management and development, technological capability and services. Initially, the library could only accommodate 15 persons and was staffed by a clerical worker. In 1970, facilities were greatly improved with a new reading room to seat 100 clients, an office for a librarian, and a small workroom for staff. The first college librarian was also appointed, and this signaled the beginning of growth and development. In 1984, a new library, 1,500 square meters, was constructed under the Government of Jamaica/World Bank III Programme. Three reading rooms were provided for stacks and seating for clients, a faculty reading room, a technical services division, audiovisual centre, archives, seminar room, and offices and facilities for library staff. West Indies College also had a library from its inception. In the 1950s, the entire second floor of the administrative block was allocated to the library. In 1992, the library was relocated to a 3,065-square-meter building and named the Hiram S. Walters3 Resource Centre. The library established branches in Kingston, Montego Bay, and Brown’s Town as well as a special library for economic development on the main campus.4 The transition to university impacted both libraries in many, often similar, ways. In anticipation of the future changes, the Calvin McKain Library developed its own mission statement and prepared a self-study to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the unit. It also
58
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
demanded that the university librarian complete a 10-year development plan based on the college’s objectives for the period 1990 to 2000. The library’s mission was “to provide current resources and quality service to support the information needs of the university community as well as stimulate intellectual thought and academic scholarship” (UTech, Library self study 3). The university librarian was an integral part of all the committees that prepared the institution’s strategic and upgrading plans and was designated an officer of the university. In keeping with the library’s mission and plan, a systematic drive was undertaken to upgrade all aspects of library service. The plan evolved into a five-year strategic plan aligned to the university’s strategic plan and was periodically revised simultaneously. These and the changes indicated above were direct results of the anticipated new status of the college. In early 1998, it was decided to change the status of West Indies College to that of a university. The library was intricately involved in preparations for the change and the director of library services was part of a committee convened to prepare a self-study. As the committee met, completed evaluations, outlined goals, and set standards, the director became increasingly aware of how much was needed to be done for the library to be able to adequately support the curricula of the university. Each department had to create departmental mission and vision statements. The library’s mission statement, “As the locus of current, relevant print and non-print media, Hiram S. Walters Resource Centre provides quality, Christian service to all patrons, supporting the larger mission of NCU by stimulating academic excellence and spiritual development” (NCU, Master Plan 92) clearly reflected that the library wanted to be a central location where current and relevant information could be accessed. An educational institution is constantly adjusting, fine-tuning, or completely revamping its curricula to meet the needs of the global environment. The vision statement of the H. S. Walters Resource Centre was fine-tuned to: “To become a first class library facility that can adequately support the needs of the university’s undergraduate and graduate programmes; the research expectations of the faculty, as well as the expectations of the Seventh-day Adventist Church” (NCU 5-Year 50). At NCU, the creation of the social and economic lecture series is one of the many changes that took place. Other changes included crafting a mission statement for the library, acquisition of an integrated automated library system, opening of branch libraries/reading rooms, the librarian’s inclusion on the faculty senate, and recognition by the administration of the importance of the library to the viability of the university’s programs. These changes resulted in a major budget increase, professional development of staff, changes to the facility, and adoption of technology.
Transformation and Impact
59
ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE Both institutions had to make changes in administration, organization, and reporting structure to accommodate the shift to university. Likewise, the libraries had to make internal changes. Following a restructuring exercise at UTech in 1995, the library was placed in the academic affairs division with the university librarian reporting to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. This arrangement was very appropriate, although there was a greater degree of bureaucracy than previously existed. The university librarian continued to sit on the academic board and was appointed chair of its Educational Services Committee. The university librarian was also named to the newly established Faculty Boards and to all other relevant academic and administrative committees. The new structure formally recognized the library’s four divisions: Collection Development, Client Services, Library Information Systems and Outreach Services (LISOS), and Instructional Media Services, and the heads of these divisions were compensated as such. There was interesting debate about the nomenclature of the library and head librarian. Some, especially faculty, argued for a change to Library Learning Resources and Director, while others suggested Information Services and Director. In the end, the choice was to retain university library and university librarian. When Internal Audit of the Office of the University President began to review activities of units, the library was included. This was a welcome development as recommendations made were helpful guides in establishing certain policies and guidelines. The NCU library also experienced internal changes. As a small college library, it was able to function efficiently with one librarian in charge of all public services. Another librarian was responsible for technical services and the audiovisual department. The director of library services chaired the library committee, took care of acquisitions, did bibliographic instruction, and liaised with administration via committees and reports. As the institution moved towards university status, the clientele increased, and so did research requests and resource demands. The library had to change its infrastructure to keep pace with the demands being placed on it. New positions were created to include a librarian for the open stacks area, a librarian for acquisitions and serials, another for technical services and audiovisuals, and a fourth for public services. In 2004, the chairmanship of the library committee was removed from the director of library services and assigned to an “academician” who it was believed would be better able to assess the library’s inventory and acquisition needs. Fortunately, that academician was also a vice president, and represented the library’s case, in tandem with the vice president for academic administration, to the university council. The director of library services was secretary of the committee. This arrangement received better response from
60
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
the university community. However, one of the challenges the library faced was determining to which vice president the director actually reported.
HUMAN RESOURCES A university library needs suitably qualified professional and support staff to assist clients in their research activities and to select appropriate materials, with assistance from faculty, to support the university’s curriculum. The staff must also provide educational aids for lectures and tutorials and offer information literacy instruction for students and lecturers. The previously mentioned restructuring of the Calvin McKain Library resulted in an increase in the number of staff on the establishment to enable the library to achieve its goal of becoming a world-class library, which was also a major goal of the university. By the year 2000, there were 10 librarians, including the university librarian, four librarian assistants, one media specialist, one computer application specialist, and 26 support staff in various categories of the establishment. Two part-time posts for subject specialists were later approved. In anticipation of the restructuring, the then college librarian voiced the need for a united body to speak for members of the nonacademic staff, and with the encouragement of colleagues, became the founding president of the CAST Administrative and Support Staff Association (later the University of Technology Administrative and Support Staff Association) in 1994, and led the team that negotiated with the government in 1996 and 1998. A requirement of the new university was that librarians should hold a master’s degree in library and information science or a first degree in library science and a master’s in a relevant subject. In 1995, however, only the media specialist possessed a master’s degree. The response of the staff to the change of qualifications was spectacular, and UTech’s commitment to training and development enabled many staff to qualify for their respective posts. Currently, 80 percent of all librarians possess postgraduate degrees, all librarian assistants and administrative supports possess first degrees and approximately 85 percent of library supports, technicians, and library clerks are enrolled in bachelor degree programmes (see Table 5.1). In the past, the library utilized the Human Employment and Resource Training Trust (HEART)/National Training Agency (NTA) Programme to provide trainees with on-the-job training as library supports and library clerks; however, this arrangement ceased when the qualifications’ bar for these categories of staff was raised. The library was very appreciative of the assistance of those trainees who were assigned to the library, and was proud of its contribution to their development. Many obtained higher qualifications and moved to responsible positions in the university and elsewhere. Student workers, under the university’s Earn and Study Programme, have also contributed significantly by manning the bag check, and clearing and shelving materials.
Transformation and Impact
61
Table 5.1 Educational Status of Library Staff at UTech
Table 5.1 Educational Status of Library Staff at UTech Description
Library Clerk
Librarian
Graphic Artist
Librarian &
Assistants
& Technicians
Other
Library and
Professionals
Administrative Support 1995 Present
1995
Present
1995
Present
1995
Present
0
0
0
7
1
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
0
1
3
3
0
2
0
8
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
7
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Hold Diplomas/ Associate Degree in any subject area Pursuing/Diploma/ Associate Degree in any subject area Hold Bachelor’s Degree in any subject area Pursuing Bachelor’s Degree in any subject area Hold Master’s Degree in any subject area Hold Master’s Degree in Library Science Pursuing Master’s Degree in Library Science Pursuing Doctorate
Regrettably, inadequate and anomalous compensation stymied efforts to recruit and retain staff, especially paraprofessionals, and this was a major challenge for the library. Librarians, although dissatisfied with salaries and benefits, remained committed to the institution because of their belief in what they did and in the plans for further development of the library and the university. Another difficulty faced was winning the approval of the Ministry of Education and Youth for librarians to be on par with faculty. Over the years, administration and faculty supported the call but the Ministry did not. That demonstrated a clear difference between UTech, a national institution, and NCU, a private, denominational university.
62
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
At NCU, the situation was similar to UTech’s in some respects. In 1999, Hiram S. Walters Resource Centre operated with three librarians, one with a master’s degree, and four library technical assistants, none of whom had a first degree. All staff members recognized the need for higher qualifications and improved professional development, and they resolutely set out to acquire them (see Table 5.2). Two librarians are now each pursuing a master’s degree in library science. One library technical assistant completed an associate’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in library and information science. The library also relied heavily on student workers, and in 1999, employed approximately 55 students. In 2006, there were about 85 students employed in the library.
INFORMATION RESOURCES In developing the UTech library collection, special focus was placed on weak areas highlighted by the self-study. The advent of visits by the recently established UCJ contributed to the urgency with which the task was carried out, and since 1995, UTech significantly increased the library’s budget to facilitate this effort. Between 1995 and 2005, the book collection grew from 65,604 to 110,478. Growth was reflected in breadth and depth of coverage of subject areas as the library sought to build a good core collection of materials especially at the undergraduate level. The Caribbean collection also increased rapidly and more materials were purchased in electronic formats. Journals are critical for up-to-date information and, since 2001, attention focused on subscribing to a range of online databases providing access to more than 9,000 full-text journals. Due to budgetary constraints, however, Table 5.2 Educational Status of Library Staff at NCU
Table 5.2 Educational Status of Library Staff at NCU Description
Library Technical
Librarians
Assistants 1999 Present
1999
Present
Pursuing Associate’s Degree in any subject area
1
1
0
0
Completed Bachelor’s Degree in any subject area
0
2
3
6
Pursuing Bachelor’s Degree in any subject
0
1
0
0
Completed Master’s Degree in any subject
0
0
1
0
Completed Master’s Degree in Library Science
0
0
1
1
Pursuing Master’s Degree in Library Science
0
1
0
2
Transformation and Impact
63
the library was severely challenged to maintain a reasonable number of print subscriptions. The development of an art and architecture video archive, through the initiative of Canadian artist Ann Buttrick, became a great asset to the university, particularly the Caribbean School of Architecture and the Department of Liberal Studies. The collection was made available to students of tertiary and secondary institutions in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. The library has been the beneficiary of generous contributions of valuable materials from individuals and institutions, and in 2000, became a depository for Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) publications. These added significantly to the collection. Challenges of collection development include: budgetary restraints for the purchase of journals, getting more members of faculty to participate in collection building, and the paucity of subject specialists for the technical areas. As NCU prepared for university charter, the library performed an inventory to determine how close it was to meeting standards set by authoritative bodies such as the American Library Association (ALA) and the Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA). In 1999, the library had a total of 40,701 items in the collection. That amount fell short of the standard by 29,000 items. By the end of 2005, the number of items in the collection was 214,025. The library supported the programmes of the university and the collection should reflect the course offerings. Librarians’ awareness of and access to the syllabi for courses was therefore very important. That sometimes proved to be challenging. Another challenge was getting a white paper from the faculty, listing recommended titles to support courses. However, the advantage of reporting to two vice presidents who meet academic deans in various councils was invaluable in this regard. Between 1999 and 2004, the task of ordering library material was shared among the library director, technical services librarian, and the library secretary. In 2005, the university hired a full-time librarian for acquisitions and serials. This person was responsible for liaising with faculty to obtain lists of source materials for the library. Other librarians assessed their areas and informed the acquisitions librarian of weaknesses. The library director provided assistance when needed.
PHYSICAL FACILITIES The extension of the Calvin McKain Library building in 2001 further increased the space from 1,500 to 2,000 square meters. This added a reading room and stacks for the Caribbean Collection, cyber lab, conference room, graphics lab, more spacious archives, and greatly improved working and lounge areas for staff. The Client Services Division was redesigned to facilitate the implementation of the Library Information Management System (LIMS) circulation module. Seating increased from 300 to 400 with the capacity to
64
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
add another 110. Another 40 seats were available in the three service points operated by the library, at the Slipe Pen Road campus and two faculties on the main campus. The archives, collection development, and periodicals benefited most from this expansion. The building was air-conditioned and professional assistance was obtained for arrangement and aesthetics to ensure greater attractiveness and comfort. These improvements helped to meet the university’s objective of creating an optimum learning environment for students and brought the library closer to standards recommended by LIAJA. The challenges for physical facilities ranged from a need for more space to accommodate the growing collection; space for reading room, meeting rooms, and exhibitions; theft detection device5; adequate maintenance to keep the library attractive; and a lift to facilitate physically challenged clients and move books and equipment upstairs to meet the need for better disaster prevention/management measures. NCU made a number of physical changes to its campus. They included a complete entrance makeover; construction of a gymnasium/auditorium, affectionately known as the “gymnatorium”; construction of an information science building, four field view classrooms, and administrative offices for the Montego Bay campus; renovation and relocation of the Kingston campus; renovation of the institution’s first building, an historical site, now “the President’s Office” or “the White House”; addition of a north6 and east campus7 to the Mandeville site; and a St. Ann campus. The library also benefited from the changes. The university president, a visionary with an eye for aesthetics, directed the redesign of the lobby to create a baggage room that operates through a window on the outside of the library. A Circulation/Reserves Department was created and the security area relocated, allowing more space for the mounting of displays outside of the library. The Reference Department had a complete makeover being enclosed, air-conditioned, painted, carpeted, and named after one of the university’s former educators, the late Merle Bennett. A lounge was created for patrons who desired a more relaxed atmosphere. In 2004, the library acquired a new reading room courtesy of one of its alumni chapters.8 The technical services/acquisitions area was also redesigned to streamline the processing of materials, accommodate the anticipated increase in volume of acquisitions, and a section assigned for the treatment of books.
SERVICES Calvin McKain Library and Hiram S. Walters Resource Centre both offer a wide range of services, including literature searches, Online Public Access Catalogue (CALCAT and WebVoyage, respectively) through the Internet, interlibrary loan, document delivery, and information literacy classes. Calvin McKain Library offers journal routing, and librarians teach aspects of the research methodology module. One of the challenges shared is the need to ensure that
Transformation and Impact
65
students who pursue courses at their extension campuses enjoy equal access to library services as their counterparts at the main campuses. The advent of new technology greatly facilitates this goal of ensuring equal access.
TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES In order to keep pace with increasing demands, both libraries acquired integrated library management systems to facilitate efficient and effective service delivery. NCU purchased Voyager from Endeavor in 2003, and UTech, after a thorough, though lengthy evaluation and selection process guided by the university’s Information Systems Department, purchased Unicorn from SIRSI, Canada in 2004. In UTech’s case, acquisition, cataloguing, serial control, circulation, media booking, and archives modules were acquired and most of the modules were activated. A 28-station cyber lab, student and staff kiosks at all UTech sites facilitated client access. The implementation of these systems in both libraries significantly improved operational efficiency, effectiveness, and access thus strengthening client/provider relationship and increasing the libraries’ visibility in the university community. Audiovisual equipment was also updated to support activities of the distance education unit that was being developed by UTech.
BUDGETARY SUPPORT From its limited resources, UTech expended approximately 5 percent of its annual budget on the library. The university librarian and heads of divisions participated in the university’s annual budget preparation exercise and the former attended meetings of the Finance and Operations Review Committee. Prior to 1999, the budget of the Hiram S. Walters Resource Centre was approximately 2.5 percent of the college’s operational budget. As the institution moved towards university status, the administration reaffirmed the importance of the library for the support of its programmes and increased the allocation. In 2000, based on the university’s decision to place a minimum of 50 books per undergraduate course and 200 books per graduate course in the library, a commitment was made to increase the library’s budget to 5 percent of the capital budget to meet the library standards within the next five years. In 2004, the university voted to double the library’s budget over the next three years to purchase much needed material to support its growing programme offerings. At 10 percent of operational budget, the library’s annual budget rose to 63 million Jamaican dollars for 2005–2006.
CONCLUSION The lessons learnt by both libraries from the experiences discussed above were many. They include:
66
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century • The importance of librarians participating in various working groups/committees formed to plan for the transformation of the institution. • Librarians must be proactive when necessary; for example, in forming the administrative staff union, the librarian was able to participate in negotiations for staff salaries and benefits following the first restructuring exercise. • Communication is important. Staff members understand the reasons for the new qualification requirement and they will readily embark on study programmes viewing this as an opportunity for development. • The importance of presenting a positive attitude towards the auditing of library services, viewing it as a way to improve policies and procedures. • The importance of aesthetics to client comfort, recognizing its appeal in encouraging clients to use the facility. • The importance of being able to read building plans in order to ensure that the plant is able to accommodate the services that will be housed there. • The importance of research in an academic environment, making the clients need to access relevant information from anywhere, at anytime, a matter of urgency, therefore, the library must be technologically equipped to provide such access. • Qualified staff must be dedicated to the implementation of the library management system being installed. • Librarians need to be conversant with the budget process of the university and must be able to defend proposed expenditures. They must be able to match plans with budget.
As Brophy aptly states “… change is virtually constant in higher education and in librarianship, one of the library manager’s most important task is to ensure that change is managed and does not just ‘happen’ (169).” Both the Calvin McKain Library and Hiram S. Walters Resource Centre have sought to anticipate and manage the many changes and new developments in their respective institutions.
ENDNOTES 1.
Farley, et al. had put forward a similar argument to Baba’s. (Zawiyah Baba, A regional approach towards organizational transformation, Library Review, 50 (2001): 238)
Transformation and Impact
67
2.
Calvin McKain came to the College of Arts, Science and Technology in July 1958, on secondment from Kingston Technical High School where he was vice principal. His task was to set up and operate the Engineering Department. He became the first Jamaican Head of Department at the college in 1967, and in 1973, the first Jamaican vice principal. He retired in 1977 but continued to contribute to the College. He was appointed to head the archives in the library in 1984 and the Library was named in his honour in 1986. He died in 1997.
3.
Hiram Sebastian (Tim) Walters (born in Panama, lived 1917–2001), though not Jamaican by birth, was Seventh-Day Adventism personified in Jamaica, and his influence had a worldwide ripple effect on the global Seventh-Day Adventist community. At age 32, he was the youngest Adventist conference president in the world. He gave all he had in cash, kind, and influence for the advancement of education in Jamaica. Among his goals was to have an Adventist high school in each parish and to see to the expansion of West Indian Training College, now Northern Caribbean University. He also served as chairman of the board of West Indies College.
4.
This unit assumed responsibility for coordinating an annual university lecture series on social and economic issues of the region.
5.
The lack of a theft detection device seriously compromises security.
6.
Five park-like acres of beautiful greenery, which is home to the College of Graduate Education and Leadership.
7.
Formerly married student housing, renovated to house nutrition and dental labs.
8.
The Burgess Reading Room is named in memory of Dr. Ralph Burgess, one of the institutions’ distinguished alumni.
WORKS CITED Baba, Zawiyah. “A Regional Approach Towards Organizational Transformation.” Library Review 50.7/8 (2001): 377–381. Brophy, Peter. The Academic Library. London: LA, 2000. Farley, Thea, Judith Broady-Preston, and Tim Hayward. “Academic Libraries, People and Change: A Case Study of the 1990s.” Library Management 19.4 (1998): 238–251. Northern Caribbean University. 5-Year Strategic Plan: 2005–2010. Mandeville, Jamaica: NCU Press, 2005. ---. Master Plan 2000–2005. Mandeville, Jamaica: NCU Press, 2000. University of Technology, Jamaica. Library Self Study Report for the Septennial Review Committee. Kingston, Jamaica: UTech, 2004. ---. Strategic Plan 2000–2004. Kingston, Jamaica: UTech, 1999.
68
CHAPTER 6
Collection Development and Management in Small Academic Libraries in Jamaica: Where Is My Budget? Dorothy M. Palmer The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica ABSTRACT Collection development and management take place both at the macro as well as the micro levels. The decision faced by all libraries concerns what is to be collected and how management of this collection should be done. Within academic libraries, the dilemma is even greater as these libraries are faced with the growing demands and expectations from their clientele and stakeholders but encounter very stringent budgets. Library policy is influenced by the mission statement of the institution as well as the various stakeholders. This chapter will look at some of the crucial components of collection management, especially those that are relevant to academic libraries in Jamaica.
BACKGROUND Globalization with its many facets has affected all avenues of the society resulting in unprecedented changes in all aspects of our lives. The use of technology and its continued development may be regarded as one of the dynamic changes that have had a direct impact on the lives of many individuals on a daily basis. For example, the electronic media brings to us, immediately, events as they happen in any part of the world, events such as the Olympics, images of various hurricanes, demonstrations, and even wars as they are taking place. The Internet is one of the most powerful tools, which has helped to break down many barriers especially in the spheres of learning and information. Within this global arena, academic institutions in the Caribbean region face many challenges that affect the way these institutions operate, the services they provide to their clientele, and how these services are marketed to prospective students and users. There are also many learning opportunities that arise within this new environment. One such recent challenge is the 69
70
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
increasing competition with other international academic institutions to enroll new students. In Jamaica, there has been an increasing number of offshore universities that, either by themselves or in conjunction with a local institution, now offer degree courses to local students and these are usually marketed in very attractive packages to individuals, institutions, and in the local media. These offers may include financing at competitive rates, providing computers, textbooks, and online access to the library facilities of the host institution. Students can now study for the most part within the confines of their homes. The libraries within these academic institutions are especially vulnerable, as in addition to the challenges previously mentioned, they also have to face the issue of reduced budget allocations. Another dilemma relates to the question of what resources should be acquired and how these resources should be efficiently managed, given the growing demands and expectations from clients and stakeholders. This chapter will look at some of the crucial components of collection management, especially those that are relevant to academic libraries in Jamaica.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Collection Management One of the primary functions of an academic library is the development, acquisition, and management of the library’s collection. It is fair to say that library users will judge the effectiveness of the service by the quality of the collection and its ability to satisfy their needs and expose them to trends in new and existing subject areas. Management of a collection within this technological age is very critical and challenging but this is sometimes a neglected aspect within libraries. The importance of collection management cannot be overstated, especially in academic libraries where the students and staff have to work within a specific time frame. There is also the challenge of collecting the traditional print as well as the new electronic formats. The crucial decision is whether to have both formats, or because of a stringent budget, the decision has to be made to acquire one format over the other. There are various components of collection management that must be examined: These include a collection development policy (referred to as policy in subsequent paragraphs), selection, and evaluation. The policy is influenced by the mission statement of the institution as well as the inputs from the various stakeholders. Rowley and Black describe the 1960s and 1970s as the years that provided the growth of large collections and also the employment of subject specialists within libraries. It was also during that time that there was an emphasis on the quality of collection-building, especially as this relates to academic libraries (3). Collection management has various definitions and is, sometimes, used interchangeably with collection development. Gessesse in differentiating
Collection Development and Management …
71
between these two concepts defines collection development as “comprising planning, goal-setting, decision-making, budgeting, and acquisition of materials and evaluation of materials.” The process involves library policies, budgeting, looking at the types of materials for collection, selection, and acquisition and collection evaluation. Collection management is seen as an all embracing concept, which would encompass more than a policy of the acquisition of materials and their storage, rather it “emphasizes the systematic maintenance and management of a library’s existing collection.” This would involve “the planning, composition, funding, evaluation, and use of the library’s collection over time so as to meet the specific goals of the library” (2).
LIBRARY COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY Research has shown that the inclusion of a collection development policy within an academic library is an essential tool. This policy provides basic guidelines or the direction to the selection, acquisition, and evaluation of the types and formats within any collection development plan. Because of the complexity and the volume of the information, it is important that the library selects the relevant information or provides access to the information that meets the needs of its clientele. In formulating a policy, certain aspects must be taken into consideration, and these would include the selection criteria, scope of the information, language, date of publication, types of resources whether print or electronic, and of course, in the case of academic libraries, the research and teaching interest of faculty and students (Gessesse 2). According to Wortman, policy should be reviewed regularly as the need arises; this is especially relevant as dynamic changes are taking place so rapidly (124). Policy can be written either in a formal way or in statements and so can be constantly reviewed. The literature shows that some academic libraries do not have a formal written policy, but there is some sort of unwritten rule or guideline as to the various operations. The policy must take into consideration the types of resources whether print or electronic and whether both will be integrated. It may also consider how much will be spent on electronic resources, as this sometimes takes up some 10 percent of the materials budget (Breaks 108). Whether the resources will be shared is important because in the contractual agreement, this will have to be spelt out.
SELECTION PROCESS This activity is a very important aspect within any library, as it involves identifying and evaluating the available resources, and then choosing what is relevant to the various stakeholders. The criteria for the selection are usually based on the needs of the students and faculty whether teaching or researching subject to budgetary constraints. The Dearing report on higher education found that one of the areas of dissatisfaction among students was the unavailability of required material in the library. The selection plan articulates the
72
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
policy in a coherent and practical way. In some libraries, there is a selection committee that makes the final decision regarding what is to be selected and acquired. In the case of acquiring electronic resources, usually this would involve the information unit or a representative with the required skill. Much research has been devoted to the selection of print vs. electronic. In many academic libraries, these two formats have often been combined, but because of budgetary restrictions, there are times when one is selected over the other. Research has shown that in the selection of electronic resources certain areas must be taken into consideration such as access whether physical, intellectual, or technical (Kovacs 340–341).
BUDGET Budget consideration deserves special attention in collection management. During the 1960s, academic libraries were able to spend, without much restriction, on books and other materials. But with the decrease in funding within these libraries, they were faced with the question of rationalizing their budgets. Academic libraries are, therefore, forced to evaluate all the available resources and to analyze the effectiveness of these resources. Specifically, there is the traditional print vs. the electronic resources, and these will have to be looked at in terms of cost-effectiveness (Gessesse 4). Academic libraries because of timelines and demand for resources are usually required to spend a significant portion of their budget on areas that can access information such as the databases. The costs of acquiring these resources must be looked at in terms of short, medium, and long-term, so in addition to the subscription costs, one must include the maintenance costs. A good budget must be able to give the support to the library’s goals and also to reflect the mission of the organization but it is important that this budget is formulated from within the library (Wortman 131).
ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN JAMAICA Academic libraries in Jamaica face many challenges as they try to respond to the various needs of all their clientele. The budget within these libraries has been steadily decreasing, and some libraries are not allocated their own budget and remain dependent on the generous goodwill of the institution’s principal and the bursar. Continuing devaluation of the local currency in relation to foreign exchange often results in severe problems for the users of this commodity. Jamaica’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, in its White Paper on Education, looks at the development of human resources as the primary tool for “personal, social and economic development”(2). It envisaged that there would have been a 15 percent rate of increase in tertiary education by 2005. The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, Department of Educational Studies, since 1952, has been given the primary responsibility of
Collection Development and Management …
73
training secondary school teachers. The training of teachers and the establishment of “teachers colleges” in the English-speaking Caribbean can be traced to the 1830s with the founding of the Mico College in 1836 (Gordon 169). These colleges were established to focus mainly on the training of primary level teachers. Over the years, there have been many significant programmes that have affected the landscape of teacher education. At present, teacher education is provided by 11 public institutions and the education departments at three universities in Jamaica: The University of the West Indies–Mona, University of Technology (UTech), and Northern Caribbean University. The latter-named university is privately owned. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture through its draft policy paper on “New Directions on Teacher Education” proposed that colleges for training teachers should be upgraded to offer degree programmes. As part of this proposal, the facilities at the various institutions are being upgraded, staff are being encouraged to upgrade their qualifications, and curricula are being revised and rewritten. It is therefore imperative that the library resources be upgraded to facilitate this process of development. The government of Jamaica recognized that with the establishment of so many offshore universities and also with so many local institutions upgrading their facilities as they prepared to offer degree programmes, there needed to be a mechanism in place to maintain a certain quality standard. The University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) was therefore established in 1987 as an “accrediting, awards and academic development body for degree, diploma and certificate programmes for approval at the tertiary institutions.” UCJ lists that its functions include the registration of institutions offering tertiary education, providing accreditation for degree programmes, and assurance that the quality of programmes being offered in Jamaica is of a certain standard. The criteria for registering students include: adequacy and suitability of the physical facilities and the adequacy of resources, which includes the library. The UCJ has listed some standards that the institution must implement. These standards include: adequacy of library services for the various stakeholders, students, faculty and administration; written plan; annual budget; and at least one professional member of staff. Since 1995 there has been a reduction on the recurrent budgetary allocation to tertiary education, which can be attributed to the maintenance of the levels of allocation to primary education (Miller 100).
PURPOSE OF RESEARCH AND METHODOLOGY The research sets out to ascertain the current practices pertaining to collection management within small public tertiary academic institutions, which offer teacher training programmes and the libraries within these teacher training institutions. The sample included only the entities that are presently upgrading their facilities to offer undergraduate degrees. These upgrades include those to the physical facilities, curricula, and staff. More
74
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
than 6,000 students are registered in these teacher training institutions. The methodology used included questionnaires administered by e-mail or telephone interview. Based on the criteria just mentioned, 10 libraries were selected. Of the 10 libraries selected, six responded to the questionnaire.
Library Collection Development Policy Is there a library policy? Who influences the policy: faculty, students, or library staff? Thirty-three percent responded that there was no library policy. Not all of the respondents who answered in the affirmative had a formal written plan as described in the literature but a plan that provided a basic guideline to the selection and acquisition of materials. In response to the question on who influences the policy, 80 percent of the respondents answered the question, and from these responses, it was determined that faculty and library staff had a direct influence over the policy more so than students. Only one response stated that all the categories noted in the question—that is, faculty, library staff, and students—influenced the policy.
Selection Committee Is there a selection committee? Who makes the final decision? Only one response stated that there was a selection committee and, within this committee, the librarian had responsibility for making the final decision. Seventy percent of the respondents said that faculty influenced the selection and to a lesser extent the librarian. Only one respondent stated that the librarian made the final approval; all the other respondents stated that the principal was the final authority.
Budget What is the present budgetary support? What percentage of the budget relates to the overall budget of the Institution? All the respondents stated that they did not know the level of budgetary support that they received from their institution. All the respondents stated that the financial resources were inadequate.
Collection Building What are the types of materials acquired? All the respondents stated that the bulk of the collection comprised books and other printed materials. Thirty-three percent stated that there are other formats such as CD-ROMs and videocassettes. How many current periodical titles are presently acquired? How many of these are electronic?
Collection Development and Management …
75
The response to the current list of periodicals shows a range from three to 30. Less than 50 percent of the respondents stated that they were able to access some titles that were offered free-of-charge electronically. Do you have access to any international database? All the respondents stated that they did not at present have access to any international database. What percentage of the collection represents local material? The answer to the question ranges from 10 percent to 40 percent, and one respondent stated that 75 percent of the library’s collection consisted of local materials. Local material is usually difficult to access. This is exacerbated by the lack of knowledge of what is available locally, especially when these materials are unpublished, for example, government reports, policy papers, and even conference proceedings.
RECOMMENDATIONS The findings show that the libraries’ within the teacher-training institutions surveyed are at different stages of development even as they prepare for the implementation of the various degree programmes that will be offered to the students. Based on these findings the following recommendations are being proposed: • Libraries with collection-development policies whether written or verbal based on existing practices should regularly review and revise these policies. Libraries without a policy should start the process of articulating one. • The collection development policy should emphasize the mission, goals, and objectives of the library. It is also important that the policy in an academic library defines its community of users and analyses its existing collection with a view to covering all the subject areas that will be offered. • Each faculty should contribute to formulation of this collection development policy. The policy must also address the types and formats of material to be collected and the role that the library has to play in this process. • Within this collection-development policy, there must be a section on electronic resources and how these will coexist with print resources. Questions such as selecting one format over the other and the possibility of having them integrated within the collection must also be addressed. All the libraries are operating within budgetary constraints and, therefore, this process must be viewed as urgent.
76
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century • The selection process must also be looked at very carefully. None of the libraries stated they had implemented this practice in a formal way although this author suspects that an informal selection process was in operation. • A selection committee should include faculty, library staff, and students. It is very important, especially within a limited budget, for the library staff to have an overview of what the resources are in all the various disciplines. • The allocation of a budget cannot be overemphasized. The library’s budget should be treated as a separate item from other budgets within the institution and should be controlled by the librarian. • The budget must also reflect the mission and programmes that are being offered by the particular institution. Thus, it is important in devising the budget that the librarian not only costs individual activities but also outlines the objectives to be realized. It must be borne in mind that other departments within the institution are also competing for the limited resources within that institution. • The libraries all need to increase their intake of journals— whether this format is print or electronic. Journals play a critical role in any collection and these are very important within an academic library because of the research and learning components. Serial prices have skyrocketed over the years, and with the devaluation of the Jamaican dollar in relation to other foreign currency, this puts additional financial pressures on the budget. It is essential that the libraries embrace some level of cooperation as far as the acquisition of titles is concerned. Libraries should as far as possible avoid any duplication of titles. (It is commendable that all the libraries reported that they are presently negotiating to acquire the licence to one of the international databases.) • All the libraries reported that they were able to purchase a fair amount of local materials with their existing budget and this was done through visits to local bookstores. The collection of local unpublished materials, such as conference proceedings, reports, and, in some cases, ministry publications are difficult to obtain since there is no systematic way of knowing that these materials exist. There should be a clearinghouse that provides this service, maybe at a cost to the users. This clearinghouse would provide access to valuable local materials that have not been formally published.
Collection Development and Management …
77
• Libraries that do not have their holdings available online should initiate this process as a project. Funding may be sought to make this project a reality. This is an important step because patrons do not always physically visit the library, and if the library provides access to its holdings online, these patrons will know what is available in the library’s collection.
CONCLUSION Although the libraries are at different stages in their collection building, the various stakeholders have needs and expectations that should be satisfied immediately. The libraries have to work assiduously with all the stakeholders to devise various strategies to improve the collections and, certainly, to find funding for online databases. There should be some short-term strategies and plans that are result-oriented to show how the services can be improved. This could be done through the College Libraries Information Network (COLINET). This is one of the sectoral units that fall under the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ) that has responsibility for the sectoral networks consisting of the library and information units in the public and private sectors. COLINET through its focal point, University of Technology, seeks to ensure that the units have access to each other, knowledge of the college library standards, and encourages the collaboration and integration of the units. Communication with all the stakeholders must be ongoing.
WORKS CITED Breaks, Michael. “Management of Electronic Information.” In Clare Jenkins and Mary Morley (Eds.). Collection Management in Academic Libraries. 2nd ed. Hampshire, England: Gower, 1999, 107–134. Davis, Rae. Task Force on Educational Reform in Jamaica: A Transformational Evaluation System. Kingston, Jamaica: Ministry of Education, 2005. Dearing, Ron. The National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education. United Kingdom (Dearing Report), 1995. Gessesse, Kebede. “Collection Development and Management in the Twenty-first Century with Special Reference to Academic Libraries: An Overview.” Library Management 21 (2000): 365–372. Emerald 10 Nov. 2005. emeraldinsight.com/ Insight/html Gordon, Shirley. A Century of West Indian Education. London: Longmans, 1963. Jamaica. Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture. The Way Upward: [White Paper on Education]. Kingston, 2001. —-. Report of Task Force on New Directions in Teacher Education. Ts. Kingston, 1996. Kane, Laura Townsend. “Access vs. Ownership: Do We Have to Make a Choice?” College & Research Libraries 58 (1997): 59–67. Kovacs, Diane K. and Angela Elkordy. “Collection Development in Cyberspace: Building an Electronic Library Collection.” Library Hi Tech 18 (2000): 335–361. Miller, Errol. “Teacher Education: The Partnership between The University of the West Indies and the Teachers Colleges.” Caribbean Journal of Education 23 1 & 2 (2001): 71–98.
78
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
—-. “The University of the West Indies, Mona and Tertiary Education in Jamaica.” In Revisiting Tertiary Education Policy in Jamaica. Rhema Holding and Olivene Burke (Eds). Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle, 2005: 66–103. Nisonger, Thomas. Management of Serials in Libraries. Englewood Cliffs: Colo Libraries, 1998. Norman, O. Gene. “The Impact of Electronic Information Resources on Collection Development: A Survey of Current Practice.” Library Hi Tech 15 (1997): 123–131. Rowley, Gordon and William Black. “Consequences of Change: the Evolution of Collection Development.” Collection Building 15 (1996): 22–30. Emerald 27 Oct. 2001. zaccaria.emeraldinsight.com. University Council of Jamaica. The Accreditation Process. Kingston, Jamaica: UCJ, 2002. Wortman, William A. A Collection Management: Background and Principles. Chicago: American Library Association, 1989.
CHAPTER 7
Ephemera and the Academic Library: The Response of the Main Library, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados Beverley A. Wood and Barbara A. Chase The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados ABSTRACT The question of whether there is a place for ephemeral items in academic libraries is at the source of some debate locally. This chapter argues that the Main Library has a mandate and a responsibility to the region to collect ephemeral items of the region. Using the experiences of the Main Library at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, it looks at the role of the academic library in the collection of ephemera, and highlights the value of ephemeral material to research and teaching and to the preservation of cultural heritage. The acquisition and management of these materials are also discussed.
INTRODUCTION The UWI comprises three campuses at Cave Hill in Barbados, Mona in Jamaica, and St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago. As the premier university in the English-speaking Caribbean territories, supported by the governments of the region, the UWI has a mandate to meet the higher education, social, intellectual, and human resources needs of this area. Several of its libraries play an important role in the UWI executing its mandate and responsibilities. At the UWI, Cave Hill Campus, the Main Library has as part of its vision statement to become “a vital force in the creation, development and dissemination of information services and products with particular emphasis on Caribbeana.”1 In this chapter, we focus our discussion on ephemera to show why it is necessary for the Main Library, UWI, Cave Hill (hereinafter referred to as the Main Library) to undertake the role of collecting and making available for use ephemeral materials of and about the Caribbean. 79
80
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
DEFINITION There are many definitions of ephemera so it is important to establish an understanding of how ephemera are defined in this chapter. The literature notes that, like its nature, ephemera are difficult to define.2 In recent times, the generally accepted definition has been the “minor transient documents of everyday life.”3 It has been equally recognised that this definition may not be adequate and that each library needs to define the area for its own collection. For the purpose of this paper, ephemera are defined as: A printed or electronic document which captures a moment in time, records an event or activity, and which is of cultural or other importance to the UWI and/or its constituents. Ephemera may be any item, programmes, posters, tickets, announcements, etc., which are not generally intended for long-term use.4 This definition allows for the inclusion of a wide variety of items in both print and nonprint formats.
TYPES OF EPHEMERA Very often when the definition of ephemera is provided, a listing of examples is also given to illustrate the concept. This listing of the various types is used to inform the definition provided above and is usually quite broad. Young notes that the list “includes most anything that is printed and isn’t bound in a traditional book format.”5 The forms of ephemera are just as varied as the reasons for them. Young’s list includes “keepsakes, invitations, theatre programs, tickets, rewards of merit, trade cards, billheads, pamphlets, chapbooks, broadsides, catalogues, postcards, brochures, advertising novelties, posters, certificates, graphic Americana, labels, dance cards, scrapbooks, die cuts, automobilia, memorabilia, almanacs, jest books, tracts, and other commemorative items.”6 Although the Main Library’s ephemeral collection currently only includes about half of these types, there is a steady movement towards the widening of the collection to include all available formats. Unlike formally published items, which are subject to several review processes, and because they are often unadulterated in form, ephemera speak of history and are the embodiment of history. They are some of the purest historical documents available. The changing face of entertainment preferences by the Barbadian masses provides such an example of the value of ephemera. In the 1960s and 1970s, dances7 were very popular in Barbados. Dances as they were known then, evolved through several types of entertainment to emerge today into the “bashments” and “dubs.”8 The evolution of printed ephemera associated with these events clearly illustrates the change in the Barbadian society over 30 years with regard to the choice of entertainment, lifestyles, and the changes in the use of language. The technology used
Ephemera and the Academic Library
81
to produce the dance ticket of the 1960s/1970s might be considered primitive now. The simple ticket announcing the dance contrasts sharply with the more artistic and graphical one produced for the bashment/dub. Incidentally, the advertisements for the latter have moved to the Internet, a space foreign to the early producers of the dance ticket. In addition to being representative of the changing mores of society and the varying influences on the lives of the people, the two types of tickets are indicative of technological evolution and advancement. While the history book sets down dates, events, names, etc., the ephemeral item presents a visual, three-dimensional and, oftentimes, vivid account of history as it happens.
EPHEMERA: WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY? Should the Main Library be collecting these materials, and secondly, should the institution actively take responsibility for acquiring them? One school of thought believes that the collection of these items is outside the ambit of an academic institution. It is their belief that this is the role of the country’s national library. Although it is true that the collection and preservation for posterity of the country’s output is a vital role of national libraries, it must be recognised that these institutions in the Caribbean region often lack the resources—infrastructure, staff, and capital—to execute the mandate effectively. The problems associated with national libraries in the Caribbean are widely discussed. Cheryl Ann Peltier in her thesis, Meeting the Challenge: Public Libraries as National Libraries, examines the role public libraries in the Caribbean play as national libraries and the problems they have in being what Frank Francis calls “the mind of society…a live depository of cultural past.”9 At the time of her study in 1995, only one country in the English-speaking Caribbean had an established national library. In the other countries, the public library performed a dual role and battled with the associated problems.10 In Barbados, the public library has a national library mandate by gazetted order, but there is no legislation to support this mandate. The library, under normal circumstances, would have difficulties enforcing writers’ and publishers’ compliance with the legal deposit requirements for formally published items. Those items produced informally would be even more difficult to acquire. This problem is not unique to the Caribbean. It has been noted that for national libraries in Europe constructing national bibliographies, the desired degree of exhaustiveness will be very difficult to achieve, even by the national library, in listing all types of material, books, periodical articles, official publications, ‘semi published’ documents, unpublished documents, and documents published by other than traditional printing methods…11
82
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
With the problems associated with national libraries, there is a need for another institution to actively fill the gap. The natural choice is, therefore, the major academic institution with a vested interest in the region, the UWI. The institution’s libraries have a mandate to support the research agenda of the institution and they have more resources to achieve this. Bandara, in examining the emergence of national libraries out of university libraries in several countries, notes that university libraries in Nigeria and Ethiopia were first given the legal deposit rights and performed the role of national library in this regard before the establishment of the substantive institution.12 He cites the recommendations of the CARICOM (Caribbean Community) model legislation on legal deposit which states that “The University of Guyana and The University of the West Indies should continue to be designated as depositories in respect of the publications of the state in which their libraries are located.”13 From as early as 1978 when this legislation was produced, it was recognised that the UWI had an important role to play in the collection of the region’s resources with or without the national library’s involvement.
WHY WE COLLECT EPHEMERA There are several convincing reasons to collect ephemera. However, for the Caribbean, it is a critical need not just because the region is attractive to the rest of the world, as evident in the proliferation of departments, institutes, and degrees on or about Caribbean Studies, but we owe it to ourselves to acknowledge and recognise the importance and impact of ephemeral publications to our society. This need is even more acute in the Caribbean where the publishing and printing practices are so erratic. Published items in the region suffer two major ills: small print runs that make them go out of print relatively quickly if they are popular, and lack of publicity that makes the items for all intents and purposes nonexistent. When we consider that often the only means by which information is communicated is by a pamphlet or flyer, that the resources to produce even these items are so limited, and that many of these items are virtually the only “official” communications from and by Caribbean people, we cannot ignore the need to collect whatever resources we encounter.
Support for Teaching and Learning Cultural studies is a relatively new discipline introduced to The University of the West Indies at the Cave Hill Campus. Several degree options are being offered. By nature, culture is not static. It is constantly changing and evolving. Terry Eagleton speaks of “the constant sliding of the concept.”14 Recognising the transient nature of cultural activity, one course offered, Caribbean Popular and Creative Culture (CLRT6230), states that students will study inter alia, graffiti, and cartoons. Here, ephemeral items will be critical,
Ephemera and the Academic Library
83
as the material to be covered in this particular course is not the norm and is constantly in flux. As the teaching of cultural studies develops and the area becomes more popular and recognised on campus, the library will need to provide more materials in “nontraditional” formats to support the curriculum. The library will need to be proactive in its collection drive to support learning, teaching, and research in this area.
Long-Term Intrinsic Value Some ephemeral items attain significant value as the years pass. When Derek Walcott’s 25 Poems15 appeared in 1948, produced in limited quantities by a commercial printer, no one knew the significance that these early writings would have in later years. The economic and the literary value of this work has soared since Walcott was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Likewise, the Main Library has received a number of poems by A. J. Seymour, a Trinidadian living in Guyana, on loose typewritten sheets. These poems date from the 1960s and 1970s. It is important for the Main Library, as an institution devoted to stimulating and supporting research, to collect these items. Using the writer’s typescripts, a researcher is able to trace the development of the poet as he moves through the years, just as Walcott’s early offerings can now be compared to his later pieces.
Preserving Historical Events Mother of Maurice16, a poem by Grenadian David Omawale Franklyn, was recently added to the collection. The poem appears on a single coloured sheet with a border reminiscent of ditties circulating on the Internet. A note attached to the document stated that the item was acquired from a shopkeeper who believed it to have been produced sometime in the early 1990s. Taken upon face value, the item would certainly have been designated as of little worth. Upon closer examination, it would be noted that the poem is, in fact, about the death of the former Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop. Its content portrays a mother’s loss, a family’s pain, a nation’s tragedy, and a region’s history.
Providing Valuable Sources to Otherwise Obscure Information Also added to the collection recently was a concert programme. This item titled Tribute to Irving Burgie17 contains biographical information about Burgie, the author of Barbados’ national anthem, as well as the lyrics and musical scores to some of his songs. The Main Library’s holdings of lyrics and musical scores are limited. When a keyword search on Burgie’s name was entered into the library’s OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue), only six hits were retrieved, including this item. Again the information contained in this
84
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
item would have been lost to the institution, and perhaps the nation, had not the library acquired this concert programme.
Providing an Alternative Medium for a Subject Area White Skin, Black Kin: “Speaking the Unspeakable”18 is a catalogue produced for an art exhibition with the same name, held at the Barbados Museum. While the public reviews acknowledge this was a highly enlightening and well-received but unusual exhibition, it only lasted two months. By way of this catalogue, the visual impact of the work displayed is preserved for “a significant life span,” and the pieces are kept together in one “place” even after they have been dispersed. In addition, this item contains a number of essays written to complement the artwork displayed. There is information about the author, the social history of Barbados, and racial and class prejudices of the country. In itself, the catalogue provides a fresh approach to a much discussed subject. Through the essays and pictures of the works, the researcher is able to experience another perspective of our history. This is particularly significant, as art is not taught on this campus.
If We Do Not, Others Will At the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL) 2004 conference, university libraries based in the U.S. presented a number of electronic information initiatives involving Caribbean materials. These initiatives included a joint project between the University of the Virgin Islands and the University of Miami—where they collected and Web-enabled among other things, funeral booklets. These booklets were recognised for their biographical and genealogical value.19 Another project did the same for book jacket covers of West Indian literature books. This latter presentation showed how these covers could be used to understand the social values and ideologies of the day. For instance, in one image a black man, back scarred, faces a white woman, who though well dressed, gives a hint of some sexual provocation. Incidentally, the jacket bore no relevance to the matter in the book but that image was used to capture the attention of the target audience. Often discarded by libraries or kept simply for new books display shelves, book jacket covers have been used by the University Library, University of Illinois at Chicago to initiate research in the Department of English on the campus.20 With these projects, others recognise the value of “seemingly insignificant” Caribbean ephemera and have used them to promote their libraries and collections on the Internet. We need to claim our culture, stamp our Caribbean image/ownership on it and, as in the case of these two projects, quickly ensure that our cultural items/ resources are accessible to all. Although it is difficult to predict how a particular item will fit into the scheme of things in the future, librarians will need to err on the side of caution
Ephemera and the Academic Library
85
and collect what might very well be trivia, at the risk of not collecting any at all and losing an item or items that have intrinsic value.
ACQUISITION OF EPHEMERAL MATERIALS Librarians, therefore, must be vigilant and aggressive in the collection of regional literature. Newspapers, magazines, and other media announcements must now become the finding guides and tools for these items. Social events that are not documented in the formal book, pamphlet, or serial format are recorded on programmes, tickets, and flyers, and in electronic format and, therefore, must be part of our collection effort. If you miss a publication announcement in the media, you may or may not catch it at the local bookstores and you are hardly likely to see it on Amazon’s Web site. Acquiring the item is an entirely different matter. These items tend to be associated with an activity or event and are produced in limited quantities. Often, obtaining a copy means attending the event, begging other persons to collect, or contacting in advance the organisers/producers (if they are known and contact information is available), to secure the item. Persons outside the library field and even some members of the profession find it incredible that a library, much less the university library, would want these items for its collection. This scepticism means that sometimes a request is not taken seriously or is ignored. Gifts and donations often prove to be a good source of ephemeral materials. The human inclination is to collect something that is a reminder of an event, place, or moment. These items then form part of one’s personal collection. Several such items were among the gifts received for the Nita Barrow and Eugenia Charles collections by the Main Library. Another individual, an artist, recently donated a variety of items to the library. Amongst these are several catalogues for local and regional art exhibitions, documenting the art, artists, and artistic activity of the region for more than four decades.
MANAGING AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO EPHEMERA There is no clear indication of the number of ephemeral items in the Main Library as these items are integrated into the various collections of the library. Some items are housed in special collections, some are part of the main collection and other items are kept in a vertical file. For the academic year 2002–2003, the library added 349 pamphlet items to the collection.21 Although this is not an indication of the number of ephemeral items received, it is reasonable to deduce that some of these items, perhaps as many as one-third, could have been ephemeral items. Ephemeral items slated for the general collections are processed in the same way as any other item. These items go through formal acquisitioning
86
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
and processing before being catalogued. These items get full-level cataloguing according to Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) standards, whether it is done for OCLC’s union catalogue or in-house only. Library of Congress Subject Headings List (LCSH) and Library of Congress Classification schedules are used to assign descriptors and call numbers respectively. The items are then interfiled into the collection. The special collection items are also processed and catalogued in that section the library. They are assigned unique call numbers—derived from the Master File Number (MFN) number in the database and the major subject area. Subject headings are assigned using LCSH and/or the Thesaurus of Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) descriptors. A CDS-ISIS (Computerized Documentation System/Integrated Set of Information) database is used to provide access to the items (including the ephemera) in this collection. Items destined for the vertical files are simply property stamped and then assigned to subject folders. They are not included in official library statistics, and at present, there is no record for them in the library’s OPAC. For items not yet entered into the database, a contents list is provided for access to these items. No special treatment is given to ephemeral items and, as such, the library avoids many of the pitfalls associated with managing these items as discussed in the literature.22 However, it is recognised that as the collection grows and a wider variety of items are added, more attention will have to be given to how these items are handled.
THE FUTURE The number and variety of items, size, slightness, and fragility of ephemeral items can make them challenging to manage. Digitisation is a viable option for making these items more accessible to the public. Currently, the Main Library is examining its collections to see what digital initiatives can be explored. As the libraries of the UWI system embark on more collaborative endeavours, one of the issues to arise will be standardisation of policies and practices. The Main Library of each campus treats ephemeral items differently. Best practices will have to be developed to benefit the three campuses so that the resources available are deployed most efficiently.
CONCLUSION Ephemera document a moment in time, an event, or activity. Ironically, it is this documentation that gives ephemera its value. It captures something that would otherwise have been lost amidst the myriad of other moments, events, and activities—a movie stub is kept as a reminder of a first date; a napkin is kept as a reminder of a restaurant opening; a ticket is kept as a reminder of a fantastic vacation experience; and so on. Time capsules are
Ephemera and the Academic Library
87
created with minor, seemingly insignificant items, which are preserved so that the next generations (for some, the next inhabitants of this Earth) can have an indication of life as was experienced by previous generations. Each item of ephemera has the ability to trigger the recollection of an experience that in some way impacted a life, a community, a nation. In the book Watch Me Fly, Myrlie Evers-Williams speaks of presenting producer Rob Reiner with one of her late husband Medgar Evers’ poll tax receipts. Of this small item and gesture, she says: My gift was a statement and a reminder, not only to Rob but to the public, of why Ghosts of Mississippi was made in the first place…I wouldn’t allow anyone to forget that because Medgar fought for his right to be a first class citizen, because he spilled his blood, justice was pursued and justice prevailed.23 Ephemeral items have meaning beyond what is seen and experienced now. These are our “hieroglyphics,” which the future will use to study and research our lives, and from which the clues that they uncover will inform about who we were and who they are. And that is perhaps the best reason for us, the Main Library at the Cave Hill campus, to actively acquire and provide access to ephemeral items.
ENDNOTES 1.
Vision Statement, 16 Feb. 2006. The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Main Library Web site. 24 Sept. 2004. mainlibrary.uwichill.edu.bb/aboutus.htm# vision.
2.
Timothy G. Young provides a comprehensive discussion on definitions in his 2003 article: “Evidence: Toward a Library Definition of Ephemera,” RBM 4.1 (2003): 11–26.
3.
Chris Foges, “Far From Ephemeral,” Print 53.2 (1999): 165.
4.
None of the several sources that were consulted quite captured the essence of what we wanted to circumscribe so we derived this one.
5.
Young, 12.
6.
Young, 12.
7.
These were social gatherings where fashionably dressed individuals would pay an entrance fee and spend the rest of the night dancing to music originating from Europe and North America. Food and drink are “part and parcel” of the event.
8.
Like the dances, dubs and bashments are social gatherings, frequented by the young who dress in the fashionable styles of the day. These events feature music originating from neighbouring Jamaica and are more closely aligned to the subterranean culture.
88 9.
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century Cliff Lashley quotes Frank Francis in “West Indian National Libraries and the Challenge of Change,” Libraries and the Challenge of Change: Papers of the International Library Conference Held in Kingston, Jamaica, 24–29 April 1972. Eds. K. E. Ingram and Albertina Jefferson. (London: Mansell, 1972) 47.
10. Cheryl Ann Peltier, “Meeting the Challenge: Public Libraries as National Libraries: The Caribbean Experience,” MLS thesis, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, 1995. 11. S. B. Bandara, “Can University Libraries Serve The National Library Role in Developing Countries?” Libri 29.2 (1979): 130. 12. Bandara, 132, 139. 13. Bandara, 139. 14. Terry Eagleton, The Idea of Culture (Oxford: Blackwell Pub., 2000) 112. 15. D. A. Walcott, 25 Poems (Port-of-Spain, Trinidad: Guardian Commercial Printery, 1948). 16. David Omawale Franklyn, Mother of Maurice (N. p.: n. p., [199-?]) 17. Tribute to Irving Burgie (Oistins, Barbados: Committee for Positive Prevention, 2003). 18. Joscelyn Gardner, White Skin, Black Kin: “Speaking The Unspeakable” (St. Michael, Barbados: The Barbados Museum & Historical Society, 2004). 19. Judith Rogers, Catherine Marisek, and Erich Kesse, “Digital Library of the Caribbean: a Working Group,” Electronic Information Resources in the Caribbean: Trends and Issues. Proc. of the ACURIL XXXIV Conference, May 23–29, 2004, Trinidad and Tobago, Eds. Shamin Renwick and Jaishree Kochhar. Trinidad: UWI, 2005. 140–141. 20. Nancy Cirillo, Nancy John, and Ellen Starkman, “Book Jacket Imagery as a Cultural Resource: a Digitisation Project with the H. D. Carberry Collection of Caribbean Studies,” Paper presented at ACURIL XXXIV Conference, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, May 23–29, 2004. 21. “Statistics,” 16 Feb. 2006. The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Main Library Web site. 24 Sept. 2004. mainlibrary.uwichill.edu.bb/stats.htm. 22. These problems are summarised by John Feather and Paul Sturges, eds. International Encyclopedia of Information and Library Science (London: Routledge, 1997) 135. 23. Myrlie Evers-Williams, Watch Me Fly: What I Learnt on the Way to Becoming the Woman I Was Meant To Be (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1999) 122.
WORKS CITED Bandara, S. B. “Can University Libraries Serve the National Library Role in Developing Countries?” Libri 29.2 (1979): 127–143. Cirrillo, Nancy, Nancy John, and Ellen Starkman. “Book Jacket Imagery as a Cultural Resource: A Digitisation Project with the H. D. Carberry Collection of Caribbean Studies.” Paper presented at ACURIL XXXIV Conference, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, May 23–29, 2004. Eagleton, Terry. The Idea of Culture. Oxford: Blackwell Pub., 2000.
Ephemera and the Academic Library
89
Evers-Williams, Myrlie. Watch Me Fly: What I Learnt on the Way to Becoming the Woman I Was Meant To Be. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1999. Feather, John and Paul Sturges, eds. International Encyclopedia of Information and Library Science. London: Routledge, 1997. Foges, Chris. “Far From Ephemeral.” Print 53.2 (1999): 164–167. Franklyn, David Omawale. Mother of Maurice. N. p.: n. p., [199–?]. Gardner, Joscelyn. White Skin, Black Kin: “Speaking The Unspeakable.” St. Michael, Barbados: The Barbados Museum & Historical Society, 2004. Lashley, Cliff. “West Indian National Libraries and the Challenge of Change.” Libraries and the Challenge of Change: Papers of the International Library Conference Held in Kingston, Jamaica, 24–29 April 1972. Ed. K. E. Ingram and Albertina Jefferson. London: Mansell, 1972, 47–50. Peltier, Cheryl Ann, “Meeting the Challenge: Public Libraries as National Libraries: The Caribbean Experience.” MLS thesis, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, 1995. Rogers, Judith, Catherine Marisek, and Erich Kesse. “Digital Library of the Caribbean: A Working Group.” Electronic Information Resources in the Caribbean: Trends and Issues. Proc. of the ACURIL XXXIV Conference, May 23–29, 2004, Trinidad and Tobago. Eds. Shamin Renwick and Jaishree Kochhar. Trinidad: UWI, 2005, 140–141. Statistics. 16 Feb. 2006. The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Main Library Web site. 24 Sept. 2004. mainlibrary.uwichill.edu.bb/stats.htm. Tribute to Irving Burgie. Oistins, Barbados: Committee for Positive Prevention, 2003. Vision Statement. 16 Feb. 2006. The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Main Library Web site. 24 Sept. 2004. mainlibrary.uwichill.edu.bb/aboutus.htm#vision. Walcott, D. A. 25 Poems. Port-of-Spain, Trinidad: Guardian Commercial Printery, 1948. Young, Timothy G. “Evidence: Toward a Library Definition of Ephemera.” RBM 4.1 (2003): 11–26.
APPENDIX A SELECTED EPHEMERA This annotated list provides a selection of items in the collection under the headings discussed in the article.
PROVIDING AN ALTERNATIVE MEDIUM FOR A SUBJECT AREA 1. There is a Meeting Here Tonight: A Series of Paintings by Stanley Greaves This is an art catalogue (23cm x 25cm) depicting a series of 14 paintings for an exhibition. The paintings are about elections in Guyana and the catalogue provides a visual interpretation of the subject. This booklet also includes a poem and a monologue in keeping with the subject. 2. Learn, Enjoy, Read: 2004 Calendar [by] British Virgin Islands Public Library Services Department. [Road Town, Tortola]: Ministry of Education and Culture. This card calendar has eight leaves (20cm x 28cm) with 12 printed pages. It pictures citizens in various professions and of various walks of life. The backdrop to each month is one of local scenery and/or culture. For each month, there are details of the programmes offered by the library. This calendar, an
90
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
ordinary card object used in everyday life, is a good way to market the library’s services and to promote reading. 3. Migration and the Caribbean Diaspora Another art catalogue (glossy, soft cover, 23cm x 28cm) with 24 pages, featuring fine art pieces on a theme; this time the subject is migration. The coloured drawings and paintings show people and locales and are interspersed with informative text discourse on the history and culture surrounding migration. 4. West Indies Cricket and South African Apartheid by Allan Rae A programme for the third Barclays/Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Lecture at the New Teaching Complex, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, held Monday 22nd April, 1996. This is an interesting eight-page booklet (14cm x 21cm), which while it does not include Rae’s speech, provides an excerpt from “Cricket: the Great Captains” edited by John Arlott, 1972, and speaks to a topic hotly debated at the time and which was very important to the discourse on the social development of West Indian cricketers. Of note is that it emphasizes the resourcefulness, resilience, pride, and passion for the game, of the Barbadian cricketer in particular. The booklet includes photographs of Sir Frank Worrell, (who was a Barbadian), his wife, the “3Ws” (Clyde Walcott, Frank Worrell, and Everton Weekes), as well as one showing Sir Gary Sobers coaching Caribbean children. 5. Archaeological Museum Aruba This leaflet (24cm x 45.7cm), folded into five sections, is a guide for visitors to the museum. Every section is a printed page, which is augmented with vivid illustrations of exhibits that highlight the various periods in Aruban archaeological history; thus providing an alternative format for written work in this area.
PROVIDING VALUABLE SOURCES TO OTHERWISE OBSCURE INFORMATION 1. Combermere School, C.S.O.S.A, PTA Calendar, 2005. This relatively large (28cm x 35.5cm) 2005 light card wall calendar is four pages of information about the history of the school and about prominent citizens of Barbados. One notable image is that of the Combermere crest. There are also pictures and dates of important people in the life and history of the school. These pictures include the patron Lord Combermere and many of the headmasters from 1897 to present. Achievements in the year 2004 in academics, sports, and the arts are documented. 2. Cot Printery Limited is Proud to Announce the Inaugural Production of Postage Stamps Through a Commemorative Issue Titled ‘The First Recipients of the Order of the Caribbean Community. Great West Indians.’ The above is the title on the cover of a glossy beige folder (23cm x 30.5cm) housing a slim brochure and an envelope with stamps. The images of three
Ephemera and the Academic Library
91
great West Indians (Sir Shridath Ramphal, Honourable William Demas, and Honourable Derek Walcott) are featured on three of the illustrated stamps. Other stamps produced by Cot Printery are included in the insert and on the front cover of the folder; there is a short paragraph on the history of Cot Printery. Caribbean history, political personalities, stamp production activity, and the history of a Caribbean company are all depicted in this two-leaf card item. 3. Barbados Rifle & Pistol Federation: Be Smart, Enjoy Your Shooting A small four-leaf, eight-page leaflet (10cm x 23cm) meant as information for members, it documents in the absence of other material, the existence of this organisation in this space and time. Glossy in nature, the leaflet gives information on the shooting range, types of membership, price lists for various items used in the discipline, calendar of events, opening hours, and instructs on training and range safety rules. At present, there is no other information in the library on this club. 4. Brazilian Cartoons This is four-page booklet with a glossy soft cover showing a colourful sample of Brazilian art. It is the brochure for an exhibition of Brazilian cartoons, held at the Queens Park Gallery in Barbados. The exhibition was in celebration of the art form and to showcase and educate Barbadians. The booklet (15cm x 23cm) profiles five colour prints of the cartoons and messages from the Brazilian Ambassador and the chief executive officer of the National Cultural Foundation (Barbados) at the time. Pictured adjacent to each other on both the front and back covers are the Brazilian and Barbados flags highlighting the cultural cooperation between Barbados and Brazil in 2004.
PRESERVING HISTORICAL EVENTS 1. Administrative Building, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. Photograph by Ricki Jennings This is a (10cm x 15cm) colour photograph on the front cover of a “homemade” postcard. It shows the front view of the Cave Hill Campus’ administrative buildings, including the lobby, as they were before the current modifications. This is an important historical document as the area was significantly changed in 2004. 2. Mary Seacole Hall … Presents an Evening of Excellence This is a piece of black card (23cm x 29cm) folded in three sections to make up an eight-page programme meant for participants attending a celebration. The occasion is the 196th anniversary of the birth of Mary Seacole, and the 43rd anniversary of the Mary Seacole Hall student dormitory at The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. There is a brief biography in bulleted form of Mary Seacole’s honours and a history of the Hall and its significance on the campus. We were informed that various artists and art were showcased at the event. 3. Kensington Oval: World Cricket Since 1895
92
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
This folded mauve-and-white (21.6cm x 28cm) leaflet with printing on three pages addresses plans for restructuring Kensington Oval, Barbados, for Cricket World Cup 2007. One short paragraph addresses the significance of Kensington Oval in the cricket world and another discusses the reasons for rebuilding the Oval. On the front cover of the leaflet, there is an artistic rendering of what the completed Oval is expected to look like. Two aerial views are shown inside. This leaflet has a place among the literature of the history of the time leading up to the World Cup to be held in the Caribbean in 2007 and of Kensington Oval, a famous cricket ground. 4. International Cycling Classic: The Barbados Cycling Union Presents West Indies vs The World This is a 40-page (15cm x 21cm) programme booklet that addresses the details of the venue, date, and time of each event in this meet. It contains bits of information on the sport of cycling, on the Barbados Association and cycling regulations, and it lists participants’ names, countries, and categories. There is a message from each of the following: the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport, the President, Barbados Olympic Association and the President, Barbados Cycling Union, putting this event in its space and time in the Barbadian and Caribbean context and also in the calendar of world cycling events. 5. Challenge International de la Ville de Fort-de-France 2005 Blue, white, and yellow art adorns the front of a softcover booklet (15cm x 20cm) of 22 pages, celebrating ‘25 ans de tir sportif ’ in Martinique. This is a programme of a shooting tournament, which took place in Martinique from 25–28 March 2005. The document states that the tournament featured participants from across the Caribbean and Latin America including Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Guadeloupe. The information in this leaflet is important as it speaks to the whole question of regional integration across the language barriers through the discipline of sport. It also shows the level to which the sport of shooting has reached in the region.
LONG-TERM INTRINSIC VALUE 1. Codrington College St. John Barbados A single duck-egg green irregular sheet (23cm x 40cm) is folded into four sections. Opened, one side displays a diagram of the layout of the buildings and grounds of the college. Four printed sections address Christopher Codrington and the history and educational functioning of the college then and now. There is a discourse on the Codrington Woods, their extent and trees found there with biological names of plants given. On one section, drawings of the “Principal’s Lodge” and the college buildings are enhanced by images of the majestic cabbage palm trees in the background. 2. The Esso Arts Festival 1986: Dance
Ephemera and the Academic Library
93
A National Cultural Foundation Presentation, this brochure, a large booklet (21.6cm x 28cm) with nine newsprint leaves, documents dance presentations that took place in Barbados over a three-week period. It features several dance groups performing various types of dance forms and originating from Barbados, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Martinique. It documents dance groups at the time, names of dancers, choreographers, names of pieces, and costume designers in addition to other information about times and venues, and there is a centre spread of colour pictures. 3. Errol Gladstone Hill. August 5, 1921 – September 15, 2003: A Tribute This is a small nine-page booklet (13cm x 21cm) celebrating the life of a famous Trinidadian playwright, up to the time of his death. This item has biographical elements and traces Hill’s professional development both as a playwright and as an academic. Included are several tributes by colleagues past and present. A smiling photograph of the late UWI professor who ended his teaching career at Dartmouth College adorns the front cover; this complements photographs of his family on the back cover. 4. Short Biography – [Professor the Honourable Oliver St. Clair Headley] This is one legal-size sheet printed on one side, celebrating the life and work of the professor up to this time. The sheet documents details of his birth, schools, and his work with solar and renewable energy. It gives a list of his publications/writings and talks about his academic position at The University of the West Indies (at the time) and about his affiliations.
SUPPORT FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING 1. Round de Tents: Kaiso 2001 This is a narrow booklet (21cm x 10cm), vital to the history of calypso tents in Barbados and the local festival, “Crop Over.” Names, history, and composition of calypso tents as well as biographies of calypsonians and little snippets on the culture surrounding the art form, is documented here. This booklet will prove useful to a researcher in cultural studies wanting to recreate the scene of a typical night at the tents (venue, start time, names of instrumentalists/backing band as well as production team, lighting, etc.). It will also be invaluable to the social historian, who can place people, the art forms, and the festival in a time and place in tracing their history. 2. Jamaica National Dance Theatre Company This is a programme [1994] for a presentation by this group. The singlecard sheet (23cm x 61cm), folded in an irregular pattern, is itself a work of art placing one at the scene of the performance. The black background highlights the mostly white images of dance figures. The programme gives a detailed write-up on the artists: dancers, singers, musical and sound directors, choreographers, costume designers, photographer, chorus master, and management committee. The pieces performed at the event show various themes of interest to the Caribbean society.
94
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
3. Edgar White’s World Premiere, Marcus Garvey and the Captivity of Babylon One of the performances of Stage One Theatre’s season of the production of this play took place at the Frank Collymore Hall in Barbados and is documented in a useful 23-page booklet (15cm x 23cm); the programme guide for the play was written by Caribbean playwright Edgar White and directed by Earl Warner. There is a very short biography of this director, where he taught, and his affiliations. It speaks of his accomplishments, plays he wrote, and where these were performed. There is documentation on each member of the cast and of production teams including musicians, actors, sound and lighting crew; information all useful to cultural studies research in this area. 4. The Pink Mealybug in the Caribbean This is a broad two leaf, four-page leaflet (23cm x 29cm) released as part of the regional action programme for control of the Pink Mealybug, in February 1996. The item gives information on the insect’s arrival in the Caribbean, identification, symptoms, habitats, distribution mechanisms, biological control, and precautions one should take. Six colour pictures, illustrate various details of the bug, the infestation, and preventative treatment. A chart and map of Mealybug distribution and pictures of plants attacked by the bug, add to the facts and information helpful to the study and eradication of this pest in the region. 5. Special Collections in the National Library (Guyana) by Gwyneth Browman This is a very informative booklet on what this library has to offer in these special collections, particularly significant as it is a Caribbean library. Here, items in various media available for consultation are advertised. Catalogued and included in the library’s collection, this booklet would inform patrons of yet another useful collection. There is the inclusion of a list of other special collections held in institutions in Guyana. This is a small (14cm x 21.6cm) light-blue paper booklet with leaves held together by a thin piece of darker blue rexine (material used in the binding and repair of books), with simple word processing. It is obvious that the library used whatever it had at its disposal to get its message across at this time.
CHAPTER 8
School Libraries in the Caribbean: A Jamaican Case Study Cherrell Shelley-Robinson The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica ABSTRACT This chapter presents an overview of the historical development of school libraries in the English-speaking Caribbean. It shows that these libraries were based on the British model, which established this kind of library as extensions of the public library system. Although there are definitely some advantages to this approach, it can also be seen as a contributory factor to regional governments’ persistent unwillingness to develop specific policies for the establishment and operation of these libraries as well as to provide more direct financial support. A survey was made of most of the current literature available on the topic, identifying major challenges and constraints facing these libraries as well as some of their achievements over the years. This is followed by the presentation and discussion of the results from a national survey of school libraries in Jamaica, which provides a case study for broadly commenting on the current state of school libraries in the Caribbean region since many of the countries share a common historical background. Based on findings, recommendations are then made for the future development of school libraries in Jamaica and the wider Commonwealth Caribbean.
INTRODUCTION The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions/ United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (IFLA/UNESCO) School Library Manifesto sees the school library as an integral part of the educational process in that it provides information and ideas that are fundamental for functioning successfully in today’s information and knowledge-based society. The Manifesto further states that the school library equips students with life-long learning skills and develops the imagination, enabling them to live as responsible citizens. This declaration recognizes the valuable contribution the school library can make in producing a community of learners who are not only information literate but are also capable of adapting to a constantly changing social environment. However, in order to translate such a vision of the school library into reality, certain prerequisites 95
96
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
must be met, fundamental to which is the establishment by government of a national policy to systematically guide the planning, development, and maintenance of such a service within any given country. Other essential requirements for the effective functioning of this facility include: the availability of a wide range of print and electronic resources geared to meet the information needs of staff and students of varying levels and abilities; proper physical facilities to accommodate administrative tasks as well as a variety of user activities and services; professional and support staff in the appropriate numbers and having the required training commensurate with their role and functions; and very importantly, the consistent allocation of funds in keeping with the economic realities of the time and the quality of service being demanded. For developing countries, like those in the Caribbean, attaining these standards is quite a challenge given the limited resources. Nevertheless, due to the disappearance of national borders and the growing competitiveness in trade, all countries—developed and developing—find it necessary to reposition themselves in order to survive in a globalised economy. One response to this challenge is to develop a knowledgeable and skilled work force capable of continuous, self-directed learning. Education then becomes the key for creating such a society of learners and this means that government must accept responsibility for establishing the most favourable conditions under which this goal can be achieved. Faced with an information-rich world driven by technology, emergent nations have little choice but to try and keep abreast as best they can, and in order to do so, demand creative and innovative planning. A valuable precursor to any such action would be conducting an audit of existing social institutions to see how their operations can be streamlined for greater efficiency and effectiveness in order to maximize the use of scarce resources. The second purpose for such an exercise would be to use the findings as a basis for setting clearly defined long-term objectives with the specific strategies for their achievement. It is with this in mind that this chapter will look briefly at school library development in the Commonwealth Caribbean before reporting on a stateof-the-art survey of school libraries in Jamaica. The main findings from the study will then be discussed not only with reference to Jamaica, but also to the wider Caribbean since all the English-speaking countries share many common features of school library development. Finally, some recommendations will be made as to the way forward.
PATTERN OF SCHOOL LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT Within the English-speaking Caribbean, also known as the Commonwealth Caribbean, due to the fact these islands were former British colonies, the development of school libraries has been uneven for various reasons, one of which is the original pattern of their establishment. During
School Libraries in the Caribbean
97
the late 1940s onwards when the colonial government decided to establish libraries in the region, the practice was to first set up a national public library system, which would then extend its services to schools. The latter usually took the form of deposit collections delivered periodically to schools where teachers were assigned responsibility for the circulation and care of the books. One of the long-term effects of the school library service being developed under the aegis of the public library is the perception held by the school community that such a service is little more than a branch of the public library operating in a school setting, hence it having little to do with the school’s educational programme. In the early days, this misconception would have been reinforced by the nature of the service where the collections were very often small, largely recreational, and bore slight relevance to the curriculum. The teachers were seen as little more than custodians conscripted to administer the service, and the books were frequently accommodated in any available space ranging from shelves on a corridor or cupboards in a multipurpose space to the occasional small ill-equipped one room library. The rudimentary nature of the service maintained by supplementary grants to the public library mainly for the purchasing of books seems to suggest that from the beginning government did not conceive of the school library service as independent of the public library. Therefore, the former did not require its own provisions in terms of staff, resources, and physical facilities tailored to suit the particular requirements of the educational environment. This might, in part, explain the continued absence in most countries of a set of specific government policies geared to the needs of the school library. Such a short-sighted view of the nature of a school library service on the part of government has not only constrained the library’s development from the beginning, but it has also reduced its potential effectiveness and helped to obscure the true value of this service. Government’s continued reluctance to change the situation seems to stem largely from the fact that such a move would demand a greater financial commitment than it is either not willing or able to make. It must be noted, however, that in a few countries like Antigua, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica where government has arrived at some level of understanding of the importance of school libraries, a fairly reasonable national service exists, although not without difficulties. For example, Trinidad and Tobago made an important move in 1978 by establishing a School Libraries Division with responsibility for developing these facilities. Resulting from a booming oil economy, several new schools were erected with libraries and qualified librarians were assigned responsibility. Other positive moves by Trinidad and Tobago since then include the publication of a set of standards for school libraries, the organization of training for school library personnel, and the creation of a curriculum for information skills. The results from these initiatives are some very functional school libraries with
98
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
spacious facilities stocked with multimedia resources and administered by professionals. These developments in Trinidad and Tobago indicate what can happen when there is some degree of political will translated into concrete funding. Challenges still exist but development continues under two new projects to improve primary and secondary education, including libraries (Abraham). Antigua has a centralized service with a coordinator and service aimed at all schools. All secondary schools have libraries and computer technology is being introduced on a phased basis. The government also seems committed to the development of school libraries as they provide consistent though limited funding and there are still problems with inadequate accommodation and insufficient professional staff (Lake). The other handful of countries with any sort of established service also experiences much of the same difficulties. Unfortunately, governments in too many Caribbean countries seem not to recognize the significance of school libraries and even where they do, little effort is made to properly develop these facilities.
REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE A review of the available literature on school libraries within the region gives a clearer picture of the general nature of school library development over the years as well as reflects the level of government’s commitment to these facilities. Not many empirical studies exist that collectively examine school libraries in the region, but information was gleaned mostly from a series of individual country reports compiled at different times for presentation at conferences and seminars. In the late 1960s, Robertson conducted one of the earliest documented surveys of school libraries in the region and discovered that only five out of the 10 countries that responded had any semblance of an established national school library service. For the rest of the countries surveyed, the public library extended some sort of service with small collections, housed in bookcases and supervised by teachers (221–222). Again, in writing about youth libraries in the region, Robertson found that many school libraries were still plagued by poor accommodation and a shortage of funds and staff (107). A little over a decade later, a compilation of country reports by Mungo and Robertson submitted during a regional workshop for librarians on the development of policy guidelines for Caribbean school libraries revealed that the situation had not changed much. A summary of conditions reflected a general absence of explicit government policy for the establishment and maintenance of school libraries, and in the few cases where such policy existed, it was not implemented primarily because of lack of funding. Additional problems included insufficient staff that was mostly untrained and some countries still had no organized service. In others, where a form of school library service was being provided by the public library, in several instances, there
School Libraries in the Caribbean
99
was an absence of either firm organizational patterns or sufficient finances to make it effective (10–11). Other librarians have also commented on the state of school libraries within the region. Douglas lamented that these libraries were “…the most sadly neglected of all areas, probably because of the enormity of the needs for provision baffles even the most stalwart planners…” She further reported that Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Antigua, and Jamaica were the only islands with some semblance of a national school library service (577). Ferguson, in an article on libraries in the Caribbean, described school libraries in many territories as rudimentary with the tendency for primary schools to be served by the national service, where one existed; secondary schools were to be left to develop on their own, which has contributed in part to the variation in quality of service so often found in many countries (47). Brown, in his detailed report on secondary school libraries in St. Lucia, commented that although every school in the country had a space that is called the library, in most cases, the educational role of the school library has never been nurtured, and the perception that students need school libraries as learning tools has been pushed aside (6). Such a description is also reflective of many other countries in the Caribbean. An IFLA/UNESCO Seminar that was convened in 2003 to discuss the guidelines for public and school libraries provided yet another opportunity for a regional look at the state of school libraries. Although there were some positive developments in government planning and provisions leading to a better quality service, these were mainly confined to few countries like Antigua, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. However, for the majority, as indicated in the summary of the challenges facing school libraries, it was a reiteration of problems pertaining to policy, staffing, finances, and physical facilities (Robinson). The perception of the school library held by policymakers and educational administrators will certainly affect government’s support for these facilities and the literature reflects a tendency of these officials to accord little priority to school libraries and the vital role they can play in the delivery of quality education. Repeatedly, the general plans for national development or those specifically for education either omit libraries altogether or give them only passing reference. For example, the government of Jamaica’s education plan for the 21st century makes no direct reference to school libraries, further reinforcing Henry’s point made years earlier after investigating the state of school libraries in Jamaica (Jamaica. Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture). Henry noted that “… these libraries have never been given priority in many of government’s five-year plans … despite the fact that these facilities exist in schools ...” Trinidad and Tobago is one of the few countries, from as early as the 1960s, to include school libraries in its educational plans (Draft Plan for Educational Development 1968–1983).
100
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Robinson’s review of the literature on education emanating from Commonwealth Caribbean countries between 1940 and 1985 revealed only 11 articles on school libraries suggesting that such a facility was of little relevance to educators (291). Curriculum developers have also overlooked the potential contribution of the school library to the educational programme as reported by Davis-Nembhard. She examined library provisions for a new secondary curriculum in Jamaica and discovered that despite a major thrust towards resource-based and student-centred learning, which made increased demands on the library, almost no provision was made to integrate the library into the educational programme (65). Baker-Gardner studied education officers’ perception of the school library, which revealed that besides many of them holding the traditional view, members of the Ministry of Education provided little or no guidelines for evaluating these facilities (95). One can only conclude that they were not considered important enough by the education authorities. This brief overview of the literature gives some insight into the developmental dilemma facing school libraries from their earliest inception to the present and indicates the nature of some of the issues that must be addressed in planning the way forward.
THE JAMAICAN STUDY This study was undertaken in view of society’s demand for lifelong learners, the significant role that school libraries are called to play in the process, and government’s responsibility for creating the framework and providing the support for the proper establishment and maintenance of these libraries. Given the general unevenness in school library development and the absence of any recent study of the situation in Jamaica, it was felt that this investigation was timely for assessing the situation in order to make recommendations for improvement. Finally, since Jamaica shares many features in common with the rest of the English-speaking Caribbean, it was thought that the findings would also provide a basis for a general discussion on school library development in the region.
Historical Overview The Schools Library Service in Jamaica was inaugurated in 1952 by a Ministry of Education mandate for the public library to establish a national service for primary schools. In its earliest stages, the service took the form of deposit collections housed in a variety of available spaces in the schools and under the supervision of a teacher as there were no librarians in the schools at the time. Centralized acquisition, processing, and distribution of the books island-wide were carried out from the headquarters situated in Kingston. With the introduction of bookmobiles a few years later, the service was reorganized into five regions, each having its own headquarters that allowed for
School Libraries in the Caribbean
101
the decentralization of the distribution process as the schools were now served from a regional location. Each bookmobile, staffed with a library assistant, visited the schools once every term to exchange or add to the book stock, to give advice on the choice of materials, and to discuss problems with the administration of the library (Robertson, School Libraries 214). Twelve years later, Warmington reported that the service was still restricted to primary schools, it had no professional librarians, and funds did not permit the provision of training. The collections were small and mostly accommodated in “…small bookcases tucked away in a corner of a classroom, although in recent years, small library rooms have been provided in newly constructed schools…” (40). From the 1960s to the present, while the pattern of service has remained basically the same, several improvements have been made. The service has expanded to include some secondary schools starting with the 50 schools constructed under a World Bank Project and all of which had reasonablesized libraries and were given permanent collections. Quite a few new primary schools also have specially designed library facilities and attempts are constantly being made to increase the size and quality of the collections and relate them more closely to the curriculum (Warmington, Robinson, and McLaughlin; Wallen, School Library Service; Wallen, State of School). Over the years since then, limited but consistent funding from government and the financing of several projects by international agencies have allowed the Schools Library Service to improve the physical facilities and resources in many of these libraries and to mount more extensive training programmes for staff. Therefore, despite the existing constraints, from its inception the organisation has steadily increased its provision of library services to schools to more than 90 percent coverage at present. Among the less than 100 schools not served by the Schools Library Service are most of the older high schools, which have nevertheless managed to establish their own libraries, many of which now have well-equipped facilities in spacious quarters, have reasonable-size collections including computers, and are administered by professionals. With regard to training of library personnel, the Schools Library Service in recent years has run a series of annual workshops island-wide (Jamaica Country Report). The organization has also published and distributed a manual for managing the library, which should help to standardize administrative routines. In 2001, to improve efficiency and effectiveness the service, the renamed School Library Network has been reorganized into six instead of the original five regions, with the regional librarians having greater responsibility for supervising the school libraries within their own area. Other developments that have impacted positively on school libraries include the establishment of a schools section of the Jamaica Library Association and its publication of a set of standards and a handbook for administering the library. The introduction of training programmes at the
102
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
teachers college and university levels has contributed to an increased number of professionals administering these libraries. Despite these advancements, because of the large number of libraries and the limited financial resources available, provisions for libraries still vary considerably from tiny collections in ad hoc spaces to single rooms with mostly print resources to properly designed buildings with reasonably good collections, including electronic resources.
METHODOLOGY A national survey consisting of a randomly chosen sample of 320 of the 1,005 primary and secondary schools in Jamaica was undertaken to find out the state of their libraries with regard to the physical facilities, resources, services offered, staffing, and funding. Sixty-five percent (209) returned the questionnaire (see Appendix A at the end of this chapter), which should provide a fairly representative picture of the situation. The only previous national study on this scale was done by Henry, who concluded overall that “school libraries are clearly at a developing stage displaying inadequacies in funding, staffing, physical facilities, resources and services…” The present study conducted more than 20 years later should indicate how far these libraries have come since then.
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
Physical Facilities For a school library to successfully execute its programme of services, there must be adequate physical facilities specially designed to accommodate administrative as well as user-oriented activities. Queries were, therefore, made about the existence of a purpose built space for the library, whether it occupied one or more rooms and the actual size of the available space. Seventy-six percent of the 209 schools had a specially designated space for a library, and although the remainder had none, their completion of the rest of the questionnaire suggested that they still had some form of a library since they were still lending books and providing other related services. It could, therefore, be deduced that more than likely they were operating out of some of the cupboards, corridors, and other ad hoc spaces described by Robertson and Henry as typical of primary schools. Responses to the size of these libraries tended to confirm this conclusion, in that they ranged from a mere 18 to 7,000 square feet, with 50 percent under 900 square feet and a sample mean of 405 square feet. Clearly 18 square feet is less than the size of any average room and indicates something more like a part of a room or just cupboard space. For the larger spaces, the measurements most likely matched those for one large or two medium-sized classrooms, which coincide closely with the reported 62 percent that said they occupied only
School Libraries in the Caribbean
103
Table8.1 8.1 Availability of Space Space for Table Availability of for Activities Activities Number
Percent
Separate office for librarian
24
11.5
AV room
12
5.7
Workroom for staff
18
8.6
Room for teaching information skills
28
13.4
Room for teachers’ use
8
3.8
Study carrels for students
17
8.1
one room, while 8.6 percent had a separate building, which explains the higher square footage at the upper end of the range. Table 8.1 shows responses to the question about the different types of space available for the various activities in the library. Given the generally small sizes of the libraries, it was not surprising to discover that apart from the general reading area very few had special spaces for many of the expected activities. Space for teaching information skills was the most commonly available yet 13.4 percent represents a very small number, which means that more than likely for the other school libraries, this activity took place in the open library to the inconvenience of other users. The small percentage shown as having any of the different spaces listed above suggests mostly one-room libraries where all activities are carried out in a single space with little provision for teachers, the production and use of multimedia, and individual work. Additional information gleaned on the seating capacity of the libraries also revealed that the majority could accommodate on average 28 persons even though most of the schools (49 percent) had enrollment of more than 500 with a good number having 1,000 or more and class sizes ranged from 30 to as many as 50 in the primary schools. According to the Jamaica Library Association standards, a school library should be able to seat at least one class plus 20 extra students (7), which is an unlikely possibility for most of these libraries. These findings regarding the inadequacy of space provisions mirror the situation in other Caribbean countries (Henry; Mungo and Robertson; Brown), and thus while some school libraries in Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica are well designed and spacious, this is the exception and not the rule throughout the region. One of the library profession’s maxims is “form determines function” in that the nature of the available space will decide the scope of services a library is able to offer. With the obvious lack of proper physical facilities in many of the libraries in Jamaica and the wider
104
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Caribbean, these libraries cannot be expected to deliver the range of services required for them to make a meaningful contribution to the educational process.
Resources The resources of the school library form the foundation of its services, and in today’s technological environment, ownership of resources along with the provision of access to information available elsewhere must also be considered as a part of any collection-development strategy. The items on the questionnaire under this section related to the number and types of resources, print or electronic, held by these libraries, the sources from which they were acquired, and whether these materials were catalogued. Questions about the availability of computers for regular use and access to the Internet as a service were also included under resources. From the 131 schools that replied, although the size of collections ranged from 500 to 15,000, as many as 55 percent had collections of 2,000 or less with only seven schools having in excess of 10,000. The collections were predominantly print-based with less than 20 percent having such common multimedia formats as audiocassettes, CD-ROMs, and videotapes—all of which are valuable media formats for teaching and recreational use. Previous studies found library collections in schools very often consisted mostly of fiction, were largely print-based and sometimes proved to be unattractive, obsolete, and irrelevant (Nembhard 64; Baptiste 70). The major source for most of the materials was donations (95 percent) and the usual problems arising from such a source include inconsistency in supply, lack of choice on the part of the library, the irrelevance of many items to the curriculum, and their unsuitability for the ages and interests of the children. The Schools Library Service (67 percent) was the second main source for books, which meant that these items were centrally acquired and processed before delivery to the mostly primary schools. Individual purchases accounted for little over a third (39 percent) and this limitation is due, no doubt, to the unavailability of funding as will be borne out in later responses to questions about funding for the libraries. With the collections already of such small size and the majority of them based on donations, there can be little doubt of inadequacy in terms of the quantity and quality of the materials. With the increasing application of information technology to all areas of life, including education, libraries can no longer avoid adopting these technologies for administration and as a form of service to users. In Jamaica, there have been several drives by government and the private sector to place computers into schools but, as will be seen later in the discussion, this does not necessarily mean the library. Of the 209 schools that answered the questionnaire, 42 percent reported that the school had a computer laboratory and only 66 (32 percent) had computers in the library. The majority of libraries
School Libraries in the Caribbean
105
had only one or two machines with only 15 libraries having between four and 10 computers, which suggest that these would be able to offer electronic services to the users. It seems, however, that such services would have to be confined mainly to document creation and other such activities, since only 27 libraries (13 percent) had Internet access. Twenty-two of these libraries must be commended for making sure that all of their service groups—teachers, students, and administrators—and the library staff were allowed to use the Internet. Understandably, more libraries might not have computers because the technology is expensive to acquire and maintain, and also there is the tendency in some schools that establish computer laboratories to consider it unnecessary to have computers in the library. Such an attitude reflects ignorance about the gains in efficiency for the librarian when technology is applied to administrative tasks and the ability of the Internet to greatly extend access to information for all users. With reference to the organization of the library collections, only 35 percent of the libraries had catalogues and of this only 12 had an online version, which is to be expected given that so few libraries had computers. Reasons for the absence of a catalogue could be the fact that most of the staff were not professionals and, therefore, lacked cataloguing skills. On the other hand, where qualified staff exists, this is usually a single professional who is likely to be overburdened with user services and thus have little time left for organizing the materials. The lack of an organized index to the collection will certainly affect the quality of service since, through ignorance of what exists, users will be unable to fully exploit the range of resources available. To provide intellectual access to ideas in all formats to the school community, the library must carefully develop a collection that matches the curricular and personal needs of the user community. Focusing on the nature of such a collection, the Canadian School Library Association standards state that all such resources should be current, in good repair, be catalogued, and reflect a balance of print, nonprint, and electronic resources (Asselin, Branch, and Oberg 26–27). Apart from the number and wide variety of formats expected in the North American situation, these criteria are equally valid in the Caribbean, even if collections are small. With regards to quantity, the Jamaica Library Association School Library Standards, though dated, did set guidelines it considered as practical, based on the local realities at the time, by recommending an initial collection of five books per child with a view to increasing this to 6–10 titles within three years (13). In this study, it was observed that most schools had 500 or more students, and 55 percent of these same schools had collections of less than 2,000, making it obvious then that from a numerical standpoint most of the collections did not meet the minimum local recommendations. The inadequacy of library collections, both from the numerical and qualitative aspects, is one of the most serious problems affecting school libraries in the region. Without adequate resources, it becomes almost impossible for
106
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
the library to offer any kind of meaningful service, and this recurrent lack makes many libraries dysfunctional. Several reasons can be cited for the parlous state of library collections. A few include distance from source of supply, which leads to increased costs, and means that in many instances, the library staff is unable to review the actual materials for suitability before purchase. In addition, the often heavy reliance on donations does not allow for the careful development of a collection responsive to the needs of the school clientele. However, one of the primary causes for the poor state of these collections seems to be a lack of consistent funding arising from the unsound financial base upon which many of these libraries stand, as will be subsequently observed in the findings on this topic.
Services The typical school library is expected to deliver a full range of services built around the information needs, abilities, and interests of the users. The ability to do this will be largely determined by the school’s view of the role of the library in the educational programme and the availability of human and material resources. With this in mind, a list of typical services for both teachers and students was circulated to participants for them to indicate which ones their libraries provided. Table 8.2 shows the findings. The most frequently offered services to both students and teachers were circulation and loan, reference and current awareness—all standard items in almost any kind of library. After this, the pattern changes with fewer libraries offering the rest of services and a greater variation between service to teachers and students. Some of these differences were due to the nature of the sample, which consisted mostly of primary school libraries, which are usually the least well-catered to and so would not have the space or the staff to offer the level of services of a properly functioning library to either teachers or students. Services to teachers were very restrictive in terms of the number of libraries that offered them. In almost every instance, except for consultation and lesson planning (34 percent), less than a third of the libraries provided bibliographies (30.6 percent), continuing education information (20.5 percent), and production of learning resources (10.5 percent), which are all key services for teachers. Caribbean school libraries tend to cater overwhelmingly to students to the neglect of the teachers, according to James; even principals expect it to be so (60). Such a lopsided view on the part of administrators is bound to thwart efforts by the librarian to develop a meaningful range of service for teachers and to encourage them to work as partners with the librarian to make the library central to the teaching/learning experience. Various factors could be responsible for the emergence of this tendency to overlook the information needs of teachers. Among these factors could be the ignorance of untrained school library personnel; the types of materials
School Libraries in the Caribbean
107
Table 8.2 Services Services Offered Offeredto to Teachers Teachersand andStudents Students Table 8.2 Teachers
Students
Circulation and loan
144 (68.9%)
146 (70.0%)
Reference and information
151 (72.2%)
146 (70.0%)
Current awareness
101 (48.3%)
70 (35.5%)
Consultation and lesson planning
71 (34.0%)
0 (0.0%)
Bibliographies
64 (30.6%)
55 (26.3%)
Information on continuing education
43 (20.5%)
0 (0.0%)
Collection on careers
42 (20.1%)
64 (30.6%)
Photocopying
35 (16.7%)
71 (34.0%)
Reading guidance
30 (14.3%)
90 (43.0%)
Information skills instruction
25 (11.9%)
76 (36.3%)
Internet use
24 (11.4%)
27 (12.9%)
Production of learning resources
22 (10.5%)
27 (12.9%)
Interlibrary loan
21 (10.0%)
20 (09.5%)
curriculum and education theory etc.
received, which cater primarily to student needs; and the general limitation on resources that prevents an extension of service to teachers. For students, the leading service after loans and reference was reading guidance (43 percent), which fits well with the emphasis on reading and storytelling in the primary school and the largely recreational nature of many collections. Information skills instruction (36.3 percent), photocopying (34.0 percent), and career information (30.6 percent) followed in rank order. It may be assumed that less of the information skills instruction took place at the primary level since the situation in these schools did not furnish much scope for this activity unlike the secondary schools, which have more professional librarians and many have scheduled classes for information skills. The extension of information skills instruction to teachers by a small number of the libraries (11.9 percent) reflects awareness on the part of a few librarians that this need also exists. In the drive for students to become information literate,
108
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
more emphasis must be placed on teachers acquiring these same information skills, especially if any attempt is going to be made to integrate these same skills into the curriculum, which anticipates the collaboration between the librarian and the teacher. Not many countries in the Caribbean have paid much attention to information literacy as a prerequisite for citizens to live successfully in the Information Age, so there is little emphasis on it in the education system. A few countries have made a move in this direction. From the late 1980s, St. Lucia developed a syllabus for information skills (Lynch Forde 54) and Trinidad and Tobago has been very proactive from as early as the 1990s. The School Libraries Division organized a series of workshops for librarians and later developed a syllabus for information literacy (Abraham). In Jamaica, a set of workshops for school librarians were also held from 2001–2002, and a formal course on information literacy is now included in the undergraduate degree offered by the Department of Library and Information Studies (DLIS), The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Jamaica. The objective is to equip graduates to model and teach information literacy in various library settings. The importance of this topic is evidenced by UNESCO’s Alexandria Declaration issued in 2005, which has stated that information literacy is now “a basic human right” and consequently, the organization is encouraging governments to pursue policies and programmes to promote information literacy and lifelong learning. In keeping with its view of the importance of the matter, UNESCO has also included information literacy as one of their targeted project areas for funding over the next few years. This is an opportunity regional governments should embrace by making information literacy a part of their national development plan. Hopefully, in the process of developing and implementing national information literacy programmes, any attempt by policymakers will realize that the school library is one of the main agencies for creating an information literate populace.
Staffing The employment of staff with the requisite knowledge and competencies is one of the most important factors in the delivery of quality service. The staffing pattern for school libraries in the Caribbean has been to place teachers or other persons without formal library qualifications to administer these facilities, and usually only one person is assigned to the library. For these reasons, the respondents were asked about the number of persons who worked full time in the library and the qualifications of the person in charge. The majority of libraries had either one (43.5 percent) or two (23 percent) persons working full time and only seven (4.5 percent) had three or more. No doubt the higher numbers would apply to the handful of schools with large libraries, including those with separate buildings. The tendency towards a single person administering the school library is the norm in the Caribbean and is largely responsible for many of the complaints about excessive workloads resulting in the librarian’s inability to carry out all the essential services.
School Libraries in the Caribbean
109
Table Qualifications Persons in Charge of School Libraries Table 8.38.3Qualifications of of Persons in Charge of School Libraries No.
Percent
Teacher’s College Diploma without library education 66
31.7
Teache r’s College Diploma with library education
30
14.4
High School Certificate only
28
13.3
Other
25
11.9
Bachelor’s in Library Studies
19
9.0
Bachelor’s not in Library Studies
17
8.2
Bachelor’s in Education
15
7.2
Library Technical Assistant Certificate
4
1.9
Master’s in Library Studies
4
1.9
Master’s not in Library Studies
1
0.5
TOTAL
209
100.0
The situation is further exacerbated by the large number of untrained persons who hold these positions and are incapable of performing at the expected standards. Table 8.3 displays in rank order the type of qualification the persons in charge of the libraries possessed. Based on the data, the largest number of persons responsible for the school library was teacher’s college graduates (46.1 percent) with the majority being teacher’s without library qualifications (31.7 percent). The clustering of teacher’s college graduates in these libraries is consistent with the social reality where in primary schools (which represent most of the sample); the teachers employed at this level come mainly from the colleges. This finding also conforms to the pattern of assigning teachers responsibility for the school library. Approximately 25 percent of the sample had library education at either the college or university level and of this group only the teachers’ college graduates with library education (14.4 percent) could be identified as dually qualified in education and librarianship as is so frequently cited as the norm for the ideal school librarian. Of concern were the 28 (13.3 percent) persons with only high school qualifications managing these facilities.
110
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
The presence of professional librarians in these libraries can be largely attributed to the introduction in the 1970s of a teacher/librarianship programme in teachers’ colleges and the establishment of the DLIS, UWI, Mona, Jamaica. The only other country that has a large number of qualified professionals is Trinidad and Tobago, which over the years has invested heavily in the education of librarians. However, in these countries and elsewhere, the need for professional staff in adequate numbers remains a perennial problem as demonstrated by the findings from studies by Marshall; James; and Baptiste.
Funding Funding is one of the most serious issues affecting Caribbean school libraries and it is usually taken as one of the main indicators of government’s level of commitment to the development of these facilities. The respondents were asked about the sources of their funds. Table 8.4 shows the replies. The majority (73.6 percent) admitted to getting no funding, which is not unusual since the sample consisted mostly of primary schools that receive books directly from the Schools Library Service, usually with no additional funds allocated to them by the government. Donations, therefore, become the chief source of funding and when added to fundraising shows that, of the remaining 59 schools that got some form of funding, the majority depended on nongovernmental sources. Cost-sharing means that parents are asked to share the expenses for education by paying a portion of the sum, somewhat akin to a reduced school fee. The school uses these funds for various purposes and here only 13.8 percent of them allocated some to the library. The most striking observation from the data was that generally government provided very little direct funding to school libraries. Whatever the justification, it is difficult to understand the thinking that informs such action because the policymakers must realize the negative consequences of such
Table 8.4 Source SourceofofFunding Funding School Libraries Table 8.4 forfor School Libraries No.
Percent
Gets no funding
154
73.6
Donation
46
22.0
From Ministry of Education
39
18.6
Fundraising events
35
16.7
Money from cost-sharing programme
29
13.8
School Libraries in the Caribbean
111
action. In Jamaica, wherever good school libraries are found, these are usually either the result of private and individual efforts or government projects funded by international development agencies like the World Bank. Private funding is likely to fluctuate, and the problem with projects is that very often after they end, the libraries deteriorate due to a lack of sustained support from the government. In contrast to many of the other countries, Trinidad and Tobago, through government policy and funding, has been pursuing an ambitious programme for the development of school libraries, which accounts for it having some of the better equipped school libraries in the region. Although other countries might have equally ambitious plans, they remain largely on paper because of lack of funding. The consistent underfinancing of school libraries by government is symptomatic of the wider Commonwealth Caribbean and one finds it difficult not to interpret this as a lack of commitment on the part of regional governments.
RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the findings, the following recommendations are being made for the regional development of school library services: Physical facilities – Given the inappropriateness of much of the accommodation for school libraries, the respective Ministries of Education in each country should see to it that building plans for all new schools include purpose-designed spaces for libraries based on accepted standards. Furthermore, provisions must also be put in place to prevent the conversion of these facilities into classrooms or appropriation for other uses, as often happens. For existing schools, efforts should be made to convert available space into a proper library or add these facilities, where feasible. Resources – Library collections must be developed on sound professional principles that will take all the major factors into consideration leading to a current, relevant collection in good condition. This will require proper funding and the input of the total school community. Furthermore, in this age of information technology and the benefits accompanying its use for learning and personal development, libraries need to incorporate multimedia formats into their collection. Projects for submission to funding agencies can be developed as one way of making this possible. Additionally, the collection should not be limited only to physical ownership of resources but should also include online access to information, primarily through the Internet. Librarians and other educators should lobby government to establish agreements with telecommunications companies or make it a part of service policy for
112
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century them to provide Internet access free or at a reduced rate to schools, including the libraries. Services – The concept of the need to integrate the library into the school’s total education programme must form the basis for the nature and the types of services to be offered since this is the only way that the library can fulfill its primary mission of facilitating teaching and learning. For this to happen, there must be equal focus on services to teachers as there is for students since the former are instrumental in the integration process. At the same time, librarians and educators need to recognize the importance of information literacy skills for learning and adopt an across-the-curriculum approach that will ensure that all students are taught these skills in a systematic manner and preferably by integration into the curriculum. Staffing – The education and training of staff for school libraries must assume utmost priority in all countries, whether through already existing avenues, such as the library school at The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica or within teacher’s colleges, or through distance mode. The objective should be to produce a cadre of staff dually qualified in education and library studies who can function effectively in a modern education environment.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS On a more general note, a set of standards should be developed, preferably on a regional basis, starting from what is minimally acceptable to what is highly exemplary for school libraries, with due consideration given to the social and developmental conditions within the Commonwealth Caribbean. These criteria will be useful not only for evaluation but also for providing realistic and attainable goals towards which libraries can aspire. Finally, in light of the general inadequacy of so many aspects of school library services in the region, and since national policy provides the essential legislative framework within which an effective school library service can be developed, there is an overarching need for the creation and implementation of national policies by regional governments to ensure the proper establishment and subsequent maintenance of these facilities through meaningful, regular funding. Such a policy should be formulated as part of the national educational policy for maximum effectiveness.
CONCLUSION For too long Caribbean school libraries have been relegated to the periphery of the curriculum. The IFLA/UNESCO School Library Manifesto states
School Libraries in the Caribbean
113
that “…the school library is essential to every long-term strategy for literacy, education, information provision and economic, social and cultural development.” If this is the case, then it should be central to any national education plan. However, for this to happen, librarians will have to form strategic alliances with pressure groups to strengthen their case as they continue to lobby government to recognize the important contribution these libraries can make in helping the society to produce information-literate citizens capable of functioning successfully in an information society.
WORKS CITED Abraham, Marie. Country Report: Trinidad and Tobago School Library Services. 2003. 9 Sept. 2006. www.nalis.gov.tt/IFLA/ttschools.htm. Asselin, Marlene, Jennifer L. Branch, and Diane Oberg. Achieving Information literacy: Standards for School Library Programs in Canada. Ottawa: Canadian School Library Association & the Association for Teacher-Librarianship in Canada, 2003. Baker-Gardner, Ruth. Education Officers’ Perception of the Role of the School Library in the Educational Programme. MLS Thesis. The University of the West Indies, 2003. Baptiste, Mary A. School Libraries in St. Lucia: State of the Art Survey. MLS Thesis. The University of the West Indies, 1999. Brown, Gerald. Comp. St. Lucia, West Indies. Ministry of Education. School Library and Information Services: A Status Report with Recommendations. St. Lucia: Ministry of Education, 1997. Davis-Nembhard, Laurel. Library Provisions for the ROSE Curriculum: A Case Study of Three Schools. MLS Thesis. The University of the West Indies, 1997. Douglas, Daphne. “British Caribbean.” Ed. Miles Jackson. International Handbook of Contemporary Developments in Librarianship. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1981, 567–589. Education: The Way Upward: A Path for Jamaica’s Education at the Start of the New Millennium. Kingston: Ministry of Education and Culture, 2001. Ferguson, Stephney. “Caribbean.” International Encyclopedia of Information and Library Science. Eds. John Feather and Paul Sturges. London: Routeledge, 1977. 46–48. Henry, Ruth Cassandra. Dilemma of Development: School Libraries in Jamaica. Diss. Columbia University, 1982. IFLA/UNESCO. Alexandria Manifesto on Libraries, the Information Society in Action. 2005. 28 Mar. 2006. www.ifla.org/III/wsis/AlexandriaManifesto.html. IFLA/UNESCO NALIS Seminar on School and Public Library Manifestos and Guidelines. 2003. 8 Sept. 2006. www.nalis.gov.tt/IFLA/iflaguide.htm. Jamaica Library Association. School Library Standards. Kingston: JLA, 1971. Jamaica Library Service Country Report: Presented at Seminar on IFLA/UNESCO Manifestos for Public and School Libraries. May 2003. 8 Sept. 2006. www.nalis.gov.tt/IFLA/iflaguide.htm. Jamaica Library Service. Working in a School Library: A Manual for Teacher/Librarians in Jamaica. Kingston: Jamaica Library Service/Schools Library Service, 1998. Jamaica. Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture. White Paper: The Way Upward. 2003. 7 July 2006. www.moec.gov.jm/policies/whitepaper.htm. James, Janet. School Administrators’ Perception of the School Library: A Survey of Select Secondary Schools. MLS Thesis. The University of the West Indies, 1999. Lake, Daisy. Report on School Library Services in Antigua and Barbuda. 2003. 9 Sept. 2006. www.nalis.gov.tt/IFLA/iflaguide.htm.
114
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Lynch Forde, Janet. “School Libraries in St. Lucia: A State-of-the-Art Report.” School Libraries Worldwide 4.2 (1998): 52–58. Marshall, Eileen. “School Library Programme and Personnel.” Jamaica Library Association Bulletin (1991–1992): 7–11. Mungo, Katie and Amy Robertson. Comps. Policy Guidelines for School Library Development: Workshop for Caribbean School Librarians 1985. Kingston: JLA/COMLA, 1986. Robertson, Amy. “School Libraries in the British West Indies.” Jean Lowrie, ed. School Libraries: International Developments. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1972, 212–227. —-. “Libraries and Youth with Special Reference to the Caribbean.” Libraries and the Challenge of Change. Papers of the International Library Conference held in Kingston, Jamaica, January 24–29, 1972. Eds. K. E. Ingram and Albertina Jefferson. London: Mansell, 1975, 104–114. Robinson, Cherrell. “The School Library a Valuable Partner in the Search for Educational Excellence.” Proc. of the 1990 Cross-Campus Conference on Education, 3rd–6th April 1990. Comps. Ed Brandon and P. N. Nissen. Mona, Kingston: Faculty of Education, UWI, 1991, 291–296. Shelley-Robinson, Cherrell. The Role of the School Library in the 21st Century: A Developing Country’s Perspective. IFLA/UNESCO/NALIS Seminar on School and Public Library Manifestos and Guidelines. 2003. 9 Sept. 2006. www.nalis.gov. tt/IFLA/crobinson.htm. Trinidad and Tobago Government. Draft Plan for Education Development in Trinidad and Tobago, 1968–1983. Port of Spain: Trinidad and Tobago: Govt. Printery, 1968. UNESCO/IFLA School Library Manifesto. 2000. 9 Sept. 2006. http://portal.unesco.org/ ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=4646&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html. Wallen, Joyce. “State of School Libraries in Jamaica.” Libraries and Information: Towards a Policy for Schools. Proc. of the 15th Annual Conference of the International Association of School Librarianship. Kalamazoo: IASL, 1986, 102–105. —-. Schools Library Service: Regionalization of the Schools Library Service. Unpublished paper. JLS/SLS, Jamaica, 1984. Warmington, Cynthia. “Schools Library Service.” Jamaica Library Association Bulletin 2.1 (1965): 38–41. Warmington, Cynthia, Joyce Robinson, and Rosalind McLaughlin. Jamaica Library Service: 21 years of Progress in Pictures. 1948–1969. Kingston: Jamaica Library Service, 1972.
APPENDIX A NATIONAL SCHOOL LIBRARY SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE This survey is being conducted in order to provide an overview of the current state of school libraries in Jamaica. You are therefore being asked to answer all the questions by placing a tick in the appropriate place or by writing your comments in the space provided. You are also being asked to return the questionnaire as soon as possible after its completion. Thank you for your cooperation.
School Libraries in the Caribbean Background Information 1. Type of school: Primary [ ] 2. Size of student population ______
115
Secondary [ ] Size of teaching staff __________
Physical Facilities & Access 3. Does your school have a library (a set apart place with an organized collection of books)? Yes [ ] No [ ] 4. What is the size of your library? (In approximate square feet) __________ 5. Does it occupy: One room [ ] More than one room [ ] A separate building only for the use of the library [ ] 6. Within the library is there provision of any of the following? (Tick all those which apply) A separate office for the librarian [ ] An audiovisual room [ ] A workroom for library staff [ ] A room for teaching information skills [ ] A special room for teachers’ use [ ] Study carrels for students [ ] 7. How many students can the library seat at one time? __________ Resources 8. Indicate the types of resources and the approximate number of each that the library has: Resources Number Books __________ Magazines (no. of titles) __________ Audiocassettes __________ CDs __________ CD-Roms __________ Videotapes __________ DVDs __________ Other ________________ __________ 9. From which of the following sources do you get books and other materials for the library? (Tick as many as apply) Jamaica Library Service [ ] Donations from overseas [ ] Local donations [ ] Purchase from bookstores [ ] 10. Does the school have a computer lab? Yes [ ] No [ ] 11. Does the library have any computers? Yes [ ] No [ ] If yes, how many? 12. Does the school have Internet access? Yes [ ] No [ ] 13. Does the library have Internet access? Yes [ ] No [ ] 13a. If yes, who uses it: (Tick as many that apply) School Administrators [ ] Library staff [ ] Teachers [ ] Students [ ] Others (please indicate) ________________________
116
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
14. Are the resources in the library catalogued? Yes [ ] No [ ] 15. Does the library have a: Computer catalogue [ ] Card catalogue [ ] No catalogue [ ] Services 16. Which of the following services does the library provide for Students and Teachers? (Please tick under the right heading)
a. Circulation and loan of library material b. Reference and information service c. Information about newly received materials d. Production of information resources e. Career materials f. Materials on continuing education, curriculum, education theory and practice, etc. g. Borrowing of materials from other libraries h. Lists of reading materials on request i. Information skills instruction j. Reading guidance k. Information searching via the Internet l. Photocopying services m. Consultation about resources for lesson planning
Teachers __________ __________
Students __________ __________
__________ __________ __________
__________ __________ __________
__________
__________
__________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________
__________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________
__________
__________
17. Are information skills taught to students? Yes [ ]
No [ ]
Staff 18. How many persons work in the library? __________ 19. What is the highest qualification of the person in charge of the library? [ ] “O” levels or CXC only [ ] “A” levels only Library Technician’s Certificate [ ] [ ] Teacher’s College Diploma/Certificate with library education Teacher’s College Diploma/Certificate without library [ ] education [ ] Bachelor’s Degree in Library Studies [ ] Bachelor’s Degree not in Library Studies [ ] Master’s Degree not in Library Studies
School Libraries in the Caribbean [ ] [ ] [ ]
117
Master’s Degree in Library Studies University Degree in Education Other (please state) ______________________________
Funding 20. How is the library funded? (Tick all that apply) a. By money from the cost-sharing programme [ ] b. From money provided by the Ministry of Education to the school [ ] c. With money from fundraising events [ ] d. From donations [ ] e. Other (please state) ________________________________________ Thank you for participating in this important study. Kindly return the questionnaire in the enclosed self-addressed envelope as soon as possible.
118
CHAPTER 9
Use of the Elizabeth Moys Classification Scheme for Legal Materials in the Caribbean Janice A. Modeste Eugene Dupuch Law School Library, The Bahamas
Yemisi Dina Osgoode Hall Law Library, York University, Canada ABSTRACT This chapter will give an historical background and account of the use of the Elizabeth Moys Classification Scheme in law libraries in the Caribbean. A questionnaire was administered to librarians and library staff of law libraries. Twenty-four questionnaire responses were received from participants. One of the results of the study is the suggestion that a separate number should be assigned for the entire Caribbean in the Moys Classification scheme because of the problems being encountered by librarians in assigning numbers.
CLASSIFICATION PROCESS Library classification can be defined as the process of organizing library materials according to their subject using a system of coding. Books and other library materials are examined to determine the nature of their content and are classified according to the type of information they contain. The analysis of the materials being classified may reveal a number of differing concepts in a single document. This could pose a challenge to the person classifying the item. The type of library and the needs of the intended users would be among the determining factors in the location of the particular library material. In recent times, the classification process has been influenced by the fact that most of the information available for retrieval by the user could also be obtained electronically. Nevertheless, the library classification question still remains whether or not access to the materials made available by the library supports the optimum use of its resources within and beyond its walls. 119
120
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
CLASSIFICATION OF LEGAL MATERIALS The task of designing a classification scheme for legal materials could be rather complicated. First of all, the fact that most national legal systems fall into two categories, namely common law systems and civil law systems, would have to be recognized. The common law system, which is the focus of this paper, is derived from the English common law that has as its foundation judicial decisions. Countries falling within the common law system are referred to as common law jurisdictions. The English-speaking countries in the Caribbean are among the jurisdictions in the common law system, which also includes the U.K., U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Second, jurisdiction having been established, there must then be a differentiation between what is referred to as primary and secondary material in the subject of law. A simple definition of primary materials is that it refers to works of law. Laws of Antigua and Barbuda is an example of primary materials. Secondary materials are works about the law. Commonwealth Caribbean Property Law by Gilbert Kodilinye falls in the category of secondary materials. Works about the law can be further subdivided into public law and private law. The challenge for the designer of the classification scheme is the manner in which primary and secondary materials are dealt with in the scheme.
ELIZABETH MOYS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOYS SCHEME For many years after classification schemes were being routinely used to organize most subject areas, numerous law libraries continued to exist without the use of class numbers. Elizabeth Moys, a British librarian, took up the challenge of devising a legal classification scheme when confronted with the need for such a scheme while working in Ghana and, later, in Nigeria between 1959 and 1965. When the publication A Classification Scheme for Law Books (Moys) emerged in 1968, it was the first of four editions. At that time, the other available schemes for the classification of legal materials included Dewey Decimal Classification, Universal Decimal Classification, and Bliss Bibliographic Classification. There were also a number of in-house schemes tailored to meet the specific needs of the libraries for which they were designed. In 1968, the development of the Library of Congress Classification scheme’s Class K for legal materials had barely begun and it is widely believed that the impetus for the Moys scheme was the need to fill the void in the absence of Class K. In a revised version of an earlier tribute to Elizabeth Moys published by the American Association of Law Libraries in the Association’s Law Library Journal, it was stated that the classification scheme originated as a Library Association Fellowship thesis, which was then published.
Use of the Elizabeth Moys Classification Scheme …
121
She attained her fellowship in 1965 and soon found a publisher. It was quickly adopted and is now used by about two hundred law libraries from all sectors—law firms, court, and academic—principally in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the U.K. The enthusiasm with which the scheme was taken up is witness to both the need for it and its excellence.1 The law libraries of the English-speaking Caribbean can be added to this grouping. The ready acceptance of A Classification Scheme for Law Books was a fitting tribute to the efforts of Elizabeth Moys who was one of those largerthan-life-figures in the field of law librarianship.
INTRODUCTION OF MOYS TO THE CARIBBEAN During the 1960s and the 1970s, some of the region’s court libraries were starting to emerge from locked cabinets and unsupervised rooms. This trend was noticeable among some of the libraries attached to the Supreme Courts and the Courts of Appeal. The courts were starting to introduce trained staff in their libraries at that time. One of these libraries, the Supreme Court Law Library in Jamaica, was one of the first law libraries in the English-speaking Caribbean to use A Classification Scheme for Law Books. The Supreme Court librarian started using the first scheme in 1969. More than a decade would elapse before some of the other court libraries followed. While as early as 1960, the then librarian of the Supreme Court Library in Trinidad and Tobago had started laying the ground work for the growth of that library, the Moys Classification was only introduced in the early 1980s. By 2006, with the benefit of better accommodation in the Hall of Justice and greater access to appropriate technology, this law library has blossomed into one of the leading court libraries in the region. The staff of this library presently has responsibility for more than 100,000 volumes. The results of some of this law library’s work are available at the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago Web site.2 Some of the region’s attorney general libraries followed a similar pattern with the Attorney General Law Library in Barbados starting to use the first edition of A Classification Scheme for Law Books in 1977. With the advent of a regional legal education programme in the Caribbean, the faculty of law in Barbados came into being as part of The University of the West Indies (UWI). The Faculty of Law Library became the first academic law library in the region in 1970. The law library’s first cataloguer, an Australian law librarian with exposure to Moys, recommended this classification scheme as being ideal for use in the law library because of its commonwealth background. In 1973, the Moys scheme was introduced to the libraries of the then newly established law schools of the Council of Legal Education—the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica and the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago. On the other end of the time spectrum, the Eugene Dupuch Law School Library and The College of The
122
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Bahamas (COB) Law Library, both in Nassau, Bahamas, also chose to use the Moys scheme when they were established almost 30 years after their peers. As seen in the following outlined instances, while the decision may be taken by main libraries with departmental legal collections to opt for uniform classification, some have been persuaded otherwise, by reasons provided for using the Moys scheme in the Introduction of the fourth edition. It is not intended for any particular type of library, either for students, academic lawyers or practicing lawyers. It is designed however, to be suitable either for a specialist law library or the law section of a general library which is using either the Library of Congress Classification or the Dewey Decimal Classification for the rest of its books.3 The Library of Congress Class K for legal materials was the COB Law Library’s first choice for a classification scheme in October 2000. This was an automatic choice since the Library of Congress was already being used by the main library of the COB. However, by July 2001, a switch was made to the Moys scheme, which proved to be more amenable to the needs of the COB Law Library. The University of Guyana, which opened its doors in 1963, also has a division of law in the university library where the law collection is located. Unlike the rest of the university library’s collection, the division of law uses the Moys classification scheme. This legal collection was first developed to meet the needs of the university’s first year bachelor of laws (LLB) students. Similar arrangements for LLB students exist at the campus libraries of the St. Augustine campus and Mona campus of the UWI; however, both of these collections are classified according to the Library of Congress Classification Scheme’s Class K in keeping with a uniform approach to classification. The spread of the use of Moys among some of the other types of law libraries in the region, making it the most commonly used legal classification scheme, is attributed to some degree to the fact that the more established law libraries were already using Moys. However, it must also be noted that the introduction of the use of Moys among some of the less developed law libraries was a by-product of the initiatives of several international donor agencies supporting the improvement of justice in the region. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) operating out of the U.S. and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), a Canadian agency, were two of the major donors with a history of supporting access to legal information in the region. In many instances, senior Caribbean law librarians were funded by these donor agencies to use their expertise in a consultative capacity to provide reports with recommendations for the improvement of the status of the less developed law libraries in the region. In recommending the use of Moys and, in some instances, introducing the
Use of the Elizabeth Moys Classification Scheme …
123
scheme, these librarians ensured that the first steps were taken to organize these collections according to international standards. One such initiative dating back to the late 1980s and the 1990s was the USAID Caribbean Justice Improvement Project, USAID/CJIP. Regrettably, in some instances, very little capital has been made from these earlier gains. On a positive note, countries like Montserrat and Grenada that have suffered as a result of natural disasters are now benefiting from generous donations of law library materials, which are being classified using the fourth edition of Moys.
ROLE OF CARALL Another important factor in the use of Moys in the region is the impact and influence of the Caribbean Association of Law Libraries (CARALL), which was inaugurated in 1984. From its inception, the CARALL meetings have provided the opportunity for persons responsible for the region’s law libraries to exchange ideas, relate experiences, and share knowledge. During these gatherings, the staff of libraries without the benefit of classification schemes could seek advice from the librarians in the more established libraries and, invariably, they would be introduced to the Moys scheme. Among the libraries in this category are the law firm libraries that are increasing in number in the region. During the last CARALL annual conference held in July 2005, five law firm libraries were represented. CARALL has provided training on the use of Moys, the most notable being the workshop held at its 2004 annual conference in The Bahamas. It is also quite common for members to request information on the class number of a particular title on CARALLTalk, the online user group created by the current CARALL president. Although the first online training session on the use of Moys had to be aborted because of a time conflict, CARALL has future plans for online discussions on issues concerning the use of Moys. The annual conference of CARALL was, therefore, seen as the ideal platform to launch a questionnaire on the use of Moys.
QUESTIONNAIRE: THE USE OF THE MOYS SCHEME IN THE CARIBBEAN To further determine the usage of the Moys scheme in the Caribbean, an open-ended questionnaire (see Appendix A at the end of this chapter) was designed for the purpose of this chapter and distributed at the CARALL annual conference held in Barbados in July 2005 to representatives of each law library in attendance. Eighteen completed questionnaires were received from the 29 law libraries represented at the July 2005 conference and general meeting. Several responses were received at a later date bringing the total number of responses to 24. Academic libraries, attorney general libraries, court libraries, and law firm libraries were well represented in the responses
124
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
received. However, it would be safe to say that there was participation from each type of library listed on the questionnaire. The representatives from the five libraries that had not taken part in the questionnaire had no familiarity with the Moys classification scheme.
INTERPRETATION OF DATA AND ANALYSIS It was clear from the responses to the questionnaire that the length of time the library used the Moys classification scheme was one of the major indicators of the level of comfort with the use of the scheme. Law libraries with a long history of using Moys tended to have staff with a good working knowledge of the scheme. These law libraries were usually staffed by experienced librarians seeking to attain and maintain international standards for collection management. The librarians had little difficulty in manipulating the scheme. This was particularly true of the academic law libraries, the more established court libraries, and a few government libraries in the region. Some of the law libraries without the benefit of professional staff indicated varying degrees of difficulty using the tables (see Appendix B at the end of this chapter for the Moys Schedule). All the law libraries that adopted Moys from the first edition still had evidence of material classified from all four editions of Moys on their shelves. Because of staffing constraints, comprehensive reclassification was not always possible and the rule of thumb in some cases was that items would be reclassified in instances where the logical arrangement of the collection would be negatively impacted. Therefore, some libraries, which started with the first edition of the Moys classification scheme published in 1968, classified new items when the second and third editions appeared in 1982 and 1992, respectively. Others ignored the second edition and embraced the third and, therefore, collections reflecting the first and third editions resulted. When the fourth edition came along in 2001, it reflected the growth in legal terminology influenced by the new civil procedure rules in England and the impact of information technology among other factors. The law libraries in the Caribbean were already experiencing great difficulty with the classification of materials from these new areas and, therefore, they welcomed the appearance of the latest edition of the Moys classification scheme. From the responses to the major points raised in the questionnaire dealing with the treatment of Caribbean materials by the Moys scheme, it became clear that libraries were experiencing difficulties in classifying the increasing body of legal material in the region, in general, and at the national level, in particular. Various means were used to deal with the problem. The COB Law Library used KP for legal materials, which were Bahamian in origin, and KG for Caribbean materials. The Supreme Court Library in Jamaica also used KP but for Caribbean legal materials. The Faculty of Law Library in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago Supreme Court Library, the Hugh Wooding Law Library in Trinidad and Tobago, and a few other libraries resorted to using KJ for legal
Use of the Elizabeth Moys Classification Scheme …
125
material from the region. KJ and KP were classes that were set aside in the Moys scheme for expansion. KP, in particular, was referred to by Elizabeth Moys in the introduction to the fourth edition as having been “set aside for use, as desired, for any preferred jurisdiction, or group of jurisdictions.”4 Some libraries ignored the fact that an item was published in the Caribbean and opted to classify legal publication from and about the region only by the subject. Others sought to operate within the narrow confines of the numbers allocated by Moys for the region, for example, attempting to find a place for the growing volume of materials on the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) using KC770. For the most part, the suggested expansion for the Caribbean legal materials was largely ignored. Some librarians found the use of the tables too difficult, perhaps not having grasped the principle behind them. Others found it inadequate, hence the adoption of classes such as KJ and KP. The Norman Manley Law School and the COB Law Library were among the law libraries responding to the questionnaire indicating use of KG, which Moys specifically assigned to the Caribbean legal materials.
SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING COVERAGE OF CARIBBEAN LEGAL MATERIALS: FUTURE OF MOYS IN THE CARIBBEAN Without any doubt, it is evident that the scheme has been largely adopted by Caribbean law libraries, and the future will depend on a better understanding of the scheme by librarians and library staff, in general. The following suggestions are being made for the growth of the scheme and better understanding of its users in the region: 1. Involvement of a Caribbean law libraries representative on the editorial board of the Moys Classification and Thesaurus for Legal Materials. The editorial board is responsible for updating the scheme and is currently comprised of librarians from the U.K., Canada, and Australia. The visible presence of such a person will address the inclusion of the latest developments in the Caribbean region. For example, with the recent inception of the Caribbean Court of Justice, it will be necessary to include persons from this organisation in developing the scheme. KC 770 is no longer sufficient to address the publications emanating from the region for such an institution. It will be necessary to consider assigning an entire class for the Caribbean as it was done for the European Community. The tables are insufficient to accommodate materials and publications from institutions such as the Caribbean Court of Justice. Some librarians have suggested borrowing and customizing KW for this purpose, but from practical experience this is somehow impossible for a library that has materials from the European community.
126
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century 2. It will be necessary for CARALL as a professional body to continue to organize training sessions at its annual meetings to educate librarians on how to use the scheme, similar to training sessions offered at the 2004 conference. 3. The Department of Library and Information Studies (DLIS) at The UWI, Mona Campus, Jamaica should also introduce the teaching of legal classification using the Moys scheme in its master’s in library and information studies (MLIS) curriculum. This will create an initial understanding of the scheme amongst professionals.
CONCLUSION The Moys classification scheme, which changed its title to Moys Classification and Thesaurus for Legal Materials by the third edition, is still the most useful classification scheme for law libraries in the Caribbean. Moys is not a perfect scheme. Some of its users in the U.K. and Canada have opted to use other schemes for various reasons. Such a move is not foreseen in the Caribbean, at least, not while there is continued support for the future of Moys by the editorial board. It augurs well for the future of this classification scheme that new libraries like the University of Adelaide Law Library and the emerging Caribbean law libraries are choosing to use Moys.
ENDNOTES 1.
Barbara Tearle, “Memorial: Elizabeth Mary Moys (1928–2002),” Law Library Journal 94.3: 549.
2.
Library of the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago, www.ttlawcourts.org/lib_ collection.htm.
3.
Elizabeth M. Moys, Moys Classification and Thesaurus for Legal Materials. 4th ed. (Munchen: Bowker Saur, 2001) xxv.
4.
Moys, xxviii.
WORKS CITED Boudinot, David, Sarah Sutherland, and Lindsay Ure. Moys: Elizabeth (Betty) M. Moys and the Moys Classification Scheme. 5 Apr. 2004. School of Library, Archival and Information Studies, University of British Columbia. 6 July 2006. www.slais. ubc.ca/courses/libr517/03-04-wt2/projects/Moys/index.htm. The Law Library Homepage. 4 July 2006. The University of Adelaide. 5 July 2006. www.law.adelaide.edu.au./library/. Moys, Elizabeth M. A Classification Scheme for Law Books. London: Butterworths, 1968. —-. (ed.) Manual of Law librarianship: The Use and Organization Legal Literature. 2nd ed. London: Andre Deutsch Limited, 1976. —-. Moys Classification and Thesaurus for Legal Materials. 4th ed. Munchen: Bowker Saur, 2001.
Use of the Elizabeth Moys Classification Scheme …
127
Newton, Velma. “Standards for Court Libraries.” Caribbean Journal of Legal Information 5.3 (1988): 6–13. Tearle, Barbara. “Memorial: Elizabeth Mary Moys (1928–2002).” Law Library Journal 94.3: 547–552.
APPENDIX A QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE USE OF THE MOYS CLASSIFICATION SCHEME IN THE CARIBBEAN 1. Name of Library/Information Unit ____________________________ 2. Type of library a. Academic ( ) b. Court ( ) c. Government department ( ) d. Attorney-General’s Office ( ) e. Chief State Solicitor ( ) f. DPP ( ) g. Law firm ( ) h. Commission (type) ( ) i. Other (provide details) ( ) ________________________________________________________ 3. How long has your library been using the Moys Classification Scheme? ________________________________________________________ 4. What edition of the Moys Classification Scheme is your library using? 1st ed. ( ) 2nd ed. ( ) 3rd ed. ( ) 4th ed. ( ) 5. If a combination of more than one edition of the Moys Classification Scheme is being used by your library please indicate and state why. ________________________________________________________ 6. If an earlier edition is being used please state why. e.g. Do not have the staff/time to change to the latest edition. ________________________________________________________ 7. Does your collection currently consist of classification numbers from more than one edition of Moys? ________________________________________________________ 8. How did you find the use of the tables? Easy ( ) Difficult ( ) 9. What are the difficulties you have encountered while using the Moys Classification Scheme? a. Assigning numbers for primary materials ( ) b. Assigning numbers for secondary materials ( ) c. Use of Table I ( )
128
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
d. Use of Table II ( ) e. Use of Table III ( ) f. Use of Table IV ( ) g. Use of Table V ( ) h. Use of Table VI ( ) i. Use of Table VII ( ) j. Use of Table VIII ( ) k. Use of appendices ( ) 10. Would you support the tailoring of KG to meet the widest possible needs of the Caribbean region? a. Yes ( ) b. No ( ) 11. Would you like see a separate class for the Caribbean Region? a. Yes ( ) b. No ( )
APPENDIX B MOYS SCHEDULE (Extracted from Moys Classification and Thesaurus for Legal Materials by Elizabeth M. Moys. Moys Classification and Thesaurus for Legal Materials. 4th ed. Munchen: Bowker Saur, 2001) K KA KB KC KD KE KF KG KH KL KM KN KP KR KS KT KV KW KZ
Journals and Reference Books Jurisprudence General and Comparative Law International Law Religious Legal System Ancient and Medieval Law Common law, primary materials, British Isles Common law, primary materials, America Common law, primary materials, Australasia Common law, primary materials, general Common law, primary materials, public law Common law, primary materials, private law Preferred jurisdiction Africa Latin America Asia and Pacific Europe European Community Law Non-legal subjects
Use of the Elizabeth Moys Classification Scheme … Appendix 1 Appendix 2
Criminology Civil Procedure Rules terminology
Tables Table 1 Table II Table III Table IV Table V Table VI Table VII Table VIII
Primary materials Secondary materials Dates Common law jurisdiction Courts Special legal forms and topics Persons Non-legal forms and treatments
129
130
131
PA R T I I I
Innovative Services
132
CHAPTER 10
Out of the Darkness: Library Services for the Blind and Print Disabled in Trinidad and Tobago Annette Wallace National Library and Information System Authority, Trinidad and Tobago ABSTRACT Early library service to the blind and print disabled in Trinidad and Tobago was limited to a small collection of large-print books at public libraries. The introduction of the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) Act in 1998 and the subsequent opening of a national library heralded significant expansion in facilities and services to the blind and print disabled. Awarded the Prime Minister’s “Innovating for Service Excellence— the Social Inclusion Award 2004,” this service is a model for local and Caribbean libraries. This chapter will examine the socioeconomic factors and global partnerships that led to this change as well as the past and present challenges encountered during this transition. NALIS’ use of assistive technology will be discussed together with NALIS’ membership in the Caribbean Digital Collection for the Blind and Print Disabled Committee (CDCBPD) and its current digitization project of local material, using Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) software will also be examined.
INTRODUCTION At a ceremony to mark the opening of a Visually Impaired Persons (VIPs) facility at the National Library, Trinidad and Tobago in 2001, a member of the blind community stated: “This service spells independence, progress, development and improvement, which are precious to us. Our dreams have come true” (Paul 17). “Independence” and “empowerment” are terms that were the antithesis of library service to the blind and print disabled in Trinidad and Tobago prior to 2001. Indeed, advocates of the blind may well have described library service as a nightmare. This chapter will describe major decisions taken to empower blind and print-disabled persons in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. Although access to information for the disabled is a fundamental human right included in the United Nations (UN) Declaration of Human Rights and 133
134
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
the UN Standard Rules of Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities,1 it remains “the most important challenge facing students, children and working age adults and seniors who are blind or unable to read print.”2 The term “visually impaired” is used to describe persons with a visual disability that cannot be corrected by spectacles. It also refers to individuals who experience difficulty reading an ordinary print newspaper and whose vision restricts mobility.3 “Print disabled” are those persons who due to blindness, partial sight, dyslexia, or physical impairments cannot access visually requested information in the ordinary course. These persons require the conversion of such information into an alternative format, which renders it accessible via their remaining senses, either through touch, hearing, or increased visibility.4 Unlike other countries, for example, the U.K., where individuals who are blind or partially sighted must register, it is difficult to obtain accurate statistics on the number of visually impaired persons in Trinidad and Tobago. However, the local nongovernmental organisation (NGO) Persons Associated with Visual Impairment (PAVI) estimates that there are 13,000 blind or visually impaired persons (VIPs) within the population of 1.3 million. Of the 13,000 VIPs, a mere 10 percent, or 1,300 persons, are employed (Paul 17). Most are employed in the craft industry of basketry. Jamaica with a population of 2.5 million reported that there were 25,836 blind persons based on the results of the 2001 census (Anderson-Pessoa 5). Apart from the factors of macular degeneration, which occurs when people age and accounts for the loss of vision in many persons, ethnicity appears to be another factor as 48 percent of the population is of African descent and studies have shown that there is a higher incidence of glaucoma in persons of African descent than in other races. However, global partnerships and technological innovations have fostered new opportunities for blind and VIPs in the Caribbean.
LIBRARY SERVICES TO THE BLIND IN THE LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURIES The year 1891 heralded the introduction of the public library service in Trinidad and Tobago with the opening of the Public Library of Trinidad. In 1919, the Carnegie Free Library was established through the Carnegie Foundation and the Central Library Services were introduced in 1942. The period 1950–1960 saw rapid expansion of the public library service and, by the late 1970s, there were 16 public libraries and three mobile libraries serving rural communities in the country. The three public libraries were disparate entities with separate budgets and organizational structure. During this early period the delivery of library services to the visually impaired populace of
Out of the Darkness
135
Trinidad and Tobago was limited to the provision of large-print books and well-lit facilities. In 2006, there were 23 public libraries in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Four mobile libraries served more than 50 communities in outlying districts. VIPs services were accessible at eight of these libraries. Therefore, at both the operational and policy levels the library authorities played an important role in social inclusiveness of this group.
THE NALIS ACT: A CATALYST OF CHANGE The introduction of the NALIS Act represented a watershed in the delivery of library services to the blind and visually impaired communities in Trinidad and Tobago. This legislation mandated the library authority to prioritize the needs of these disadvantaged groups. The Act states NALIS is “to provide a national information service to the benefit of the physically disadvantaged and persons in institutions” (Clause 4 (m) Act No. 18 of 1998).5 The Act also integrated the public libraries and brought the special and school libraries under its management and facilitated the coordination and administration of the functions of these libraries.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY In 2001, inroads to improve service and enhance access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) began through the donation of a computer equipped with the Job Access with Speech (JAWS) software to the Carnegie Free Library by Ancil Torres of the Torres Foundation, a Trinidadian based in Washington, D.C. The Torres Foundation also provided a blind facilitator who conducted training programmes for the blind community. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) in 2001 published The Public Library Service IFLA/UNESCO Guidelines for Development. This publication set the standard for public library service. It recommended that libraries should “establish ways of making library material and services accessible [to special user groups which included] special equipment and reading materials for those with physical and sensory disabilities, for example, the hearing impaired and visually impaired people…services for people with special needs can be enhanced by the use of new technology, for example, speech synthesizers for the visually impaired.”6 The opening of the state-of-the-art National Library in March 2003 facilitated the introduction of these “enhanced” services. Print Braille, recorded books, and assistive technology were introduced in libraries housed in the National Library building. Assistive technologies available at NALIS include: • JAWS software is screen-reading software, which uses synthetic speech technology to verbalise screen output for the blind and print disabled. JAWS software comes with a free software synthesizer called Eloquent.
136
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century • Magic Screen Magnification Software enlarges text and graphics that appear on a computer display for persons with low vision with magnification ranging from twice the regular size text to 16 times regular size text. • Duxbury Braille Translation Software allows the user to produce professional Braille documents that are properly formatted in a variety of languages and grades. Word documents are first translated by the Braille translation program and then sent to the Braille printer where Braille documents produced retain the formats specified. • Braille Embossers can produce Braille on both sides of a page. Braille embossers are also equipped with synthetic speech for installation and configuration. • Focus 44 Braille Displays-Refreshable Braille Display reproduces the information that appears on a computer screen in Braille. These are connected to the computer via USB parallel or serial cable and usually reside on a desk under the keyboard for easy reach. • Dragon Naturally Speaking Professional Voice Recognition Software is specially provided for use by persons with motor impairments, which prevents them from typing on a keyboard. It enables the user to interface with the computer hands-free. The software works with a microphone that connects to the sound card on the computer. The patron must first be trained to understand the user’s voice pattern, and this information is kept on voice files on the computer. • Next Talk Software provides instant messaging capability for people who are deaf. This software is installed on the library’s local area network to allow deaf and hearing-impaired users to communicate with the library’s staff. It allows that person to call other users who are deaf and who have the Next Talk software. The Dragon Naturally Speaking Professional Voice Recognition Software and Next Talk software are available for use by the physically challenged and hearing impaired, respectively. • Closed Circuit TV (CCTV)/Video Magnifier uses a stand-mounted video camera to project a magnified image onto a video monitor or a television screen. CCTV is used by people with low vision to read printed materials placed on the movable table under the camera. • Poet Compact allows users to listen to print at the touch of a button. When print is placed on the glass of the scanner—like on a
Out of the Darkness
137
photocopier—the Poet Compact automatically recognizes the page orientation on the glass, takes a picture of the page, converts the picture into spoken language and reads it aloud to the user. • Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Reading Systems, which includes a scanner, OCR software, and sound card with speakers, enables users to scan and read printed materials. Reading material is scanned into the computer and OCR software then performs a recognition analysis on the scanned image. During this process, information that cannot be identified, that is, pictures, graphics, and handwriting, is discarded. The remaining data is then formatted to specification and read using synthetic speech. • Perkins Braille Writer is operated manually to produce embossed Braille. It is the Braille equivalent to a manual typewriter. • Victor Reader is a digital talking book reader that copes with complex texts. Books are recorded in audio formats on CD-ROM. The CDs also contain DAISY coding, which provides information about the book’s structure. The player offers basic navigation features like browsing the table of contents, and skipping from section to section or from page to page from custom bookmarks. These enhanced services for the blind and print disabled were extended to other branch libraries through the introduction of assistive technology at five additional service points.
SOCIAL INCLUSIVENESS AND TRAINING Libraries embarking on services to the blind should display a commitment to social inclusiveness beyond the acquisition of VIPs resources and assistive technology. They should recognize that the sustainability of this initiative lies in training its human resource personnel. NALIS places emphasis on training its staff members to interact with its blind patrons. Blind facilitators trained staff in areas such as orientation, mobility, and communication with the blind. The Canadian National Institute for the Blind’s (CNIB) publication, When You Meet a Blind Person, serves as an invaluable resource for this training.7 Blind facilitators of the Torres Foundation expanded its “Blind Independence through Technology,” program, which was first introduced at the Carnegie Free Library, to the National Library. In this program, the visually impaired are taught computer literacy and Internet access. The foundation also installed all the assistive technology at the libraries in NALIS network and has been awarded a maintenance contract to service them.
138
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
PARTNERSHIPS The World Summit on the Information Society’s (WSIS) Declaration of Principles, noted that “…building an inclusive Information Society requires new forms of solidarity, partnership and cooperation among governments and other stakeholders, that is, the private sector, civil society and international organizations.”8 Extensive partnerships developed both locally and internationally have contributed to the success of the VIPs service in the Caribbean. Victoria Owen, director of library services at the CNIB, in her presentation Developing Partnerships to Serve Blind Children and Adults: The Canadian Experience, also advocated collaborations: “By proactively developing partnerships, librarians can aid in access for all and produce constructive change in libraries.”9 For NALIS, partnerships range from local corporate sponsors and Caribbean libraries to international organizations. The preliminary work for this service consisted of identifying the stakeholders and discussing their needs. NALIS found eager allies in the Blind Welfare Society (BWS) and PAVI, both of which contributed Braille books that they had received through a donation from the Library of Congress, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). An important global partnership was developed with the employees of the CNIB, members of the IFLA Section of Libraries for the Blind (IFLA/SLB). Rosemary Kavanaugh, vice president of CNIB and chair of IFLA/SLB, and Victoria Owen were facilitators at the Library Association of Trinidad and Tobago’s (LATT) “Living Library Conference” in 2002, and presented papers on library services to the blind and print disabled. IFLA/SLB also hosted the ACURIL 2002 preconference in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, “Accommodating All: Libraries and Education in the Digital Age.” This preconference provided an invaluable opportunity to network with suppliers and agencies of VIPs service, for example, the Force Foundation, CNIB, and NLS. The CNIB, the source for print Braille and recorded books, hosted a site visit and provided general guidance for introducing a service. Another key local partnership was established with the U.S. Embassy, which sponsored assistive technology for its American Corner at the Scarborough Library, Tobago. This initiative introduced the first library service for the VIPs in Tobago. A local bank, Republic Bank, purchased assistive technology for NALIS’ Heritage Library and thus facilitated access and research to local and Caribbean materials by VIPs.
BUILDING THE CARIBBEAN DIGITAL COLLECTION FOR THE BLIND AND PRINT DISABLED The ACURIL 2002 preconference in Ocho Rios, Jamaica also served as the genesis of the digitization project that has begun in the Caribbean. The president of CNIB and the World Blind Union (WBU), Jim Saunders, in his opening
Out of the Darkness
139
speech at this preconference stated: “When resources are thin and poverty is everywhere, smart organizations and people do not work alone. Only by ensuring that we are working together, seeking mainstream solutions, will we be able to provide an affordable service for people who are blind that is comparable to that provided for people who are sighted” (4). The CDCBPD is an example of “smart organizations working together.” The committee was launched in November 2004 through the initiative of the CNIB, which sourced and obtained partial funding for the project from the Canadian Local Initiative Fund (CLIF). The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) was another source of funding. The project is guided by a steering committee comprised of representatives from the libraries and stakeholder groups in Jamaica. Trinidad and Tobago is the only other Caribbean group represented on this committee, at present, but there are plans to extend membership to other islands. Many libraries have today formed partnerships for the digitization of materials, for example, the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program under the Library of Congress, which includes a partnership of eight academic libraries “digitizing and making available materials illustrative of U.S. History.”10 The CDCBPD is another collaboration of libraries and it aims to digitize Caribbean material using the DAISY Standard ANS1/N180 239.86, specifications for the digital talking book. Two basic methods are used in creating the final product of digitized materials, namely, the human narration method and the synthetic talking e-book method. DAISY allows a user to review a table of contents or index and to move to a preferred area of a document. Users can also place electronic bookmarks for future reference. DAISY books can be played on a computer or special player.11 The steering committee secured membership from the DAISY consortium and obtained the conversion software, Easepublisher, at a discounted rate. The conversion process is exclusively done at the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ). NALIS scans material about Trinidad and Tobago, which is in the public domain, onto CD-ROMs. These are then dispatched to Jamaica for digitizing.
CHALLENGES As most libraries serving the blind, NALIS has faced the problem of underutilization of this service, in spite of active media publicity. Victoria Owen remarked about a similar challenge facing Canadian libraries: “The minimal ‘traffic’ through the library…For many libraries they have not previously been serving the community members who are print disabled…the library may have had very little to offer…It takes constant outreach activity to encourage the community members to start using the library on a constant basis.”12
140
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Mobility of the blind is one factor, which accounts for minimal “traffic” in libraries and an aggressive marketing programme is one strategy to encourage use.
Copyright At the anniversary meeting of the CDCBPD in Kingston, Jamaica in November 2005, participants reported on the difficulties encountered to obtain digital rights for conversion of items. The target of digitizing 25 items was not realized because of copyright barriers. The plan to digitize material in the public domain raised questions of user demand. The situation was more difficult for Trinidad and Tobago because of the nonexistence of a copyright organization for printed material. Although the Copyright Organization of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT) does exist, it manages the work of musicians only. On the other hand, the Jamaican Copyright Licensing Agency (JAMCOPY) is the body that represents printed works and obtains permission from creators for use of their work. All members agreed that copyright laws in the Caribbean are deficient in relation to the blind. One method of addressing these barriers is the approach adopted by the Library of Congress Section 108 Study Group in the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program. The Section 108 Study Group is “a select committee of copyright experts, convened by the Library Congress with the responsibility of updating the Copyright Act’s balance between the rights of creators and copyright owners and the needs of library and archives.”13 John Roos, director of the South African Library for the Blind, proposed that: “An international effort to standardize statutory exceptions to copyright protection will be an important step towards affirming international trust in what libraries for the blind and those serving disadvantaged communities do. It will also contribute much towards a framework that can assist those countries that have not as yet enacted such exceptions in their own jurisdictions but who might want to do so.”14 The answer to copyright barriers in the Caribbean and the wider world may lie in this approach. Meanwhile, Caribbean libraries should approach legislators to amend copyright laws to improve access for this community.
Cost Although the committee obtained funding from both CLIF and UNESCO and membership in the DAISY consortium facilitated a lower cost for the acquisition of the Easepublisher software, the CDCBPD faced additional costs for training staff in using metadata. Staff enrolled in an online training course offered by the University of Wisconsin. Both the NLJ and NALIS operate with less than the required work force to perform the scanning of items.
Out of the Darkness
141
Workers in Jamaica were compensated for overtime work while in Trinidad and Tobago; NALIS contracted the services of two persons to complete the task. The committee will outsource this activity in the future since this will mitigate the responsibilities of limited staffing, but digitizing costs may increase.
Web Accessibility The NALIS Web site is a popular source for online information pertaining to Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean.15 As services are delivered over the Web, the ability of the blind to access information on the Web is a primary concern. NALIS is a member of the Ibero-American Digital Library (developed by the University of Colima, Mexico and sponsored by UNESCO) and is currently digitizing local images for its Web site. These images now require more detailed descriptions to ensure accessibility by the blind. The guidelines of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility are used. These guidelines establish and recommend consistent protocols for accessible designs in Web site building to provide equivalent alternatives for auditory and visual information, for example, alternative text for images and captions for files.16 The process of migrating to a content management system is ongoing. However, though the system is more user friendly, it does present some challenges for visually impaired persons. The newly designed pages will address these issues. The “alt” function is used to describe each image and the site map will provide detailed text links to all our pages. Where there are graphical menus and links, the information is provided in text format on the same pages. The possibility of restructuring the earlier Web site as a text-only site to accommodate persons with visual disabilities is being examined. Digitized newspaper clippings present another challenge. These items are scanned as images and cannot be read by the assistive technology software. There are plans to make them accessible to the VIPs by converting them to text using OCR.
FUTURE PLANS
Marketing NALIS has embarked on marketing of this enhanced service through the advertisement of the service in the new publication of the BWS and local newspapers. Other marketing strategies include use of the electronic media, cooperation with the postal agency, the Postal Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (TTPost) to provide a mail service of VIPs items and making flyers available at offices of optometrists and ophthalmologists. NALIS will also continue to lobby the School for the Blind to use the facility. The acquisition of a minibus in mid-2006 will aid with the transportation of the housebound visually impaired to the libraries.
142
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
NALIS plans to facilitate the establishment of a Trinidad and Tobago organization responsible for printed materials. This organization will seek permission for the use of works in libraries and will also lobby government for amendments to the Copyright Act. One of the decisions taken at the WBU Conference held in Kingston, Jamaica in November 2005 was lobbying for the removal of copyright barriers at the next conference of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva.
Training Caribbean organizations should ensure that the English-speaking Caribbean’s only library school at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Jamaica includes courses for disadvantaged communities with specific reference to visually impaired services. NALIS will also recommend to institutes that provide training in library and information science in Trinidad and Tobago, for example, the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT), the body entrusted with training of paraprofessionals, to include instructions in library science courses to the visually impaired in their courses. The results of the Opinion Leaders Panel survey conducted by Market Opinion Research Institute (MORI) between January and April 2005, which examined opinions on the national ICT strategy, “Fast Forward,” is informative for NALIS’ goal of bridging the digital divide. A mere 17 percent of the respondents revealed that they have computers at home with Internet access. Only 15 percent of the respondents used the library to search the Internet.17 NALIS will receive a digital mobile library by mid-2006. Assistive technology will be installed in this new library, which will offer VIP service to rural communities that presently do not benefit from a library service. Additionally, licenses of JAWS software have been purchased and this software will be installed on computers in all 23 libraries in the NALIS network.
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY GROUPS A programme of volunteerism may be another method to address the challenges of mobility. The CNIB reported in 2001 that there were 20,000 volunteers working with the organization. These volunteers assist with driving clients to libraries, visiting clients in their homes and reading to them, and working as mobility and orientation staff. 18 Library services to the blind and print disabled provide new opportunities for Friends of the Library groups to volunteer services in assisting libraries in the delivery of this service. Members will be encouraged to support this service and could, therefore, redirect their energies from their sole activity of fundraising.
Out of the Darkness
143
RECOGNITION NALIS received recognition at the highest level by winning the Prime Minister’s Innovating for Service Excellence Award in the Making a Difference to People—The Social Inclusion Award. The Prime Minister Innovating for Service Excellence Scheme was introduced by the government of Trinidad and Tobago to “encourage creativity and innovativeness” in the public service. Participants were rewarded for innovativeness in use of technology to improve service to the population.19 In Trinidad and Tobago today, Joyce Valenza’s description of library services to the blind is apt: “… there is good reason to celebrate. While barriers still exist, technology has become an equalizer for the blind.”20 This service has become a model for libraries at both campuses of the UWI at Mona, Jamaica and St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. NALIS is committed to ensuring that all differently abled persons in Trinidad and Tobago can enjoy equity to access to information. There is need to expand focus to library services for the deaf and hearing impaired and we have addressed this need by training all our staff in sign language, employing two deaf workers and upgrading the Next Talk software. There is evidence, based on the innovative and enhanced services provided in the area of assistive technologies and the new initiatives embarked on, as outlined in this chapter, that NALIS recognizes that access to information is a human right that should be enjoyed by all.
ENDNOTES 1.
United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), United Nations Generally Assembly Resolution 217A, 7 July 2006. www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/ humanrights/resources/universal.asp.
2.
John M. Robinson, address, ACURIL/IFLA SLB Preconference, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, 25–26 May 2002.
3.
Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, Professional Guidance, Policy and Research: Library and Information Services for Visually Impaired People July 2004, 9 Sept. 2006. www.cilip.org.uk/professionalguidance/ equalopportunities/briefings/visual.htm.
4.
J. W. Roos, “Copyright Protection as Access Barriers,” IFLA Journal 31.1 (2005): 54.
5.
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Laws, Act No.18 of 1998. 10 Sept. 2006. www.nalis. gov.tt/Libraries/nalisbill.html.
6.
K. G. Saur, “The Public Library Service: IFLA/UNESCO Guidelines for Development,” IFLA Publications 97 (2001): 8.
7.
Canadian National Institute for the Blind, When You Meet a Blind Person, 2003, 7 July 2006. www.cnib.ca/eng/publications/pamphlets/when_you_meet.htm.
144
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
8.
World Summit on the Information Society, Declaration of Principles: Building the Information Society: A global challenge in the new millennium, 12 Dec. 2003. 9 Sept. 2006. www.itu.int/wsis/docs/geneva/official/dop.html.
9.
Victoria Owen, “Developing Partnerships to Serve Blind Children and Adults: The Canada Experience,” Paper presented at ACURIL/IFLA SLB Preconference, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, May 25–26, 2002.
10. Library of Congress, Digital Preservation: National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program, 9 Sept. 2006. www.digital preservation.gov. 11. Daisy Consortium. Developing the Next Generation of Digital Talking Books. 2006. 9 Sept. 2006. www.daisy.org/about_us/dtbooks.asp. 12. Owen. 13. Mary Rasenberger and Chris Weston, Overview of the Section 108 Study Group, 2005, 9 Sept. 2006. www.loc.gov/section108/about.html. 14. Roos, 66. 15. National Library and Information System Authority, Homepage, 2004, 9 Sept. 2006. library2.nalis.gov.tt/. 16. World Wide Web Consortium, Web Accessibility Initiative, 2006, 9 Sept. 2006. www.w3.org/WAI. 17. Opinion Leaders Panel News Issue #5 (Port-of-Spain, Trinidad: Ministry of Public Administration and Information, 2005). 18. “The Canadian National Institute for the Blind,” The Toronto Star, Jan. 13, 2001. 19. Patrick Manning, “The Pivot for Development,” 21 Sept. 2004. 9 Sept. 2006. www.gov.tt/news/news_article.asp?id=2290. 20. Joyce Kasman Valenza, “Surfing Blind,” School Library Journal (2000): 34–36.
WORKS CITED Anderson-Pessoa, Halcyee. Business Plan for Accessible Caribbean Heritage Project. Kingston, Jamaica; n.p., 2004. National Information Standards Organization on Talking Books. Specifications for the Digital Talking book. 2002. 9 Sep. 2006. www.niso.org/standards/resources/z39-862002.html. Paul, Anna Lisa. “National Library Opens Facility for Blind.” Trinidad Express 28 June 2004: 17. Saunders, Jim. “Shaping Library Service for People in the Caribbean and Latin America who are Blind.” Paper presented at ACURIL/IFLA SLB Preconference, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, May 25–26, 2002. United Nations. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). United Nations Generally Assembly Resolution 217A. 7 July 2006. www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/ humanrights/resources/universal.asp. Wallace, Annette. “Library Services to Visually Impaired Persons: the Trinidad and Tobago Experience.” Paper presented at ACURIL/IFLA SLB Preconference, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, May 24–26, 2002.
CHAPTER 11
Reading Between the Lines in Jamaica’s Rural Libraries: Some Personal Impressions Beryl W. Johnson Nova Southeastern University, Florida, USA
Dolsy Smith The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA
Gwendolynn G. Amsbury World Trade Center, Oregon, USA ABSTRACT The rural library in Jamaica serves as both a source of information and a social institution, even more so than in cities and larger towns where wider options exist. However, the library must first surmount the tension and dysfunction that derive from a North American/British ideal of library service oriented toward literacy and canonical reading, and the strong oral nature of Jamaican local culture. Even more unfortunate is the persistence of the nationwide Jamaica Library Service (JLS) in adhering to some systems and policies that continue to be ineffective, and which deter rural libraries from developing programs and services that best serve the needs of their individual communities. Rural libraries would benefit greatly by sharing among themselves methods and best practices on how to utilize scarce resources to provide patrons with appropriate, timely, and quality services. With some autonomy, these libraries would also realize the valuable contribution of community stakeholders in the process of creating programs and services that serve and represent them.
INTRODUCTION Since its inception in 1948, the JLS has grown to govern both public and school library networks, including a bookmobile system that contains 576,399 books. The Public Library Network has 121 branch libraries (both full- and part time) and approximately 900 school libraries within the School Libraries Network. In its 2002–2003 annual report, the JLS reported a total circulation of 3,758,037 for their library collections. The report also shows an 145
146
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
increase in circulation at the main (parish) libraries, yet a zero percent growth in the branch libraries from the previous year. The research project, from which this chapter is derived, centered on libraries in the third smallest parish of Hanover in rural Jamaica. The main library in the parish capital, Lucea, is responsible for the oversight of its six branches: Askenish, Chester Castle, Green Island, Hopewell, Jericho, and Pondside. Traveling to Jamaica as graduate students from the University of Michigan’s School of Information in the summer of 2004, the authors had read and heard much about the “digital divide” and how it negatively affects those who come from marginalized communities. During the course of our two-month research project observing rural libraries and the communities that use them, we glimpsed the divide from the perspective of people thought to be on its other side, and the ways in which they attempt to bridge this divide. This attempt is not always successful, but it causes community members to ask questions about where they stand in their own society and community. A young woman in the Jericho branch library, who had spoken insightfully about unemployment and other social problems, asked us whether we were going to do anything for her community. Later, she could be heard singing to herself fragments of a song, “I don’t know what the future holds.” This line of an anonymous song seems to be fitting for rural libraries in Jamaica, with staff often not knowing what books they will receive and when; what programs they will have the funds and time to institute; or (in, at least, one case) if they will eventually be forced to close their doors to the community with whom they have managed over time, to create a mutually sustaining relationship. The material limitations of public library service in Jamaica are manifold: a shortfall in government funding, especially for capital expenditures (Jamaica Library Service); a freeze on wage increases for government employees; an inadequate and diminishing book stock; a shortage of trained librarians; decrepit or simply incommodious buildings; and, perhaps, a generalized apathy among the adult members of communities that are subject to unremitting material deprivation, rising social problems like crime, and a dearth of prospects for the future. Moreover, it must be said that among Jamaica’s 14 parishes, Hanover stands out for its lack of urban and industrial development. It is not the site of the JLS’s most notable successes (for example, new building extensions in St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland), but yet it is a place where the resourcefulness of the branches and their staff is extraordinary.
OVERVIEW OF THE JAMAICA LIBRARY SERVICE To understand the system under which the rural branch libraries in Hanover operate, it is important to have knowledge of the central agency that governs them. The JLS is responsible for the administration of two networks,
Reading Between the Lines …
147
one of which is the Public Library Network.1 The JLS oversees more than 600 service points in the Public Library Network alone, which are comprised of 13 parish libraries (Kingston and St. Andrew are merged), 121 full- and parttime branch libraries, 11 special service points (such as those in hospitals, youth camps, and correctional institutions), and 511 bookmobile stops. The bookmobile plies routes in remote areas and through communities temporarily without the services of a branch library. The number of branches in each parish varies according to population size, demand for service, and facilities. In a 1999 article on Jamaica libraries, the following was predicted: Over the next 5 years the Ministry of Education will seek to improve the technological levels and service in the public library system. This should include the creation of an electronic network among parish libraries, computerization of the operational systems in the libraries and the creation of a database of library catalogues. There are also plans to extend the library services with the construction of more branch libraries, expansion of bookmobile services and the service to the house bound persons.2 Five years later, however, a crippling economy and severe budget cuts had resulted in a reprioritization or deferral of major projects by the JLS, including systems automation, the extension of services, and the erection of new buildings for branch libraries.3
ORGANIZATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF SERVICE The restructuring that is currently underway derives from the responsibility of a felt mandate within the JLS, as the only public library system in Jamaica, to remain relevant and keep up with the changing needs of patrons. Patricia Cuff, senior librarian and director of the National Library Network, has been with the JLS for more than 40 years, and described an epistemological shift in the organization from “knowing” to the need to know: “We are now evaluating everything we do.” The primary frame of this evaluation seems to be “cost-effectiveness” or efficiency. It is, moreover, a top-down effort, discussed in terms of “quality control” by the directorate. This shift Cuff views as correspondent to a shift in the society at large, in which people need to adapt to new job conditions and are using the library to “re-tool” themselves. In contrast to this, however, the majority of Hanover’s branch libraries are small structures scattered across rural towns, open for business, but mostly empty.
148
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
ATTITUDES AND NEEDS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES There is a general perception of the JLS as being the authority, if only for the name of the organization and its national scope. For example, as an arm of the government, the library service is viewed with suspicion, with its resources and services seen to be more prescriptive and inflexible, rather than customer-responsive and accommodating. There is also the expectation that all library services (that is, access to the Internet) be provided free, as they were already being paid for by tax dollars. Another common assumption is that the library is mainly a place for students and study. People we interviewed in every community identified their branch library with the education of the youth: “it is there to take care of the children,” as one man said. Seeing the students’ behavior in the library attests to the social dimension of reading: working on homework in groups, or huddling around a magazine that parades the latest celebrities, or as we saw in one tiny branch, sharing an electronic word-recognition game. Children and young people of all ages fill their time in the library with a mixture of work and leisure. Some librarians find this phenomenon problematic: One librarian said that her greatest challenge was imposing a standard of disciplined behavior on a room of loud children. On the other hand, another librarian clearly seemed to have developed a close relationship with the few young girls that spent their after-school hours in her branch library, talking with them and helping them read books or play games. She told us, “I am used to the students, and they are used to me, and they are comfortable here.” Dealing with the great numbers of students every day is a drain on librarians’ time and quickly uses up one of the rural libraries’ most precious resources: space. At the same time, the fact that libraries in these communities seem to represent a less-supervised place than the school library or home, but one that receives parental sanction (and it does, in fact, “take care” of children whose parents do not come home until the evening hours, as we saw in more than one branch), it becomes a site for a multitude of social interactions and a chance for the library to connect with younger users. What of the adult users? The general assumption is that once adults leave school, they tend to stop using the library. The parish-wide statistics (2002–2003) indicate a significant drop in membership (1,334) over the previous year—much of which, by reports of the branch librarians, is due to the systematic weeding of “inactive members,” who have not used the library in years. According to the parish librarian, “adults are not using the library as they ought.” Another librarian echoed her comment, bemoaning the fact that the community does not “appreciate” its branch library.4 The focus of library service for adults in Jamaica has been squarely on leisure reading. According to Thomas Augst, this ideology of literate selfimprovement has always characterized public librarianship in North America. As in Augst’s analysis, the ideology of leisure reading in Jamaica
Reading Between the Lines …
149
intersects with the enterprise of imagining a national community and presupposes a lifestyle with sufficient time and energy for an effortful pastime like reading. The leisure model of reading derives from an economics of cultural capital under which those who have read more (or better) books occupy more legitimate positions in the social world.5 To acknowledge this phenomenon is not to contest the benefits of lifelong reading. In addition to its cognitive, emotional, and ethical effects, reading books cultivates a familiarity with the language patterns of the social elite—a cultivation especially useful for those whose native version of English is not that of the social elite. From the perspective of some of the library staff, the paperback collections, largely composed of mass-market genre fiction, are deficient in “culture,” a property more in abundance in the nonfiction and in the hardcover fiction books. One librarian labeled the paperbacks “not what we would call literary,” and she associated their reading with the watching of soap operas. Such perceptions are nurtured by an educational system that focuses on the literary classics of the British canon.6 Librarians and users alike acknowledge that the economy of reading taste in each community is based in large part on oral communication: “It’s a word-of-mouth thing…they [the readers] don’t really think about the author.” One person will read a book and then recommend it to an acquaintance, who will then request it from the library. Librarians play an important role in this, often called on by users to choose “a nice book” or a “new book” for them. And although some did express their preference in generic terms—“I like things with adventure” or “ghost stories”—other users articulated the thought process behind their choices. One woman said “I like to read about families,” and another told us that in the romance novels she reads she finds points of reference from her own experience: “When I take a look around my community I see at lot of the same thing.” An elderly man who reads the adventure narratives explained that for him reading is not for fun: “It is an exercise for your mind.” While interviewing adults at bookmobile stops, we saw many whose selection was not limited to the paperback genre fiction. For instance, one person had a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, as well as a book titled Jamaica, It’s Nice. In reference to the latter, she lamented that the bookmobile was not stocked with “more books about reality…that tell you about Jamaica, what’s going on in Jamaica, like this one here, it tells about Ocho Rios, Montego Bay…” We might speculate that the often remarked lack of interest in the libraries’ nonfiction offerings has to do with the perceived irrelevance of these materials to the community. That is, most of them speak no more to the reality of Jamaican life than do the vivid narratives of mass-market fiction. As one branch librarian put it, “For every 20 books I get, only one will be about Jamaica…Franklin D. Roosevelt, Bill Clinton, the British Royal Family—hello, I’m living in Jamaica!” Moreover, nonfiction prose requires, in general, a greater proficiency of the reader than does fiction, especially fiction of the generic kind.
150
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
One young woman at a bookmobile stop, when asked what else she would like to see in the collection, replied, “medical books.” Other topics that seem to bring adults to the library include sports, religion, “arts and crafts,” and recipes. In Hopewell, teachers reportedly use the library to research childhood education and child psychology. And most branch libraries seem to have, at least, a few regular users who come daily to read The Jamaica Gleaner, some of which are not registered members of the library simply because they have never wanted to borrow books. Such a “regular” frequents the Pondside library in the mornings, perusing the newspapers and chatting about current events with the library staff and with acquaintances passing outside on the street. In the library at Jericho, we met a pair of young women who visit the library during the quiet hours of the afternoon “to find out what’s happening,” who spread out The Jamaica Gleaner between them to have a “discussion.” In the words of one librarian, “People don’t come to the library just to study. Some come because they don’t have any place else to go.” In these aspects of its service, the library is providing space or occasion for the bonds that constitute community. As with the students, this represents an important social dimension of adult reading, as does the socialization at bookmobile stops. After the parish library, the best-used service point in Hanover (by report of the parish librarian) is the bookmobile. The air-conditioned van carrying its selection of materials visits each community on its route twice per month, stopping both at schools and in residential areas. As we observed, at certain stops it draws a crowd of adults, some of whom are not there to borrow books but to socialize with the others and with the driver. However, like the young man along the route of the bookmobile who is accustomed to seeing it pass by every month but did not know that the books are available for free, awareness may be a problem. A taxi-man in Jericho, who described himself as a reader of “all kinds of books,” concluded that many people in his community are unaware of what “interesting books” the library contains. Similarly, the recurrent belief that the library is exclusively for education (and those currently enrolled in educational courses) seems to deter many. A young man who described himself as an avid reader, with a penchant for adventure stories—thanks to parents who during his childhood made him “read a book a week”—said that he uses the library mainly because he plans to continue his education, implying that he may not associate library use with reading per se. An elderly gentleman, who played an active role in securing a new library facility in Jericho, explained that he does not use the library because he already knows how to read. Literacy, moreover, is for him associated primarily with issues of social power: “You in the university, you couldn’t write something to fool me, because me already know how to read.” He suggested that the library ought to offer more entertainment: “Entertainment goes a long way. If you can establish something to entertain them, that would attract them more…but it’s just a trick: Entertainment is entertainment, and
Reading Between the Lines …
151
work time is for work.” Following this suggestion, if reading, especially for those whose literacy skills are less developed or who cannot find materials that interest them, counts as work, then the very concept of leisure reading— at least as something pursued in the privacy of quiet study—becomes problematic. In Jericho, an elderly woman spoke of her need for large-print books. And a young Rastafarian man who was studying a volume of an encyclopedia to prepare for a workshop on environmental issues told us: I use the library to get out of the street sometimes…I have my own books, because I study Black Arts…I do a little on theology, Rastafarianism. After three, when school is dismissed, you cannot use the library…sometimes you need to get out of the library. He purchases most of the books he reads from stores in the city of Montego Bay, although he did have two books he had borrowed from the branch library, one a sociological text. But the library does not have most of the books he wants, on “opinions…ideologies…there is nobody around here that could give you a book on [Marcus] Garvey…I asked in the library, she said there is no such book around here.” This last shows that there are more than just issues of awareness and connecting with the community; there is the plain fact that most libraries do not possess the materials to serve their users. The staff on the bookmobile spoke of a high volume of complaints from users concerning the shortages in the collection: Users “have to read the same books over and over.” One branch librarian pointed out that, because a large portion of the collection is designated noncirculating (including many works of literature), some users who must wait until after work, have no access to the books they need, because of limited opening hours of the branch—unless they visit the parish library on the weekend. According to this librarian, “if adults come in for a book and the library doesn’t have it, they’ll say, ‘The library don’t have no books,’ and they won’t come back.” Observing what the different communities require of their libraries illustrates the discrepancy between what the libraries can (and are willing) to offer, vs. what people need from their community library. The ways in which staff members at rural branch libraries navigate these challenges and provide service to the community are testament to their resourcefulness.
RESOURCES AND THE RURAL BRANCH LIBRARY: HOPE FOR USING PAST COLLECTED KNOWLEDGE What stands opposite to institutionally based information, and what the growth of information technology always threatens to suppress, is precisely that local knowledge or forms of wisdom, transmitted orally and grounded in
152
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
practice. Such knowledge may, in many cases, exist below the level of conscious articulation, adhering as they do in a way of doing things—for instance, in a way of maneuvering around the official rules in a particular situation. This kind of knowledge will be crucial to the effort to build a truly community-based library that would account for these local ways of doing things and actually work toward the goal of fulfilling needs for particular communities. Although every branch library offers examples of this valuable local knowledge, one that stood out as a particularly strong example was the Chester Castle branch. In Chester Castle, the walls of the tiny one-room branch are hung with posters on safe sex, breast cancer, and HIV/AIDS. The librarian had requested a larger bulletin board, to facilitate the displays she puts together: “People see something they don’t know about, and then they ask for the book. We have books on those things here, but people don’t know to ask for them.” As at other branches, where the librarians work with the local ParentTeachers Association (PTA) and youth groups, the librarian in Chester Castle runs one such group on Saturdays. The Chester Castle librarian spoke of what she felt was her responsibility to the community to maintain a certain quality of service, in spite of poor facilities and almost nonexistent resources. As we spoke with her, two of the children that she supervises as they use the library every day after school, sat playing board games. The Chester Castle branch is in a community with such members as a retired teacher who has been very active in a local committee that seeks to raise funds for a community center. The center would fill a need in the community for adequate space for various activities, such as public concerts. At present, such events have to be staged in one of the local schools, as there is no accommodation in the one-room branch library. The center would also serve as a gathering place for all ages, and a space to offer classes on job skills, literacy, arts and crafts, etc. Unfortunately, the committee disbanded due to waning interest among some of the members and a situation our respondent would not elaborate on. But she affirmed her determination to seek support via another outlet—the local churches. But as the efforts of the residents of Chester Castle, on behalf of a new community center attest, popular support can be critical to the survival of a public service. Traditionally, the largest buildings in these towns, outside of private homes, are the churches and schools. Since these towns have very small businesses—with the primary ones being “shops” or convenience stores, generally abutting the roadway in front of someone’s house—it is difficult to find an adequate space to rent, even one with the most basic facilities. The accommodations in this structure are small and the ventilation and lighting are poor, which becomes more evident when it rains and or if there is a power outage due to a thunderstorm and the metal louver windows have to be closed. Unlike Pondside and Askenish, Chester Castle has telephone
Reading Between the Lines …
153
service, but like them, the branch library has no computers, because of space limitations and inadequate security. There exists tension between the centralized library administration and the rural library service as a resourceful community center. One of the rural branch librarians told us that she had once devised a community message board in the library, which included employment advertisements, as well as other, classified postings, clipped from the local newspaper. She was instructed to remove the items, the sentiment being that the library was not an employment office. Yet, in rural areas, the library is perhaps the only place (outside of the church) where people can go to find out about events and other information not available through their customary sources, such as word-of-mouth—a traditional and valued way to transmit information. Ferguson remarked that rural libraries ought to compensate for the unavailability of a variety of information sources traditionally present in urban communities (such as government offices), by serving as a multifaceted information source for the local community residents (92).
CONCLUSION The rural branch library in Jamaica plays the role of both a source of information and a social institution. But it must surmount the tension and dysfunction that derive from a North American (or perhaps British) ideal of library service, oriented toward literacy and canonical reading, and the strong oral nature of Jamaican local culture. From our observations in these communities, what adults seem to enjoy most about the library is the opportunity for social interaction, often but not exclusively centered on texts. Meeting neighbors and acquaintances at bookmobile stops and using the library as a gathering spot is just as important a function of the library as providing text-based information. We believe that rural libraries would benefit from each other were they to share ideas and best practices on how to respond to their patrons’ needs. But for this to happen, there would first need to be autonomy in the JLS management at the regional and parish levels, which would ultimately give branches the freedom, along with the requisite resources and support, to develop programs and collections that reflect the needs and characteristics of their unique communities. Although we saw the difficulties and challenges libraries and librarians in Jamaica face, we found ourselves heartened by the hardy roots of devotion and hope in these resource-limited communities. By the endurance of a branch librarian who puts up with low wages and a leaky building scarcely bigger than a bus-stop shelter, and who remains optimistic and uses her own personal funds for supplies, because she knows that the children in the community depend on the presence of the library. Also by the overtime efforts of some staff to help those students who fall behind in school, and by the initiative of others in organizing public forums to address public problems. And by the efforts of nonlibrarians such as the elderly man who helped save
154
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Jericho’s library, and the retired teacher who persists undeterred in her quest to build a community center. This anecdotal constellation of glimpses into private efforts and personal struggles illuminates, we believe, the value of community-determined public service. The library, as a nonregulatory agency, is well positioned to serve as a channel between the government and the local needs of its citizens, and to adapt itself, as far as its resources will allow, to those local needs. But we also believe that fulfillment of this role will entail changes in the conception of library service, on the part of its practitioners. In short, only some of its users will be readers, and only part of the information it purveys will come in books. Greater community involvement in the workings of each branch is probably the best way to discover what ought to make up the balance—and to give the intended users a more salient sense of ownership. As information worldwide becomes ever more proprietary, concentrated in the hands of the few, the mission of libraries to make that information as public as possible becomes more and more important.
ENDNOTES 1.
The other is the Schools Library Network. Both networks are further subdivided into six regions across the island. Each region has as its head a professional librarian who is the regional director, and responsible for the oversight of the parish libraries and their branch libraries within that region.
2.
IFLA/FAIFE World Report: Libraries and Intellectual Freedom, Dr. Elaine Wallace, then director of the information unit in the office of the prime minister.
3.
Staff within the JLS consists of more paraprofessionals than professional librarians. The majority of librarians have an undergraduate degree, a number of them in library studies at The University of the West Indies, Mona (UWI). Those in the profession for several years received their professional training as fellows or associates of the British Library Association, pre-1972 (which was the year that UWI introduced a Department of Library and Information Studies). Currently, the JLS’s policies do not include incentives for staff members to remain with the organization, or to further their studies in the field of librarianship; for their professional growth, senior librarians are encouraged to attend seminars and workshops sponsored by the JLS. Nor is there a drive to recruit staff from without (budget constraints aside). Yet this concern and hesitation is at odds with the stated need to raise the professional status of the members of the JLS, a top priority according to senior administrators. One administrator even mentioned the persistence within the service of an anachronistic culture of volunteerism, the vestige of traditional gender roles. This lingering culture may have detrimental effects on the ability of the members of the JLS to negotiate with both the government and the community.
4.
Hopewell, the largest branch in Hanover, reported that on the average 10 adults visit the library each day, mostly to use the lending section; one of the smallest branches has a total of nine regular adult users who come to the library to borrow books, while about 30 now and then send someone to pick up books for them, which the librarian selects.
Reading Between the Lines …
155
5.
For a thorough treatment of this idea, see John Guillory, Cultural Capital: The Problem of Literary Canon Formation (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994).
6.
Preferences for paperback genres are generally for “adventure” narratives, such as Westerns and spy novels, for romance novels, and for mysteries and “horror stories.”
WORKS CITED Augst, T. “American Libraries and Agencies of Culture.” American Studies 42.3 (2001). 5–22. Ferguson, Stephney. “Appropriate Librarianship for Rural Communities.” Rural Libraries and Community Resource Centres: Proc. of the COMLA Workshop Australia 1988. Malta 1990. Eds. Roy Sanders and James Henru. The International Association of Rural and Isolated Libraries for the Commonwealth Library Association. Wagga: Wagga, 1990. 90–94. Jamaica Library Service. Annual Report, 2002–2003. Jamaica Library Service. 2003. 7 July 2006. www.jamlib.org.jm/aboutus_frame.htm.
156
CHAPTER 12
Experiences in Developing Customised Information Services for a Competitive Agricultural Sector: The Case of the Caribbean Question and Answer Service (QAS) Claudette de Freitas Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Trinidad and Tobago ABSTRACT The Caribbean region has been facing many challenges in achieving development objectives, particularly with the relative decline of the agricultural sector. A new policy framework, called the Jagdeo Initiative, has been designed to ensure that the region can achieve a resurgence of its agricultural potential. Access to relevant, timely information in the right format to suit target audiences has always been important. However, with the advent of the information technology revolution, information is now viewed as a critical element in the development process. This chapter outlines the experience of a Caribbean research and development organisation working in collaboration with an international technical support agency to implement the devolution of a customised information service known as the Question and Answer Service (QAS). The chapter identifies challenges and lessons learnt, as well as points out the need for detailed evaluation of national QAS programmes. It recommends, among other suggestions, the focus on human resource development, linking information strategies to institutional information services, and, ultimately, to regional and strategic development programmes for effective implementation.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE CARIBBEAN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR The Caribbean agricultural sector has been experiencing unsteady growth rates since the mid-1990s as a result of loss of preferential markets, declining terms of trade, reduced productivity, and an aging farming population. In 157
158
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
1996, the governments of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) defined a programme for transformation of the agricultural sector to international competitiveness. However, the results of this programme have been described as modest and the region is now seeking to “achieve a resurgence of the regional agricultural potential” through the Jagdeo Initiative. The Jagdeo Initiative is named after the president of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, who is the head of government within the CARICOM, assigned to lead the agricultural sector. He recognized that the challenges facing the sector demanded an urgent response. It was necessary to provide support for economic, social, and environmental sustainability, stimulate innovation, and contribute to a climate that facilitates investment, while achieving an acceptable level of food security. Jagdeo identified several key binding constraints to be addressed to reduce the impact of natural disasters, pay greater attention to the management of the fragile and limited natural resources, and engage a range of stakeholders via consultation. The resulting policy framework outlined by President Jagdeo compliments the existing programme for transformation of the agricultural sector. Thus, it is anticipated that, by 2015, the Caribbean agricultural and rural development sector should have made significant contributions towards national and regional development, within the framework of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). The World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank have both noted the need to invest more resources in the agriculture and rural sector since these resources have an important role to play in poverty alleviation and sustainable development. In the Caribbean region, therefore, the effective implementation of the Jagdeo Initiative is of critical importance to the region’s economic and social development.
RESEARCH, INFORMATION, AND DEVELOPMENT: THE ROLE OF CARDI AND CTA The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) is a regional organisation with a mandate from the CARICOM to assist the transformation of agriculture to a higher level of global competitiveness, through its support for research and development. A major part of its activities involves collecting data and information about new agricultural technologies through desk and field research, analysing, adapting, validating, and integrating this information into new knowledge, for transfer to the wider agricultural community. CARDI has adopted a strategy that favours an overall industry development focus for priority commodities, moving from “the farm to the fork.” CARDI has been a victim of the general trend of diminishing resources for research and development institutions within the Latin American and Caribbean region. Notwithstanding, the institute has continued to make some impact through a number of partnership arrangements with local,
Experiences in Developing Customised Information …
159
regional, and international agencies and institutions. One such partnership has been that with the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), a relationship facilitating better access to information and communications management capacity. CTA is a technical support agency established in 1983 under the then Lomé Convention between the African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (ACP) and the European Union Member States. The Centre’s mission is now placed within the context of the successor arrangement of the Lomé Convention, the Cotonou Agreement, signed in June 2000. Although the agreements have changed, CTA’s objectives have been generally focused on improving the availability of and access to appropriate information, along with increased information and communication management capacity for ACP agricultural and rural development. The Caribbean member states within the ACP that can benefit from CTA funding are: Antigua and Barbuda; Barbados; Belize; The Bahamas; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Grenada; Guyana; Haiti; Jamaica; St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Lucia; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago; and Suriname. With regional linkages in 12 countries of the English-speaking Caribbean, CARDI has been able to effectively work in partnership with the CTA as the Regional Branch Office for the Caribbean since 1987.
BACKGROUND AND HISTORY OF THE QUESTION AND ANSWER SERVICE (QAS) QAS, sometimes pronounced Q-A-S or Quas, is being discussed as a mechanism designed by the CTA, in 1985, to provide information and documentation to ACP partners on demand, in support of intensifying production, market development, policy support, and sustainable development. It began as an information and reference service, initially based at the CTA headquarters in the Netherlands. The QAS used resources of the CTA library, along with in-house expertise of staff that had access to databases from partner institutions. The QAS has been among one of the key services provided to a range of Caribbean stakeholders through the CTA/CARDI programme. An evaluation of the Question and Answer Service in 1997 led to a pilot exercise conducted at the University of the Orange Free State, South Africa. Based on the results of this study, the CTA developed a QAS model and strategy that favoured devolution and decentralisation of the service to appropriate sites in the ACP. The model was based on the formation of a regional node with supporting national nodes; the role of each node was to coordinate all the QAS activities in the region, or country as the case may be. An information centre within a relevant institution was usually identified to serve as the node and responded to questions, gave referrals, identified and involved other partners, while serving as a link with CTA. Following the success of the
160
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
pilot project, the CTA expanded the devolution of the QAS to other ACP regions over a period of two to three years. According to the Oxford English Reference Dictionary,1 devolution is “the delegation of power…to local or regional administration; the passing on through a series of stages.” Devolution, therefore, meant that regional QASs, were to be organised taking into account local culture, information needs, and resources. CTA’s strategy included provision of funding and technical support to assist these countries to take charge of the management of a QAS for their respective, country, region, or community.
CARIBBEAN QAS STRATEGY A pilot QAS project was carried out in the Caribbean region between 1999 and 2001 under the aegis of the Caribbean Agricultural Information Service (CAIS). The QAS pilot was designed based on the results of a 1997 information needs survey, which indicated that more emphasis should be placed on delivering national services and increasing access and relevance to farmers, extension agents, and policymakers. Following the pilot exercise, a QAS strategy was devised and the devolution exercise took place in two phases: 2002/03 and 2004/05. It was recommended, among other things, that individual Caribbean countries should develop national level QASs and thus make information services more accessible and relevant to local target groups, such as: • Small and medium commercial farmers and enterprises • Subsistence farmers • Ministries of agriculture - Policymakers - Planners - Extension agents - Researchers/scientists • Other agricultural and rural development institutions • Librarians and information specialists • Networks and network members • Trainers and educators The services were aimed effectively at audiences within the context of each country, with the priorities expected to shift based on the local needs. The role of CARDI through CAIS was to coordinate and provide technical assistance for designing and implementing national QAS services and streamlining the regional service on a phased basis. The underlying strategy
Experiences in Developing Customised Information …
161
was aimed at increasing ownership and responsibility for developing and managing the local QAS/information services. Funding was sought and obtained from CTA to execute this project. The objectives of the QAS project were: • To improve the delivery of information on priority topics of relevance to target users in respective Caribbean countries • To identify and prepare Caribbean institutions to launch a QAS on a phased basis • To facilitate increased collaboration and networking among agricultural institutions in the Caribbean at the national and regional level to respond to information requests in a more timely manner • To develop and maintain electronic linkages with members of the local regional and international QAS community The QAS provided a range of services—from basic or standard library reference services to technical advice requiring expert responses. Clients had access to: • Referrals to other information centres or agencies with relevant data • Responses to simple reference queries • Literature searches • Document delivery • Selective dissemination of information • Complex research and responses • Technical advice • Expert intervention • Repackaging of information • Preparation or commissioning of fact sheets and technical bulletins CARDI functioned as a regional node with local representatives performing the role of national node. CTA provided funds for training of staff, purchase of selected books and journals, and some infrastructure, such a computer and/or shelving. The QAS centre was responsible for office space, basic information centre infrastructure, and system, staffing, and operational expenses. The QAS in the Caribbean relied on the use of a multidisciplinary team of professional and technical staff—information specialists, researchers and
162
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
scientists, extension agents, communication specialists, and agricultural subject matter specialists linked to a team of regional and international partners. Efforts were also made to align the QAS to priorities identified in the respective countries or region so that it became more relevant.
ELEMENTS OF THE QAS DEVOLUTION The CTA commissioned the design of a training course in the “Management of a QAS” to support the devolution process. To date, 30 persons from 13 Caribbean countries were trained in two training courses held in 2001 and 2003, respectively. CARDI functioned as the overall coordinator of the devolution of the QAS project, while at the same time streamlining the CARDI Information Centre. Once training was completed, CARDI worked with the representative of the respective agency to develop an appropriate QAS Devolution project and provided technical assistance to implement the project with CTA funding. A virtual network was designed in 2001 to facilitate easier communication and exchange of information and experiences in the region. However, after a flurry of activity over a short period, the discussions were not sustained. By 2002, QAS centres were established in three countries—CARDI Headquarters in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and St. Lucia—while one country (Commonwealth of Dominica) came into the programme with an existing documentation centre seeking to increase capacity. Three other countries—St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts/Nevis, and Barbados— also initiated the QAS devolution at that time. At the end of 2004, six QAS centres in addition to the CARDI Information Centre, were operational in the region. In 2005, efforts continued to consolidate the existing centres but also to establish two new centres in Antigua and Barbuda, and Trinidad and Tobago, while developing local QAS networks and services. Some of the projects were not sustainable as a result of resource limitations at the country level. However, there was also insufficient capacity to pursue requests from other countries for development of CAIS/QAS networks, as a result of the significant reduction in human resources and capacity, within the CARDI Information and Communications Department. Over the period 2002–2003 and 2004–2005, the Caribbean QAS provided responses to 1,854 and 1,494 requests for information, respectively. In addition, the project completed selected activities including: information needs assessment; design of templates for data collection and analysis; preparation of manuals, technical bulletins, and newsletters; database development; network development; and training needs assessment and training courses.
MODELS FOR DELIVERY OF QAS IN THE CARIBBEAN As the devolution process continued different models for delivery of national QAS services evolved. The St. Vincent QAS centre established a
Experiences in Developing Customised Information …
163
documentation centre within the Information and Communication Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture. This centre maintained linkages to the Agricultural Extension Division and supported delivery of QAS through use of traditional approaches, while expanding the service by linking it to radio and television programmes. More recent innovations include direct linkages with local farmers’ networks and groups. Barbados implemented a more traditional QAS centre that housed a valuable collection of information resources, with linkages to the ministry’s Web site along with an emerging informal network of local information providers. Jamaica presented a model of a country with a relatively active network of agricultural information professionals—the Jamaica Agricultural Documentation and Information Network (JADIN) that was used to provide QAS services via the online service known as ASK—Agricultural Services for Knowledge. Users also accessed the services through fax, e-mail, telephone, regular mail, and as walk-in clients. The QAS in St. Kitts/Nevis targeted mainly farmers and was linked to the development and provision of information via local radio, television, and video programmes made in response to needs identified by farmers’ cooperatives in Nevis. A local nongovernmental organisation in Antigua and Barbuda developed a service to provide information to a network of local agribusiness entrepreneurs, as well as existing and former students of its training facility and model farm. The St. Lucia QAS was initially supported by a network of private sector and public sector groups coordinated by the Information Services Unit, in collaboration with the Extension Services Division, both of the Ministry of Agriculture. Questions received at any one of the focal points were answered by the most appropriate resource in the group. However, the network has not been sustained for a number of reasons although the services are still being offered despite challenges faced by the Ministry of Agriculture. These models provide a variety of mechanisms that may be used for effective delivery of information to a wide audience.
PROFILE OF QAS USERS The profile of users varied across the region. Although not a target group, students have been among the major client groups, representing an average of 41.2 percent of users. Researchers and scientists are also among the key users of the QAS, recording the next highest category of 21.9 percent of users. Utilisation of the QAS among farmers varies but averages 8.4 percent with a range of 2 percent to 9.4 percent. Extension officers and policymakers comprise 11.2 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively. Trainers and educators, consultants, processors, subsistence farmers/homemakers, and other information providers, make up the remaining 13.5 percent. The QAS was
164
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
mainly used by males in the past, but there has been a gradual increase in the percentage of female users of the service over the period under discussion. The major use of information requested was for research purposes (21 percent) closely followed by crop production and general agricultural production (20 percent). Community development, education and policy development were also recorded as important uses, with levels of 8.2 percent and 6.1 percent, respectively. An analysis of the topics sought by users include at least 70 subject categories, with questions on crop and vegetable production, pest and disease management, and general practices in agricultural and food production, being among the largest requests. While a customised service is good for individual users, each QAS node must analyse its effectiveness in light of the cost, information resources available, audiences served, and the potential impact of these groups on the agricultural sector programme. The QAS is provided “on demand”; therefore, should it be assumed that if no questions are asked there is no need for information? Should the programme continue to provide information on demand to a majority of students and researchers, while farmers, policymakers, and extension agents make limited demands on the service? These are some questions that may need to be addressed in future studies.
PROMOTION OF THE QAS Although it has been well-known that CARDI offers information services, the term QAS is not familiar to most of the target audience in the Caribbean, since it had not been promoted, prior to the devolution exercise. Even after devolution of the service, active promotion of the QAS was muted since in a number of cases the services were struggling to respond to the existing clientele in the face of limited resources. Promotional activities undertaken have included the use of brochures, bookmarks, calendars, and mounting exhibitions at agricultural displays, shows, and conferences. Radio and television programmes, as well as newspaper advertisements and press releases, have also proved effective. Staff members who interact with the farming community and informal networks have also been used successfully, along with sensitisation seminars designed to encourage participation of potential partners. In the context of the QAS, however, promotion would need to be used more strategically with the aim of shifting the services to the priority target audience, obtaining policy support for the programme within potential QAS institutions and managing user expectations.
CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNT The process of implementing the devolution of the QAS has been a challenging but a great learning experience. The major constraints have been limited human resources and skills, poor information and communication
Experiences in Developing Customised Information …
165
systems, and infrastructure to manage the QAS, limited resources assigned to manage the day-to-day operations of the QAS, as well as insufficient policy support. It also proved difficult to reach a number of stakeholders such as farmers and producers, policymakers, and extension agents, which were identified as key target groups during the pilot exercise.
Human Resources and Skills Lack of human resources and limited human capacity in information management were among the major threats to the development and expansion of the QAS in the Caribbean region. Only three designated QAS focal points employed a trained information specialist or librarian as part of the QAS team, while three countries used the services of trained library technicians to provide the day-to-day support for the delivery of services. In other centres, the responsibility for the running of the QAS was sometimes left to clerical staff. Of the 30 persons trained through the CTA/CARDI course “Management of a QAS,” 10 persons or approximately one-third of the group had been trained in information management at the tertiary or professional level. Other trainees included scientists and researchers, extension officers, communication specialists, marketing specialists, or agriculture subject matter specialists. And even then, only five of the persons trained (16 percent of the group) continued to participate actively in QAS by the end of 2005. This training in QAS management proved very useful and permitted the coordinating team to set up QAS centres without the requisite in-house skills, in the short term. Over time, however, the system proved difficult to sustain even while employing several measures, such as use of short-term contract services, facilitation of short-term training attachments, providing training in selected information-management techniques, and collaboration with a national library or documentation centre. Thus, it is highly recommended that information services such as the QAS must be appropriately staffed with a team of trained information specialists at the level of each institution offering such services. User sensitisation and training also enhances the ability of an institution to implement information and communication projects effectively.
Limited Information Systems and Infrastructure It has been acknowledged that the Caribbean region enjoys relatively good access to ICTs. However, according to Marcelle, there appears to be “sluggish implementation of new technologies” (5). Henry also alludes to a culture of “information insensitivity,” where users sometimes fail to seek or use relevant information to support decision making. This may be one reason for the seeming lack of interest in developing information management policies, and the “need, but no demand” syndrome demonstrated in a CAIS pilot project,
166
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
which set up telecentres for farmers. It is also likely, that as is the case with many developing countries, that the region has not yet internalised the critical link between information and development. Hence, access to information at the institutions offering QAS was often limited by the poor availability of information resources, including budgetary allocations for day-to-day operations and maintenance of basic equipment. The option to increase the use of ICTs to reach farmers and other users within the Caribbean must be balanced by the information needs and also the facilities and characteristics of the respective users and providers.
Networking and Linkages The range of information required to service target audiences appropriately means that a number of institutions must come together to supply the relevant information. To date, at least two national QAS services have managed to develop formal and informal networks of partners, and have both experienced varying levels of cooperation from the partners. Research as to why cooperative efforts have failed, coupled with significant investment in advocacy and sensitisation to assist in preparing for more structured information services may be required. However, it has been the experience of CAIS that each organisation is required to manage its information so that they are in a position to become an effective partner within a network or programme. The use of electronic or online networks of QAS providers, along with networks of commodity or thematic specialists and producers, to effectively share information and respond to queries in a timely manner should be explored further.
Policy Support The third regular meeting of the Alliance for Sustainable Development and the Rural Milieu in the Caribbean, a regional body that represented key public, private, and NGO groups, endorsed the strategic role of information as a critical element for increasing productivity in agriculture. However, the majority of countries have not yet designed or articulated a strategic information and communication programme for implementing their development programmes. The absence of an institutional information programme and policy framework makes it difficult to facilitate the delivery of information services, including the QAS. This was often demonstrated by work with various agencies where parties expressed great interest and enthusiasm about participating in the QAS devolution. All parties had not internalised the project and felt that activities to be undertaken were the responsibility of the donor or coordinating agency, rather than as a part of the individual organisation’s responsibility.
Experiences in Developing Customised Information …
167
CURRENT STATUS OF DEVOLUTION OF THE QAS IN THE CARIBBEAN At the end of 2005, of the 15 countries in the region, only four countries had a QAS or information service that had been institutionalised to a greater or lesser degree, including the establishment of two new information centres and the upgrade of two other centres. Progress was made to establish and consolidate QAS in three other services, while still yet another group of countries had been lost, as some countries had failed to establish a sustainable service. Yet other countries that have expressed an interest in developing and running a QAS have not demonstrated the capacity to effectively deliver information services as a result of a lack of the basic infrastructure, institutional capacity, and resources. The service at CARDI is currently being reviewed and upgraded following the significant reduction in human resources. The task of implementing the devolution has been an evolving process. Although there are some significant successes, the experience has demonstrated that a lot more effort will be required to fully establish and develop the use of the QAS as an effective information service within the region. The real cost of the service for various users should be analysed. As experiences from the partnership of libraries to set up information services for farmers in New York has demonstrated, a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional team involving the libraries and other key stakeholder groups must be a part of the strategy.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Since the global development of ICTs, information has the potential to become a resource in the development process. The Jagdeo Initiative highlighted the existence of weak and nonintegrated information and intelligence systems and services within the agricultural sector, as a constraint to the region’s capacity for development. Recommendations to overcome these constraints included the strengthening, consolidation, and linkage of national marketing intelligence and information systems, along with an evaluation of the role of other services. The QAS has the potential to develop into a regional-level information and intelligence service, providing information to priority stakeholders in support of expanding the capacity and improving competitiveness of the agricultural sector. CARDI’s experience demonstrates that QAS devolution is medium to long term in nature and requires significant investment in human resources, along with policy and information resources and infrastructural support. Sensitisation, advocacy, and promotion will be necessary, as well as identifying the major priority needs and defining the requisite services for national nodes and networks.
168
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
A detailed evaluation of this Caribbean experience at a national level would identify specific constraints and potential solutions to these constraints in keeping with local resources and culture. Several models of the QAS that have been demonstrated provide options for delivery of services along with making full use of available technologies to suit a range of clientele. Indications are that the most critical need at this time is the development of human resources and capacity to manage information and communications—not only the specialists to manage such services, but also the users need to become more “information literate” so that they can be empowered to successfully participate in the development process. Ultimately, the use of any type of information service must be integrated into the strategy and programme of each organisation that agreed to offer the service. This is the only way in which the appropriate institutional systems and arrangements will be effective and facilitate the sustainability of such a service. The effective delivery of a QAS service at the regional level will also require the integration of resources and services across the wider institutional systems. As such, a detailed information and communication strategy should be prepared to support the implementation of the region’s strategy for agricultural and rural development. Editors’ Note: The views expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation or the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute, and can in no way be taken to reflect their official position.
ENDNOTES 1.
Oxford English Reference Dictionary, 2nd ed. Rev. (London: OUP, 2003).
WORKS CITED Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI). Final Report— Evaluation of the CTA/QAS Caribbean Pilot Experience. St. Augustine: CARDI, 2000. —-. Information and Communications Department. Selected MISSION Reports: Visits to QAS Centres in the Caribbean Region to Review QAS Activities Provide Technical Assistance and Make Presentations. St. Augustine: CARDI, 1999–2005. —-. Project Report. Devolution of CTA/CARDI Question and Answer Service (QAS). St. Augustine: CARDI, 2003. —-. Project Report. Devolution of CTA/CARDI Question and Answer Service (QAS). St. Augustine: CARDI, 2005. —-. Report on Regional Training Course: Management of Question and Answer Services. St. Augustine: CARDI, 2001. —-. Report on Regional Training Course: Management of Question and Answer Services. St. Augustine: CARDI, 2003. —-. Rural Universe Network (RUNetwork)—Draft Report. St. Augustine: CARDI, 2001. Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat. Strengthening Agriculture for Sustainable Growth and Development—Excerpts from a Proposal for Interventions to Alleviate the Key Binding Constraints to the Agricultural Sector in Caribbean
Experiences in Developing Customised Information …
169
Countries presented by His Excellency President Bharrat Jagdeo. Paper presented at Conference of Head of Government of the Caribbean Community. Paramaribo, Suriname. 16–17 Feb. 2005. Counterpart International. Caribbean Agriculture Will Rise Again Says Bajan Expert. 14 Feb. 2006. www.counterpart.org/dnn/default. de Freitas, Claudette. The Role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the Development of Competitiveness in the Agricultural Sector. Ts. St. Augustine: Institute of International Relations. St. Augustine: UWI, 2003. Hee Houng, Maritza. Proposal for a Pilot Network for Decision-Making for Sustainable Development: A Report for the “Information for Decision-making on Sustainable Development (IDSD) Project.” Organization of American States. Unit for Sustainable Development and Environment. Bridgetown: OAS, 2003. Henry, Ralph M. “The Information Imperative in the Development in the Commonwealth Caribbean.” Information Development 7.1 (1991): 32–38. Hodge, Bernadette and Rebekah Tanner. “Grassroots to Grass-fed: Libraries Partner with Local Organisations to Address the Information Needs of Farming Communities in Upstate New York.” The Reference Librarian 82 (2003): 107–124. Inter-American Development Bank. Strategy for Agricultural Development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Washington: IDB, 1999. 6 July 2006. www.iadb.org/topics/ subtopics.cfm?subtopicID=AGR&topicID=AG&language=English. Marcelle, Gillian. Integrating ICTs into Caribbean Development: Regional Initiatives and Strategies. Presentation at in “Diplomacy and Cyberspace Seminar” organised by UNEDSA and UNITAR, Oct. 20–24, 2003. Rome. 10 Sept. 2006. unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/UN/UNPAN013248.pdf. Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation. (CTA). Managing a Question and Answer Service (QAS), Lessons Learnt. Workshop proceedings, Accra, Ghana, 23–27 Apr. 2001. —-. Question and Answer Services. 2004. 6 July 2006. www.cta.int/about/qas.htm. World Bank Group. “Policy and the Competitiveness of Agriculture, Trade, Research and Development and Land Markets.” Beyond the City: The Rural Contribution to Development. Washington: The World Bank Group. 2005. 155–184. Zaragoza, José. The Future of the Caribbean Economy. Canadian Foundation for the Americas (FOCAL). Ottawa: FOCAL, 2002. 10 Sept. 2006. www.focal.ca/pdf/ caribbean.pdf.
170
171
PA R T I V
Integration and Impact of Information Technology on Library Services
172
CHAPTER 13
The Impact of Modern Information Technology in the Caribbean: Exploring the Challenges for the Technical Services Division Gwyneth E. George University of Guyana, Guyana ABSTRACT Introduction of new information technology has impacted the delivery and dissemination of information significantly. There is the belief that automation has changed some functions of the Technical Services Division, and more importantly, that it is reducing the percentage of staff members assigned there. The literature reflects the hype regarding implications of the application of modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to the Technical Services Division—words like “modernizing,” “downsizing,” “reengineering,” “restructuring,” and “outsourcing” are frequently applied. This chapter will attempt to provide an empirical analysis of the types of traditional technology that were used in the Technical Services Division. This theoretical framework will then be used to provide a comparison with modern information technology that is now used to conceputalise new challenges for the Technical Services Division. Challenges related to training, adaptability, and applicability, among other issues, will be addressed. Using comparative case analysis between libraries in developed countries and those in developing countries (with specific emphasis on the University of Guyana (UG) Library), the chapter will examine the impact of technology and challenges posed for a developing country in this new Information Age. This examination is critical when one considers that it is the view of administrators that technology has solved most, if not all, of the problems related to the management of the Technical Services Division.
INTRODUCTION From the 1960s onwards, we have witnessed dramatic technological changes globally in almost every area of life. There is no doubt that the next 173
174
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
few decades will witness even more dramatic changes in all spheres of economic, social, and cultural development. Dramatic changes resulted with the advent of personal computers, word processing to database creation, image technology including scanning and digitising techniques, and the even more exciting concept of the convergence of the traditional and modern technology to create cyber villages. Library services are normally discussed in terms of two broad functions— public and technical. Any operation that involves direct contact with the library patron is considered a public service; all other operations are technical services (Bloomberg and Evans 17). Although considered a very general definition, it helps one to group the activities of a library into two categories—those that are considered technical services activities and those that are considered public services activities. The aim of the Technical Services Division in libraries is to acquire and process materials in order to get them to the shelves in the public departments. Because of the nature of its activities, the Technical Services Division varies according to the size and type of library and comprises mixed levels of personnel. Bloomberg and Evans highlight an important point. In many libraries, technical services activities require the efforts of a large portion of library staff. Bloomberg and Evans posit that in some large libraries, more than 60 percent of the staff is assigned to the Technical Services Division (17). With the introduction of the new information technology and the impact it is making on the delivery and dissemination of information, there is the general assumption that automation has changed some of the functions of the Technical Services Division and, more importantly, that it is reducing the percentage of staff members who will be assigned to the Technical Services Division. The fact remains, however, that regardless of the type of library, the Technical Services Division consumes a large percentage of the library’s budget that is spent on resources. In return, management requires a certain level of work efficiency, and it is this aspect that is always being assessed and evaluated at that level. In terms of the general library, the areas that have benefited more from computer applications include the bookkeeping processes, materials ordering, cataloguing, serials control, circulation, bibliographic data retrieval, and some aspects of interlibrary loan work. With the advent of the modern ICTs, it was expected that most libraries would have taken advantage of this development, especially where they could be used to reduce the amount of staff time devoted to routine activities. In this context, the chapter will attempt to address the impact of the ICTs on the Technical Services Division and to explore the challenges in the light of this concept. The developed countries have made leaps and bounds in dealing with the new technology and have been the pacesetter in this regard.
The Impact of Modern Information Technology …
175
On the other hand, the developing countries possess national differences that vary from territory to territory, but generally their economies are characterised by a shortage of local entrepreneurship and technological innovation. Their economies are also highly dependent on the developed world not only for trade and foreign exchange, but for the new information technology. While the developing world is taking advantage of the technology in a variety of ways to decrease the gap between the “information rich” and the “information poor,” the level of application of the ICTs varies from country to country. The paper takes cognizance of the variation in the level of application of the technology in the developing world when addressing the specific challenges for the Technical Services Division.
LITERATURE REVIEW The literature reflects the hype regarding the implications of the application of modern ICTs to the Technical Services Division. Gorman notes that “terrible things are happening to catalogues and cataloguing with implications for service to library users and the future of libraries.” He points out that reports of the gutting and closing of catalogue departments are legion. Words like “modernizing,” “restructuring,” “downsizing,” “reengineering,” and “outsourcing” are being used by philosophic administrators as smoke screens for the destruction of one of the pillars of library service (32). The literature also notes the “deprofessionalising” of the catalogue department—the reduction or the elimination of the number of professionals who catalogue. The concept of “outsourcing”—that is, the turning over of the responsibility for cataloguing current acquisitions to commercial firms— is also highlighted in much of the literature. All these paradigm shifts are rooted in the belief that the cataloguing department is full of expensive and unproductive obsessive people who do not make a major contribution to the value of the library (Gorman 33). On the other hand, some writers feel that the economics of our universities and public institutions are changing drastically. The way people gain access to information is also changing radically. The traditional technical services departments do not recognise these two important facts. Therefore, whether we like it or not, our catalogue departments must be evaluated against these two pivotal features of our environment. The decision to “reengineer” the Technical Services Division is a reaction to the changing information needs of library patrons. It is a reaction to the stagnant administration of catalogue and technical services departments, and even more important to the rigid professional standards that no longer meet the needs of our patrons (Waite 36). There is the feeling that the traditional departments have three features that are not consistent with the new information environment. First, they are expensive. Second, the nature of the handling of the traditional functions
176
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
makes them slow, and third, because of this, they are not responsive to the information needs of patrons. These features result in the most recent publications not being catalogued, but left lying on shelves. The literature also highlights the belief that developing the intuitive skills needed to extract information from library systems is more important than the knowledge needed to organise library catalogues and print collections. Although there is some division, and even animosity, among practising professionals on the impact of the ICTs on the Technical Services Division and the implications for service, there is a clear acceptance that the technology has changed some of the functions of the Technical Services Department, and will continue to do so in the near future. Consequently, there is the need to put the full force behind the human and electronic sources available to ensure that patrons get the information they need. This writer notes that the term “Technical Services Division” seems to have vanished from the literature in the 1990s. This may be as a result of the general feeling that with the new technology, libraries should no longer be assessed in terms of technical and public functions since the artificial boundaries between these two departments should have collapsed. It is perhaps premised on the belief of getting information where it is needed and when it is needed.
OVERVIEW OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION The basic premise on which all libraries exist is the need to provide information to patrons, and this remains so even in the age of technology. This is so even for large libraries in which access to information is limited. However, the bedrock for the provision of this service is the work performed by the Technical Services Division. Although technology has changed the way some of the basic functions of the Technical Services Division are executed, the activities remain the same. The activities of the Technical Services Division revolve around three basic functions: 1. Purchasing library materials (primarily for collection development rather than office supplies or equipment) 2. Organising and processing materials so that patrons can easily access them 3. Maintaining the collection and the records (primarily the public catalogue and shelf list) In most libraries, these functions are performed by two major administrative units: acquisitions and cataloguing departments. In this respect, function (1) and some aspects of function (3) are performed by the acquisitions
The Impact of Modern Information Technology …
177
department, and functions (2) and (3) by the cataloguing departments (the functions of these two departments are more clearly outlined in Figures 13.1 and 13.2).
THE TRADITIONAL TECHNOLOGY AS APPLIED TO THE TECHNICAL SERVICES FUNCTION Traditionally, many of these functions in the Technical Services Division were performed by means of the telephone (including facsimile machine), the
Document Request Bibliographic Verification
Order Preparation
Allocation & Encumbrance of Funds
Library Control Records (Outstanding Order File)
Processing of Invoice
Adjustment of Fund Account
Purchase Orders for Vendor
Processing of Received Items
Forward Items for Cataloguing
Figure 13.1 Acquisitions functions: Summary of the activities undertaken in an acquisitions department (Source: Bloomberg, Marty and G. Edward Evans. Introduction to Technical Services for Library Technicians. Littleton, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, 1981: 40)
178
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Receive material Search for Cataloguing Information
Manual search for Information
Order catalog cards from a vendor
Receive cards from vendor
Computer search for cataloguing information
Accept/modify information Produce catalog cards
Type master card and produce in-house card
Accept/modify information online
Order catalog cards online
Receive cards sorted/alphabetised Enter work in shelf list
Verify names series, subject headings for proper form
Make references for catalog as necessary
File cards in catalog
Figure 13.2 Cataloguing functions (Source: Bloomberg, Marty and G. Edward Evans. Introduction to Technical Services for Library Technicians. Littleton, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, 1981: 42)
typewriter, and the Gestetner duplicating machine, and by the manual maintenance of records such as the card catalogue or large ledgers for record keeping. However, the use of this technology resulted in large backlogs in both the acquisitions and cataloguing departments, a large percentage of paperwork, a manual filing system prone to a high margin of error, and the inability to permit sharing of records across large geographical areas. If one takes, for example, the process of acquisition of materials, travel was difficult and expensive, which meant that an institution, especially those in a developing country, was confined to ordering via the mail. The physical movement of materials was also difficult as surface mails were slow, unreliable, and expensive. The principal technological developments that were thought to be relevant in this era were: 1. Faster, cheaper, and more legible facsimile transmission. 2. Microform storage, coupled with computer retrieval and facsimile transmission capacities. 3. Digital computer memory storage, coupled with computer-tocomputer digital transmission, with a translation capacity back to cathode-ray-tube display or printout (Carnovsky 13, 20).
The Impact of Modern Information Technology …
179
However, most of these techniques were characterised by high cost, and input of data was expensive, if manually done. The improvement in copying techniques, especially the use of electrostatic processes, particularly Xerography, helped to improve technical processes in the 1930s. In terms of communication, the use of telex made it possible for the dissemination of information to be speeded up. Telex assisted in linking libraries and was generally more effective than telephone or postal communication. If one takes the reproduction of catalogue cards, for instance, use of the traditional technology was time-consuming, costly (and in some cases, high levels of waste were experienced), and did not allow for standardisation. It was a purely clerical and mechanical function and the information on the catalogue card was difficult to assemble. In most libraries, as basic cataloguing information was required, it had to be produced on all cards. In addition to this, cards had to be produced in large quantities, varying according to the size of the library. Due to the cumbersome nature of the activity, it was sometimes difficult to provide access through all bibliographical avenues and the process resulted in a delay in getting materials to the shelves. Small libraries, for instance, purchased preprinted cards with or without call numbers and headings, and by means of the typewriter, manually tapered the cards to meet the needs of their institution. In some cases, reproduction was done by stencil duplication or by offset duplication.1 More sophisticated methods included the use of the automatic typewriter, electrostatic copying, and projection photocopying. However, the use of these technologies incurred high, sometimes prohibitive costs, consumed a lot of staff time, did not assist with standardisation, and did not always produce a highquality product. In the 1960s, it was also thought that the use of microforms could transform the work of the Technical Services Division, and solve the space problem. The microfiche was felt to be particularly suitable for segment duplication. As the period progressed, the trend was towards data processing or computerisation of technical processes. It was felt that it was more advantageous to mechanise technical functions rather than to undertake data processing for certain areas only. One example was an acquisition record on punched paper tape or magnetic tape, which could be used for all forms of record such as accession, book lists, or charging systems. This was such that once data had been recorded; it may be used many times again, whereas previously the same data had to be retyped. The development above was most marked in the production of catalogues. Cataloguing data was typed on to punch tape, which was then computer processed to form magnetic tapes, from which both a master card in duplicates and various forms were produced. The book catalogue became once more popular and accelerated joint ventures in the production of catalogues. One example was the initiative by the
180
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
British Museum and the Library of Congress in publishing their catalogues by photographic means. In 1968, the British National Bibliography started to supply machine-readable catalogue records of current books on magnetic tapes to cooperating libraries (Benge 174–185). As the years progressed, libraries began to undertake both qualitative and quantitative assessments of their technical services processes, and to adopt new technologies in an attempt to make them more cost-effective and efficient. Improvements in computer technology in the late 1960s proved to be very suitable for most of the tasks executed by the Technical Services Division. The debate about cost of the technology and workload, especially when one compares the old technology and the new, is still not settled. What is clearly evident, however, is that the new technology, unlike the traditional technology now allows for the following to be done: 1. Large data sets to be compiled in less time 2. The sharing of data among libraries 3. The standardisation of data among libraries 4. Improved quality of the end-products produced 5. Significant reduction in the amount of paperwork required 6. More concentration on professional tasks, rather than the routine, technical functions 7. The cementing of the relationships among libraries in forging consortia and networks, where in the past, attempts at creating national or regional information systems were difficult
EXIT THE OLD—ENTER THE NEW
ICTs and the Total Technical Services Functions The application of the ICTs to the technical services activities should allow the functions as outlined in Figure 13.3 to be performed. Figure 13.3 also demonstrates how a collection of standard files can be maintained and updated for use by a variety of different functional areas. Library networks or consortia tend to provide many of these services to libraries either on a cooperative or fee basis. It is noted that on the whole, the new technology has been adopted to allow traditional tasks to continue to be performed. The new technology tends to absorb the routine nature of tasks, which should allow for the developing of the more challenging and meaningful aspects of the job. Dowlin suggests that libraries have applied automation to the wrong problems (124). But the trend is towards greater and greater use of automated systems for
The Impact of Modern Information Technology …
TECHNICAL SERVICES
COMMON DATABASE
181
BIBLIOGRAPHIC SUBSYSTEM
Ordering and receiving
MARC 1. Bibliographic file 2. Outstanding order file –
Cataloguing
includes standing orders 3. Invoice file
End Processing - Book cards - Labeling
Tapes (machine readable Bibliographic Information)
4. Claims and cancellations 5. Fund accounting 6. Gifts & Exchange file 7. Serials check-in file 8. Cataloguing file – library shelf-list 9. Vendor file
Figure 13.3 ICTs and the total technical services functions (Source: Bloomberg, Marty and G. Edward Evans. Introduction to Technical Services for Library Technicians. Littleton, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, 1981: 48)
technical services activities. However, the questions that still need to be addressed include: Does it mean less work for staff members? Would it contribute to a reduction in staff members? Would it be less costly to libraries? One thing is clear—the technology may have created different problems for the developing countries.
THE IMPACT OF ICTS ON THE TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION
Developed Countries Many libraries, especially those in the developed countries, no longer do much of their technical services work. The literature on the application of ICTs to the Technical Services Division notes the decentralisation of technical services in so far as they consist of professional tasks, coupled with a centralisation of general services and the shift towards increasing use of nonprofessionals or paraprofessionals. Apart from economic conditions, this is being done in an attempt to abolish the division between technical and public services so that professionals are not defined by the aspect of professional work they practice, but by the area in which they exercise their skills across the whole range of professional librarianship (Marsterson 59). The organisational structures of many academic libraries are taking into account the fact that much of the technical services functions have elements
182
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
that are considered routine functions, and that these can be harnessed by means of the modern information technology. In terms of acquisitions functions, therefore, this will leave the professional with the tasks of collection development and budget allocation, and in terms of cataloguing functions, this leaves the professional with the tasks of original cataloguing, classification, and subject description. All other routine matters can be delegated to nonprofessionals or paraprofessionals. Libraries in the developed countries have benefited tremendously from the use of modern ICTs in the Technical Services Division. Apart from the use of commercial turnkey or stand-alone systems to harness those repetitive technical services functions, these libraries have now moved towards streamlining acquisitions by automating selection and ordering procedures with the hope of creating a paperless environment for requesting and ordering materials. Programmes have been designed to allow users to select materials to be ordered from selection databases. The importance of this development lies in the fact that selection and ordering in libraries have remained highly paper-based, with much unnecessary labour and duplication of effort. Online cataloguing systems, consortia, and cooperative efforts have also made great strides in reducing the costs associated with cataloguing activities in libraries. However, the developed countries have a major advantage— easier and more equitable access to information technology puts them way ahead of the developing world in terms of application of the technology.
Developing Countries with Specific Reference to the English-Speaking Caribbean The use of ICTs in libraries and information centres in the Caribbean varies from country to country. There are several reasons for this variation, but the level of funding, the ability to attract funding, and the available skills account for this. There is also an awareness of the benefits of the ICTs and how these can be applied, and this is evident in the fact that the more developed countries in the Caribbean have made some progress in applying the available ICTs to some of their technical services functions. As early as 1983, Jefferson noted that automated technology is capitalintensive, and, therefore, more expensive in developing countries because interest rates are higher than in capital-abundant countries, and the equipment must also be imported. The life of capital is also shortened by obsolescence and the annual rise in the superiority of the latest model. The technology must also be paid for in “hard” currencies (4). In the 21st century, this situation has not changed dramatically. Jefferson also notes that the region also needs to keep its expertise up-to-date with the rapidly changing electronic environment of the developed countries. This is to enable them to determine obsolescence and that what is bought is best suited to their needs (Jefferson 8).
The Impact of Modern Information Technology …
183
It is generally accepted as noted by writers on the topic that Caribbean countries can only take advantage of the technology where they possess technological capability, that is, the ability to identify the most relevant technology for a particular purpose, to acquire it on the best possible terms, and to modify it to their specific circumstance. Unfortunately, the “brain drain” continues to wreak havoc on the region’s fragile technical skills. In terms of library education, the region is still assessing its curriculum in an attempt to produce more technical skills to complement library and professional skills. The situation is made more tenuous by the fact that because of low salary scales in some countries, libraries are unable to attract the relevant technical skills to manage its technological infrastructure. In the writer’s opinion, cooperative ventures were more successful at the print level. Because of the varying levels of the application of the new technology, the scope for collaboration and cooperation is sometimes severely limited. In some countries, and in particular Guyana, there is a dearth of professionals to accelerate the trend of the application of the technology. The inability to access funds from donor agencies and the low priority given to libraries in governments’ budgets also continue to be serious problems that affect the advancement in the use of the technology. According to Ferguson, “we must convince governments that improvement in access to information for Caribbean peoples is as important as improvements to roads, transportation and educational facilities” (Ferguson 11). Given the above, an assessment of the more developed countries in the region reveals that even though catalogues have been automated using commercial integrated systems, full advantage has not yet been taken of all the features. The libraries of The University of the West Indies (UWI) continue to be in the vanguard of this thrust. However, other libraries in the Caribbean region have not benefited from all of the features available in commercial integrated systems. For example, many libraries have not taken advantage of the ability to access large vendors’ databases and order online. These libraries have also not used many of the automated features that allow the verification of orders on file, thus avoiding duplication of purchases. The features of serials work make automation of its activities extremely difficult. Serials work (acquiring and processing of journals, newspapers) like acquisitions work, consists of a number of activities that tend to be repetitive. It requires a great deal of work related to the typing of orders, checking titles where in some instances these change, and typing claims, among others. Libraries are yet to make use of these systems to generate statistical reports. Generating statistical reports consumes a lot of staff time. While turnkey systems provide this feature, libraries in developing countries are yet to take full advantage of that feature. Plus, there is no real evidence that automation has reduced the level of staffing required or that organisational structures have taken cognizance of
184
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
the change in roles that the technology can produce. On the other hand, staff members have now been reallocated to functions that remain manual. For instance, staff members are still required to edit bibliographic records to meet the needs of their institution, especially where the library is part of a consortia or network system.
Libraries in Guyana The UG Library has not yet taken full advantage of the application of the modern technology in all its various forms and uses. Use of the technology is still largely limited to accessing stores of information in databases. This involves use of the Internet to access electronic journals, catalogues, and other databases. The UG was the beneficiary of a loan package from the American Development Bank. Part of this sum was earmarked for the automation project for the library. The project was actually started but because of several difficulties, it had to be abandoned after a start had been made with the acquisitions and cataloguing database. The IME (Information Made Easy) Navigator, which was the commercial software used, has now undergone several modifications, but the vendor agreement did not allow the library to take advantage of these updates without additional cost. Automation of library activities has also been stymied by the prohibitive cost of the commercial software. In the absence of funding, the library is experimenting with the use of WINISIS (CDS-ISIS for windows), which is a software freely distributed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), for computerising special collections or sections of collections. However, even though the software has gone through several alterations, its use has been mostly confined to the creation of small databases of specific collections. As the software does not offer the facilities for an integrated database, it only offers the possibility of creating special databases and limited automation of specific functions. Therefore, the functions of the Technical Services Division in the UG Library still remain highly labour-intensive. The application of the technology is limited to the use of online catalogues via the Internet or databases on CD-ROMs. This has benefited the library in areas where copy cataloguing can be facilitated. Large backlogs have been created where there is need for original cataloguing. The acquisitions functions also remain largely paper-based. The library benefits from one aspect of the application of the technology to the functions of this department—it is now able to order items online. But while this activity has resulted in less time to place orders, it has not reduced the level of staffing required for ordering, as the activity still involves a lot of paperwork. Apart from the Internet, the department still does not benefit from access to
The Impact of Modern Information Technology …
185
large vendors’ databases to assist with selection and ordering, and therefore, there is still a reliance on hard copies of publishers’ catalogues. In Guyana, it is obvious that the technology is not being used on a wide scale in the Technical Services Division. The possible exception is the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Documentation Centre, which has managed to computerise its collection by means of the CDS/ISIS software. This is because of better access to funding, the available expertise, and the size of its collection. There are several reasons for this slowness in applying the technology. Equipment and accessories costs continue to pose barriers to acquiring the technology. There is also the paucity of the requisite skills to manage the information technology. This has its roots in the “brain drain” or migration of librarians, and the inability to fund library education for staff members. The lack of adequate funding aside, this disadvantage militates against the library taking full advantage of the modern ICTs, even if the technological infrastructure was available. It is posited that the constraints faced by libraries in Guyana have militated against collaboration and resource sharing. As governments continue to place emphasis on other areas, libraries are forced to compete for funding from donor agencies.
THE CHALLENGES FOR THE TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION In summing up, there is clear evidence that the available ICTs have an impact on the functions of the Technical Services Division. What is evident though is that while the developed world has made leaps and bounds in the application of the technology, the developing countries still lag behind in making the most effective use of the technology. Many libraries in developing countries are not enjoying the full benefits of the available commercial systems. This is due either to the absence of the requisite technological infrastructure, the level of funding to acquire the necessary technology, or the available skills to manage the technology. Also, one must bear in mind that while the system changes the way activities are performed, cost-effectiveness has to be measured in terms of the initial cost of the system, the cost of maintenance of the system, and the rate of obsolescence of the technology. In the past years, library cooperatives and consortia have been responsible for organising networks to aid libraries in areas like automation, standardisation, and collection development. The developing world, in the main, has been left outside the mainstream of this development, or has had to forge partnerships with the developed world. The ever-increasing application of the technology to the Technical Services Division, while seen as beneficial to administrators, staff, and patrons, presents several organisational challenges. The technology is costly, and in terms of static or reduced budgets, the level of its application must be viewed against
186
The Caribbean Libraries of the 21st Century
this cost. In order to evaluate its effectiveness, the challenges for the Technical Services Division are addressed in light of the foregoing discussion.
Cost This must be one of the primary considerations, especially given the rate of obsolescence of the technology. This consideration is also essential given the fact that budgets do not necessarily cater to the total cost of the technology. It must be considered whether the technology is being applied to the wrong function and its effectiveness must always be evaluated in the context of the traditional methods of executing a task. Small or large libraries must decide whether it is necessary for all manual functions to be automated.
New Competencies Limited opportunities for retraining prevent librarians from getting firsthand experience with regard to developments in the technology. This applies specifically to demand for generating new skills in all levels of staff. New skill sets will be required to incorporate the technology into the manual processes that already exist. Training and retraining must be built into all programmes where the technology is involved.
New Roles There is always the need to assess whether the technology has reduced the workload of the staff significantly. It is felt that the technology has blurred roles and responsibilities for staff. This will need to be assessed by each library in determining workload and level of staffing.
Appropriate Technology Libraries with limited finances must always bear in mind the appropriateness of the technology: How applicable is it to the particular task that has to be executed? How adaptable is it to the tasks required? How sustainable is the technology, taking into consideration maintenance costs and the rate of obsolescence?
COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES New collaborative efforts are emerging as a result of changes that potentially affect all stakeholders in the system. The technology must, therefore, offer a collaborative advantage as libraries will always have to compete with units for the same funding within limited budgets. The collaboration will have to be forged at the level of interdependence among units of the same institution, and at the national and regional level.
The Impact of Modern Information Technology …
187
Libraries in developing countries will have to come together to address hardware and software issues. As the technology continues to develop rapidly, the new capabilities they offer will define the direction in which libraries must go. Organisational cultures will be challenged to address the new cultures as they emerge. In spite of shrinking or static budgets, libraries will have to rise to these challenges.
ENDNOTES 1.
Offset duplication process was based on the principle that oil and water do not mix. The image to be printed is imposed on a thin sheet or plate of metal, plastic, or specially treated paper by one of several methods. This plate is affixed to a rotary cylinder on the duplicating machine where, in operation, it is brought into contact with two sets of rollers—one carrying a film of ink, which is oil-based, and the other carrying a film of solution, of which the primary component is water. By the action of one roller rubbing against the other, the ink image is transferred and then printed or “offset” to paper. A full discussion of catalogue card reproduction processes is found in American Library Association, Catalogue Card Reproduction (Chicago: ALA, 1965).
WORKS CITED American Library Association. Catalog Card Reproduction. Chicago: ALA, 1965. Applebaum, Edmund L. Reader in Technical Services. Washington: NCR/Microcard Edition, 1973. Benge, Ronald C. Libraries and Cultural Change. London: Clive Bingley, 1970. Bernhardt, Frances Simmons. Introduction to Library Technical Services. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1979. Bloomberg, Marty and G. Edward Evans. Introduction to Technical Services for Library Technicians. Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1981. Carnovsky, Leon, ed. Library Networks: Promise and Performance. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1969. De Gennero, Richard. “Libraries, Technology and the Information Marketplace.” Library Journal (June 1982): 1045–1054. Dowlin, Kenneth E. The Electronic Library. New York: Neal-Schuman, 1984. Ferguson, Stephney. The Global Information Environment: How Are Caribbean Countries Coping? Paper delivered at the ALA Mid-Winter Conference, New Orleans, Jan. 1998. Unpublished, 1998. Freedman, Maurice J. “Processing for the People.” Library Journal (Jan. 1, 1976): 189–197. Gorman, Michael. “The Corruption of Cataloguing.” Library Journal (Sept. 15, 1995): 32–33. Halt, Glen. “Catalog Outsourcing: No Clear-cut Choice.” Library Journal (Sept. 15, 1995): 34. Jefferson, Albertina. Problems in the Application of Modern Information Technologies in the Caribbean. Paper presented at the 14th Annual Conference of the Association of Caribbean Universities and Research Libraries. Unpublished, 1983. Marsterston, William. Information Technology and the Role of the Librarian. London: Croom Helm, 1986. Martin, Susan K. “The New Technologies and Library Networks.” Library Journal (June 15, 1984): 1194–1196.
188
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Miller, Jeannie P. Emerging Issues in the Electronic Environment: Challenges for Librarians and Researchers in the Sciences. Binghamton, NY: Haworth, 2004. Tauber, Maurice F. and Associates. Technical Services in Libraries. New York: Colombia University Press, 1953. Waite, Ellen J. “Reinvent Cataloguers.” Library Journal (Nov. 1, 1995): 36–37.
CHAPTER 14
Internet Access Management in Jamaican Public Libraries: The Role of Policy Barbara A. Gordon The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica ABSTRACT Internet access policies guide librarians through a maze of moral, ethical, and legal challenges associated with access to the Internet, especially the Web. These policies also contribute to consistent management practice in the rapidly changing area of electronic services. This chapter outlines some of the factors related to access management policies and, based on findings from a 2006 survey, examines access services in Jamaican public libraries especially with regard to policy. Some relevant factors include not only the do’s and don’ts of acceptable use but service mission and objectives; staff training to provide the level of support and assistance needed; delivery of information literacy skills to prepare users for participation in the information society; and quality assurance and developmental targets to ensure a quality-driven service. Research results indicate the need for an assertive user-education programme throughout the public library system. In the context of Jamaica’s economic climate, the government’s commitment to extending e-governance, and the inadequacy of the current school library system to deliver the requisite information competencies, an effective public library access service can help to build social inclusion and deliver the information literacy skills needed by all citizens for participation in the information society.
INTRODUCTION The introduction of Internet access services in libraries has been accompanied by the development of access management policies aimed at guiding librarians through a maze of moral, ethical, and legal issues associated with access to the Web. Policies govern the way things run (Dempsey 6) and so support consistent library procedures and practice including Internet access 189
190
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
management. The policy content can vary from basic instructions regarding the “do’s and don’ts” of network use to more formal documentation covering a range of factors affecting the quality of service. The professional literature offers good coverage of access management in the libraries of informationrich countries but there is less information regarding the experience of developing countries, certainly those in the English-speaking Caribbean. In Jamaica, libraries began offering Internet access in the mid- to late 1990s and the service is now available in all library sectors—public, school, academic, and special, and at the National Library of Jamaica. Access management policies have also been developed for supporting the service. The Jamaican government has stated its commitment to providing the technological infrastructure and education needed for participation in the global information society (Paulwell 4–6). Given Jamaica’s continuing financial constraints, however, its wide income disparities and poverty levels, the islandwide public library system is a critical player in the delivery of and training for effective use of electronic information services. The public library, therefore, has responsibility for developing a service that is both comprehensive in reach and quality-driven. Well-crafted access policies can contribute significantly to this goal. This chapter examines some of the factors related to access management policies in libraries. It also reports on and analyses findings from a 2006 survey of Jamaica’s public libraries concerning their management of Internet access services with emphasis on policy.
ACCESS MANAGEMENT POLICIES Organizational policies are the core principles and goals of an organization and can either be implicit, as in many small organizations, or explicit in the form of organizational manuals (Sturges 102–103). These policies state the organization’s commitment to a specific plan or course of action (Steuart and Moran 286) and provide guidance for routine responsibilities and for decision making (Plunkett and Attner 128). Policies, therefore, are important management tools for implementing organizational principles and goals and can be especially useful for service areas undergoing rapid change and which present challenging issues (Sturges 103). In the library context, Internet access would certainly qualify as one such area as, in addition to the pace of change, there are many issues associated with the service, which make it unlike other information services traditionally offered by the library (Shuman 68). There are moral issues concerning the nature of some of the information content available on the Web; there are ethical issues concerning the library’s conflicting roles as intellectual freedom advocate on behalf
Internet Access Management in Jamaican Public …
191
of users, yet responsible provider of public access services; and there are legal issues concerning the potential for civil or criminal liability for the library as access provider. An Internet access or public access policy can identify the parameters and objectives of the service for both staff and users. For staff, the policy sets out management guidelines for all areas of service delivery and, by the inclusion of quality assurance indicators and growth targets, facilitates the development of the service (Sturges 104–105). For users, the policy should leave them in no doubt about the nature of the service and the library’s expectations regarding its use. Policy contributes to the goal of “access with assurance,” a service characterized by equity of access, safety, quality, accountability, and adherence to the law (Sturges xiv, 107, 111).
FORM AND CONTENT OF ACCESS POLICY An explicit or formal access management policy can take the form of a detailed, step-by-step, manual-type document as well as a list of clear and concise instructions on the use of the service. The two are not mutually exclusive but complement each other. The first policy addresses library staff and relates to the library’s manual of policies and procedures as it provides the required support for administrative routines and development of the service, sometimes even including minutes/reports of meetings so as to provide a context for policy decisions (Sturges 102–103, 120). The second policy, widely referred to as the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), can be considered the public representation of the policy. It comprises the basic terms and conditions of use usually in the form of a list of brief, clearly stated rules that can be posted in the library and/or on the computer; included on a registration form to be signed by users, therefore representing a contractual-type agreement between library and user; or featured on promotional giveaways such as bookmarks. The access policy outlines what is expected of both provider and user of the service. For the provider, the content of the policy would, of course, vary according to library and clientele but should state the type of service being offered and the responsibilities of both parties. Mission statement and objectives provide a context and rationale for the service that help to explain the policy (Richey 18). Is the service primarily for supporting the research needs of users or is recreation—for example, games—or e-mail given equal consideration when allocating resources (Balas 36)? The policy should also be supportive of national information access policies and so can address service provision for special groups in the community, such as the physically handicapped, in order to strengthen equitable access for all (Sturges 108).
192
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
To fulfill its function as an administrative reference tool, policy should detail staff responsibilities; levels of supervision and assistance to be provided; eligibility criteria such as whether users have to be registered members of the library or the need for parental permission for minors; procedures for registration and booking of terminals/signing a computer log; and handling user fees. Staff training and user education are critical support services that should also be included in policy. Staff members need to be equipped with the technical skills related to online searching, effective group presentation skills for information literacy training, and user-friendly customer care skills for a range of sensitive areas from monitoring what is being accessed to handling behavioural problems (Sturges 90–91). Free user education is one of the means by which the library implements its role as an electronic information centre that can make a significant contribution to social inclusion through the delivery of information literacy skills needed for the knowledge economy. The socially excluded often have no other choice for accessing electronic information and gaining the requisite competencies (Campbell 258, Bertot 79). The library’s traditional role as mediator between user and information resources has become even more important with the development of the Internet and of e-governance. Mediation operates at more than one level and involves not only provision of the technology for access but, critically, provision of the skills without which we remain locked out of the digital world. Technical skills are not synonymous with information skills and both are needed (Wallis 370, Hendry 334). Information literacy is not only a need of the socially excluded but also of the well-educated. As Town notes, information illiteracy is evident among tertiary level students who have “false confidence” in the Internet as a “complete information resource” (qtd. in Wallis 370). Provision of access supported by user education is a critical responsibility of the public library. An important component of the policy are the rules governing acceptable use such as prohibiting access to inappropriate information, committing fraudulent or illegal activities, and abuse of or damage to the library’s network as well as the sanctions for this behaviour (Richey 18). Standard methods used by libraries for content management include visual monitoring by staff, filtering or surveillance software, time limits for users, and restrictions on services such as chat, instant messaging, printing, or downloading (Willson and Oulton 197, Comer 10–12). The policy should identify the library’s approach as well as any special access requirements for minors such as written parental permission or restrictions on e-mail or chat rooms (Richey 20). Embedding quality assurance mechanisms within policies and services is one of the strategies used by libraries in response to an increasingly competitive
Internet Access Management in Jamaican Public …
193
information marketplace. Identifying minimum service requirements, such as the number and updatedness of hardware; hours of service availability; training of staff; number of users; and provision of user education establish criteria for evaluation and help to build and nurture a quality-driven service. Similarly, service development can also be integrated into policy by the inclusion of growth targets over specified time periods for critical inputs such as those identified above (Sturges 105). Finally, an access policy should be reviewed periodically as the pace of technological development and growth of the service can make it a “moving target” (Alita 48). The policy, therefore, should establish guidelines for frequency of the review process as well as its procedures.
ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY (AUP) As noted earlier, the AUP targets end-users and captures the essential requirements they need to know in order to use the service, whether in the form of a list of rules or series of statements, such as whether or not access is filtered, age restrictions for unfiltered access, examples of appropriate/ inappropriate use, and sanctions for abusing the rules (Willson and Oulton 196–197). Some libraries take a user-friendly approach by including examples of appropriate use rather than the more negative one of listing the inappropriate only. The AUP may also have a disclaimer statement alerting users to the unregulated nature of the Internet and the need to be aware of nonauthoritative and inaccurate information, as well as a warning about inappropriate information as, even if filters are used, these are not foolproof (Richey 18). The visual appearance of the AUP is important and care should be taken regarding its design and length. The language used should be straightforward and easy to follow rather than the library’s organizational vocabulary, which can be a communication barrier for many users (Cavanagh 357). The objective of the service is access to information and policy aimed at an effective service should not itself become a stumbling block in achieving this goal.
THE POLICY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS A team approach to policy development offers the advantage of differing perspectives. Staff members implement policy and, as they themselves have varying beliefs and attitudes concerning acceptable use, consensus may be difficult to achieve. Discussion of issues at staff meetings or training sessions provides an opportunity for feedback on problems and for contributing suggestions, which can build commitment to the policy (Sturges 110, 113, 118). Policies of other libraries are, of course, a useful source and there are many available on the Web.
194
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Regarding the AUP, tapping resources within the community encourages a vibrant working partnership and support for the library’s policies. Interest group representation should be carefully selected to avoid bias: local schools; parent/teacher associations; Church-affiliated groups; youth groups; other library colleagues; and professional associations if represented in the community (Alita 48). Legal and information technology expertise, if available, can be particularly helpful (Sturges 113). Consultation and feedback can be as time-consuming as the drafting of the original policy, but offer an excellent opportunity for face-to-face dialogue between the library and community stakeholders with the benefit of a policy that has the support of those it serves (Alita 49). A draft policy incorporating the relevant contributions can be circulated in-house for review by staff and to community stakeholders for comments although its content should remain the responsibility of the library. Training in the policy’s administrative routines helps to prepare staff for implementation (Sturges 113–114). Policy review, supported by documentation generated by the service such as statistics and records of disciplinary actions, is an integral part of the development process as it allows for guidelines to remain relevant to needs (Sturges 114–115). It also provides the opportunity to examine service inputs such as equipment and staffing, measure growth of the service against stated targets, and assess technological developments.
ACCESS MANAGEMENT IN JAMAICAN PUBLIC LIBRARIES The research findings reported in this article result from a survey of Jamaican public libraries carried out in February 2006 on Internet access management with emphasis on policy. The Jamaica Library Service (JLS), the country’s island-wide public library system, maintains 13 parish libraries, one in each of the island’s parishes excepting Kingston and St. Andrew, which share the services of the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Library. These libraries are the main service points for information delivery in each parish and they supervise additional service points within their respective parishes. The 18-item questionnaire was e-mailed to all 13 parish libraries and 10 responded. It comprised three sections: use of the service; staff training and user education; and access management, mainly covering policy. In Section 1, responses related to the rules for accessing the service included: signing a computer log (6); payment of a user fee (2); registration as a library member (1); and one nonresponse. Only two libraries have tried the approach of targeting identified groups within the community: an e-mail
Internet Access Management in Jamaican Public …
195
service for senior citizens and a general access service for members of the Retired Teachers Association in the parish. JLS’s access provision should now be past the introductory stage of a basic “one size fits all” service model. These two examples of niche marketing are a positive development for expansion of the library’s service and building technology skills in the community. JLS is now overwhelmingly used by primary and secondary level students, and the library needs to reach out beyond what has become its customary clientele. For example, there is a growing market of adult learners following an explosion of educational opportunities that needs to be tapped by JLS. Because of high costs, these students are mainly part-timers and need library support for a longer period of time than full-time adult learners. The two services noted above are good attempts to extend library services in the community. It should also be noted that the two initiatives were not based on ageist assumptions about older adults that almost automatically slots them into a medical-type user profile needing only those library services such as for the homebound or physically impaired (Kendall 17). In Section 2, nine libraries provide in-house training for staff manning the access service. Additionally, three of those nine have taken advantage of training offered by the Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA), while one has benefited from training provided by the JLS Headquarters Office. Table 14.1 shows the content of the training. Staff training focuses on the technical aspects of access but should also address potentially troublesome areas such as handling complaints, pointing out infractions to users, and imposing sanctions. Marshall outlines the value in staff training of role-playing for various access scenarios and use of an appropriate “language of interaction” by librarians in these situations (55).
Table 14.1 Content of Training for Staff
Table 14.1 Content of Training for Staff
Content
Libraries
Search skills
9
Evaluation of information
6
Instruction in rules of service
4
E-mail
1
Safe online behaviour
1
196
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Regarding user education, seven libraries offer training although one response noted that this was so basic that it was not “officially” so regarded. Training takes the form of one-on-one instruction on request (5) and group training at specified times (4), with two libraries offering both options. Table 14.2 shows the content of training for users.
Table14.2 14.2 Content of Training Training Users Table Content of forfor Users Content
Libraries
Searching skills
7
Evaluation of Web information
5
Useful sites selected by library
5
Respect for intellectual property
2
Safe online behaviour
2
All JLS libraries should be offering a user education programme given the disparities of access provision in the Jamaican environment. The content could be standardized to ensure that the key elements of information literacy are included across all libraries. Marcelle points out that investment in and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in many Caribbean countries is characterised by a digital divide that marginalizes rural communities and the urban poor among other groups in the society (1). Jamaica is expanding its e-governance but the country has an Internet penetration rate of 22 percent (Durrant 10) and an inadequate school library system for the delivery of information literacy training (Robinson 292). As Wallis says, technology is not neutral and does not automatically generate social good but reflects its social context (371). The failure of Jamaica’s Internet kiosk initiative is an excellent illustration. This was a joint 2001 agreement between the Postal Corporation of Jamaica and Cable & Wireless to install Internet kiosks in 60 post offices island-wide. Four years later, most of the kiosks no longer worked as they were destroyed by users. A Cable & Wireless representative blamed neglect and low usage for the failure (“Post Office” 3). Surely the investment would have had better results in the public library, especially if supported by an effective user education programme. For the third and final section of the questionnaire, control of content is managed mainly by visual monitoring, meaning positioning monitors for supervision whether from the staff desk or having staff members walk
Internet Access Management in Jamaican Public …
197
around the room to view the monitors in use. These two methods were selected eight and seven times, respectively. Two libraries used filters in addition to using both types of visual monitoring. Users in one of the libraries knew that access was filtered and could not request that they be turned off. Regarding policy, eight libraries have a formal policy in place; one does not and there was one nonresponse. Policy is, overwhelmingly, in the form of a list of rules for appropriate use of the service (9 and 1 nonresponse) with help for its development coming from in-house staff (6), JLS Headquarters (5), and professional colleagues at other libraries (3). Table 14.3 shows the content of the policies.
Table14.3 14.3 Content Table Content of of Policies Policies Policy Content
Libraries
Prohibited information (e.g., pornography)
9
Sanctions
9
Restrictions (e.g., printing/downloading)
6
Abuse of network
5
Prohibited Web services (e.g., chat rooms)
3
Copyright infringement
2
Safe online behaviour
1
An AUP is definitely the favoured form of policy. Although it can communicate usage rules very effectively and can serve as a kind of service agreement with users (Pors 310), it provides only limited administrative support for staff. There is considerable difference between a start-up service of two or three computers, which can be easily viewed from the staff desk, and an expanded service of 30 to 50 computers or more offering a mix of service models such as dedicated e-mail, a beginner’s service with assistance readily at hand, or a research service for adult learners. There is no indication that staff training, user education, quality assurance, or developmental targets form a part of access policy, which is not surprising as these elements are not usually covered in AUPs. Yet these are the factors that need to be addressed if public libraries are to take on the challenge of building a service that seeks to transform an expanded customer base into “more critical consumers of information” (Wallis 371).
198
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
CONCLUSION Since 2001, JLS has focused on establishing the infrastructure for Internet provision. Eighty-six service points across the island now offer access, 80 percent at broadband level in order to meet user demands for speed and multimedia content (Jamaica Library Service 81). This has been achieved within the constraints of a harsh economic climate and can be considered the first stage of access provision. Hopefully, the next stage of development will encompass a comprehensive information literacy programme delivered free to the end-user by trained staff. This feature distinguishes the library’s access service from other information providers in the market and has the potential to increase its social impact. The continued under-development of school libraries, the need to provide access to the technology for all, especially with the increasing delivery of government information online, and the burgeoning community of adult learners are just some of the imperatives for undertaking a massive information literacy programme throughout the service. There are serious challenges of human, material, and financial resources but the responsibility unequivocally rests with the public library. Carefully developed and comprehensive access management policies as discussed here can make a major contribution to this effort.
WORKS CITED Alita, John. “Creating an Internet Policy by Civic Engagement.” American Libraries 32.11 (2001): 48–50. Balas, Janet L. “Managing Public Access Computers and the People Who Use Them.” Computers in Libraries 24.6 (2004): 35–37. Bertot, John Carlo, Charles A. McClure, and Paul T. Jaeger. “Public Libraries Struggle to Meet Internet Demand.” American Libraries 36.7 (2005): 78–79. Campbell, Brian. “We Need to Reach the Others.” Feliciter 51.6 (2005): 257–258. Cavanagh, Mary. “Sensemaking a Public Library’s Internet Policy Crisis.” Library Management 26.6/7 (2005): 351–360. Comer, Alberta Davis. “Studying Indiana Public Libraries’ Usage of Internet Filters.” Computers in Libraries 25.6 (2005): 10–15. Dempsey, Kathy. “Dealing with Policies.” Computers in Libraries 22.6 (2002): 6. Durrant, Fay. “Factors Which Have Impacted on Access to Information in the Caribbean from 1980 Onwards.” Inaugural Lecture, 17 Feb. 2005. Ts. Dept. of Library and Information Studies Library, The University of the West Indies. Hendry, J. D. “Social Inclusion and the Information Poor.” Library Review 49.7 (2000): 331–336. Jamaica Library Service. Draft Annual Report April 2004–March 2005. Ts. Dept. of Library and Information Studies Library, The University of the West Indies. Kendall, Margaret. “Public Library Services for Older Adults.” Library Review 45.1 (1996): 16–23. Marcelle, Gillian. “Making of Caribbean Information Society.” Trinidad Guardian 23 Feb. 2006. 28 Feb. 2006. www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-02-26/buss guardian16.html.
Internet Access Management in Jamaican Public …
199
Marshall, Jerilyn. “How We Wrote a Policy on Handling Complaints about Offensive Computer Displays.” Computers in Libraries 22.6 (2002): 13–14, 55–56. Paulwell, Phillip. “Jamaica. Plenary Statement for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).” 4th Plenary Meeting. Geneva, Switzerland. 12 Dec. 2003. www.itu.int/wsis/geneva/coverage/statements/jamaica/jm.pdf. Plunkett, Warren R. and Raymond F. Attner. Management 6th ed. Cincinnati, Ohio: South-Western College, 1997. Pors, Niels Ole. “Misbehaviour in the Public Library: Internet Use, Filters and Difficult People.” New Library World 102.9 (2001): 309–313. “Post Office Internet Flops.” Star 1 Feb. 2005: 3. Richey, Cynthia K. “Molding Effective Internet Policies.” Computers in Libraries 22.6 (2002): 16–21. Robinson, Cherrell. “The School Library: A Valuable Partner in the Search for Educational Excellence.” Proceedings of the 1990 Cross-Campus Conference on Education, April 3–6, 1990. Eds. Ed Brandon and P. N. Nissen. Kingston: Faculty of Education, The University of the West Indies, 1991. 291–296. Shuman, Bruce A. Issues for Libraries and Information Science in the Information Age. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 2001. Steuart, Robert D. and Barbara B. Moran. Library and Information Center Management 6th ed. Greenwood Village, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 2002. Sturges, Paul. Public Internet Access in Libraries and Information Services. London: Facet, 2002. Town, J. S. “Information Literacy and the Information Society.” Challenge and Change in the Information Society. Eds. S. Hornby and Z. Clarke. London: Facet Publishing, 2003. 83–103. Wallis, Jake. “Information-Saturated Yet Ignorant: Information Mediation as Social Empowerment in the Knowledge Economy.” Library Review 52.8 (2003): 369–372. Willson, Jonathan and Tony Oulton. “Controlling Access to the Internet in UK Public Libraries.” OCLC Systems and Services 16.4 (2000): 194–201.
200
CHAPTER 15
Digitization Initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago Angela Ramnarine-Rieks The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago ABSTRACT This study aims to present the issues that are related to the creation of virtual collections that focus on the output of information from the Caribbean region within public and academic libraries. It identifies planned and current projects that are being carried out to push Caribbean information resources to users via the World Wide Web. It also attempts to distinguish whether there is recognition of the need for change in developing digital collections among the sample population of librarians from the public and academic libraries in Trinidad and Tobago and determine the extent of efforts geared toward producing this “new librarian.” To elicit the necessary information, interviews were conducted at selected libraries in Trinidad and Tobago. Analysis of the findings show that there are a number of emerging skills being developed that librarians in this region can draw upon.
INTRODUCTION The major push to develop virtual collections or digital libraries, occurring primarily in the developed parts of the world, now poses a challenge to librarians in the developing countries who wish to follow. A much more aware user population is demanding access to information packaged in a manner that they have grown accustomed to on the basis of their Web surfing experiences. Standards are also evolving in this new paradigm that promotes open access and mechanisms for filtering information to library users in an online environment. All of this provides a compelling case for librarians in developing areas, such as the Caribbean, to reassess what they do currently to provide access to the unique Caribbean information resources for which they have the overwhelming responsibility of managing and preserving. It calls for a shift in mindset and a willingness to take up the responsibility in the face of several challenges. Some of these challenges may be possibly related to the existing telecommunication infrastructure, resistance to organizational change, financial constraints, political will, and technical expertise. 201
202
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
The focus of this chapter is to highlight some of the initiatives that libraries in the Caribbean region have been embarking upon with a view toward developing digital collections for access via the Internet. It also looks at the state of overall readiness among information professionals in the public and academic libraries for taking up the challenge of developing digital collections in a sustainable fashion. This paper makes two main assumptions. First, on the basis of a review undertaken to assess the number of sites providing digital content that is specific to the Caribbean, and which are available on WorldCat, the union catalogue maintained by the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), the paper assumes that overall the volume of digital information produced from the Caribbean is comparatively small. The second assumption is related to the available networked environment upon which librarians can build access to digital collections. This chapter assumes that the technical systems required for digital initiatives to take root within Trinidad and Tobago are already well developed. Unlike many developing countries where Internet facilities are limited, access to Web-based technologies and services in many of the Caribbean countries has grown significantly, especially in those countries with buoyant economies. The Internet use growth for the Caribbean from 2000 to 2005 has been 668.4 percent, the largest rate for the Americas (Internet World Stats). As of September 2005, Trinidad and Tobago had more than 160,000 Internet users. This ranks the country as one of the top five countries in the Caribbean, with respect to Internet use. This data illustrates that the existence and use of Internet technologies and infrastructure should not be a significant negative factor that restricts librarians from developing digital content repositories.
METHODOLOGY A questionnaire consisting of 15 pre-tested questions was initially developed to conduct a survey about innovative online library projects that have been, or are being, developed. However, since there were only two libraries in Trinidad and Tobago that were actively contemplating digitization, the information-gathering process was modified to face-to-face meetings, telephone interviews, and e-mail discussions. Approximately 15 librarians from the National Library and Information System Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (NALIS) and the Main Library of The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine Campus (herein after referred to as the Main Library) were interviewed. The sampling strategy was based on purposive sampling from identified individuals who would represent the views of the whole institution. The questions asked were similar to the ones developed in the questionnaire. The questions posed in the data gathering phase were aimed at obtaining information about: • Existing and potential digitization project(s)
Digitization Initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago
203
• The criteria used for the selection of materials for digitization • The availability of facilities for digitization, such as physical space, the technical infrastructure, digital storage media and server space • The main tenets of existing digital policies • Standards used in digitization projects(s) • The availability of skills and expertise • Collaboration, cooperation, and partnering with other institutions • Major obstacles encountered in digitization efforts
FINDINGS
National/Public Libraries The NALIS Act was passed in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago in 1998. NALIS was established to manage and coordinate all libraries in the public sector, including public, special, and school libraries. In 2003, the establishment moved to the newly built National Library Building. Within this short period, the organization has made great strides in developing its patron services. It purchased and, presently, houses some unique and invaluable collections. These collections have been identified for digitization. The collections vary from sketches by a popular Carnival bandleader to orally transmitted knowledge. Currently, the process of applying metadata for some of the collections housed in the Heritage Library (a NALIS department similar to a special collections unit of an academic library) is being conducted. The library is looking at outsourcing the imaging process for some of its collections. However, the problems of inadequate funding along with trained and experienced human resources are posing constraints in making this an immediate reality. Despite this restriction, however, the library has employed its limited resources towards the creation of online exhibitions that feature small portion of the collections.
Academic Library The Main Library was established in 1960. Over the decades, as the campus expanded in terms of academic programmes and student population, library resources and services have had to keep pace. Fortunately at the UWI, the library is viewed as an essential service in the university’s research and academic pursuits, and as a result, support for library projects and programmes has been, in the main, readily forthcoming from the university administration. In particular, the growth and development of the Main
204
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Library in the area of information technology applications has been relatively smooth. The library also has the distinction of having three of its special collections named to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Memory of the World Register: the Derek Walcott Collection, the Eric Williams Memorial Collection (EWMC), and the CLR James Collection. With respect to digitization initiatives, the Main Library has been making some headway in creating virtual collections. In 2002, the library acquired a grant from the Reed Foundation to digitize the following collections: • The Colonial Bank Correspondence, 1837–1885, donated by Republic Bank (a regional financial institution on its 150th anniversary), is a collection of letters consisting of the incoming correspondence to the Colonial Bank in Trinidad from its inception in 1837 to 1885. The correspondence affords the researcher an insight into the economic and social history of Trinidad, the banking needs of the sugar planters, and the precarious nature of sugar production in the 19th century. • The Diaries of Sir William Young (Governor of Tobago, 1807–1815) is a collection of his memoranda, accounts, invoices, and other documents relating to his properties and his historical, statistical, and descriptive account of the island of Tobago. These diaries provide valuable primary source material for research into the era. The works are illustrated with watercolour sketches and maps done by the author. These two digitization projects were undertaken and managed in-house by the Main Library.1 The short-term benefit was that staff members were able to gain experience in planning and executing a digital imaging project through active involvement. The library has capitalized on this experience and is forging ahead with other projects.
Current digital projects at the Main Library There are a number of other digitization initiatives currently being developed at the Main Library and, in addition, there has been work on the establishment of an institutional repository that will serve to both provide access to its digitized materials as well as cater for their long-term preservation.
Institutional Repository The Main Library, after a period of research and evaluation of possible platforms, selected DSpace as its choice for the digital institutional repository. DSpace is a Java-based, open-source software system that can be used to preserve, index, and redistribute information resources from the Main Library’s collections in digital formats. This software was developed jointly by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) libraries and Hewlett-Packard
Digitization Initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago
205
(HP). The technical infrastructure for the repository has already been established and the system is being tested by the librarians for its handling of item submissions, metadata assignments, and its search capability. One of the first collections to be uploaded to the digital repository at the Main Library is one that represents the history of the campus in photographs. This photographic collection is one of the special collections of the West Indiana department of the library. Digitization now allows this collection, which was not previously well-known or easily accessible outside of the reading room, to be available remotely via the Web. The library team working on the digital library programmes is also experimenting and learning to digitize other types of materials such as audio and video. One of the existing multimedia collections at the Main Library has its roots in the Oral and Pictorial Records Programme (OPReP). This is a collection of taped interviews. The main objective of the collection is to develop and maintain an archive of oral and photographic records in order to facilitate cultural and historical research into the past of Trinidad and Tobago. Back issues of a newsletter carrying transcripts of interviews and other articles, associated with the OPReP project, are also being digitized allowing the back issues to be stored in the institutional repository. Faculty members at UWI have yet to fully comprehend the benefits of institutional repositories. This shortcoming is recognized by the librarians at the Campus Libraries in St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill Barbados, and Mona, Jamaica. In addition to providing the technical infrastructure and systems for upload and retrieval of materials, there is also the need to promote the repository in order to recruit content from faculty. The librarians at the Main Library are aware that they would be required to facilitate this drive. Some options that the librarians have considered are targeting graduate students who are completing their research projects and theses, as well as identifying proactive faculty that tend to gravitate towards new technologies. It is the intent of the library to use the Special Collections pilot project as a show piece towards informing and educating the faculty on the importance of open access for global sharing of scholarship, along with the benefits of enhanced professional visibility for the author and the institution. The ultimate goal of the library is to move the institutional repository from a facilitybased operation to an expansive campus-wide enterprise thereby potentially enabling anyone from the university community to participate in the scholarly communication process.
Electronic Journal Another initiative emerging from the Main Library is the establishment of an online peer-reviewed journal. A need was identified for a forum where librarians and other information professionals from the Caribbean could contribute their research and other scholarly output. This project is in the
206
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
nascent phase and is currently accepting contributions for review to include in its first issue.
Common Observation An observation that was common between both libraries—Main Library and NALIS—was that most of the librarians who were familiar with the digitization efforts of the organization were based in the Administration, Systems Unit and Special Collections Unit (equivalent to the Heritage Library at NALIS). In both cases, the actual digitization process was based in the systems area and content was obtained from the special collections department.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION According to the feedback received from the interviews and discussions, it is apparent that in Trinidad and Tobago, there is a cadre of librarians that is creating and supporting digital library initiatives. The findings of the present research indicate there is clear intent on the part of the National Library to establish virtual collections. The acquisition of funding and skilled or trainable human resources is not always a simple task, but the library administration has recognized the need and is lobbying for the resources to be provided for digitization programmes. The academic library has, to some extent, been more fortunate by being within a scholarly environment where its information resource base is seen as critical and directly related to the positive growth of the institution. It also has the benefit of being established for a longer period and has a history of organized growth; therefore, its engagement with the digital library environment appears to be a smoother process. The Main Library is keeping pace with other academic libraries, internationally, with the establishment of an institutional repository, thereby enhancing its role in the preservation and dissemination of the work of faculty members and its special collections. Through these digitization projects, the Main Library is attempting to preserve the patrimony of institutional scholarship and heritage materials, especially in the face of escalating journal costs and the increasing commercialization of scholarly publishing.
Digitization of Caribbean Resources by Institutions External to the Caribbean Region A number of digitization projects focused on harnessing Caribbean information have been deployed outside of the Caribbean. In most instances, these online collections of Caribbean-related materials were developed to serve the global community of researchers and would have had their origins in research centres that focus on Latin American and Caribbean Studies:
Digitization Initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago
207
• The Caribbean Newspaper Imaging Project, which is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, is one such example. This initiative involved the scanning of its microfilmed newspaper holdings of the Diario de Ia Marina (Havana, Cuba), 1947–1960, Le Nouvelliste (Port-au-Prince, Haiti), 1899–1979, and the Trinidad Guardian (selected years that focus on documentation of the colonial British West Indies and of the various independence and republican movements). The University of Florida is currently upgrading the product from this project by migrating from CD-ROM format to the Internet, which will serve as a new means of delivering their images (University of Florida). • Another fairly well-known programme is the Publication of Archival, Library & Museum Materials (PALMM). This virtual collection was developed as a cooperative initiative of the public universities of Florida to provide digital access to important source materials for research and scholarship. In the past, PALMM projects involved either a single university or collaborative efforts between a university and partners within or outside of the state university system (State University System of Florida). One of the collections of this project is the Eric Eustace Williams Collection. This collection contains a bibliography and a growing library of digitized works by and about Williams, the first prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago. In recent years, PALMM has been working with the Main Library to provide linkages between its collection on Eric Williams to the library’s own EWMC. • There are other projects that focus on the development of Web gateways to facilitate access to Internet-based information on Latin America and the Caribbean. One of these types of projects was undertaken by Latin American Network Information Center (LANIC) together with the Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS) at the University of Texas at Austin. • Other digitization efforts include projects being done at the University of Miami to develop online journals and video resources. A noted publication directly related to the Englishspeaking Caribbean from this initiative is the peer-reviewed online journal titled “Anthurium: A Caribbean Studies Journal.” A multimedia Web site has also been developed for Caribbean Literary Studies.2 • The British Library has also recently added a collection called Caribbean Views to their online resources. The site is very informative and features images, maps, and texts from the 18th
208
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century and early 19th century. The site offers a virtual tour with narratives provided by a Caribbean historian.3
The foregoing represents examples of projects that are currently active. Review of these sites indicated that they are well organized and are of high quality. However, digitization projects by these institutions are mainly confined to relatively small, specialized collections that focus on one aspect of the Caribbean heritage. In other words, it may meet the needs of the researchers in developed countries and does not necessarily provide a complete picture of the many facets of Caribbean heritage. It may also be argued that the digitization and archiving of Caribbean material by libraries in developed countries perpetuates the dynamic of a one-way south-north information flow. According to Lor and Britz (18), developers of such repositories may have to reckon with a degree of suspicion, envy, and resentment at what may be perceived as yet another manifestation of imperialism. It has been suggested that it may be more beneficial for partnerships in which the autonomy, selfsufficiency, and dignity of the region are respected.
Virtual Collections Created Within a Cooperative Project Framework Trinidad and Tobago libraries have had a history of participation in collaborative ventures with organizations from different parts of the world. A number of collaborative projects have been spearheaded by internationally oriented, nonprofit organizations, and initiated to provide digital collections in the public domain. These co-operative projects have sought to avoid duplication of efforts, promote sharing of resources, and foster the development of the technical expertise among member bodies. These initiatives have, to some extent, increased the publishing capacity and, hence, the possible diffusion and visibility of research produced in developing countries like Trinidad and Tobago. Although earlier collaborative efforts were geared mainly toward the development of bibliographic databases among Caribbean and Latin American libraries, a number of new initiatives are coming to the fore. The objective of these cooperative projects is to preserve and increase Caribbean resources. Some of these include: • Bibliographic projects, such as CARINDEX, an index to the contents of West Indian journals; AGRIS, the international information system for the agricultural sciences and technology, created by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) in 1974; and Latin American Periodicals Tables of Contents (LAPTOC), a searchable Web database that provides access to the tables of contents of more than 800 journals, primarily in the humanities and social sciences, published in Latin America.
Digitization Initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago
209
• Digital Library of Ibero-America and the Caribbean (now El Dorado). This project is a collaborative effort of the UNESCO and regional institutions. • Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC). A Florida International University initiative done in consortium with three U.S. institutions and five Caribbean partners. • Virtual Health Library (VHL). A project created in 1998 and spearheaded by the Pan American Health Organization and (Biblioteca Regional de Medicina—Regional Medical Library) BIREME. The English-speaking Caribbean participates in this project by working on the development and coordination of a cooperative health sciences literature database titled MEDCARIB (an initiative of BIREME). The Virtual Health Library is one of the successes of these participatory activities especially for the Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. The collection offers access to a variety of health science databases and sites.4 It was created by the Latin-American and Caribbean Center for Information in the Health Sciences, widely known as BIREME. Its major digital initiative is the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), set up in 1997.5 This online resource provides access to full-text periodicals in the health sciences via a series of standardized gateways. The system is multilingual and the quality of the collection is demonstrated by the fact that Web of Science now links directly to SciELO articles (Wladimir and Fernández-Juricic 472). Even though the Virtual Health Library site offers specialized sub-portals for specific countries, brief searching within the online databases retrieved only a small number of materials that comes from the Caribbean. The Caribbean Digital Library (CDL), an initiative of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), is a bit different than those described above. It is a Web gateway project. It functions as a joint venture between regional and national information centres of the Caribbean. These information centres collaborate in building a comprehensive Webbased resource arranged under broad subject headings designed to provide information on sectors and subjects of importance to Caribbean economic development.6
Preservation of Indigenous Culture in the Global Network Although there are a fair number of virtual collections being developed either locally or cooperatively with foreign organizations, albeit on a limited scale, much more can be undertaken to further the development of virtual collections. Countries like the U.S. and China have made phenomenal strides
210
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
in the development of online collections through substantial resource allocation and cooperation among the various stakeholders. The U.S. National Digital Library (NDL) and the China Digital Library (CDL) began in 1995 through a collaborative national endeavour (Library of Congress; Wei). China, with its rich culture of more than 5,000 years, boasts more than 450 million digital objects, while the NDL estimates more than 5 million. Chinese information only accounted for 1 percent of the Internet in 1998; but by 2003, China’s digitization efforts resulted significantly in making Chinese information the second largest on the Internet (Wei). Digital projects being developed in Trinidad and Tobago, at the time of this writing, tend to be in the experimental phase. Although the personnel working in the sphere take time to build expertise, gather resources, there is need to promote the benefits of digitization as quite a substantial part of the research materials in the region remain in formats that cannot be accessed via the World Wide Web or other digital media. Perhaps this is at the crux of the matter, when one perceives the relatively low number of hits obtained generally for the few high-quality, indigenously created Caribbean resources on the Internet. This may lead researchers to make the assumption that awareness and expertise in digital library development is largely lacking in the Caribbean. However, as this paper has illustrated, there are institutions that are making some useful headway in the creation of virtual collections and the infrastructure to manage their resources. What makes these institutions, such as the Main Library, unique is perhaps a combination of factors, not the least of which would be a spirit of invention and innovation resident in members of the library’s staff. Equally important perhaps is the presence of an administration that is seeking to ensure the institution’s competitiveness in the arena of tertiary education in the Caribbean region, and lends useful support to library’s digital initiatives. One of the main concerns among Caribbean librarians is the possibility that Caribbean heritage is under the threat of being lost forever. The publishing output in the Caribbean region is very low compared to that of the developed world. This is compounded by the fact that there are many challenges being faced by Caribbean publishers competing in the international markets. It is a commonly held belief that the use of technology in developing countries produces new forms of dependence rather than increasing independent capacity. Developing countries do need new information technologies, but they also need local information professionals and users who can understand, maintain, nurture, develop, and, ultimately, internalize best practices. Clearly, the Caribbean region needs to develop the right skills and expertise among the people working in information resource management. Beyond skills, there also needs to be an accompanying vision at all levels in the society for the preservation of the country’s heritage and information patrimony. The people of the country need to see themselves as not only consumers of information from the North, but as producers in their own right.
Digitization Initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago
211
Making this transition is all the more difficult as Trinidad and Tobago has to contend with its local culture and artistry being overshadowed by music, movies, and icons produced and promoted in the U.S. In the wake of rapid advancements in new technologies this trend will only get stronger and impact directly on the type of “world culture” to be promoted. It is wellknown that the Internet is, overwhelmingly, American based. In January 2000, roughly 73 percent of the host computers were in the U.S., with 80 percent in English-speaking nations and more than 90 percent of the Internet operated out of Western countries (Internet Software Consortium). The development of the Internet2 is an effort to accelerate the diffusion of advanced Internet technology, especially in the U.S. This network will help to sustain their leadership in Internet-working technology at a global level. These developments are happening sooner than most people think. For example, advancements in broadband connectivity as proposed by Teledesic Corp., may not yet be successful but is imminent. Presently, only a small portion of humanity (approximately 4.6 percent) accounts for more than 90 percent of the information available online (Internet World Stats). According to Arunachalam, the gap existing between the developed and the developing countries will tend to widen further with the rapid expansion of the Internet in the Western hemisphere (251). He went on to state that the speedy transition to electronic publishing can lead to increased brain drain and dependence on foreign aid of a different kind (knowledge imperialism). Taking this scenario into consideration, the Caribbean organizations definitely need to accelerate the pace of their digitization efforts geared primarily towards creating a greater presence in the all pervasive global online environment.
Digitization as a Library Venture The notion of digital libraries brings with it dramatic changes in the library profession. Naturally there is a requirement for librarians to understand the significance of the application of technology in their functional areas. The problem, however, seems to be that library workflows do not readily allow librarians to move away from the traditional practitioner mode. Too much effort being spent attending to the mundane, although necessary, routines that have become entrenched in the organizational structure of the typical Caribbean library. For example, the availability of digitization skills is present in both libraries, especially at NALIS, which recently employed a fairly large number of newly trained librarians from schools in North America. However, it appears that most of these “new” librarians are being deployed to perform business as usual as opposed to exploring research and innovations. The Main Library has been successful in its digitization efforts mainly through continuing professional education and self-education. Continuing education and training in digitization through electronic or traditional classes are ubiquitous and assist in the discovery of new ideas and
212
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
resources. However, the critical success of these ventures depends on attitudes, traits, and strong interest. Presently the primary emphasis of the digitization efforts in both libraries is localized to the Systems Department. Agreed, this phase of the development requires the projects to focus mainly on the technical infrastructure for digitization, but as long as a library has accepted the concept, the majority of the librarians must position themselves so that they can be perceived as having moved from serving as a passive support group, to collaborators in research, teaching, and learning, thereby, actively contributing to academic scholarship. Marchionini and Fox pointed out four dimensions in designing a digital library: community, technology, services, and content (221). One of the biggest challenges that currently faces the Main Library is garnering content for its institutional repository from its faculty, hence the need for a mission based on advocacy. This underscores the role of the librarian as a marketer. It has become essential to spread the word of a value-added tool that will put local resources within the online environment. It is essential that based on anecdotal evidence, librarians must persevere in pursuing contact with the potential content suppliers within the institutional repository environment in order for it to be successful.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS The librarians in Trinidad and Tobago are slowly becoming producers and aggregators of information. Despite the challenges being faced, libraries are promoting the democratization of information and demonstrating with digital technology the accessibility of local resources through new channels. Librarians are aware of the dearth of Caribbean resources in the online environment and the salient scenario of the disparities and differences within and between countries representation. It is recognized that the development of virtual collections provides a great opportunity to create local content and make it available to the global community. Greater strides are made in the academic arena where open-source technology has been exploited to manage digital assets and experience has been gained in the customization of existing equipment to meet digitization needs. The option of outsourcing digitization is being investigated by the public services librarians at NALIS. Since NALIS relies primarily on government funding, resources shortfall can often slow progress. Countries that have been successful in bringing fruition to their digital initiatives have done so through cooperative efforts. For example, China has developed a repository to improve the knowledge exchange and sharing between librarians thereby reducing the expenses and time spent by the library to retrain (Zhou 438). Under these circumstances the need for partnerships between the two organizations, NALIS and the Main Library, should be investigated especially since the latter has acquired more experience and found prudent ways of supporting its digital efforts. After all, its goals are basically the same, that is, promoting local virtual collections online.
Digitization Initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago
213
ENDNOTES 1.
These two collections are available via the Main Library’s Web site and can be accessed at: Digital Collections, 2002, Main Library, The University of the West Indies, 9 July 2006. www.mainlib.uwi.tt/divisions/wi/indexwi.htm.
2.
Anthurium: A Caribbean Studies Journal, 2005, University of Miami, 9 July 2006. scholar.library.miami.edu/anthurium/home.htm.
3.
Caribbean Views, The British Library, 9 July 2006. www.collectbritain.co.uk/ collections/caribbean.
4.
The Virtual Health Library, 9 July 2006. www.virtualhealthlibrary.org/php/index. php?lang=en.
5.
SciELO: Scientific Electronic Library Online, 9 July 2006. www.scielo.org/index. php?lang=en.
6.
Caribbean Digital Library, Caribbean Knowledge Management Centre, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, 9 July 2006. www.eclacpos.org/cdl/cdl.asp.
WORKS CITED Alonso, Wladimir J. and Esteban Fernández-Juricic. Letter. “Regional Network Raises Profile of Local Journals.” Nature 415.6871 (2002): 471–472. Arunachalam, Subbiah. “Information and Knowledge in the Age of Electronic Communication: A Developing Country Perspective.” Ed. Wilhelm Krull. Debates on Issues of our Common Future. Germany: Velbruck Wissenschaft, Weilerswist, 2000, 231–252. Internet Software Consortium (ISC). Internet Domain Survey. 2000. 19 Dec. 2005. www.isc.org/index.pl. Internet World Stats. Internet Usage Statistics for the Americas. 2006. 22 Feb. 2006. www.internetworldstats.com/stats2.htm. Library of Congress. National Digital Library Program. 2006. 15 May 2006. memory. loc.gov/ammem/dli2/html/lcndlp.html. Lor, Peter and Johannes J. Britz. “Information Imperialism: Moral Problems in Information Flow from South to North.” Eds. T. Mendoza and J. J. Britz. Information Ethics in the Electronic Age: Current Issues in Africa and the World. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2004. 15–21. Marchionini, Gary and Edward A. Fox. “Progress Toward Digital Libraries: Augmentation through Integration.” Information Processing & Management 35.3 (1999): 219–225. State University System of Florida. Publication of Archival, Library & Museum Materials 2005. 22 Feb. 2006. susdl.fcla.edu. University of Florida. Caribbean Newspaper Imaging Project. 2006. 22 Feb. 2006. www.uflib.ufl.edu/digital/collections/cnip/eng/CNIP2report.htm. Wei, Sun. “The Development of China Digital Library and Its Influence on China and the World.” Chinese Librarianship: An International Electronic Journal 20 (2005). 15 May 2006. www.iclc.us/cliej/cl20sun.htm. Zhou, Qian. “The Development of Digital Libraries in China and the Shaping of Digital Librarians.” The Electronic Library 23.4 (2005): 433–441.
214
215
PA R T V
Library Cooperation and Resource Sharing in the 21st Century
216
CHAPTER 16
COLINET: Making a Difference in College Library Development in Jamaica Hermine C. Salmon and Marva Bradford University of Technology, Jamaica ABSTRACT In 1981, the National Council on Libraries, Archives and Documentation Services (NACOLADS) established a College Libraries Working Party to examine the status of libraries in tertiary education institutions in Jamaica and consider the structure and operation of a College Libraries Information Network (COLINET). The findings of the Working Party indicated that many of the libraries in these institutions were operating with major deficiencies in areas such as accommodation, collection, budgetary support, and staffing. The report stressed the value of libraries in educational institutions and highlighted the need for improvement in all areas. It also made recommendations for the establishment and organization of COLINET. COLINET is the segment of the National Information System that is devoted to the development of libraries in tertiary level educational institutions in Jamaica. The progress made by these libraries and the role COLINET has played as a catalyst for change, through consultations, visits, meetings, seminars, workshops, promotion of the use of standards, and opportunities for attachment to the focal point library, are depicted. Areas of focus include: physical development, collection building, staffing, technology, and financial support.
INTRODUCTION A library is essential to the teaching-learning process and to support curriculum and research activities of an academic institution. There is an abundance of literature on the value of the library to the institution. Indeed, accrediting bodies require that colleges provide libraries that meet recommended minimum standards for their programmes to be accredited. The new generation of information technology, coupled with the plethora of information available and the sophistication of today’s users, challenge 217
218
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
the library as never before. The new approach to teaching, with emphasis on student-centered learning, has also led to greater demands being placed on the library. Added to these are the facts that student enrollment has increased, curricula have expanded, and some physical infrastructure has improved. However, our findings reveal that, to a large extent, the libraries growth and development have not kept pace with that of the parent institutions. The few thousand books that seemed adequate in the early days is a far cry from what is required in today’s technologically driven world. With the advent of the World Wide Web and the Internet, clients have become accustomed to obtaining information at record speed and expect the same level of service from the library. Recognizing this challenge, libraries have formed alliances to facilitate acquisition of and access to resources and services.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF COLLEGE LIBRARIES IN JAMAICA The history of college libraries in Jamaica is closely linked with the history of teachers’ and theological colleges. Prior to 1948, colleges were mainly operated by religious organizations. The first teachers’ college was established in 1832 by the Moravians in response to a need for locally trained teachers. Whyte stated, “As early as 1832 the Moravians saw the need for locally trained teachers. A school for destitute girls was established and these girls achieved a sufficiently high level of literacy to serve as teachers in Moravian schools” (56). Four years later, Mico Teachers’ College, the oldest existing college in Jamaica and the Caribbean and one of the oldest in the world, was established. In 1843, the Moravians established another, Calabar Theological College. It was one of three theological colleges that formed the United Theological College in 1966. The others were St. Peter’s College and Union Theological Seminary established in 1916 and 1954, respectively. Between 1836 and 1885, a number of colleges were started but disparity between their academic requirements and the academic levels of secondary school leavers made it difficult for them to recruit students (Whyte 71). In 1885, Shortwood Teachers’ College, the first of a number of government-supported colleges, opened, and in 1897, the Franciscan sisters founded St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College. West Indies College, formerly West Indies Training School, now Northern Caribbean University (NCU), was founded by the Seventh Day Adventists in 1907 and was upgraded to a senior college in 1954 with teacher training as one of its programme offerings. Moneague Teachers’ College was established in 1956, the College of Arts Science and Technology (CAST), now the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech), in 1958, and Church Teachers’ College in 1965. Under the New Deal for Education (1966–1980), the first official plan for the sector in independent Jamaica, new colleges were built and existing ones expanded. Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, built in 1975, and Passley Gardens
COLINET: Making a Difference in College …
219
Teachers’ College—now merged with the College of Agriculture to form the College of Agriculture and Science Education (CASE) in 1981—were the new colleges. Although all these colleges allocated space for library use, few were designed according to the recommended minimum standard for libraries. Anderson writing about Mico Teachers’ College library asserted, “The library started in the 1960s as a small collection of books in the principal’s office” (4). Of the Zenas Gerig Library at the Jamaica Theological Seminary, an article in COLINET News stated, “The library began with a shelf of fewer than 100 books” (4). It is, therefore, quite plausible to assume that in the early days of the other colleges, there were small collections of books that later formed the nucleus of the modern college library. CAST, for example, had a small collection in a room that could comfortably seat 15 students.
CATEGORIES OF COLLEGE LIBRARIES In Jamaica, college libraries fall into four categories: 1. Teachers’ College Libraries – At present, there are five colleges that focus on the training of teachers. 2. Theological College Libraries – These specialize in training ministers and pastoral workers for different churches and enjoy denominational support. Several of these are scattered throughout the island. 3. Community College Libraries – Community colleges were established to provide formal education, starting at grade 11, and community-based training courses of special interest to residents. 4. Libraries in Specialist Colleges supported by Government/ Private Sector – These include Jamaica Police Academy, Dental Auxiliary School, Caribbean Maritime Institute, Edna Manley School for the Visual Arts, College of Agriculture, G.C. Foster Sports College, and the Jamaica Institute of Management. Some colleges are offering degree programmes, some partnering with European and North American universities. Some colleges are seeking to attain university or university college status. UTech and NCU paved the way for such transition, having achieved university status in 1995 and 1999, respectively. Regrettably, not many have invested the resources needed to bring their libraries in line with the developments taking place in their respective institutions. The Ministry of Education and Youth has no clear policy to guide the development of academic libraries. Any progress is dependent on the administration. The authors have observed that, whereas significant development occurs in colleges where principals display keen interest, there is little or no progress where this is not the case.
220
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
COLINET COLINET is the arm of the National Information System (NATIS) that serves tertiary institutions. It comprises a mix of government-supported and private tertiary institutions. A 1981 survey of Jamaican college libraries, carried out by the NACOLADS, identified some major deficiencies. Deficiencies included inadequate physical infrastructure, paucity of information resources, lack of modern technology, and insufficient professional staff to guide the development of the library. The report stressed the value of the library to the college and highlighted the need for improvement. It recommended that a body be established to encourage the colleges to develop their libraries and to coordinate activities towards this end. Four years later, in 1985, the COLINET was established to: • Facilitate speedy access to information • Promote the sharing of ideas and resources • Encourage integration of the colleges into NATIS All NATIS networks fall under the aegis of the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ). They are the Social and Economic Information Network (SECIN); Science and Technology Information Network (STIN); Legal Information Network (LINET); the Jamaica Agriculture Research Development Information Network (JARDIN); The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Libraries; and the libraries of the Jamaica Library Service (JLS). When NACOLADS was dissolved by the government, some of its responsibilities devolved to the NLJ, which in 2001 established an advisory committee, the Advisory Council for the National Information System (ACNIS) as the policymaking body for NATIS. ACNIS is comprised of the focal point coordinators, representatives of the Ministries of Information, Commerce and Technology, Education and Youth; Department of Library and Information Studies, (UWI); the chair of the NLJ’s Board of Management; and the president of the Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA). The executive director of the NLJ chairs the Committee. UTech was designated the focal point for COLINET because its library was the most advanced in the network. Other libraries were designated as nodes for subgroups of libraries with common interests. Currently these are Mico Teachers’ College for the teachers’ colleges, Jamaica Theological Seminary for theological colleges, Excelsior Community College (EXED) for the community colleges, and CASE for the specialist colleges. The nodes enjoy a close relationship within their respective groups. Approximately 25 units regularly participate in COLINET events.
COLINET: Making a Difference in College …
221
COLINET’S ROLE IN PROMOTING LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT The establishment of COLINET was a strategic move that resulted in greater cooperation, the sharing of resources and information, and could be then perceived as the seed, establishing the infrastructure from which an academic consortium will grow. Following COLINET’s formation in 1985, the focal point, with the support of NACOLADS and the units, sought to promote improvement of the units. From the outset, it was recognized that for any meaningful change to be achieved, college administrators would have to support the idea. Symposiums, seminars, workshops, and other forums were organized for principals, bursars, and other stakeholders. Librarians were encouraged to project the library by becoming involved in activities on the campus and ensuring that they were represented on all relevant college committees.
Physical Facilities A survey of college libraries carried out by Salmon and Bradford in January 2006 confirmed the perception that, although conditions did not meet the recommended minimum standards, there was obvious improvement in most areas. When compared with conditions prior to 1985 when COLINET was established, there were significant changes in the physical resources of the majority of the libraries. Eleven libraries have either been relocated to new buildings, or been renovated; and all community colleges provide library facilities at their off-campus sites. COLINET’s focal point assists the units to improve their facilities by providing appropriate reference materials on library buildings, offering advice, and giving guidance on building standards and the preparation of architects’ briefs. It also makes available suppliers catalogues of furniture and equipment and recommends possible vendors.
Human Resources There has been tremendous improvement in professional staffing of college libraries. In the 1980s, all but six college libraries were managed by paraprofessionals; today approximately 90 percent have librarians at the helm. Some have as many as four librarians. The turnover rate of librarians tends to be high due largely to inappropriate classification, inadequate remuneration, unsatisfactory conditions of service, and perceived indifference of some administrators. Over the years, COLINET has tried to engender a more positive approach by administrators, especially principals and bursars. This is done through visits and the biennial symposium. Most librarians in colleges hold postgraduate qualifications at the master’s level and some also possess teacher training or management diplomas. Some principals, in an effort to attract and retain librarians, appoint them in senior or principal lecturer positions. In such cases, they must perform dual
222
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
functions of lecturer and librarian. Enough time is, therefore, not available for planning and developmental activities. Consequently, library assistants are given more responsibility than they are equipped to handle. These paraprofessionals either possess a Library Technical Assistant Certification or acquire their training through on-the-job experience. The number of library assistants and other support staff is inadequate and student help is heavily utilized. Although the students are of great help, there are some challenges, especially at examination time. Over the years, COLINET has arranged workshops and short courses to provide hands-on-training for paraprofessionals. Sessions on relevant topics are arranged for librarians. At every meeting, a staff development activity is conducted. Strategic planning, project planning, budget preparation, and team building are some topics covered. An informal mentoring relationship has developed between senior librarians and younger librarians in some colleges. The focal point coordinator often receives requests from college librarians for tours or brief attachments to observe activities such as cataloguing, ordering, processing of books, periodicals, or audiovisual materials. There have also been requests for assistance with preparation for accreditation visits, writing of job descriptions, budgets, or position papers, for example, to support claims for traveling officer status.
Material Collections A basic collection of 10,000 titles, excluding journals, is the minimum standard recommended by LIAJA for libraries in colleges offering undergraduate programmes. Some collections have grown to exceed the minimum; few are working hard to achieve it. The University Council of Jamaica, established in 1987, is a local accrediting body that has served to motivate colleges to improve and develop their collections and services. Periodically, principals request the focal point’s assistance to evaluate their libraries’ collections to determine their readiness for accreditation. The Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ) makes similar requests for the community colleges. Some offshore universities and private colleges have partnered with the focal point to enhance their access to information. COLINET also focuses attention on standards by creating awareness of their existence and encouraging librarians to set objectives for achieving them. In an effort to build their collection resources and services, the community colleges through the initiative of Portmore Community College have engaged in cooperative purchasing of materials and equipment. These colleges have also negotiated with Emerald (publisher) for special subscription rates to access their databases. The CCCJ took on the task and is now negotiating, on behalf of the colleges, for a similar package. Other colleges are also participating. This augurs well for the future.
COLINET: Making a Difference in College …
223
Services COLINET encourages librarians to offer a wide range of services and many colleges do so. These services include Internet access, interlibrary loan, orientation classes, and information literacy instruction. Services are marketed through exhibitions, book reviews, book talks, seminars, workshops, and book fairs. Opening hours differ from library to library, depending on the availability of staff. The vast amount of information in existence, the speed at which it is being created, and the demand by clients have pushed librarians to recognize the need to be able to command resources outside the borders of their respective collections. They enter into informal agreements for reciprocal user access between colleges. COLINET has facilitated these arrangements and the number of participating units has greatly multiplied the resources available to clients. Access does not include borrowing privileges and, in cases, where borrowing is necessary, the transaction is conducted between the librarians. Record keeping is encouraged for loans, interlibrary loans, and other activities. COLINET recommends the preparation and submission of quarterly and annual reports to the administration, photographing events, and writing articles for publication in the college’s newsletter. These activities help the library to maintain visibility.
Technology The advent of the Internet and the World Wide Web has significantly impacted teaching, learning, and information delivery and access. More materials are available in digital format and colleges have embraced the opportunity to expand their collections. Collections now include CD-ROMs and audio/video cassettes. Several libraries subscribe to online databases and provide online public access catalogues. Whereas, in 1981, only a small percentage of the libraries had computers, now all but one is so equipped. That one library has such limited space that the computers have to be housed elsewhere. All libraries have access to fax machines, photocopiers, and some multimedia equipment. At least two libraries have installed antitheft devices and others are exploring the possibility.
Budgetary Support Inadequate provision of financial resources for the libraries has a negative impact on all aspects of the library activities and development. Many college libraries, especially those in the public sector, are not allocated budgets. Some librarians admit to this but stress that bursars “buy what we ask for.” COLINET encourages members not to be satisfied with that approach but, based on their strategic plans, prepare and submit budgets annually. Through meetings, workshops, symposia, and discussions at the ministry level, COLINET has been agitating for the allocation of budgets to libraries.
224
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
COLINET itself has no budget, but in recent times, activities have become more self-supporting. UTech, through the Calvin McKain Library, is committed to the success of the network and takes the responsibility very seriously.
Networking and Future Activities COLINET endeavours to promote and support networking in a variety of ways. Meetings are held three times per year, workshops are conducted from time to time, and a symposium is held biennially. The symposium brings stakeholders together and highlights current trends and issues relating to library and information systems. Special attention is focused on the status of all units and the challenges faced. Stakeholders include college/university administrators, faculty, the Ministry of Education and Youth, college librarians, and college students. Participants are exposed to current publications and databases, through exhibitions by publishers/publishers’ representatives and booksellers. Presentations are made by groups such as the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), EBSCO Information Services, and Emerald Group Publishing. College administrators also make presentations on various aspects of the theme. The theme of the last symposium was “Librarian and Faculty Partnering for Academic Excellence.” Librarians are encouraged to seize every opportunity to visit other libraries to observe best practices and systems used. The benefits to be derived from attending local and international conferences and workshops are emphasized, as is the importance of including these costs in the budget. The value of joining the professional association, LIAJA, and being actively involved is continually stressed. Individual as well as institutional membership is encouraged. A report from the association is included on each meeting agenda and the president or a representative is invited to all official functions. The association is also very supportive of COLINET and, willingly, facilitates representation to government on issues affecting college libraries. The Academic Libraries Representative on LIAJA’s Executive committee also reports on COLINET, thereby keeping the association aware of developments in the network. COLINET News is a valuable source of keeping members abreast of developments in the network and in other libraries. They are also kept up-to-date about upcoming meetings, conferences, and courses. Regrettably, the newsletter has been dormant for some time. A special effort is being made to revive it, and a new issue was published in June 2006. For the future, three activities will be undertaken in an attempt to further improve the status of the libraries in the network: • First, the focus on standards will be intensified in the hope that more libraries will be able to meet these standards over the next five years.
COLINET: Making a Difference in College …
225
• Second, an attempt will be made to revive the COLINET Advisory Committee in order to secure greater involvement of principals and, hopefully engender greater motivation to improve the libraries. The assistance of ACNIS will be sought to accomplish this. • Third, a Principals’ Forum will be held biennially to alternate with the symposium. The aim of this forum will be to bring to the attention of these stakeholders the rating of their libraries in relation to the recommended standards, and outline what is needed if they are to achieve the required level.
CONCLUSION COLINET is a voluntary association of colleges and has no power to make and enforce rules. It, therefore, operates on agreed principles and engages gentle persuasion to achieve its objectives. Meetings and training activities are well supported by librarians and administrators. College librarians rely confidently on COLINET, and when major difficulties are encountered, the focal point is called on to assist. Librarians also rely on each other for support. Remuneration and conditions of service are two major challenges facing college librarians. COLINET will continue to strive to find satisfactory resolution to these troubling issues.
WORKS CITED Anderson, Beatrice. “Mico Media Resource Centre.” COLINET News 6.1 (1992): 3–6. Dick, Devon. Rebellion to Riot: The Jamaican Church in Nation Building. Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle Publishers, 2002. Whyte, Millicent. A Short History of Education in Jamaica. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1977. “The Zenas Gerig Library.” COLINET News (1990): 3–7.
226
CHAPTER 17
The Caribbean Library in Diaspora: Perspectives from Scholarship and Librarianship Nancy Cirillo, Linda Naru, and Ellen Starkman University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois, USA ABSTRACT In 1997, the University of Illinois (UIC) at Chicago Library purchased a private collection of Caribbean literature, the H. D. Carberry Collection. Numbering close to 1,000 volumes mainly from 1950 to 1990, most are first editions, many are inscribed, and the majority is out of print. The essay raises ethical questions about such purchases of rare collections, the subsequent removal from their country of origin, and briefly historicizes these issues. The central question is what projects can justify such acquisitions in the best service to the country of origin and to larger global communities. Consistent with this discussion, the article deals with the vexed question of powerful metropolitan institutions lapsing into the imperial attitudes of the 19th century that saw power as sufficient to dictate the disposition of such artifacts. The tentative answer is a dynamic, collaborative effort, most especially with the Caribbean itself, in which, for example, technology can make available these valuable works while Caribbean scholars and librarians can work with us to perfect the best uses of the collection. Staff involved in this project have presented a digitization/preservation project at the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL) and is attempting to build relationships with Caribbean libraries. This chapter was collaboratively written, in fact, by an academic and two librarians.
FROM A SCHOLAR’S PERSPECTIVE What Odysseus collected on his travels certainly were spoils, taken as they were by force, although his occasional inventories suggest to the modern reader the tourist engaged in the sentimental process of turning artifact into souvenir (Jasanoff ).1 Given these apparent lapses into sentimentality, his relationship to the spoils may well have been more complex, even ambiguous, and even had an aesthetic dimension, one that could remind him that 227
228
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
he was not just a warrior. Builders of modern empires have had an equally complex and ambiguous relationship to what they have collected, which was not necessarily always what they had gone looking for. Were these spoils or souvenirs, or were they indivisibly both? The modern museum owes much to this complex and ambiguous collecting fervor of the many who built the roads of empire and of those who just merely traveled them, as has the exposition and the world’s fair, museums for the masses. The idea that museums are good for us, that we have much to learn from them, comes into particular prominence in the 19th century, generally in western Europe but especially in Britain in that world of rapid urbanization with its escalating middle class increasingly addicted to intellectual consumption. The 19th century was, as well, a century of expanding European imperialisms, and a building full of exotic artifacts from the outposts of empire might teach viewers, certainly among other things, to support the project that made it possible. For instance, the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London, that extravagant celebration of industrial, imperial Britain, consolidated the sense of British-ness for the millions that visited it (Davies 764). But certainly the most popular presentation of the Great Exhibition was India House, with its vast collection, including animals and humans, from the subcontinent. In the mid-19th century, an important sense of British-ness was indivisible from empire. The didactic function of the museum is as old as its association with the great library at Alexandria and its provenance in the tomb of Ramses II. Equally as venerable, and sometimes indistinguishable, was the imperial function. When the known world had been conquered by Alexander (and presumably wept over), it became clear that in order to rule people, it was important to understand them, and that to understand them, it was necessary to collect and read their books. Consequently, royal libraries were founded in every city both for “…prestige but also as instruments of Greek rule” (Canfora 25). It is tempting to simplify these issues, to see the library in the imperial situation as essentially an instrument of rule as it is to see Odysseus collecting spoils rather than souvenirs, or the reverse: to see the library only as a great treasury of and for disinterested use. Even the effort begun in 1867 by the British imperial power to create a unified catalogue of all Bengali publications, rich and numerous in a region with an ancient literary tradition, was, finally, also ambiguously an instrument of British rule. Since Bengal was a site of growing resistance to the British Raj, the catalogue provided instant if not always accurate insight into the sources of that resistance. On the other hand, the catalogue was invaluable in regularizing access and information about the massive amount of publication that was ongoing in Bengal from the mid-19th century on (Darnton 6). The ambiguity of use is what connects the tale of the Bengal catalogue to that of the library of Alexandria and provides the central question of this chapter. Unlike the exhibits of 1851, or the amphora or glyph in the locked glass case,
The Caribbean Library in Diaspora
229
the transported book collection invites a different consumer, one whose purpose is likely a form of intellectual disinterestedness, research, and learning in the time-honored sense. Exactly how disinterested this learning has been has long been at issue in the contemporary world. It has been condemned as a prime source of the Orientalism (Said)—the use of knowledge to shape power, in this case, imperial power—or sometimes as a benign understanding of albeit conquered world (Ahmad). Writing from the U.S. about a Caribbean collection purchased at the end of the 20th century by a public university from a Jamaican collector, which is the purpose of this chapter, raises an essential question from the forgoing: spoils or souvenirs? Or are the ground rules changing in the half-century since the divesting of empire by the major European powers, especially Britain and France? In the spring of 1997, the library of the UIC at Chicago purchased the private collection of the late Hugh Doston Carberry, Court of Appeals of Jamaica judge and one-time nationalist poet in his youth. His poetry has been published as a collection under the title of his best known poem, “It Takes a Mighty Fire”2 and, although he abandoned poetry for the law in the 1950s, he was a visible and active presence as a collector and a supporter in the Caribbean literary community from then on. Now called the H. D. Carberry Collection of Caribbean Studies, the collection contains about 1,000 volumes, all in English, about two-thirds literature and one-third history and political theory. The volumes are almost entirely hardcover and largely first edition, many inscribed, and run from about 1940 to 1990, covering what is sometimes called the “boom” generation and the period of the independence movements in the British Caribbean. Largely out-of-print and unavailable anywhere, these volumes comprise a collective artifact of great cultural and political value for Jamaica as well as the 14 regions of the English-speaking Caribbean they represent. That said, the question is unavoidable: Why are they here and not there? Why are they here, especially given our long and lamentable history with the region? Although the U.S. was a minor colonial player, we have been a major neocolonial presence, a form of indirect colonialism, through economic and military means throughout the 20th century. In this context of indirect or neocolonialism where there has occurred no conquest or permanent occupation, the Carberry Collection would not appear to have the same sinister strategic purposes that the Bengal library had: The tourist interests would have as little use for the work of the Caribbean’s two Nobel laureates, for instance, as the sugar interests did, nor has there been much to suggest that U.S. economic and military interventions in the region over the past decades sprang from the content of anybody’s library. Although there are, unquestionably, many answers to the question, “Why are these books here and not there?” two answers particularly address the issues raised above as well as those that may be raised by the
230
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
use of the controversial term, diaspora. The term diaspora is used here consistent with the sense that it is used generally by both African-American studies programs and Black British programs. It borrows from the original use to describe the expulsion of the Jews from France in the 16th century as a term that incorporates ideas of forcible expulsion of a people and dispersal in the world. Its use here in relation to the collection is largely figurative but intends that sense of, at the very least, the involuntary and of consequential dispersal. The first of these reasons is economic. The Carberry Collection is in diaspora for the same reasons that hundreds of thousands of Caribbean people have been in diaspora for more than a half-century. The particular colonialisms practiced throughout the Caribbean from the 17th into the 19th century were especially exploitative: plantation economies based on slave and bonded labor. Emancipation in the first third of the 19th century did not bring economic restitution or serious educational reform to this group, which formed the mass of the population, but rather, as the Guyanese economist Walter Rodney put it, underdevelopment (Rodney). Twentieth century investment in the region largely promoted two industries as exploitative as the plantation: tourism and, to a lesser degree, oil. By the end of World War II, emigration mostly to Britain but also Canada was predictably massive. Books are part of what the early 20th-century economist Thorstein Veblen described as a leisure culture; the culture, that is, of a middle and upper class (Veblen). The British Caribbean in the first half of the 20th century had some presses, largely ephemeral, some public libraries, an educational system that went through the secondary level and the possibility, after World War I, that one male from each region could win a university scholarship to Britain. The black middle class that developed by the end of the 19th century was neither large enough nor wealthy enough to underwrite such a book culture. Yet, incredibly, it was into this world that the “boom” generation of Caribbean writers was born, and it was out of this world in the mid-20th century that they emigrated in search of the publishers, bookstores, and reading public they would find at the center of the colonial power, London. It was from this initial group of émigrés that those founding works in English of what is variously (and inadequately) called the postcolonial or the postmodern would come. These are the writers who, along with others from the postcolonial world, would reshape the traditional ideas of power and cultural superiority in the world. Little has changed in the economy of the region since the emigrations of the mid-20th century. Although there is a growing number of publishers and a developing group of active professional librarians, the regional economies unevenly, but never lavishly, can support a widespread book culture. This generally was the context in which the Carberry Collection was offered for sale as early as 1995 in the Jamaican market, but without success. What, then, was the motivation of a large, public U.S. university to purchase such an artifact as the collection? This is the second reason the collection is
The Caribbean Library in Diaspora
231
here, having availed itself of the first, the economic, reason. This second reason is born in the mid-20th century out of the world of the collection itself, out of the writers who immigrated to England and found willing publishers. The integrity of this second reason rests on the possibility that a large, public U.S. university can act autonomously, that is, in this context, apart from any considerations of national, that is, political, interest. That universities are responsive to political pressures is well-known and especially heavily documented these days (Bok).3 As recently as 2004, the U.S. intervened militarily in Haiti and removed the Haitian president, although this intervention was not supported by the Association of Caribbean States. But neither oil-rich nor strategic in importance, the Caribbean, despite unrest, fades into insignificance next to U.S. involvement in the Middle East and Iraq. In light of this, to restate the earlier point concerning U.S. involvement in the region, the Carberry Collection would have no political value, either directly or indirectly. Furthermore, universities have self-proclaimed historic purposes that transcend the national political exigencies of any particular age, and these have to do with the search for truth, that elusive, disinterested intellectual purpose, as vested in their faculties. It was from faculty initiatives that the motivation to buy the Carberry Collection came, providing that second reason that the collection is here. By the 1990s, the Caribbean writers who had published in England from mid-20th century on had achieved the legitimacy and influence traditionally associated with canonical writers of the metropolitan world, and it was in recognition of this that the initiative began to build a significant Caribbean collection within the university library. By the end of the 20th century, two of these writers had been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, Derek Walcott and V. S. Naipaul, while the work of others, CLR James and Eric Williams, especially, is being reprinted in uniform and complete edition in Britain, the Commonwealth, and in the U.S. Many of these thinkers and writers were also political activists and figure prominently in the independence movements that arose in the Caribbean at that time. Their critiques, passionate and often polemical, sometimes ironic and wry, did much to reveal the hypocrisy that lay at the heart of the old European myths of superiority and began to reconstitute a world view that did not rest solely on power. The value of the collection, then, lies in part with its representation of many of these thinkers who have had so strong a hand in challenging and changing intellectual convention in the world. The purchase of the collection and its removal from Jamaica would seem, however, to contravene this view that argues that the motivation for acquisition was purely intellectual, for how does this acquisition differ from that in which objects were politely removed from India for the Great Exhibition? The first reason given, the economic reason, would argue that fundamentally there is no difference except there were neither implied nor overt imperialist or colonialist uses to be made of this collection. Nor is there any serious possibility of arguing this away. That the collection was purchased, that it had
232
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
been on the market for a couple of years, that the National Library of Jamaica had given its blessing to the purchase, does not change the simple fact that an institution in a richer, more powerful, and occasionally aggressive foreign power did the purchasing. If we cannot argue the simple economic fact away, how do we use it and the understanding we now have, an understanding we have largely from those Caribbean thinkers who have so changed our perspectives, to create new ways of functioning in institutional, disciplinary, and human terms? Those of us who work with the collection have learned to say that we hold it in trust. What holding the collection in trust can mean under the circumstances of its acquisition is itself a process of new understanding. “In trust,” in this instance, cannot have the force it would in the courts as applied to a personal fortune since none of us who work with the collection has any power over this artifact in the sense of assigning or reassigning ownership; that is, if we hold it in trust for the nation of Jamaica, we cannot mean that we intend to return it in the future. If we do not hold the collection, then, literally in trust, how do we negotiate the term under the circumstances? The broader meanings of the phrase have some relevance here, particularly in the way it might be used elsewhere, for instance, in reference to the rare and unusual forest or the unique example of particular architecture. That which is held in trust in this sense is to be protected and preserved, or in the newer sense of conserved, developed within its natural frame. Thinking about the collection within these new frames also opens up hitherto unperceived dimensions in the idea of research. The collection as a traditional research resource, as such resources have been conventionally regarded and used in the 20th century, represents a repository of primary materials for scholars in a few fields of the humanities and the social sciences as well as their intersections. In this traditional sense, it can be used here in the U.S. to foster research in a relatively new and surely dynamic group of allied fields now focused on this region so long overlooked in the U.S. academy. Understood in this more conventional sense, however, the collection is then essentially inert or better, neutral, even solipsistic, that is, its materials can be invoked for purposes largely of self-interest, even as were those of the Bengal library. What we mean by the disinterestedness of research under these circumstances is at least open to question. To reconsider the collection according to the general sense above in the phrase “in trust” is to open a social and ethical dimension not completely satisfied by the rather dreary and ambiguous term, so often invoked, service. This social and ethical dimension can also inform without violating the best sense of “disinterestedness.” “In trust” carries with it the recognition that the collection not only has responsibilities attached to it but actually a lively set of possibilities as well. One responsibility clearly derives from that inalterable fact of U.S. wealth: Rich nations at the very least have the capacity to take
The Caribbean Library in Diaspora
233
better physical care of artifacts of any kind than poor ones. There is no doubt an unfortunate general truth here, but there is a peril to this kind of thinking if it is narrow or limited. It is the kind of thinking that is sometimes invoked in the controversy, for example, which has swirled for two centuries around the removal of the Parthenon Frieze, known in the bad old days as the Elgin Marbles, from Greece to England. If one argues, as has been much argued in this case, that the removal of these magnificent artifacts was to save them from the Turks and not just to grace the British Museum (now Library) and the Edinburgh home of Lord Elgin, then one has landed on very thin moral ice indeed. The unexamined (as they often were) arguments that such acts, however apparently violent or lawless, were for the benefit of someone or maybe everyone, becomes unquestionably a license for simple pillage and once again reinforces the imperial premise. Furthermore, the argument in the context of rich nation/poor nation that we rich folks are doing this for your good is, of course, as old as what was somewhat incredibly referred to as the Liberal Imperialism of the latter half of the 19th century, a spin-off of the so-called and self-appointed civilizing missions of both France and Britain. To take, however, this responsibility to conserve, that is, develop, as rich in possibilities that are social, ethical, and intellectual is immediately to include Jamaica, specifically, and the eastern Caribbean, in general, in the way we think, write, and plan for the collection. To do this, we cannot exercise a kind of squatter’s rights, that is, the implied attitude that argues, we hold the collection and here’s what should be done, but rather to explore the idea and the process of collaborations. Nor can scholars based in U.S. universities necessarily set the intellectual agenda for research or discourse on the Caribbean. The hope that a process—and this word is crucial—of collaboration might continue dynamically to shape and reshape how we understand research and writing about the Caribbean is rich with possibilities. With such inequities of power and wealth, how disingenuous is it to talk of collaborations, or even more problematic, partnerships? We need, of course, to be honest enough to ask, what’s in it for us? If we do not, we are right back in the 19th century, indulging in the sentimental self-delusions of good will that masked some of the worst excesses of empire. Figuring out what’s in it for us has been a growing, reshaping idea of the past few years, emerging out of a process that can be described as everything from fumbling to experimental. Certainly, the most important element of this process is learning to think and work in new ways, less traditional, less centered in a familiar, selfreferential world. True collaboration demands a deep commitment to the equality of intellectual value for all involved, that power is redefined as mutual respect and ethical regard. Research as a responsive process is particularly a function of modes of inquiry, of the maintenance of diverse intellectual disciplines, and of a consistent willingness to entertain ideas that were previously not considered. Powerful departments in first world universities slide easily into theoretical
234
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
parochialisms and the facile judgments that derive from this. A responsive and even collaborative kind of research can often throw serious doubt on the way we think and write about our subjects. For example, a project to be discussed subsequently in this chapter is an excellent case in point. The presentation of the digitized book jackets of the Carberry Collection at the 2004 ACURIL conference in Trinidad and Tobago raised interesting questions about both significance and use from the participants. What was in it for us, in this instance, was to hear new ways to think about such projects involving the collection as well as the beginnings of new kinds of questions to ask about it. What is crucial in this process is listening to what is in it for our Caribbean colleagues and working responsively with them. There are also many programs in the U.S. (as well as Canada and Britain) that specifically focus on Caribbean culture or do so indirectly as under the rubric of the African diaspora. We are, for example, in the early stages of discussion with a U.S. university on using shared resources for public presentation, and are also working under an Illinois Humanities Council grant to use certain materials of the collection for programs in such public venues as branch libraries and schools. Collaboration has meant something else as well to the writers of this chapter: the collaboration between scholar and librarian in an intellectual and disciplinary sense. The collaboration that continues to grow and change has opened up questions that have been theoretical and historical or ones that have been as simple as: How do we format this chapter? As a notion of the collaborative, it is, of course, experimental. We decided to attempt to preserve our professional identities in separate sections at the same time that we present the chapter as unified. And so it is time for a librarian to speak.
FROM A LIBRARY’S PERSPECTIVE Among the stereotypes of librarians as frumpy and shushing are some that librarians themselves cherish and aspire to fulfill: defenders of free speech, annihilators of censorship, and, perhaps most of all, preservers of culture and knowledge. Robert Martin, former director of the U.S. federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, said: [Libraries and museums] preserve our rich and diverse culture and history and transmit it from one generation to the next…And perhaps most important, they serve as a primary social agency in support of education, providing resources and services that complement the structures of formal education and extended education into an enterprise that lasts the length of a lifetime. (Martin qtd. in McCook 226) The dark side of historical motivations and intentions of the library’s “social agency” role in the U.S. certainly have been studied, particularly by
The Caribbean Library in Diaspora
235
Michael H. Harris who suggested that public libraries tried to homogenize American society in order to ensure a docile source of human capital for the economic welfare of the upper classes (Harris, 2510). The function of museums in the Caribbean, similarly, was one of promoting and inculcating the values of the ruling class rather than the heritage of the people of the countries. The preservation of cultural heritage in pre-1960s museums in the Caribbean was centered on depicting a “colonial identity” (Cummins 226ff). Post-Odysseus souvenir-taking from subjugated people has had a major influence on the building of libraries and their special collections. An overview of rare book collections in Latin America observes that historically, the more developed (or conquering) countries have been responsible for finding important texts and taking them home as “curiosities” as well as a tactic to disseminate information about another culture to a broader audience. Furthermore, native “collectors wealthy enough to be able to donate their libraries have all too often chosen to give them to institutions in the developed world for greater security” (Hallewell 6). Libraries do not want to be characterized as cultural imperialists or interfering factors in the difficult task of sustaining of cultural heritage. Librarians are surprised that there are questions about the morality of digitization projects (Britz and Lor) in countries that have no infrastructure for long-term electronic preservation. But once their consciousness is raised, librarians want to come to an equitable resolution to the issue that they are removing collections from poor or nonindustrial countries that seem to not be able to preserve them. The dilemma for U.S. libraries is the question of what can we achieve given the economic, political, and technological circumstances and, in fact, given our inclination to try to improve a situation, even if we’re not sure of what will help or harm. Specifically for the UIC Library, it is a fact that it has the H. D. Carberry Collection of Caribbean Studies, purchased from the estate of a Jamaican jurist. Hugh Doston (“Dossie”) Carberry was born on July 12, 1921, the son of Sir John Carberry, a former Chief Justice of Jamaica, and Lady Georgina Carberry, in Montreal, Canada. He came to Jamaica in infancy and spent most of his life there. He had his primary education at Decarteret School in Mandeville, Jamaica, and then attended Jamaica College. After working with the Civil Service, to which he qualified as second out of more than 100 applicants, Carberry went to St. Catherine College, Oxford University, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Civil Law. He read Law at Middle Temple and was called to the Bar in 1951, then returned to Jamaica to engage in private practice. In addition to his career in law, Carberry was a poet and gave outstanding service in the cultural field, being a member of the Managing Committee of the Little Theatre beginning in 1951. A devout Christian, he was also a pillar of the Providence Methodist Church as Class Co-leader. Carberry was Clerk to the Houses of Parliament from 1969 to 1978 and a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. He was
236
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
appointed judge of the Jamaican Court of Appeal in 1978, and served for a decade. Carberry died on June 28, 1989. Carberry built his library during the 1940s to 1989—1,000 volumes, twothirds of which are literature and about one-third history and politics. This half-century represents the crucial, initiatory modern literary movement of the Anglo-Caribbean sometimes known as the “Boom.” This movement coincides with and underwrites the final decades of the independence impetus, decolonization, and the coming to nationhood in the region. The literary part of the collection contains all genres: poetry, fiction, drama, memoirs, and essays. It represents often close-to-complete works of major writers like 1993 Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott, and most of the “Boom” writers like George Lamming, Samuel Selvon, and Andrew Salkey, founders of the important literary movement in Britain today known as Black British. The collection also contains poetry and drama published by colonial, no longer extant presses, and short-lived literary journals and anthologies often linked to the independence movement. Further, the books provide a history of publishing practice both in the islands and in Great Britain (in the 1950s, Britain still was the colonial power) that is difficult to come by elsewhere except in isolated instances. These first editions are examples of presses from the 1930s and 1940s, now long extinct, such as the Pioneer Press and the Gleaner Printing Company of Kingston, Jamaica; the rarity of these volumes demonstrates the fragility of the publishing industry in the colonial setting. Other volumes were published by the small, often insurgent presses of Britain, founded in the wake of the arrival of the “Boom” generation in the 1950s. Some of these presses have survived to the present, such as Bogle-l’Ouverture, named for two anti-slavery leaders in the Caribbean. Some works from the island presses preserve commercial advertisements in the endpapers or flyleaves—a glimpse of the insecure commercial base for colonial publishing. Others contain political statements like the rare first edition of 26 poems of the Guyanese poet Martin Carter: On the endpaper of this volume is printed an appeal for legal defense funds to help release Carter from a Georgetown jail where he was being held without charges for political activity. The smaller historical and political part of the collection contains a variety of genres from biographies to collections of speeches by such historical figures as Michael Manley, three-time prime minister of Jamaica and symbol of resistance both in the islands and in Africa; and Cheddi Jagan, a longtime prime minister of Guyana and a continuing subject of great interest for both Caribbean and American historians. Although the collection is consistently Anglophone, there are several volumes of poetry, fiction, and essays of the 1960s and 1970s that were published by La Casa de las Americas in English translation or by other Caribbean publishers. Some of these volumes contain essays by Fidel Castro and Ché Guevara and the work of and interviews with writers such as Nicholas Guillen; these volumes provide a sketch of how Cuba
The Caribbean Library in Diaspora
237
was presenting itself to the English-speaking world during this crucial period. So, what is it that the UIC Library has? Our experience thus far is that this collection is valuable as a discreet corpus of published works from a specific time and place. Carberry’s intellectual capital as well as his financial investment went toward selecting specific genres, authors, editions, etc. His notes, jotted on programs or flyleaves, about writings, authors, and performances, are part of the collection. Dust jackets from more than half of the collection remain with their books. All of these features are part of what the collection is, and all have bearing on teaching and research in our university, and on the dissemination of cultural information beyond the academic world. How did the university affect the integrity of this cultural artifact once we removed it from its geographic and cultural context? One possible answer is that we have the equivalent of plunder that we were able to acquire because we took advantage of the doubt among Caribbean people that there would be the institutional continuity to protect it in Jamaica. We may be managing the collection in a totally different way from how it would have been processed had it remained in Jamaica: We keep it together as a collection in a closedstack special collection area. The books do not circulate, and researchers have to make appointments to consult the titles; there is no casual reading of the books in a café or serendipitous discovery of a literary treasure while browsing the general collection open stacks. The library works with a Caribbean studies scholar who is called the curator of the collection; she is describing each book as an anthropological object as well as a literary work, and the library is keeping this curator’s notes in an electronic catalogue that is a combination of the function of a library holdings list catalogue and museum exhibit catalogue. And we have allowed ourselves to be so charmed by the book jacket art that we have dedicated considerable technical and human resources to digitizing the jackets and creating an Internet-accessible database of these works. It is probable that this U.S. institution’s relative wealth and technological capacity to preserve the physical material has enabled us to protect a cultural artifact from another country to a greater extent than a Caribbean library could. However, how did we affect the integrity of the cultural artifact once we removed it from its cultural context? In the case of the H. D. Carberry Collection of Caribbean Studies—1,000 books by Caribbean authors mostly published by British houses—this question is more layered. The intellectual and emotional sources of the works are Caribbean, but publishers in Britain controlled the editing, production, distribution, and marketing of the books. Looking at the Carberry Collection and, particularly, at the book jacket art, we study Caribbean literature but also glean the business plans of the publishing companies. The additional aspect of marketing interpretation is part of the study of the cultures that produced these books. Yet another facet is the book collecting life of Carberry and his passion for preserving and recognizing
238
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Caribbean literature, that is, the reasons why a private individual amassed this treasure. And a final layer is that Caribbean people were dedicated to maintaining the collection as an artifact and protecting it from physical threats (humidity, insect infestations, etc.) and economic threats (violating the integrity of the collection by disassembling it and selling individual books); there was this rationale for agreeing to send it to a U.S. institution, and there was a university library that saw the importance of undertaking the responsibilities of the care of the collection as well as being aware of its value. We want to fulfill our commitment to holding the Carberry Collection “in trust.” We are now, at the beginning of the 21st century, a U.S. public university library in a partnership with Caribbean libraries by virtue of having a Caribbean studies collection and cultural artifact. What is the plan for this library partnership? What can we achieve, and what should be our priorities?
CAPACITY BUILDING IN CARIBBEAN LIBRARIES U.S. libraries have to dedicate some of their resources to capacity building in Caribbean libraries. Libraries, library associations, and library schools can develop strategies for ameliorating the most harmful effects of physical conditions in library buildings. Library education institutions and organizations such as ACURIL and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) can provide aid to the Caribbean by developing rare book librarianship and rare book collections in the region. All developed countries should take an interest in and act on funding for the preservation of cultural heritage in the Caribbean. Libraries can benefit from financial and technical aid from international cultural organizations like the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the tourist industry, and collaborative projects with U.S. and European universities and research institutions. It should go without saying that these partnerships should be truly collaborations without the dominance of the stronger party: Projects must be driven by the goals and appropriate objectives of the Caribbean libraries. The application of technology is an area where projects have to be carefully evaluated for the cost/benefit results. Even libraries in highly developed countries are severely challenged by the technological question of long-term digital preservation. Libraries have to consider digital surrogates as a means to expand access, not as permanent preservation media. As solutions to electronic preservation emerge, leading industrial countries have to ensure that the technology becomes financially available to all.
ACHIEVING THE WIDEST DISSEMINATION OF COLLECTIONS’ CONTENT AND CONTEXT Although the safety of the physical collection prescribes holding it in rare book conditions, it is imperative that the UIC Library take the Carberry
The Caribbean Library in Diaspora
239
Collection out of its library building in as many virtual and physical ways as is practical. We now live in an age in which technology provides many powerful tools for improving access to text and image collections and overcoming geographical barriers to where an item is. A physical book is in one place; however, digital surrogates go far toward getting to the intellectual content. Open access and open-source software are key to all countries being able to afford and access electronic formats. The Carberry Collection book jacket art database is one way to make a particular important feature of Caribbean writings widely available. With the attendant copyright research, U.S. libraries should work with publishers that have effective distribution systems to reprint specific titles in the Carberry Collection. Publishers can scan individual books and reprint durable paperback or hardbound books on acid-free paper. Reprinted editions of unavailable titles can make these accessible again in the Caribbean. The UIC Library is searching for ways that the Carberry Collection can serve Caribbean people in the U.S., especially in the metropolitan area. The Chicago region has a significant Caribbean population, although the U.S. census does not identify Hispanic and Latin American groups in subcategories other than Cuban and Puerto Rican. Inviting the public to see the collection in the library or holding public events outside of the library are ways to raise the visibility of the collection to those who identify themselves as of Caribbean heritage or who can be introduced to their Latin American— Caribbean backgrounds. A useful tool in this is the book jacket art: Its visual appeal and vibrancy draw the eye and can attract attention to the contents of the collection. The library received grant support in 2006 from the Illinois’ humanities funding agency to present six public programs to reach Caribbean communities and to bring the word of this culture to a broader audience. The Carberry Collection formed the centerpiece of events highlighting the literature, art, music, and history of the Caribbean, with scholars, musicians, dancers, and actors further illuminating the cultural heritage of the region. All of the titles in the collection have been catalogued and added to the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) database so that libraries and researchers worldwide will have access to the bibliographic information about the titles. In the UIC Library’s online catalog (UICCAT), a Boolean search “Carberry and collection” yields all of the books in the collection. In 2004, the UIC Library developed a database of the titles in Carberry Collection: It includes bibliographic information, descriptions of the specific books in the collection, scans of the book covers (front, back, and both fly leaves), and curator’s notes about the author, the work, and the connotation of the book jacket art. The Images of the Caribbean database is available via the Internet and is the first step toward making the collection accessible worldwide.4
240
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
The UIC Library has begun an effort to build on its Images of the Caribbean database by inviting libraries with special collections in Caribbean studies and, especially, Caribbean libraries, to add to the digital collection of book jacket art and data about the works. Expanded Images of the Caribbean database would include works beyond the English-language titles in the Carberry Collection and draw a picture of the larger world of Caribbean history as reflected in published books.
CONTINUING COLLABORATION BETWEEN LIBRARIES AND SCHOLARS Partnerships between scholars and librarians can be very effective in developing an understanding of library collections and their historical meanings. In addition to disseminating information about collections to more audiences of scholars and amateurs, such interpretation can inform collection enhancement for the library, expand education in traditional academic curricula, and bring rich content to the lifelong learning mission of U.S. libraries. Such collaborations improve the understanding of the social history (Schnur 66), and can draw on local and distant scholars, result in traveling art/history exhibits, books and articles, and public programs. For the UIC Library, the Carberry Collection database project strengthened the relationship between the library and the university’s preeminent scholar on Caribbean studies. The library gained a better understanding of the value of the collection by working with a scholar who brought a learning component to the project—a method of communicating the significance of the collection by setting the authors and their writings in their historical and cultural context.
CONTINUING MUTUAL COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING AND TRANSMITTING CULTURAL HISTORY Assuming that U.S. and Caribbean libraries will follow their missions to preserve information and cultural heritage throughout the 21st century, the level of trust and the level of effort dedicated to meriting that trust must be maintained as essential parts of American-Caribbean library relations. For example, UIC Library has to continue its commitment to the physical and intellectual protection of the Carberry Collection and to expanding its availability through technology, appropriately used. The Images of the Caribbean database began as a way for the UIC Library to return the Carberry Collection to the Caribbean, at least through bibliographic information and digital representations of the book jacket art. The creation of the database is a good example of how libraries can organize, preserve, and make accessible information about cultural heritage. But beyond these functions is the responsibility to provide the context and to explain the relevance of these books. When UIC presenters demonstrated the database
The Caribbean Library in Diaspora
241
at the 2004 ACURIL conference in Trinidad and Tobago, it was clear that the technology was of secondary importance compared with the emotional reaction of the audience: The meaning of the content—what an individual sees, senses, feels, remembers, or learns—is the significant reason for creating such an access tool. Consequently, the scholar and the library will continue their collaboration to provide the explanation of what the reader will find in database. The next steps are to set out the contextual information about the collection and its cultural significance for a wide range of readers: those who are drawn by the imagery but have not explored the works; those who have read some Caribbean writings and want to learn more; and teachers and scholars who seek to more broadly disseminate the cultural heritage of the Caribbean. The library’s goal is to make the collection meaningful to each reader who visits the database. The importance of preservation, explanation, and dissemination of the meaning of Caribbean literature to all human beings reflects the viewpoint that “…it is the value of the cultural property to people...that matters” (Appiah 39). The UIC Library is one library that intends to continue its collaborations with Caribbean institutions and scholars throughout the 21st century and, thereby, to preserve the value of the Carberry Collection that it holds in trust.
ENDNOTES 1.
There is a vast anthropological literature on exchange and acquisition. Most recent works that specifically address modern imperial acquisition are Maya Jasanoff’s and Anthony Appiah’s forthcoming Cosmopolitanism.
2.
Carberry, H. D. It Takes a Mighty Fire (Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle, 1995).
3.
Certainly among the many publications appearing decrying external pressures on the universities, this is one of the most comprehensive.
4.
Images of the Caribbean. 11 Sept. 2006. caribbean.lib.uic.edu.
WORKS CITED Ahmad, Aijaz. In Theory. London: Verso, 1992. Appiah, K. Anthony. “Whose Culture Is It?” New York Review of Books 9 Feb. 2006, 38–41. Bok, Derek. Universities in the Marketplace: The Commercialization of Higher Education. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2003. Britz, Johannes and Peter Lor. “A Moral Reflection on the Digitisation of Africa’s Documentary Heritage.” World Library and Information Congress: 69th IFLA General Conference and Council Proceedings, August 2003. Canfora, Luciano. The Vanished Library. London: Hutchinson Radius, 1989. Cummins, Alissandra. “Caribbean Museums and National Identity.” History Workshop Journal 58 (2004): 224–245. Darnton, Robert. “Un-British Activities.” New York Review of Books 48 (2001): 6.
242
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Davies, Norman. The Isles. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999. Hallewell, Laurence. “Rare Books in Latin American Libraries.” 60th IFLA General Conference. Conference Proceedings, Aug. 1994. Harris, Michael H. “The Purpose of the American Public Library: A Revisionist Interpretation of History.” Library Journal, 15 Sept. 1973: 2509–2514. Jasanoff, Maya. Edge of Empire. New York: Knopf, 2005. Martin, Robert. “Welcoming Remarks” quoted in McCook, Kathleen de la Peña. “Cultural Heritage Institutions and Community Building.” Reference and User Services Quarterly 41.4 (2002): 226–230. Ngulube, Patrick. “Implications of Technological Advances for Access to the Cultural Heritage of Selected Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Government Information Quarterly 21 (2004): 143–155. Rodney, Walter. How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. Washington, DC: Howard University Press, 1972. Said, Edward W. Orientalism. New York: Pantheon Books, 1978. Schnur, James A. “Building a Better Village: Connecting Cultural Institutions through Historical Research.” Spec. issue of Florida Libraries (2005): 62–69. Veblen, Thorstein. The Theory of the Leisure Class: An Economic Study of Institutions. New York: Vangard Press, 1926.
CHAPTER 18
Building a Digital Library of the Caribbean: Crossing Borders Erich Kesse University of Florida, Florida, USA
Catherine M. Marsicek University of New Mexico Libraries, New Mexico, USA
Judith V. Rogers University of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix, VI, USA ABSTRACT The experience of diverse cultures, extensive migration, and multiple governments of the Caribbean area offer a unique opportunity for scholars to study various global concerns within a single region. Currently, such studies are hindered by language, nationality, and geography, which bar access to relevant information sources. Although larger information centers have been successful in efforts to apply new technologies to improve access to unique collections, most regional institutions lack the trained staff and financial resources to address barriers. The Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC) is a regional cooperative for construction and administration of an electronic gateway to Caribbean collections. It builds on the collaborative experience of institutions in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) and the state of Florida in providing technical support for sharing USVI special collections electronically since 2002. The USVI and Florida institutions acquired funding for four years to build a similar collaborative digitization project within the Caribbean. The Archives Nationales d’Haiti (ANH), Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Fundación Global Desarrollo y Democracia (FUNGLODE), the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ), and the Universidad de Oriente, Venezuela have pledged to participate as founding members of the dLOC. These institutions will digitize and format resources for delivery through a centralized Web system with technical support and training from Florida institutions.
INTRODUCTION The Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC)1 is the realization of an ambitious vision for addressing regional challenges for resource sharing through 243
244
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
the collaborative development of an electronic gateway to disparate Caribbean collections. This dynamic organization is an umbrella for digital projects and collections from and about the Caribbean that otherwise might exist in isolation. The Caribbean region with its diverse mix of culture, histories, and people illustrates trends in migration and nation-state building that are currently taking place on a world scale. It represents a significant focus of study for scholars and students alike. The digital library will comprise collections that examine the similarities and differences in histories, cultures, languages, and governmental systems. It will provide scholars, leaders, and citizens with the resources necessary to build an understanding of issues central to global society and to construct effective policies today and sound strategies for the future. Through an administrative structure that promotes inclusion and retention of local identity, the dLOC institutional partners have the freedom to tell their own story. Using state-of-the-art technologies to centralize access to resources across national borders, the dLOC offers unprecedented opportunities for the region to share resources in a common space, expanding the range of Caribbean materials available to scholars, students, and citizens.
NEED AND SIGNIFICANCE OF dLOC The study of the Caribbean region is critical to our collective understanding of major trends that are taking place on a world scale. The Caribbean spans more than 1 million square miles of water and is comprised of hundreds of islands and territories from which emanate a multiplicity of languages, dialects, and cultures. Occupied over the years by the English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Danish, Americans, and the Knights of Malta, among others, the Caribbean peoples reflect a composite of identities and experiences that mirror the Western world today. This mixture of cultures, ethnicities, and languages offers a unique vantage point upon which to develop this understanding. However, the barriers of language, nationality, and culture that have hindered access to information across the Caribbean for centuries still exist today. These barriers are compounded by challenges of geographic isolation and the high cost of travel to and within the region; ineffective or nonexistent finding aids; and the threat of extinction of resources due to hurricanes and inadequate climate control as well as poorly designed storage facilities. Caribbean institutions recognize the value of collaboration in overcoming the challenges that hinder comprehensive access to archival, library, and museum resources; and they have made significant strides in linking resource centers. To this end, the Association of Caribbean Universities and Research Institutes (UNICA) was successful in the late 1960s in establishing a regional association to unify information resource centers. 2 Effective resource sharing has yet to be achieved, however. Further, significant efforts
Building a Digital Library of the Caribbean
245
have been made to collect Caribbean resources at institutions within the Caribbean and beyond, but this has served to improve access only for a fortunate few.3,4 Consequently, impediments to research still exist in Caribbean studies because of the difficulty in gaining access to relevant materials. Rapid advancements in information and communication technologies, including options for remote access to unique resources, have created dramatically significant opportunities for addressing the old challenges of geographic isolation. However, these new options present new challenges of acquiring skills and financial resources. Among members of the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL), there have been successful efforts to digitize targeted collections, but within the region, there is an absence of widespread technological expertise and limited financial resources to launch a viable attempt at an initiative that encompasses holdings throughout the region. Digitization projects have emerged either as small, isolated projects or as more technically advanced projects at institutions throughout the Caribbean, such as the digital collections of the Main Library at The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.5 As yet, there have been no existing inclusive, high-quality, Web-based collections on the Caribbean that enable global access and facilitate resource sharing to the extent of this planned initiative. The dLOC intends to embrace these independent projects and to create access in a centralized environment. This will bring together diverse materials and information resources from a variety of institutions enabling searching across collections whether they are housed by its centralized services or by the local services of its geographically distributed partners. Similar projects, such as Florida’s Publication of Archival Library and Museum Materials (PALMM)6 demonstrating the effectiveness of a single interface for organizing related collections, and AmericanSouth.org,7 demonstrating the use of a regional network for resource sharing, are also exemplary models of library collaboration and digitization. This ability to search multiple collections from different time periods and cultural legacies provides researchers and students with new perspectives. The dLOC intends to advance Caribbean Studies by cultivating new projects and by engendering new research through improved access to diverse materials for the comparison and contrast of ideas.
THE EARLY STAGES This multifaceted and collaborative international digital library is built upon the success of a cooperative pilot project in 2002 and the interest of information professionals in the region. Reports of the pilot project presented at ACURIL meetings led to further progress during a dLOC planning meeting in summer 2004.
246
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
In 2002, an agreement was reached among the libraries at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), the University of Florida (UF), and Florida International University (FIU) to build a shared digital library, the United States Virgin Islands History and Culture collection.8 Three significant aspects of this collaborative arrangement made this a model prototype in establishing virtual partnerships across borders in order to enhance access to research collections. On a local level within the territory, a partnership was formed among UVI, the Division of Libraries Archives and Museums, and information professionals within the Virgin Islands Department of Education to identify the documents appropriate for inclusion in a digital project. The experience of inter-island, inter-agency collaboration to resolve issues of ownership and branding on this smaller scale informs the process for the wider Caribbean region. Limitations of technical expertise at UVI led the institution to seek assistance from a consultant from the Digital Library Center at UF. This relationship quickly developed into substantial discussions on how to best apply practices for sustaining and preserving the digital project and for facilitating access to the materials. Synergies based on need between UVI and institutions beyond the islands immediately presented solutions to these questions of sustainability and technical support. It was to be an equal trade of technology for access. UF technically supports the project, and in return, UVI provides electronic access to unique and rare materials from its collections beyond its borders. The United States Virgin Islands History and Culture project receives benefits from the use of advanced computer applications and technical support services, including access to future technologies. This access to technology and support guarantees the preservation, growth, and sustainability of the project. The UVI agreement also carefully negotiated aspects of collection development and sharing, with the understanding that USVI cultural and national patrimony would naturally remain as such, with digital access provided to Florida partners and beyond. UVI serves as the lead institution in the development and management of the collection. It is responsible for the collection development plan and the authorship of online descriptive material about the collection. Both UF and FIU are collaborators in the development of this collection and have agreed to make their collections accessible for digitization. This becomes especially important as materials may be discovered in either UF or FIU collections that have been lost in the USVI. This collection development plan is significant in that it places control with the institution that has cultural and national ownership of the collection, no matter where the physical and/or digital collections reside or are accessed. The success of this inter-institutional venture led the key players to envision a larger and more comprehensive digital Library of the Caribbean. The idea for the dLOC initiative was enthusiastically received by Caribbean institutions at
Building a Digital Library of the Caribbean
247
the ACURIL Annual Conference in 2004 and the framework for the organization was developed at a two-day planning meeting organized less than two months later. Interested parties from throughout the Caribbean and Florida met at the first dLOC Planning Meeting in July 2004, hosted by the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Rio Piedras and sponsored by the Latin American and Caribbean Center at FIU and the Smathers Library at UF. This meeting served to establish a unified vision, to discuss the organizational structure, membership, technologies, and collections, and to brainstorm potential funding opportunities. In fall 2005, a four-year grant was received from the U.S. Department of Education’s Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information Access (TICFIA) program9 to develop the dLOC technical infrastructure, to build capacity in the Caribbean region, and to electronically deliver select Caribbean resources to students, scholars, and citizens. The grant program provides seed funds to build a dynamic infrastructure that is responsive to institutional and technological growth and development to ensure sustainability. Through its system of accountability and compliance requirements, the grant program ensures that the objectives identified for successful program implementation are achieved.
dLOC OBJECTIVES The dLOC initiative employs a holistic approach in building its digital library; it considers collections, the technology needed to deliver these resources effectively, and their connection to the real research needs of students and scholars. In order for a project of this magnitude to be successful, a multitiered approach must be employed, and, as such, the dLOC includes five overarching objectives: 1. First and foremost, the dLOC intends to increase access to Caribbean research resources by digitizing and making available, through centralized searching, collections of note, primarily in English, French, and Spanish.10 The dLOC follows a model of decentralized digitization and distributed collection development, thus giving Caribbean institutions, and those that know the collections most intimately, an important role in the decisionmaking and production process. The dLOC ensures Caribbean institutions ownership and control of their resources, while providing guidelines for digitization practices, and for applying appropriate cataloguing standards to ensure effective retrieval by users. During the initial stages of the project—the grant-funded years—five Caribbean institutions have pledged their commitment to provide electronic access to unique source materials from their collections. These include: • The ANH, founded in 1860, holds the largest historical cultural heritage collections on Haiti. The director of the ANH has identified a
248
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century collection of more than 5,000 black-and-white photographs to be targeted for inclusion in the dLOC during this grant period. These photographs, dating from 1918 to 1945, include the period of the first U.S. occupation. The photos contain images of public buildings before and after restoration, public works, monuments, and the visits of U.S. presidents and other officials. • Sharing the island of Hispaniola with Haiti is the Dominican Republic, although in culture, politics, and language, the two sides of the island seem worlds apart. FUNGLODE is a research institute specializing in issues relating to democracy and development. Contributions will come from FUNGLODE’s own publications, including working papers with a social science emphasis and presidential papers. • CARICOM, the regional economic bloc for much of the independent English-speaking Caribbean, was established in 1973 to promote economic development within the region.11 CARICOM will contribute declassified CARICOM documents (1973–1993) from the meetings of Ministers of Agriculture, Culture, Education, Health, Labour, Women and Development, and Common Market Council, CARICOM press releases (1972–2003), and speeches by the former secretaries-general, CARICOM ministers, and Caribbean officials. • NLJ, dedicated to promoting a nation—at home and in the diaspora—that is knowledgeable about its history and heritage, will contribute items from the following collections: newspaper accounts and the Colonial Office Records, which pertain to the landmark slave rebellion of 1831, the landmark post emancipation revolt of 1865, and the labor protests of 1938. • The Universidad de Oriente in northeastern Venezuela, including a campus on the island of Margarita in the Caribbean, launched its digital library on November 18, 2004. 12 Through Open Archives Initiative (OAI)13 harvesting, the Universidad de Oriente will contribute digitized papers and records on historical leaders of Venezuela.
In a parallel endeavor, U.S. institutional partners pledge to contribute valuable materials from the Caribbean held at their institutions to enrich the collaborative digital collections in the dLOC. UVI holds the most complete set of papers presented at the annual Caribbean Studies Association (CSA). The depth of research and quality of the CSA documents attest to the ability of local people to examine and interpret experiences and underlying causes and to contribute vital materials to the body of resources available for research. The University of Central Florida’s growing Caribbean art collection, together
Building a Digital Library of the Caribbean
249
with the literature of that art, provides a unique textual and visual collection of Caribbean cultures. UF has one of the oldest and largest Caribbean collections in the U.S., holding resources on every circum-Caribbean country and culture, and the collection continues to grow through a highly active acquisitions program. Its more than 30,000 reels of Caribbean newspaper microfilm are just a small part of the collection, which also includes rich primary resources in English, French, and Spanish, as well as secondary resources in constitutional histories and law, in economics and literature, and in culture and religious practices. 2. The dLOC initiative will help to build capacity in the region by providing local infrastructure and a multilayered and comprehensive digitization training program for founding Caribbean partners. These partners will receive and retain dedicated digitization workstations and will benefit from on-site training. Ongoing technical direction and troubleshooting assistance will be provided by a support staff. Finally, the training team will encourage continuing education and networking among the Caribbean institutions by increasing awareness of additional resources and by encouraging professional links among the participants. This local capacity building will help standardize bibliographic data, ensure best practices, and expand resources by attracting new members to the organization. 3. Partners in the project will ensure the sustainability of the dLOC by consolidating the organizational framework, both in governance and technical infrastructure. The management structure of the dLOC is both decentralized and streamlined. It is decentralized to transcend institutional, geographic, and linguistic boundaries and ensure that all partner institutions are represented in the decision making and direction of the project. This decentralization allows the project to include the unique expertise of individual personnel, thus benefiting from collaboration by the sharing of skills. The management structure is also streamlined by function to ensure responsibility for each aspect of this multifaceted project. The dLOC is managed by the general partnership. An executive committee, drawn from members of the partner institutions, is charged with both decision making and policymaking, including any changes or amendments to membership, committee structure, and collection management. A project director oversees the day-to-day operations of the dLOC. As the dLOC is a scholar-driven project, an advisory board made up of internationally recognized Caribbean studies scholars helps to provide intellectual guidance to shape the direction and scope of the dLOC. The dLOC is an innovative digital library that relies on centralized software, storage and support or OAI harvesting, decentralized digitization, and advanced Web delivery of electronic resources through multilingual interfaces.
250
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
The dLOC’s international partners who store their digital content centrally will have access to high-quality infrastructure and advanced technological methods and techniques. Partners can take advantage of centralized software and support services provided by the UF’s Digital Library Center, including mechanisms for contributing metadata and files to the dLOC; advanced searchable text-generation services; services to load, store, and navigate text and image collections; bibliographic search software; server facilities; and the provision of long-term archival storage and migration facilities. International partners, opting to store and maintain their own data, can choose to contribute content to the dLOC through the international harvesting standard, OAI. This option still ensures a critical mass of research materials delivered through a central Web portal, yet allows for an institution to develop independent and locally maintained technological capabilities. Each institution, whether contributing content to the centralized location or providing access to their resources through OAI, retains ownership of its collections. Research materials are institutionally branded to recognize this relationship. The dLOC includes or provides access to individual institutional digital collections, while also allowing for the searching across these collections. Each institution is invited to promote its collections through the development of institutional Web pages and collections, linked to the centralized dLOC site. 4. A major objective of the dLOC project is to advance Caribbean studies by building an aggressive and engaging outreach program that delivers these collections to scholars, to the classroom, and to the general public. The interdisciplinary nature of the Caribbean collections is intended to address the research, teaching, and civic needs of scholars, teachers, students, and citizens. With grant monies, plans are in place to deliver presentations, hold working meetings, and convene the scholarly dLOC advisory board at relevant regional and international conferences throughout the initial four-year grant period. In an effort to reach out to teachers in the classroom, increase awareness about the Caribbean, and provide material to be incorporated into the curriculum, the dLOC will develop curriculum nodes and, potentially, host teacher-training workshops. These content-based workshops will provide teachers with research materials for curriculum development and with the opportunity to discuss strategies for teaching Caribbean studies in the classroom. The dLOC will host a Caribbean Speakers Series in which speakers highlight a research theme supported by the dLOC collections. This series will be broadcast in real-time to Caribbean partner institutions and archived in the dLOC. The dLOC will also launch a program, funded with grant monies, to provide competitive Digital Library Fellowships to researchers at partner institutions. Digital Library Fellows will be required to build Web-based, interactive,
Building a Digital Library of the Caribbean
251
and interpretive curriculum modules, drawing on research materials in the dLOC repository, thus directly supporting current and new research in the field of Caribbean Studies. 5. Finally, the dLOC strives to cultivate the development of new research initiatives among Caribbean scholars by providing a supportive framework to disseminate this work. The dLOC will deliver documents and research materials from multiple international partners and provide them in a centralized space, thus allowing users to search across collections. For example, students researching slavery in the New World will have access to historical documents from the NLJ and the ANH as well as other future partners at once. Or, policymakers shaping viable strategies for economic development will have documents from CARICOM and think tanks such as FUNGLODE at their disposal. This ability for pan-Caribbean research and discovery, facilitated through easy electronic access, opens new avenues for research. The mechanisms and the infrastructure of dLOC to deliver research to a wide audience through advanced Web technology, will promote the importance of Caribbean Studies in the international arena. The dLOC will also offer electronic publication of articles, literature, conference proceedings, images, etc. and will thus contribute directly to the dissemination of this new research.
FUTURE STEPS The long-term technical, social, and institutional collaborations that emerge through the dLOC promise to deliver a highly effective leveraging of initial investments. The dLOC is sustainable because of the shared sense of value, mutual interest, and broad benefit derived from the collaboration, in both technology and in collections. The dLOC initiative seeks to be as expansive and inclusive as possible, in both membership and collections. To this end, the dLOC seeks to establish continuing collaborations with institutions within the Caribbean and beyond. The dLOC invites all eligible institutions to become members and contribute to the growing collections of Caribbean resources. Membership is institutional and is open to libraries, archives, museums, research centers, associations, publishers, and vendors that meet the four eligibility criteria: (a) willingness to contribute collections and to make these freely available to the project either through central storage or OAI, (b) availability of appropriate collections with Caribbean content, (c) willingness to comply with common standards, and (d) willingness to designate a representative to manage local participation. The objectives identified through the dLOC planning committee and the grant-funded period are only the beginning steps in achieving the level of Caribbean collaboration envisioned when ACURIL was convened in the late 1960s. The dLOC anticipates that the program rising from this initiative will encompass partnerships and resources far beyond this current project plan.
252
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Over the four-year implementation period, there will be new solutions developed to address new challenges. From the lessons learned, the possibilities for new visions of Caribbean librarianship and resource sharing will be limited only by the will of the generations that follow. Whatever the new visions, resources for analysis, development, and implementation on the next level will be readily available because of the foundation now begun.
ENDNOTES 1.
The Web site for the dLOC project is currently under construction. When this is completed, resources will be accessible through the following URL: www.dloc.com.
2.
For more information on UNICA, see: www.unphu.edu.do/UNICA/. The association formed: the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL), see acuril.uprrp.edu.
3.
The Farmington Plan, which was funded by the Rockefeller Foundation in the 1950s to ensure coverage of foreign materials in the U.S., included an arrangement to collect and preserve resources from the Caribbean, with the UF Libraries responsible for this region.
4.
The Global Resources Network, a more recent example of a resource sharing initiative, includes the Latin American Research Resources Project, which gives some consideration to the Caribbean in its project development. See www.crl.edu/ grn/larrp/index.asp.
5.
For information on these digital collections, see www.mainlib.uwi.tt/digital archives.html.
6.
For information about PALMM collections, its policies, procedures, etc., see palmm.fcla.edu.
7.
For information about AmericanSouth.org, see americansouth.org.
8.
The United States Virgin Islands History and Culture collection is available at: palmm.fcla.edu/usvi/.
9.
For information on the TICFIA grant, see www.ed.gov/programs/iegpsticfia/ index.html.
10. Collections may also include materials in other languages. USVI resources, for example, include Danish language materials. Haitian resources include Haitian Creole. 11. CARICOM has become unofficially multilingual as Suriname and Haiti were added in 1995 and 2002, respectively. See www.caricom.org. 12. To view the Biblioteca Digital UDO, see bibliotecadigital.udo.edu.ve. 13. For more information about OAI, see www.openarchives.org.
WORKS CITED Association of Caribbean Universities and Research Institutes. 1 Mar. 2006. www.unphu.edu.do/UNICA/. Emory University. AmericanSouth.org. 2001. 1 Mar. 2006. americansouth.org.
Building a Digital Library of the Caribbean
253
Open Archives Initiative. 1 Mar. 2006. www.openarchives.org. State University System of Florida. (2000). Publication of Archival, Library and Museum Materials. 2000. 1 Mar. 2006. palmm.fcla.edu. United States. Department of Education. International Education Programs Service. Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information Access. 2005. 1 Mar. 2006. www.ed.gov/programs/iegpsticfia/index.html. Universidad de Oriente, Venezuela. Biblioteca Digital UDO. 2004. 1 Mar. 2006. biblio tecadigital.udo.edu.ve. University of the Virgin Islands. United States Virgin Islands History and Culture. 2005. 1 Mar. 2006. palmm.fcla.edu/usvi/. University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus Libraries. Digital Collections. 2002. 1 Mar. 2006. www.mainlib.uwi.tt/digitalarchives.html. Van Jacob, S. “Latin American Research Resources Project.” Global Resources Network 2006. 1 Mar. 2006. crl.edu/grn/larrp/index.asp. Wagner, R. D. A History of the Farmington Plan. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2002.
254
255
PA R T V I
Education and Training of Library Users
256
CHAPTER 19
Information Literacy Best Practices and Models within Caribbean Academic Libraries: The Role of Information Literacy Standards Vanessa Middleton Wayne State University, Michigan, USA ABSTRACT Information literacy skills training and development is a major component of academic library services. Many information literacy service-delivery models have been implemented and customized by instructional librarians to meet the needs of learners within their respective institutions. During 2001, the American Library Association (ALA), National Forum on Information Literacy (NFIL), and other organizations and accrediting agencies conducted the National Information Literacy Survey. The purpose of the survey was to assess how academic libraries were implementing campus information literacy initiatives. The researcher intends to expand, by comparison, the research findings of this previous survey by examining Caribbean academic libraries within this context. Current international projects to promote and raise the awareness of the value of information literacy and the activities surrounding establishing an international information literacy standard are reviewed. Overall, the focus of this chapter centers on the information literacy practices within Caribbean academic libraries. Practices, assessment strategies, use of information literacy standards, and delivery methods among the major libraries of the three campuses of The University of the West Indies (UWI) at Mona, Jamaica; St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; and Cave Hill, Barbados, respectively, are chronicled. This case study seeks to give voice to the Caribbean perspective on addressing information literacy skills within the academic environment.
INTRODUCTION As we move deeper into the rapidly evolving information landscape, its complexity and social integration offers new opportunities for librarians to play a critical role in user experiences with information. The American Library Association (ALA)’s Presidential Committee on Information Literacy 257
258
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Final Report indicated that, “information is expanding at an unprecedented rate, and enormously rapid strides are being made in technology for storing, organizing, and accessing the ever-growing tidal wave of information”.1 Academic libraries are well positioned to prepare 21st-century learners to become competent managing, interacting with, and creating information. Information literacy skills are critical to securing the competitive advantage for learner’s success within an academic, professional, and social context. Information is increasingly integrated within our personal lives, community, and society as a whole. Thus, the scope and reach of information literacy skills continue to surpass the realm of the academic environment. Information-literate students possess competencies that inform their ability to recognize when information is needed and wield the ability to competently locate, critically evaluate, and effectively utilize the relevant information in accordance with ALA’s definition of information literacy.2 Libraries worldwide have substantially contributed to the cultivation of independent researchers and lifelong learners by imparting these critical information literacy skills.
INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION LITERACY STANDARDS AND INITIATIVES The primary objective of this research is to identify information literacy models and best practices evident within select academic libraries within the Caribbean region. The underlying emphasis of this study will examine the role of information literacy standards in planning and implementing information literacy initiatives within an academic environment. The research findings may contribute to the recent buzz of engaging professional dialogue focused on the need to establish international information literacy standards and practices. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has embraced information literacy as an important element in its campaign to improve literacy and education standards. Their statement of commitment to action-oriented goals related to information literacy reads: UNESCO’s action to provide people with the skills and abilities for critical reception, assessment and use of information in their professional and personal lives. Empowerment of people through information literacy is an important prerequisite for harnessing ICTs (Information Communications Technologies) for education and fostering equitable access to information and knowledge. Information literacy enhances the pursuit of knowledge by equipping individuals with the skills and abilities for critical reception, assessment and use of information in their professional and personal lives.3
Information Literacy Best Practices and Models …
259
This is a positive endorsement of information literacy by UNESCO, which has recently enlisted the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions’ (IFLA), Information Literacy Section to strategically plan and implement this goal of heightening awareness of information literacy through enhanced communication as well as sharing best practices and standards among libraries worldwide. IFLA has designed a Web-enabled database that serves as a clearinghouse to collect and distribute information literacy resources from libraries throughout the world, known as the International Information Literacy Resources Directory.4 Jesús Lau, Chair of IFLA’s Information Literacy, has also written and posted an interactive online draft proposal for International Guidelines on Information Literacy.5 The goal is to create a basic framework that will be collectively developed online by the international community. It is believed that the effort to establish international information literacy standards may increase awareness and impact the level of information literacy on a much broader scale. The establishment of international information literacy standards may be a long and arduous process necessary for the development of a useful framework and infrastructure. Model projects like IFLA’s International Information Literacy Resources Directory and international guidelines draft are creating the impetus for each country to develop and critically examine their information literacy initiatives and share this with a wider audience. As a result of this collective data sharing, benchmarking and baseline institutional comparisons may be established. The primary benefit of IFLA’s projects is to provide the catalyst for developing an active repository of information literacy initiatives that will inspire creative and innovative planning for practitioners stifled for new ideas and approaches to implementing information literacy within their region. Caribbean libraries are fortunate to have visionary leaders within library science education and academic libraries, partnering with UNESCO, to empower librarians with information literacy capacity-building training and development. Professor Fay Durrant, Head, Department of Library and Information Studies (DLIS), UWI, Mona, Jamaica, was recently appointed vice president at the UNESCO Intergovernmental council for the Information for All Programme. In collaboration with the Commonwealth Library Association (COMLA), UWI (Mona, Jamaica) was invited to be the first country to take part in planning and hosting the first workshop within the series of UNESCO’s Information for All Programme. The workshop, titled “International Workshop on Information Literacy,” which was a forum for librarians from more than 20 countries throughout the Commonwealth Caribbean, was held in January 2006.6 Conference organizer, Cherrell Shelley-Robinson, senior lecturer (DLIS) UWI, Mona, Jamaica, stated that the outcome of the workshop focused on developing extensive information literacy skills training efforts primarily targeting public and school librarians. Shelley-Robinson believes that the public librarian sector will be vital to
260
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
efforts of imparting information literacy skills to a broader and varied audience. Although information literacy skills are very important within an academic setting, empowering students with information literacy before they reach university will form the foundation for developing advanced information literacy skills. Most of the librarians interviewed for this study stated that first-time university students in the Caribbean region had very limited formal exposure to information literacy skills training. Another organization that should be recognized for information literacy achievement is the ALA NFIL. This forum examines the role of information in people’s lives and integrates information literacy into the programs of its member organizations. It also “supports, initiates, and monitors information literacy projects both in the U.S. and abroad. NFIL actively encourages the creation and adoption of information literacy guidelines by such regulatory bodies as state departments of education, commissions on higher education, and academic governing boards.”7 UNESCO has enlisted NFIL to implement several major projects related to their broader information literacy initiatives, such as conference planning, international meetings, and other activities designed to produce a collective body of industry leaders examining the value of enhanced information literacy skills among diverse cultures. UNESCO and other organizations have demonstrated their commitment to ensuring that international information literacy initiatives thrive and flourish. These activities will be important as academic libraries proactively plan a future information literacy strategy. Workshops such as the one held at the UWI, Mona, Jamaica, is a positive beginning for Caribbean libraries to ensure that they maintain relevance and play a critical role within the academic enterprise. Caribbean academic libraries in the 21st century must be prepared to cultivate and empower 21st century learners with information literacy competencies. Therefore, significant projects are underway and complement the current information literacy practices in place within the Caribbean region.
LITERATURE OVERVIEW OF INFORMATION LITERACY WITHIN THE CARIBBEAN REGION The high level of information literacy activity within Caribbean libraries is under-represented in current published literature. Unfortunately, worthy locally published material, gray literature, and other publications not indexed within the mainstream electronic indexes and databases were not consulted or available for this review. According to practitioners in the region, it was noted that another repository of information that reflects information literacy initiatives may be found in the theses of the DLIS, UWI, Mona, Jamaica. Providing access to these theses electronically would be an
Information Literacy Best Practices and Models …
261
excellent digital project that will enhance the body of available literature related to regional information literacy initiatives. Information literacy initiatives and activities nestled in conference proceedings and posted on professional organization Web sites were consulted and these provided valuable information. For example, Paulette Kerr and Verna George presented a conference paper at the International Association of School Librarianship titled, “Information Literacy Alliances: A University Library and High School Libraries Working Together for Life-Long Learning,” which discussed UWI’s initiative to provide information literacy skills training and professional development to high school librarians in Jamaica.8 The Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries’ (ACURIL) published conference proceedings are additional positive contributions to the scholarly dialogue related to information literacy within the region and abroad. It is imperative that professional associations and researchers within the Caribbean region publish their research findings; this rich information is a vital contribution to the library and information studies discipline. The scope and depth of library science research and development is evolving on a global scale; however, developed countries’ information literacy experiences and perspectives are overrepresented within scholarly communication. Therefore, the dearth of rich contributions and intellectual content from developing countries is a missing part of the holistic view of information literacy. It should be noted that broadening the literature review’s scope to include publications focusing on literacy initiatives within the Caribbean resulted in more studies, books, and conference proceedings. As the literacy research and information literacy body of work evolve, the research findings are very similar. Common terminology like lifelong learners, evaluation, and an emphasis on a variety of forms of media were prevalent throughout the literature. As our information society matures, the current definition for literacy is converging with information literacy. Literacy is no longer defined simply as the ability to read and write. New definitions of literacy are emerging and “many now consider literacy to be the ability to locate, evaluate, use, and communicate using a wide range of resources including text, visual, audio, and video sources” (Callison 228). This definition sounds very similar to ALA’s definition of information literacy. These common goals may serve to unify the collective efforts and cultivate new partnerships between academic libraries and literacy organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and secondary education institutions focused on improving literacy. In a review of the public perception of literacy efforts within the Caribbean region, a literacy activist and scholar makes this argument in support of the need for heightened awareness of adult education literacy efforts and common perceptions, “…remedial, compensatory, and supplementary stands in the way of its recognition as the creator of the learning society and obscures the pathway to transformational reality of lifelong learning”
262
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
(Carrington 33). Librarians face the same challenges with the devalued perception of information literacy as they work assiduously to integrate information literacy into the curricular and institutional goals. Thus, collaborative partnerships abound as we enter a critical juncture in the evolution of our profession. Future strategic planning opportunities may include forging new alliances with literacy advocates to heighten awareness of issues that may bring forth new funding sources and political support.
PARTICIPATING CARIBBEAN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES Selected academic libraries for this research were primarily institutions serving the Commonwealth Caribbean region, which includes Anguilla, Antigua, The Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The characteristics of the selected academic institutions included four-year degree academic institutions with a library providing the full range of library services, particularly user education or library instruction services. The final threshold characteristic was academic libraries with holdings beyond 80,000 and Full Time Equivalent (FTE) student count of at least 4,000. The Europa World of Learning 2006 publication was consulted for institutions that fit the criteria. The three selected academic institutions include: The UWI, St. Augustine Campus (Trinidad and Tobago), Mona Campus (Kingston, Jamaica), and Cave Hill Campus (Barbados). All three campuses serve as regional hubs serving the Commonwealth region’s higher education needs. Therefore, a blended ethnographic case study approach was used for this small set of institutions. Examining these three major Caribbean institutions will shed light on best practices and information literacy activities within this region. A modified version of the National Information Literacy Survey was utilized. This 14-item survey was used during 2001 by the ALA in collaboration with the NFIL, the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS), and the Western Accreditation Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (WASC) to assess information literacy practices within academic libraries.9 In addition, this study examined how academic institutions were integrating information literacy initiatives on their respective campuses and assessed the impact of information literacy standards on planning and development. The National Information Literacy Survey was administered to librarians throughout the three academic libraries. A list of librarians responsible for instruction services were drawn from official university directories available on the Web site of each university. Approximately nine librarians, directors, and faculty were consulted. E-mail participation requests preceded a 27-item online survey instrument distributed to gather data about the level of information literacy activity at each campus library. Librarians were sent one
Information Literacy Best Practices and Models …
263
reminder. After failed communication attempts, the researcher contacted individual librarians via Internet telephony software. This provided an opportunity to enhance the research findings with rich qualitative data that supplemented the results. The timing of the survey may have been a constraint to getting responses as it was conducted during the beginning of the semester in January, which is also a very busy time at most academic libraries, particularly providing instruction services. After speaking to several instruction librarians or information literacy coordinators, it was realized that librarians were faced with similar challenges of reaching a vast number of students in a brief period of time with limited staffing. One librarian said that two librarians were responsible for providing information literacy sessions scheduled for more than 3,000 students in a one-week period. Overall, the data gathered was valuable for providing insight on participating libraries information literacy initiatives.
INFORMATION LITERACY INITIATIVES WITHIN SELECT CARIBBEAN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES Based on the results of the survey, most participating librarians were very familiar with the ALA’s Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education. Most of the librarians interviewed during the study based their information literacy initiatives on these standards, with the exception of one library science faculty member who relied upon Marland’s taxonomy of information skills developed in the U.K. In addition, two participating librarians stated that ACRL’s Institute for Information Literacy Immersion program was very instrumental in their planning and implementing major changes in their institution’s information literacy program. The Institute of Information Literacy Immersion program was designed to “provide instruction librarians with the opportunity to work intensively for four-and-a-half days on all aspects of information literacy…the Immersion Program will provide your instruction librarian with the intellectual tools and practical techniques to help your institution build or enhance its instruction program.”10 According to Margot Sutton, ACRL Program Officer, an increasing number of international participants are taking part in this program. One of the program alumni from the Caribbean region stated that Information Literacy Immersion Program provided the framework and tools to redesign her institution’s program from a bibliographic instruction program to a comprehensive information literacy program. Therefore, the reach and positive impact of ACRL’s Immersion program goes far beyond the borders of North America. A Web analysis revealed that information literacy initiatives at each university were well developed. The UWI, St. Augustine offers a Web-based, selfpaced tutorial for students that addresses the critical information literacy areas including computer literacy. These services are coordinated through the User Education Centre. The UWI, Mona offers information literacy services
264
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
through a special unit titled, Mona Information Literacy Unit (MILU). The UWI, Cave Hill librarian explained that they were still in the formative stages of developing a complete information literacy program. Two out of three academic libraries have a specific unit and librarian dedicated to coordinating information literacy activities. According to the responses of the survey results, each librarian had a clear understanding of information literacy. It was evident from the Web analysis that information promoting institutional information literacy initiatives was designed within the framework of ALA’s Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education. Respondents used standard familiar language to describe information literacy as recognizing the need for information, finding the necessary information, and effectively using the information. While another stated that critical thinking, lifelong learning, and responsible use of information were specific terms that came to mind when thinking about information literacy. Much like the previous survey conducted by ALA, the results revealed that the Information Literacy Competency Standards were widely accepted and implemented within select Caribbean academic libraries. Therefore, despite the geographic and cultural differences that may exist within the student population, these standards are seen as a viable framework. However, as these programs mature, evolve, and incorporate assessment measures, the result may include more custom-tailored programs and information literacy competencies designed to meet the needs and priorities of their learners. Hannah Francis, Head of user services at the UWI, St. Augustine, published a thoughtful article about preparing professionals to develop “environmental information literacy” in order to provide relevant and timely environmental information (Francis 38). This information literacy model represents the specific type of tailoring and customization of the information literacy competencies, which more specifically reflect the information needs of the learner within this region. Survey respondents were asked to comment on activities related to integrating information literacy within the curriculum. Most of the respondents indicated that information literacy is an integral part of, at least, one course on campus. General library instruction is infused in, at least, one course on campus, and students receive Web-based instruction on information literacy skills via online tutorials in most cases. Therefore, most campuses are trying a multifaceted approach of infusing information literacy within the curriculum. Collaboration with other units on campus was also explored in the survey instrument. One institution noted that the library was involved in an “Information Literacy Core Committee,” which was comprised of multidisciplinary faculty, librarians, and campus administrators. This campus was one of the few academic libraries within the region that had a library instruction course that was a part of the general education curriculum for more than five years. The results clearly indicate that multiunit-based groups consisting of
Information Literacy Best Practices and Models …
265
faculty, librarians, and administrators planning information literacy initiatives are assuming greater leverage on campus. Several survey respondents stated that students and faculty undervalued the need for information literacy skills training. Most students realize the need for these skills only when research papers and other rigorous assignments require these skills, normally encountered toward the end of their academic career. According to an interviewee, one faculty member asked if the workshop could be completed in five minutes during a break in the class. Therefore, similar to other institutions, the same lack of understanding and misconception of information literacy’s role in the curriculum exists within Caribbean academic institutions. Another challenge to librarians in this region is the students’ varied level of computer skills according to survey respondents. Particularly at campuses with a higher percentage of nontraditional students, this problem is more prevalent. Computer literacy assessment and testing was not mandatory within each institution reviewed. Therefore, the librarian’s role is substantially more challenging because he or she will be required to impart both information literacy skills and computer literacy skills. Another item in the survey focused on examining the role of local professional associations on major information literacy initiatives in the region. Most respondents stated that regional professional associations had a limited engagement in the development of regional information literacy standards and activities. However, librarians indicated that information literacy was a topic of interest at various professional meetings, conferences, and workshops sponsored by local professional organizations. Survey responses revealed that there are several methods for including information literacy on the various campuses. At least one academic library stated that information literacy was infused on a variety of levels, for example: 1. Systematically integrated into, at least, one required course 2. Discipline-specific library instruction is offered upon request 3. Students are referred to customised information literacy tutorials Information literacy program assessment methods and practices were not widely practiced at each academic library, according to the survey respondents. Most librarians are still working toward incorporating effective assessment methods to evaluate their students’ skill level and measure program impact. Some respondents indicated that anecdotal evidence from reference transactions was used to gauge the success and impact of the information literacy program. Therefore, formal and structured methods of assessment have not been incorporated at the select academic institutions. Most respondents had a clear vision of how to improve their information literacy program. Increasing information literacy staff from two librarians was another goal for enhancing the existing program. Also, improving the
266
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
classroom facilities and design for enhanced teaching was a top priority. Other respondents felt strongly about supplementing face-to-face library instruction with customized online learning modules. Increased collaboration and internal outreach to faculty and other campus libraries was also noted as an excellent strategy to standardize and collectively enhance campus wide information literacy initiatives.
CHALLENGES OF INFORMATION LITERACY INITIATIVES WITHIN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Some scholars have pointed to the rigid traditional educational system, low literacy rate, and low level of publishing as barriers to successful information literacy initiatives within developing countries. The external large-scale issues, such as the countries economic, social, and political stability, affect how information literacy or literacy initiatives are supported and promoted. For instance, an interesting view presented through Evelyn Idiodi’s research on information literacy’s role in Nigeria reflects a different sentiment about the important role of information literacy within developing countries. She points out that, “information literacy is not only central to achieving personal empowerment and economic development, it is pivotal in the pursuit of lifelong learning. In the context of developing nations, economic mobility has not often been linked to information literacy” (Idiodi 227). However, further research is necessary that show the correlation between information literacy skills acquisition and economic upward mobility. An article written by Lynne Rudasill provides a candid look at the issues that counter the argument that information literacy standards and practices adopted in developed nations are not appropriate for use in developing countries. She provides three reasons why information literacy standards and practices thrive in the Western nations: (1) democratic relationship with information; (2) technology’s relationship with capitalist economies (this refers to the booming publishing industry in Western nations that have become technologically integrated); and (3) economics of information. All serve to motivate the West to develop information literacy standards (Rudasill 95). She argues that these same characteristics do not exist within developing nations, therefore ALA Information Literacy Competency Standards are not applicable. This author puts forward an opposing view based on conversations with librarians worldwide and knowledge gained working abroad that the scholarly information consumption in developing countries is still provided by the same mainstream database providers worldwide. In addition, after conducting personal interviews, it was determined that most librarians rely heavily on ALA Information Literacy Competency Standards as a model. These standards also serve as the foundation for information literacy planning and development. Overall, as Caribbean academic libraries’ information literacy programs mature, institutions may design and
Information Literacy Best Practices and Models …
267
incorporate unique practices that are more reflective of the specific information needs, learning styles, and cultural variables of the students within the region.
CONCLUSION Designing, planning, and implementing effective campus-wide information literacy programs is challenging given the institutional and external forces working against these efforts, regardless of geographic location. Despite the scarcity of research related to developing countries’ advances in the area of information literacy, Caribbean academics libraries are progressively assuming a leadership role in areas of information literacy. Several institutions are forming creative partnerships and alliances that will have a lasting impact on future strategic planning. More regional cooperation between campus libraries could foster more resource sharing. Caribbean academic libraries that have more mature information literacy programs should collaborate with other regional libraries to share best practices. The Caribbean region has many active professional library associations that should champion the collective efforts of academic, public, school, and special libraries working together to improve information literacy among a broad cross-section of the regional population. This pilot study will evolve over time and will include a broader cross-section of Caribbean academic libraries in the future. It reveals the need for more in-depth analysis of information literacy activities within the Caribbean region, particularly among the public libraries and school libraries.
ENDNOTES 1.
“Presidential Committee on Information Literacy: Final Report,” ACRL Publications, 10 Jan. 1989, American Library Association, Chicago, 22 Jan. 2006. www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/whitepapers/presidential.htm.
2.
“Presidential Committee on Information Literacy: Final Report”
3.
Abdelaziz Abid, “Capacity Building, Information Literacy,” 2 Jan. 2006, UNESCO, 25 Feb. 2006. portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=15886&URL_DO=DO_ TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html.
4.
International Information Literacy Resources Directory, ed. Jesús Lau, 2006, International Federation of Libraries Associations and Institutions—United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Ver, Mexico, 15 Jan. 2006. www.uv.mx/usbi_ver/unesco/.
5.
Jesus Lau, “International Guidelines on Information Literacy,” 20 Aug. 2004, International Federation of Libraries Associations and Institutions, 2 July 2006. bivir.uacj.mx/dhi/DoctosNacioInter/Docs/Guidelines.pdf.
6.
“UNESCO Organizes an International Workshop on Information Literacy in Jamaica,” 2 Jan. 2006, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
268
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Organization, 2 July 2006. portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=21084&URL_ DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html/. 7.
”Information Literacy: Links and Resources,” National Forum on Information Literacy (USA), 9 Jan. 2006, www.infolit.org/index.html. 13 Jan. 2006; Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, 2 Jul. 2006, www.library.qut.edu.au/info literacy/links.jsp.
8.
Paulette Kerr and Verna George, “Information Literacy Alliances: A University Library and High School Libraries Working Together for Life-long Learning,” Paper presented at 2003 Annual Conference of the International Association of School Librarianship (IASL), Durban, South Africa, 7–11 July 2003.
9.
”National Information Literacy Survey Project,” Nov. 2001, American College and Research Libraries, Institute for Information Literacy Executive Board, 2 July 2006. www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlissues/acrlinfolit/professactivity/infolitsurvey/survey intro.htm.
10. “Immersion Program,” Institute for Information Literacy, American College and Research Libraries, Institute for Information Literacy Executive Board, 27 Feb. 2006. www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlissues/acrlinfolit/professactivity/iil/immersion/ immersionprograms.htm.
WORKS CITED Callison, Daniel. Key Words, Concepts and Methods for Information Age Instruction: A Guide to Teaching Information Inquiry. Baltimore: LMS Associates, 2001. Carrington, Lawrence. “Addressing the Effectiveness of Adult Education in the EnglishSpeaking Caribbean.” Convergence 34.2–3 (2001): 31–36. Education Resource Information Clearinghouse, OCLC FirstSearch. Wayne State University, MI. 22 Jan. 2006. www.oclc.org/ERIC/. Francis, Hannah. “Environmental Information Issues in the English-Speaking Caribbean.” Libri 46 (1996): 35–40. Idiodi, Evelyn A. “Approaches to Information Literacy Acquisition in Nigeria.” Library Review 54.4 (2005): 223–230. ScienceDirect. Wayne State University, MI. 29 Dec. 2005. www.sciencedirect.com. Marland, Michael, ed. Information Skills in the Secondary Curriculum: The Recommendations of a Working Group Sponsored by British Library and Schools Council. London: Methuen Educational for Schools Council, 1981. Rudasill, Lynne. “The Distance between Us: Information Literacy and the Developing World.” The New Review of Information Networking (1998): 93–104. Saleh-Ashoor, Mohammad. “Information Literacy: A Case Study of the KFUPM Library.” The Electronic Library 23.4 (2005): 398–409.
CHAPTER 20
Librarian and Lecturer in Partnership: A Caribbean Experience Petronetta Pierre-Robertson University of the Southern Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago ABSTRACT “Librarian and Lecturer in Partnership: A Caribbean Experience” addresses the issue of collaboration between lecturer and librarian in an academic setting, more specifically in the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago. Drawing on research and experiences provided in the library literature, the writer alludes to the benefits of collaboration, the reasons why collaborative partnerships should be pursued, the challenges to be faced, as well as factors that would facilitate collaboration between librarians and lecturers. Feedback from students and lecturers is also provided. The experience gained at an academic library—the University of the Southern Caribbean (USC), where the writer currently serves as library director—is provided against the backdrop of the literature consulted. The chapter closes with an appeal for increased collaborative efforts and provides recommendations on how partnerships can be formed in an academic environment in the Caribbean.
INTRODUCTION At a library committee meeting of the USC (formerly Caribbean Union College), held in 2003 and comprising mainly of deans, library director, academic vice president, and a student representative, the issue of developing our students into critical thinkers was again considered. The problem was not unique to this institution. Students were making “extensive but inappropriate use of…information resources in their academic research” (Voigts 5). It was a recurring problem that we needed to address. It was understood that finding and implementing a remedy was not solely the responsibility of either librarian or lecturer. Both needed to work together—but how? The professional literature, discussed later in this chapter, served as a source of valuable information on the benefits of collaboration, the reasons why collaborative 269
270
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
partnerships should be pursued, the challenges to be faced, and other pertinent issues related to collaboration between librarian and lecturer.
BENEFITS OF COLLABORATION Collaboration is a powerful tool that helps increase student achievement as well as “assure that the library is an integral component of the curriculum” (Milbury 30). As noted by Buchanan Luck and Jones, “the effectiveness of librarians’ curriculum development” is also improved through collaborative ventures and course instruction (163). A good working relationship between both parties, librarian and lecturer, is the springboard for setting students on the path to lifelong learning. Both professionals bring to the fore, specialized skills that in tandem reap rewards for the student. Curt Asher noted that the librarian uses several keys to open doors of knowledge. They include tools to find information and know where it is located; how to construct a search; how to distinguish between sources of information; and how to evaluate the value and credibility of sources. Students locate, assess, and select the material. Lecturers help the students with interpretation of the information through the provision of appropriate teaching methods. Librarians and lecturers provide separate interdependent instruction, both of which have intrinsic value, and it is their independence and interdependence, which best serves students. Knowledge and expertise of each professional should be clearly delineated so that each can best provide students with the benefits of their expertise (52–54). From studies and personal experience, collaboration with faculty is the best way to help students to learn lifelong research skills (Moore 77–86). Buchanan, Luck, and Jones also found that in the process of working together, the experience gained through the symbiotic relationship, encouraged the development of other forms of instruction that served to benefit not just students but librarian and lecturer as well (163). Mutual respect is one of the major ingredients for such relationships to be developed and maintained in an academic environment.
CHALLENGES FACED IN COLLABORATION There are several constraints to librarian-lecturer collaboration. Small cites the work of Williams who posited administrative and curricular demands that serve to impinge on the time needed to collaborate (10). As noted by Winner, “Teaching users to understand the structure and role of information and to use critical thinking in the evaluation and selection of material they receive is labor-intensive” (26). Add to that the already slim margin of time, meetings, reports, staff issues, implementation of plans, and a plethora of other day-to-day matters, and the possibility of collaboration is slim. A second constraint is the difficulty encountered in convincing lecturers to collaborate especially when they are ignorant of what can be done by
Librarian and Lecturer in Partnership
271
librarians for them and their students regarding the teaching and learning process. Small underscored the fact that unless all partners see the importance and understand the benefits of collaboration to themselves, each other, and their students, collaboration will always be elusive (10). This challenge is further exacerbated by negative perceptions of lecturers held by librarians and vice-versa according to Stahl and Baker (133). A further study done by Miller and Schontz found that “teacher-librarians are struggling to become partners with teachers who don’t want them” (28). Badke proposed a third challenge, that being the different cultures that create different priorities; librarians focus more on process, faculty more on content, though the two are not mutually exclusive. Asher, however, was forthright in his assertion that “teaching students to analyse data, evaluate ideas, and develop a philosophical understanding framed within a subject discipline are elements of information literacy that lie outside the expertise of most librarians” (54). This point was reinforced in the study conducted by Buchanan, Luck, and Jones, where librarians noted that they relied on the professor for subject expertise and classroom management skills (162). As Asher summarized, the jobs of both professionals are important for student achievement. The librarian opens the door to a new piece of knowledge; the lecturer helps the student to interpret it (54). The challenge for librarians in the 21st century is that of working within the boundaries, while seeking to find creative ways of navigating potential obstacles in their quest to partner with lecturers in training students to not just locate but also to assess material upon which they should base their learning (Rader 74–90). Librarians must collaborate with lecturers since, as advocated by Donald Riggs, lecturers can be described as chief instigator of library use for, notwithstanding, library orientation; it is the lecturer that provides the assignments that require utilization of the library by students (498). Ken Haycock delineated factors that facilitate successful collaboration. Four of those factors provided fertile soil for the germination of collaboration in the experience of the USC. They are: • Faculty/Staff Characteristics – Teachers and librarians exhibit mutual respect, understanding, and trust. They see collaboration in their own self-interest, offsetting their costs of time and loss of autonomy. The partners are able to compromise. • Communication – There is open and frequent formal communication, supported by more informal personal relationships and communication. • Purpose – The teaching team has a shared vision with concrete, attainable goals, and objectives for the curriculum unit(s). Their purpose is unique, that is, it could not be accomplished by either partner alone.
272
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century • Resources – There is skilled leadership by the librarian and administrator supported by sufficient funds, staff, materials, and time. (48)
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN: OVERVIEW The USC is a private co-educational institution with a diverse student body operated by the Caribbean Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. It is in the Maracas Valley, about 10 miles northeast of Port-of-Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago. There are currently five schools at the university. At the inception of the project these schools were called faculties. These schools are: The School of Education and Human Sciences The School of Humanities and Social Sciences The School of Business The School of Theology, Religion and Behavioral Sciences The School of Sciences and Technology Through the years, this author, who currently serves as the library director, has been an active member of faculty: attending faculty meetings, providing current awareness services as well as orientation services, teaching (albeit limited) library instruction to both student and faculty, and serving on various committees, which include those that deal with policies, information technology, and offerings in new programs. The library director is also a member of the highest administrative body on the campus, the administrative council. These interactions and resulting relationships formed have served to lay the foundation for collaborative ventures, the nature of which will be discussed.
COLLABORATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN In recent years, the question of how best to incorporate information literacy instruction into the academic curriculum has grown beyond the boundaries of professional librarianship and has become a general concern regularly addressed by classroom faculty, educational administrators and even regional accrediting organizations… . (Walter 34–35) It was the academic vice president who arrived at a solution to the dilemma of developing our students into the critical thinkers identified in the opening paragraph. Having been apprised of the information needs of students through various meetings with the library director, it was obvious that the academic vice president had mulled over the solution for a while before presenting it to the library committee. She suggested that the library committee vote
Librarian and Lecturer in Partnership
273
for a proposal to be submitted to the academic policies committee, a committee that makes recommendations to the president via the administrative council. This proposal would advocate specifics relating to the inclusion of a library course for credit within an existing department. The course would be built around library research and critical thinking skills. The lecturer would be the librarian. There would be close collaboration between the librarian and the dean of the faculty of humanities. She also verbalized, as did Buchanan, Luck, and Jones, that time involved in such a process was significant enough to warrant that the task should not just be added to regular responsibilities of the library director “any more than classroom faculty should teach an overload class without some compensation in either time or money” (163). Therefore, monetary compensation was advocated. Thus, the vision was shared and the goal seemed attainable. The main objective was the development of the students into critical thinkers who would be able to distinguish “between true pearls and those glittery paste jewels that dissolve upon close examination” (Voigts 5); students who were also able to, according to Curt Asher, “swim forever in a river of ideas” (55). Librarian and lecturers would work together in the accomplishment of this objective. Library staff was tired of being inundated with requests from students mainly for material identified in a course outline or alluded to by the lecturer. Valuable items in our collection remained untouched, not borrowed because they were not referred to by the lecturer either verbally or in writing. Too much money was spent on material that was not being utilized, simply because they were not visible outside of the library either by students or lecturers. In addition, as advocated by Small, the ever increasing importance of information technologies further spurred on the urgency for collaboration (10). It was obvious that face-to-face contact between librarians and students, who felt that the Internet was an adequate substitute for the library, was severely limited. One student, in particular, had proudly asserted that she didn’t need the library since she could get all she wanted on the Internet. This affirmation brought to mind a scenario in the literature of a student who relied heavily on what appeared to be an authoritative essay for her report on medieval practices. The report was actually authored by a radiologist with little knowledge of either the Middle Ages or of premodern medicine (Voigts 5). The students at the USC, and in some instances, lecturers, needed help in navigating the information superhighway effectively. Yet, there existed serious constraints. How could such an idea be considered in the face of administrative demands that sat squarely on the shoulders of the one professional at the library? Where would the librarian find the time to teach an entire course for credit given the reality of staff shortage, both professional and paraprofessional, faced by the library? In addition, the increase in student enrollment at the university further exacerbated the problem. The dean of the faculty of humanities refined the proposal. His solution was to have library research built into an existing mandatory course
274
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
in the English department, over a long-term basis. He saw the advantages to be gleaned from such integration. It appeared that Badke also had similar ideas, as in a prior study he proposed what he called a bolder plan for collaboration between librarians and lecturers “to imbed information literacy credit courses within existing departments.” This, he said, would address the constraint of “cultural conflict while creating a proper climate for collaboration” (63–80). Lupton, echoing Badke, encouraged that librarians need to work in tandem with academics to integrate information literacy into course content and programs of study, and view students work to ascertain whether information goals are being reached (81). It was a perfect union that would provide just what the student needed. The Academic Policies Committee, comprising mainly of members of faculty, unanimously voted for the project. Communication facilitated the development, growth, and longevity of the process and played a pivotal role in the process of collaboration. Apart from the dean, the chair of the department as well as individual lecturers worked with the librarian on an ongoing basis, sharing plans, visions, and course content via telephone, e-mail, and face-to-face contact. The course, within which library research methods were incorporated, was English Composition II, an undergraduate three-credit core course concerned mainly with teaching research writing and engendering critical thinking skills. The needs of the lecturers, librarian, and students were outlined. Specific information was provided, which included duration of sessions, days and times, classrooms, class schedules, course outlines, course objectives, number of students per class, and telephone and e-mail contacts of lecturers. Lecturers were eager and excited about the prospect of working together with the librarian. They verbally expressed their delight over the collaborative venture, which they were hopeful would result in papers with more substance that would be easier to grade. Formal written communication ensured continuity of the process. The reality is that lecturers’ attachment at the university can be transitory, some are hired and stay on permanently, and others are temporary. Oral communication is not a dependable means of perpetuating a process or keeping systems alive. The proposal worked well. Since the project started in 2003, library research has been an integral component of English Composition II, a core course on writing and research in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the USC. Components of the Big6 Skills were incorporated into instruction (Eisenberg and Berkowitz). The experience echoed that of Buchanan, Luck, and Jones, for team-teaching built trust in each others expertise and experience (162). As of 2005, the relationship between the lecturers in the English department and the librarian is one of collaboration and mutual respect. Students have voiced their appreciation of a system that provides them with the ability to not just locate information but also to apply it to their research needs. The exclamations of students include comments, such as: “Why didn’t I know all of this before? I am now finding so
Librarian and Lecturer in Partnership
275
much relevant information.” Strong relationships between students and the librarian developed. The library was now a visible and real component in their experience. In addition, the chief instigators—faculty—of library use had not only recognized but also verbalized the importance of the library to students. Although time did not permit the gathering of empirical evidence, a verbal assessment from the dean of the School of Humanities and Social Studies was provided. According to the dean, research took a new slant. Students were being encouraged to think outside the box, read, challenge lecturers, and broaden their horizons. One significant dimension of the course was that students are instructed to approach areas of research with a new perspective to enhance the repository of current research and not just to focus on secondary research, which borders on regurgitation of the old or reinventing the wheel. Soon a book containing input from lecturers in the English department and the librarian will be published to assist students in the preparation of assignments and the fulfillment of other course objectives. Collaboration must indeed be relational rather then circumstantial with a long-term focus (Moore 77–86) . It is also important to separate the concepts of orientation and instruction. The two concepts must not be confused. The former introduces the library and its services to the user, the other instructs on the maximization of the resources of the library in fulfilling information needs. One role, according to Lupton, is that of trainer, the other that of educator (82). Again Buchanan, Luck, and Jones encapsulated this idea well when they noted that “the concept of Information Literacy Instruction as opposed to training in library use or research methods is still foreign to most faculty and to many librarians as well” (161). Apart from, but growing out of the alliance with the School of Humanities, collaboration developed and is currently ongoing between the librarian and lecturers in the School of Theology, Religion, and Behavioral Sciences. The word had spread and lecturers in other departments also wanted their students to benefit from this integrated approach to teaching. Training for lecturers in all the schools (faculties) has also been scheduled since re-educating the faculty must be part of any collaborative venture between librarian and faculty, especially in the face of unprecedented growth of information and communication technologies.
FACTORS THAT WOULD FACILITATE COLLABORATION As advocated by Small, librarians “should not bear the total responsibility of raising awareness and demonstrating the possibilities for collaboration” (11). Collaboration training during professional preparation programs was posited as a means of raising awareness of the needs of and ways in which educators can work together. While we seek to realize this dream however, and even amid the challenges, we must bear in mind that collaboration can happen with “diplomacy and modeling” (Milbury 30). It can be done and
276
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
must be done. Negative attitudes must be reversed. What the librarian, and by extension, the library, can provide for lecturers and ultimately students must be promoted. Librarians must be perceived as educational leaders. As advocated by Buchanan, Luck, and Jones, librarians must take the lead and further educate themselves and lecturers about positive outcomes (164). Librarians should inform lecturers about the many contributions they can make to student learning. Embracing this perception and retraining lecturers through workshops and programs could be undertaken. Librarians should work on improving liaison with faculty and not wait for the lecturers to come to them, librarians should initiate this process. According to Gary Hartzell, “the skills and knowledge that make you a technically excellent librarian will not alone make you an influential one.” Changes in everyday activities will need to be made since “influence is both built and exercised through continual interaction with others.” Going outside the library and into the school must be part of our business as librarians. Our stage must be widened (13–15). Librarians should be a part of, if not, a member of faculty, and attend meetings as well as serve on committees. Librarians should build individual relationships and get involved in freshmen activities and other core courses, meet in classrooms and offices apart from their own, change the dynamics of encounters. Learning new roles is difficult, but it is also possible (Hartzell 15). Librarians need to respect, communicate, and collaborate continuously with faculty. Librarian and lecturer is an indispensable relationship that must be formed and cemented, for such a partnership is the most significant factor in the development of students into critical thinkers and, ultimately, achievers.
WORKS CITED Asher, Curt. “Separate But Equal: Librarians, Academics and Information Literacy.” Australian Academic & Research Libraries 34.1 (2003): 52–54. Badke, William B. “Can’t Get No Respect: Helping Faculty to Understand the Educational Power of Information Literacy.” Reference Librarian 89/90 (2005): 63–80. Buchanan, Lori E., DeAnne Luck, and Ted C. Jones. “Integrating information literacy into the Virtual University: a course model.” Library Trends 51.2 (2002): 144. Eisenbert, Michael B. and Robert E. Berkowitz. Teaching Information & Technology Skills: The Big6 in Secondary Schools. Ohio: Linworth Publishing, 2000. Hartzell, Gary. Building Influence for the School Librarian: Tenets, Targets, & Tactics. 2nd ed. Ohio: Linworth Publishing, Inc., 2003. Haycock, Ken. “Research About Collaboration.” Teacher Librarian 31.3 (2004): 48. Lupton, M. “The Getting of Wisdom: Reflections of a Teaching Librarian.” Australian Academic & Research Libraries 33.2 (2002): 75–85. Milbury, Peter. “Collaboration: Ten Important Reasons to Take It Seriously.” Knowledge Quest 33.5 (2005): 30–32. Miller, M., L. Miller, and M. Schontz. “Expenditures for Resources in School Library Media Centers.” School Library Journal 39 (1993): 26–36. Moore, Melissa. “Reeling ’Em In: How to Draw Teaching Faculty into Collaborative Relationships.” Resource Sharing & Information Networks 17.1/2 (2004): 77–86.
Librarian and Lecturer in Partnership
277
Rader, Hannelore B. “Building Faculty–Librarian Partnerships to Prepare Students for Information Fluency.” College & Research Libraries News 65.2 (2004): 74–90. Riggs, Donald E. “Working with Faculty.” College & Research Libraries 57.6 (1996): 498–499. Small, Ruth V. “Collaboration…” Teacher Librarian 29.5 (2002): 8–12. Stahl, Aletha D. and Neal Baker. “What I Want In a Librarian.” Reference & User Services Quarterly 37.2 (1997): 133. Voigts, Linda Ersham. “Teaching Students to Sift the Web.” Medieval Academy News (1998): 5. Walter, Scott. “Engelond: A Model for Faculty–Librarian Collaboration in the Information Age.” Information Technology and Libraries 19.1 (2000): 34–43. Williams, T. J. “Creating Partnerships Between the Library Media Specialist and Classroom Teachers.” Indiana Media Journal 18.2 (1996): 1–18. Winner, M. C. “Librarians as Partners in the Classroom: An Increasing Imperative.” Reference Services Review 26 (1998): 25–30.
278
CHAPTER 21
Library Use in Academia: A Bahamian Perspective Berthamae L. Walker and Raynold K. Cartwright The College of The Bahamas, The Bahamas ABSTRACT The goal of the researchers in this chapter was to present findings as to students’ perception of their use of the library as place at The College of The Bahamas (COB) libraries. Participants in this study were students enrolled in bachelor degree programmes during the 2006 spring semester. Students selected for the study were from the education programme and The University of the West Indies (UWI)/COB law programme. For the purpose of this study, a total of 270 surveys were distributed among students in the two programmes. The survey questionnaire contained 10 Likert scale-type questions. A total of 181 surveys were completed and returned. Data collected were analyzed utilizing basic descriptive statistical methods. The results of the analysis showed that students still value the library as place not for the more innovative technological pursuits but for the more traditional services such as loans, reserves, research, and study. Results further suggested that in addition to research needs, both social and spatial factors play a significant role in students’ use of the physical library.
INTRODUCTION Libraries as symbolic physical structures have been passed down from generation to generation throughout the ages. However, according to researchers, this traditional library that was inherited more than 2,000 years ago is no longer the library of the future, especially within the academic environment. The continuous emergence of information technology and the integration of these developments into library services have led some to predict the demise of the library as it has been traditionally known (Freeman 1; Bey-Casiano 1; Ranseen 204). Given these trends and predictions, the goal of this research was to determine the significance, if any, of the role of the library as place, in the lives of students at the COB. To this end, the focus was on students in the bachelor of law programme (LL.B) and the teacher education programmes (BA programme). These two schools were chosen for two specific reasons. First, the 279
280
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
law library was established to support the new law programme and is the newest library within the COB. Given the growth and expansion of the programme and the growth of the collection in recent years, patrons and library staff are expressing a desire for expanded facilities. Second, students from the School of Education were chosen because they represented one of the largest schools within the COB. Additionally, the education programme has one of the largest book and electronic resource collections in the main campus library.
LIBRARIES IN THE BAHAMAS The Bahamas is an archipelagic nation of 700 islands and cays, approximately 20 of which are inhabited (Permenter and Bigley). The islands cover an area of about 100,000 square miles within the North Atlantic Ocean and are just 50 miles southeast of the Florida coast and northeast of Cuba. The population of The Bahamas is approximately 300,000 (Bahamas Government, Census Office 8). Nassau, on the island of New Providence, is the capital city. The outlying islands are called Family Islands including the major islands of Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Exuma, Andros, and Abaco (Philpott 70). When compared to many of the islands within the Caribbean region, the general development of libraries and related services in The Bahamas have been slow in coming and incomplete upon arrival in many respects (Boultbee 2, Walker, Libraries 5, Walker, Casting 49). Given its relatively prosperous economic development, The Bahamas is yet without a national library and its public library system has much to be desired (Ballance and Bain 20). Within the academic arena, with the exception of the COB and Nova Southeastern University (Florida), it would appear that libraries are given more lip service than actual service, as many of the tertiary institutions appear to favour the textbook-only mentality over adequate library resources in support of programme delivery. In recent times, with the development of several community libraries on the capital island of New Providence, it has appeared that the local Bahamian public is slowly becoming aware of the importance, and the necessity, of having access to good libraries. However, this realization also comes at a time when technology is playing an increasingly prominent role in providing access to information to patrons from around the world, including The Bahamas. This trend is evident throughout the literature, with much discussion on changing patterns in user-information needs, library services, and building spaces (Ludwig and Starr 315). Not only are professionals within academia questioning the value of financial investment in building new library structures, but also some key players from within the local communities including politicians and funding agencies. These entities are now questioning the value of financially investing in the building of physical brick-and-mortar structures, doubting any substantive return on such
Library Use in Academia
281
investments. The challenge for librarians is to present the evidence that the financial investment is worthwhile (Riggs 109). In March 2005, amidst the skepticism of some, the COB broke ground for a new library building, which was estimated to cost US$15 million. The building plan has evolved over the years, from a suggested reduced square footage to a phased-in construction. At least one potential financier questioned outright the need for such a structure, suggesting that the facility would not be used in the midst of ubiquitous computing and widespread use of technology in education. This chapter will focus on the physical usage pattern among students in two bachelor’s degree programmes at the COB. More specifically, this study will provide answers to the following questions: Are students in the law and education programmes using the libraries? If students are using the library, what are the primary reasons for such usage? What are some possible deterrents to the use of the library as place?
BRIEF LITERATURE REVIEW User studies are not new to the library literature. As described by Suman (Method of User Studies), such studies were evident within the professional literature dating as far back as the 1930s. However, in recent times, given recent innovations and services of libraries of various kinds, new dimensions are being added to such studies. Shill and Tonner (Does the building 434, Creating a better place 135), recognizing the increased focus on usage patterns in academic libraries, noted that much of what is being said about the decrease in use of the physical library building and the overall decline in library patrons, is pure speculation and not based on any validated empirical evidence. Their research found that library use had increased significantly in institutions where new library buildings were constructed and increased access to technology and electronic resources were available. Troll (2) also commented on the void in reliable documentation to explain the shift in library usage pattern. African-American subjects were the focus of a study by Shoge (1) who also focused on the use of the library as place. Results from this study suggested that the library was used primarily for research and study and was seen as a source for improved academic performances. Yet other researchers (Freeman 4, Demas 3) suggested that the way forward for the academic library, and one way to maintain relevance in the lives of patrons is to be seen not only as a source of research and study, but also as a place for leisure-related events and activities.
LIMITATIONS This study is limited in that its focus was only on a select portion of the student body at the COB. Results, therefore, cannot be generalized to other
282
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
students within the college environment or any other academic institutions. The study is further limited in that the responses to the survey questions are very subjective and may not represent a true reflection of how students actually use the library and its resources.
METHODOLOGY According to King (103), a variety of tools are at the researcher’s disposal for gaining feedback from library patrons into their use of the physical library. Among these are focus groups, interviews, and survey questionnaires. Of these methods, the survey questionnaire was advised as the best choice, as it is suitable for the coverage of larger group samples (King 103). Data for this study were collected via the distribution of a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions with several subsections. Participants were advised to answer all questions (see Appendix A at the end of this chapter). The questionnaires were distributed during the 2006 spring semester to a total of 270 students in two different bachelor’s degree programmes at The College of The Bahamas. Individual classroom instructors from the School of Education were responsible for the distribution and collection of the questionnaires at the end of their class period. Additional time was given for those instructors who were not meeting with their students within the one-week period allowed. Not all instructors insisted on the completion of the forms in class and, as a result, some forms were not returned and others were left at the SOE (School of Education) office to be collected. Questionnaires were also available at the circulation desk within the law library for students in the law programme. Of the 270 questionnaires distributed, a total of 181 forms were completed and returned (116 from the SOE and 65 from the LLB programme [UWI/COB]). Data collected from the questionnaires were analyzed utilizing basic descriptive statistics. Results are presented in table format for ease of analysis and discussion.
RESULTS The research participants from the school of education comprised a mixture of first-, second-, third-, and fourth-year students, with the majority of the participants being in their third year. Table 21.1 shows the educational status of students. A small percentage of this number described their status as “other” while others specified their “other” status as part-time and diploma (see Table 21.1). Academic status for students from the UWI/COB law programme was slightly different as the law programme is only a three-year programme. The majority of the participants were in their first year of the programme (see Table 21.2).
Library Use in Academia
283
Table21.1 21.1 Education Table Education Student Student Status Status Year
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Other
No. of Students
22
28
39
23
4
Percentage of Students
18.96%
24.13%
33.62%
19.82%
3.44%
Table21.2 21.2 Law Student Status Status Table Law Student Year
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
No. of Students
33
20
12
Percentage of Students
50.76%
30.76%
18.46%
In answer to the question of whether students were using the library as a place (see Table 21.3), the following was determined: Students made use of the library on a regular basis; however, a surprisingly high number of students (31.94 percent) were not sure about their usage pattern (see Table 21.3). Though small in comparison, 4.31 percent of the participants confessed to never using the library at all. Weekly visits appeared to be most popular among the responses. The traditional services offered by libraries appeared to be the primary reasons behind the use of the library for the Teacher Education students. Borrowing resources (loans) and using the library for study purposes were the most highly rated responses (see Table 21.4). The most popular reasons for the law students were to access journals, printing, and use of electronic resources. Under the “other” category, students listed reasons for going to the library as to meet friends, to “chill,” and for group meetings among others. The data collected also provided an insight into the source of dissatisfaction for students and might suggest reasons for decreased use of the library as place. Among the areas of dissatisfaction noted by law students were lack of reading space (54 percent), unavailability of sufficient computer terminals (74 percent), unreliable Internet access (55 percent), and availability of library services on weekends (71 percent). Areas with high satisfaction ratings were printing facilities (34 percent), library orientation sessions (57 percent), library staff assistance (72 percent), and weekday opening hours (51 percent). Among the areas with high dissatisfaction ratings for education majors were limited Internet access (42 percent), limited access to computer terminals (54
284
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Table LibraryUsage Usage Pattern Table21.3 21.3 Library Pattern Programme
Once per
Once per
Once per
Once per
Never
Can’t say
day
week
month
year
Education
17.24%
31.89%
15.51%
6.03%
4.31%
18.10%
Law
27.69%
49.23%
9.23%
0
0
13.84%
Table 21.4 Reasons for Library Reasons for Library Usage Usage Table 21.4 Usage
Journals
Read
Computer
Print
E-resource
Study
Loan
Reserve
Other
N Educ. 36
42
37
15
15
57
57
47
8
%
31
36.20
31.89
12.93
12.93
49.13
49.13
40.51
6.89
N Law
63
36
54
60
61
29
54
59
%
96.92
55.36
83.07
92.30
93.84
44.61
83.07
90.76
percent), and lack of printing capabilities (46 percent). Highly favoured were weekend hours (38 percent), reading space (50 percent), evening services (38 percent), staff assistance (44 percent), and weekday opening hours (66 percent).
FINDINGS The findings from this study are in support of those of several researchers (Shill and Tonner 148; Freeman 7; Westmoreland 139) and seem to suggest that the availability of electronic library resources to off-site users and access to the Internet from home had negative impact on the students’ use of the library as place. As can be seen from Table 21.5, 57 of the law students had Internet access from home but only 18 of them use this medium to access library resources. There were 78 education students with home access to the Internet but only 28 of them used this technology to access library resources. Since 2001, the law library has had subscriptions to major databases such as Quicklaw, Heine Online, and subsequent subscriptions in later years to online resources from vendors such as LexisNexis, CariLaw, and EBSCOhost. It was expected that more law students would have been utilizing the available online resources from their home computers or from other off-campus locations. Law students are using the facilities primarily for journal use and to access course reserve materials. The library as a place for social gathering and “leisure” activities was not evident among the law students’ responses.
Library Use in Academia
285
Table21.5 22.5 Home and Law LawStudents Students Table Home Internet Internet Access Access Among Among Education Education and Yes
No
No Response
78 (67.24%) Education
29 (25%) Education
9 (7.75%)
57 (87.69%) Law
8 (12.30%) Law
------
Teacher Education students used the main campus library as place primarily for loans and for study purposes. Aside from more of the traditional use of services, such as, loans and reserves, this group of students also identified the library as a place to gather and socialize. These activities might be a function of space, as the main campus library, which houses the general collection is a much larger facility that might encourage such use. The law library, by comparison, is a smaller facility and the programme consists primarily of mature sometimes full-time employed students. Given that technology seemed not to be a factor in student’s lack of use of the library as place, they did identify several areas of dissatisfaction within the libraries. A large proportion of students from both programmes were dissatisfied with the quality of Internet access and limited access to computers within the libraries. This can be a possible cause for the low levels of positive responses to the use of online resources, including use of electronic databases and the library’s online catalogue (COBWEB). Access to course reserve materials seemed to be a major reason for the law students’ use of the library, as this exercise is heavily supported by law faculty who insist on the use of the reserved material and who prepare their examinations accordingly. It would appear, therefore, that faculty support is a major factor in library use and the use of library resources. Additionally, the lack of library services on weekends appears to be a concern for law students and may account for a decline in library use during this period. Further studies into this aspect of usage are required. As we move further into the 21st century, Caribbean librarians in general and Bahamian librarians in particular must keep a finger on the pulse of our information and library users. If not, we are likely to lose them to other institutions and places within the region and the world. Regional librarians can no longer be content to sit back and blame our “third-world status” for our current library conditions. We need to develop a new mindset and become more aggressive in working with faculty, academic administrators, politicians, and local communities for a greater appreciation of the vital role libraries play in both regional and national development. Finally, it is believed that to survive in the 21st century and beyond, Caribbean librarians must join forces to create an even stronger bond that will develop and
286
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
sustain collegiality and collaborations. It is only through such avenues can we create a stronger voice for libraries of all kinds within the region.
WORKS CITED Bahamas Government, Census Office. Census of Population and Housing 2000: Preliminary Results. Bahamas: Government Publication, 2000. Ballance, Virginia and Elsie Bain. Bahamian Public Libraries: An Overview. Nassau: Bahamas Library Association Publication, 2000. Bey-Casiano, Carol. “Libraries Serve as Unique Destinations.” American Libraries 36.4 (2005): 5. Boultbee, Paul G. “Library Development in New Providence.” Library History Review 2.2 (1976): 1–12. Demas, Sam. “From the Ashes of Alexandria: What’s Happening in the College Library?” In CLIR Report. Libraries as Places: Rethinking Roles, Rethinking Space. Washington: Council on Library Information Resources, 2005. Freeman, Geoffrey T. “The Library as Place: Changes in Learning Patterns, Collections, Technology, and Use.” In CLIR Report. Libraries as Place: Rethinking Roles, Rethinking Space. Washington: Council on Library Information Resources, 2005. King, Dwight B. “User Surveys: Librarians Ask, ‘Hey, How Am I Doing?’” Law Library Journal 97.1 (2005): 103–115. Ludwig, Logan and Susan Starr. “Library as Place: Results of a Delphi Study.” Journal of the Medical Library Association 93.3 (2005): 313–323. Permenter, Paris and John Bigley. The Islands of The Bahamas. 9 May 2006. www.parisandjohn.com/bahamas/bahamas.html. Philpott, Don. The Bahamas. Edison: Hunter Publishing. 2002. Ranseen, Emily. “The Library as Place: Changing Perspectives.” Library Administration & Management 16.4 (2000): 203–207. Riggs, Donald E. “New Libraries Remain an Excellent Investment.” College & Research Libraries 63.2 (2002): 108. Shill, Harold B. and Shawn Tonner. “Creating a Better Place: Physical Improvements in Academic Libraries.” College & Research Libraries 64.6 (2003): 431–466. Shill, Harold B. and Shawn Tonner. “Does the Building Still Matter? Usage Patterns in New, Expanded and Renovated Libraries, 1995–2002.” College and Research Libraries 65.2 (2004): 123–150. Shoge, Ruth C. “The Library as Place in the Lives of African-Americans.” Paper presented at the ACRL 11th National Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina, April 10–13, 2003. 13 July 2006. www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlevents/shoge.PDF. Suman, Aparajita. Method of User Study. 27 Feb. 2006. drtc.isibang.ac.in/~aparajita/ Methods%20of%20user%20study.ppt. Troll, Denise A. “How and Why Are Libraries Changing? What We Know and What We Need to Know.” Portal 2.3 (2002): 99–123. Walker, Berthamae. “Libraries in The Bahamas. Some Problems and Solutions.” COBLA Journal 1.1 (1990): 5–10. Walker, Berthamae L. “Casting into the Deep: A History of Library Technology in The Bahamas.” Computers in Libraries (2000): 48–53. Westmoreland, Tracey M. “Maintaining our Physical Spaces: Advocating the Library as a Sense of Place.” Texas Library Journal 79.4 (2003): 138–142.
Library Use in Academia
287
APPENDIX A LIBRARY USER QUESTIONNAIRE The Libraries and Instructional Media Services Department The College of The Bahamas January 2006 This is a questionnaire to gather information about library usage pattern within the libraries at The College of The Bahamas. Please answer the questions below as truthfully as you can. There is no need to put your name on the form. Thanks for your participation in this exercise. 1. Your academic status: a. 1st year b. 2nd year c. 3rd year d. 4th year e. other _____________ 2. Your programme of study: a. Education b. Law 3. How often do you use the library? a. Daily [] b. Weekly [] c. Monthly [] d. Annually [ ] e. Never [] f. Can’t say [] g. Other ___________ 4. Do you have access to the Internet from home? a. Yes [] b. No [] 5. If yes, do you use your Internet to access library resources? a. Yes [] b. No [] 6. For what purpose do you use the library? a. Reading [ ] [ ] b. Computer use c. Printing [ ] d. Use of electronic resources [ ] [ ] e. Study f. Loans [ ] g. Reserve [ ] h. Other ___________________
288
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
7. Rate your opinion on the following using the scales of very satisfied (VS), Satisfied (S), not satisfied (NS), no opinion (NO). a. Book collection [ ] b. Journal collection [ ] c. Newspapers [ ] 8. Rate your opinion on the following using the scales of very satisfied (VS), Satisfied (S), not satisfied (NS), no opinion (NO). a. Reading area space [ ] b. Computer terminals [ ] c. Internet access [ ] d. Printing facilities [ ] e. Photocopying facilities [ ] 9. Rate your opinion on the following using the scales of very satisfied (VS), Satisfied (S), not satisfied (NS), no opinion (NO). a. Loan period [ ] b. Library orientation activities [ ] c. Staff assistance [ ] d. Opening hour [ ] e. Services after 5 P.M. [ ] f. Services on weekends [ ] g. Library’s Web page [ ] 10. Which libraries have you visited? a. Main campus library [ ] b. Law library [ ] c. Hilda Bowen library [ ] d. SHTS library [ ] e. Freeport campus library [ ]
289
PA R T V I I
Distance Education
290
CHAPTER 22
Equivalent Library Services for International Students? A Comparison of Students’ Responses in Jamaica and The Bahamas with the Results of a University-Wide Survey Sandra Ramdial and Johanna Tuñón Nova Southeastern University, Florida, USA ABSTRACT When the student responses to surveys of Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) international students in Jamaica and The Bahamas were compared to the NSU-wide survey, the results indicated that the Caribbean students were not dissatisfied with the library’s services and resources. However, in spite of the fact that NSU’s students in both Jamaica and The Bahamas received library training on using electronic sources and had equivalent library services as those students on campus, the responses failed to provide evidence that the Caribbean students were actually utilizing the library’s resources and services for research assignments. Instead, the survey data documented that the international students used search engines for their research in lieu of the subscription databases and document delivery services provided by the Alvin Sherman Library. More research is needed into the reasons why, in spite of the availability to NSU’s library services and resources, the usage patterns of the two Caribbean groups varied so markedly from those of NSU students as a whole.
INTRODUCTION Providing equivalent library services for both on-campus and off-campus students at universities and colleges has been the focus of institutions of higher education that offer off-campus programs since the 1990s. This focus is two-fold: (1) Accreditation requirements often stipulate that institutions must provide equivalent library resources and services that adequately meet students’ needs whether they take classes on campus, online, or at a distance; 291
292
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
and (2) institutions are charged with ensuring that students have acquired the necessary library research skills needed for class assignments. Standards for library services at traditional institutions have been around for decades, but the rapid expansion of distance education programs has presented libraries with new challenges. Theory and standards have been emphasizing the importance of providing equivalent services for distance and local programs in higher education for some time. Simonson’s (6–7) equivalency theory has called for “equivalent learning experiences for all students, distance and local” (209), while accreditation agencies including the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education have emphasized the importance of offering comparable support services that included library services for students enrolled in both distance and local programs. Professional library organizations have also addressed this issue. The Association of College and Research Libraries’ Guidelines for Distance Learning Library Services, published in 2004, clearly states that “library resources and services in institutions of higher education must meet the needs of all their faculty, students, and academic support personnel, regardless of where they are located” (1). A number of authors have raised concerns about providing equivalent services. These include Anne Marie Casey (5–17) on reference services, RUSA on virtual reference services, and Smiti Gandhi (138–154) on library resources in everything from books to online journal articles. This equity issue is not new and librarians including Gloria Lebowitz (303–308) have been addressing this issue in the library literature since the 1990s. The library services and resources needed by international students are no different than those needed by distance students living within the U.S., but the challenges of providing equivalent library services to international students sometimes are greater because of international barriers of language, educational culture, local customs, bureaucracy, and distance. There is little literature about distance library services for international students, but a number of library personnel from NSU including Johanna Tuñón, Laura Ramirez, Mou Chakraborty, and Sandra Ramdial have published articles on this topic and made presentations at conferences about the challenges of providing international students with comparable services to those offered to traditional, on-campus students.
PURPOSE NSU in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been a pioneer in distance education since the 1980s as evidenced by Riggs (208) and has provided site-based classes in the Caribbean area for more than 25 years. Tuñón and Pival’s article describes efforts to provide equivalent services for students at NSU when the university began to actively serve distance students in the early 1990s, and the needs of international students have been of particular concern and have also been addressed by Chakraborty and Tuñón (164) and Ramirez and
Equivalent Library Services for International Students?
293
Tuñón (61) on the efforts to serve students in Latin America and Europe. Tuñón and Ramdial describe the endeavor by the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center (more commonly referred to as the Sherman Library) at NSU to provide bibliographical instruction for students in Jamaica. The library’s main goal has always been to provide library services and resources for all students, at times and places that would be most effective for students’ research needs. Thomas MacFarland’s university-wide surveys in 1997, 2001, and 2003 were used to assess students’ needs and to evaluate whether the library is continuing to meet students’ needs. However, until 2005, international students were not included in the pool of names used for these university-wide library surveys because of the challenges of disseminating the survey by mail overseas. Although the number of students attending classes at international sites was never large, this group was still of concern because of special challenges that serving these students presented for the institution. To assess how well the library was meeting the needs of these international students, the students attending classes in Jamaica were first surveyed in 2003. The university’s Office of Research and Planning analyzed the results for all students (MacFarland’s Report 04–06) while the library analyzed the same data by program (Tuñón and Ramdial, 35–41). As the library began to prepare for the university’s reaffirmation of accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the anticipated SACS team visits at several of the international sites, the library conducted a second international survey of students in The Bahamas in 2004. The data in these two site-based surveys, in turn, were compared with the findings in the library’s most recent university-wide survey disseminated in October 2005. The following research questions were addressed in this study: • To what degree were the satisfaction levels of the international students in the Jamaica and The Bahamas studies comparable to those of students in the NSU-wide study? • To what degree were the usage patterns of library services by the international students in the Jamaica and The Bahamas studies comparable to those used by students in the NSU-wide survey? • To what degree were the types of resources used by international students for class research in the Jamaica and The Bahamas studies comparable to those used by the students in the NSU-wide survey? • To what degree can the unobtrusive use of self-reported usage patterns be used to assess the effectiveness of library services for international students?
294
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
METHODOLOGY The research design for all surveys was based on previous instruments developed in collaboration with the Office of Research, Planning, and Governmental Affairs and distributed in the falls of 1997, 2000, and 2003. As mentioned earlier, previous university-wide assessments focused library usage only for students residing in the U.S. All surveys were self-reporting. Students in Jamaica and The Bahamas were surveyed in fall 2003 and spring 2004, respectively. A library survey that targeted all NSU students was completed in fall 2005. While a faculty or staff member disseminated the surveys in the classroom in Jamaica and The Bahamas, the fall 2005 NSU-wide survey was Web-based and students were notified by e-mail with a request for participation. The library switched to an electronically disseminated NSU-wide survey for several reasons. All NSU students had been required to have access to computers and the Internet since the 1990s, and use of NSU e-mail was mandatory for classroom communications with almost half of all NSU classes being offered via WebCT. A Web-based survey simplified the collection of statistical data, and a Web-based survey permitted the dissemination to the entire NSU student population rather than a random sample as had been done previously when the surveys were mailed to students. In contrast, in the fall of 2005 when the NSU-wide survey was disseminated online, 1,392 students participated out of a total of 26,335 students. These participants were enrolled in NSU programs offered both nationally and internationally. Although this was the largest number of participants to date in NSU library surveys, it should also be noted that the participants accounted for only 5.2 percent of the total fall 2005 enrollment. As King (109) noted, disseminating surveys via the Web instead of mailing paper surveys may be one limitation in the methodology. All three of MacFarland’s surveys reported a higher participation rate, but the total number of respondents was also lower because the surveys were only mailed to a random sample of students. In contrast, the international surveys were disseminated and completed at the sites. As a result, the levels of participation were much higher than in the university-wide, Web-based survey. At the time of the international surveys, total student enrollment in Jamaica was 714 and enrollment in The Bahamas stood at 184 students. In Jamaica, a total of 214 students enrolled in the Fischler School of Education and Human Services, the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship, and the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences participated in the survey. In the survey disseminated in The Bahamas, all 92 participating students were enrolled in the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship. The investigators identified survey questions in the three surveys that related to students’ needs, usage patterns, and satisfaction with the resources and services offered by the NSU libraries. Student responses were collected and analyzed based on their satisfaction levels with (1) instruction/orientation, (2)
Equivalent Library Services for International Students?
295
reference librarians, (3) access to information, (4) library Web pages, and (5) the online catalogue. The researchers also examined the responses about the types of resources used for research assignments. Researchers compared the results to questions in the three surveys concerning the use of print resources, full-text online databases, and search engines/Web pages, and which of these resources students first utilized when starting to do research for a class assignment.
RESULTS A comparison of responses between the surveys in The Bahamas and Jamaica showed that there was at least a 15 percent difference between the international students and the NSU students as a whole in almost all categories except instruction, which ranged from 3 percent to 9 percent difference as illustrated in Table 22.1. Having said that, it is still important to note that the majority of students were not dissatisfied with resources and services offered by the NSU libraries. The types of resources international students reported turning to for class research assignments were significantly different from those used by students in the NSU-wide survey. Table 22.2 documented that a large majority of the international students reported turning first to search engines and Web pages as the research tool of choice, in lieu of online databases and print resources provided by the NSU libraries. After establishing where students turned to first when researching a topic, additional survey questions inquired into all types of resources utilized. The data in Table 22.3 highlighted the fact that the Caribbean students rarely reported using NSU library services or resources at any point in the research process. In contrast, there is a major difference in the self-reported responses of the NSU-wide students, which shows that they used the library services and library-provided resources considerably more than the international students. Table 22.1 Satisfaction Levels for the Resources and Services Offered by NSU Libraries Table 22.1 Satisfaction Levels for the Resources and Services Offered by NSU Libraries Resource/Service
NSU 2005
Bahamas
Jamaica
Satisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied Instruction
61%
18%
Reference 62% 10% Librarians Access to 78% 13% Information Library Web 75% 14% Pages Online Computer 67% 16% Catalogue * The percentages for N/A were not listed.
52%
21%
58%
23%
43%
34%
47%
18%
46%
26%
55%
22%
38%
15%
58%
21%
46%
24%
49%
21%
296
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Table 22.2 Results to Question: “When Doing Research for NSU Classes, I Prefer to Start
Table 22.2 Results to Question: “When Doing Research for NSU Classes, I by Using:” Prefer to Start by Using”
NSU
Bahamas
Jamaica
Full-Text Online Databases
77%
13%
19%
Print Resources Provided by the Library
56%
32%
25%
Search Engines and Web Pages
53%
63%
56%
In addition, students’ self-reported responses in Jamaica and The Bahamas also indicated low use of reference services, document delivery, and library training. However, it is noteworthy that international students did report accessing Web resources at rates equivalent to those in the NSU-wide survey as illustrated in the following table. When analyzing the results, it should be noted that there is one important factor in the variation in findings between the NSU students and the Caribbean students. A significant number of doctoral students (46 percent) responded to the NSU-wide survey, whereas the majority of Caribbean students were enrolled in undergraduate or master’s programs. Additionally, one can argue that participation in the Caribbean could be considered representative of the student population since the return rate was 70 percent for Jamaica and 50 percent in The Bahamas. None of the NSU-wide studies conducted by MacFarland in 1997, 2001, and 2003 had such a high response rate. The wording of the library-wide survey did present one problem. In the library survey, a total of 80 percent of the respondents reported attending Table 22.3 Results to Question: “Indicate Your Use of the Library Resources and Services”
Table 22.3 Results to Question: “Indicate Your Use of the Library Resources and Services” NSU
Bahamas
Jamaica
Reference Services
62%
13%
29%
Document Delivery
31%
2%
13%
Library Training
61%
10%
29%
Resources Accessed Free via the World Wide Web 46%
44%
49%
Electronic Library/Databases
75%
17%
29%
Print Materials—Books/Journals
57%
28%
36%
Equivalent Library Services for International Students?
297
classes either at the main campus in Broward County (34 percent) or at the Miami campus (46 percent) in spite of the fact that only 62 percent of the student population reported residing in Florida in 2004 according to the 2004 NSU Fact Book. Because the library survey asked where students attended class and not where they resided, the discrepancy was likely to be explained because NSU offers a wide variety of distance education programs. The wording in the survey did not distinguish between distance students in hybrid classes who lived elsewhere but only attended physical classes on occasion in south Florida and those who resided and attended classes there. Thus, the researchers could not assume that the high percentage of students responding to the NSU-wide survey who reported taking classes in Broward or Dade counties necessarily indicated that the survey respondents had easier access to the library and its services than the overall student population.
DISCUSSION Perhaps the most important conclusion that can be reached when comparing the results of the three surveys is that significantly fewer Caribbean respondents were using the resources available through the library for their research needs than in the overall NSU population. Table 22.1 provided evidence that student satisfaction levels should not be examined from only a university-wide basis. The survey results highlighted significant differences in student satisfaction rates between the Caribbean and the 2005 NSU-wide survey that would not have come to light if the data from only one survey was analyzed in isolation. When the Jamaican results were analyzed in isolation, for example, the 2003 university report (MacFarland) concluded, “Overall, respondents provided a favorable assessment of the University’s library and learning resource materials. Regarding the broad question about the helpfulness of reference librarians, more than 50 percent of all respondents marked Satisfied or Very Satisfied and less than 20 percent marked Very Dissatisfied or Dissatisfied” (Executive Summary, 4). However, when the satisfaction results of the two surveys in the Caribbean were compared to the NSU-wide survey, the fact that Caribbean students’ satisfaction levels were significantly lower than those of the NSU-wide survey, and dissatisfaction levels were significantly higher, became much more apparent. Although the fact that a disproportionately high percentage of doctoral students responded in the university-wide survey may account for the higher satisfaction levels, this explanation seems less likely when a comparison with the satisfaction rates in the previous two NSU-wide surveys reported by MacFarland in 2001 and 2004 show a remarkably stable satisfaction level in spite of the various distribution methods and more evenly distributed demographics. The survey results document that the technological abilities and access of Caribbean students were on par with NSU students in general. A total of 46 percent of participants in the NSU 2005 survey reported using resources via
298
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
the World Wide Web, while 44 percent of students in The Bahamas and 49 percent of students in Jamaica reported using search engines for class research. This provided unobtrusive evidence that problems accessing computers and the Internet and issues of technology literacy were not underlying reasons for the Caribbean students’ lack of use of the library’ online resources and services. However, the fact that students in The Bahamas and Jamaica made use of reference services and document delivery at much lower levels than NSU students, in general, again raised questions about whether Caribbean students understand how to access and use the library’s resources. As a result of the challenges of accessing print and online library resources for international students, the Sherman Library was particularly interested in comparing the Caribbean students’ self-reported access to online subscription resources with usage patterns reported by NSU students as a whole. Since Caribbean students often do not have that kind of access to adequate local print collections, knowledge about how to access the wide array of electronic resources (200-plus subscription databases, 17,000 unduplicated fulltext journal titles, 260,000 digital dissertations, 27,000 e-books, and 100,000 ERIC ED documents in PDF format), and document delivery of print resources provided by the NSU library played a critical role in NSU’s support for these international students. As a result, the library was concerned to find that 75 percent of students in the NSU-wide survey reported using the library’s online databases in contrast to only 17 percent of the students in The Bahamas and 29 percent of the students in Jamaica. In spite of a wealth of electronically accessible resources, usage patterns reported by the Caribbean students indicated that they either do not know what services are available and/or do not know how to access the scholarly resources available through the library. Unanticipated questions about library training arose as a result of student responses in the Caribbean surveys. The Sherman Library had been collaborating with the coordinators in both Jamaica and The Bahamas since 1997 to provide all students with library instruction when they started their academic programs. Moreover, the training provided in The Bahamas and Jamaica was in addition to the library’s online training provided to all students in business programs on- or off-campus. Thus, the fact that few Caribbean students reported having received library training (10 percent in The Bahamas and 29 percent in Jamaica), despite library efforts to ensure that all beginning students at these sites received training as part of their orientations, raised red flags. Caribbean students’ usage patterns of library services and resources raised additional questions about the effectiveness of library training. After all, if students do not know about library services or resources, they will not be able to make use of these privileges for their class assignments. The issue of effective training is even more critical when the students are at a distance
Equivalent Library Services for International Students?
299
and cannot physically come to the library on the main campus. International students have additional challenges when they often come from cultures where libraries do not play an important and integral role. Training takes on additional challenges when students are less likely to proactively look at the library’s Web site to see what services and resources are available. Two positive outcomes were realized as a result of these surveys. In an effort to “close the assessment loop,” the library contacted the academic programs offering classes in the Caribbean with their concerns. As a result, the School of Business agreed to follow up the survey with a focus group to provide students with the opportunities to clarify terminology used in the questions and clarify some of the reasons for their library-related behavior patterns, and the undergraduate program began to consider ways to integrate library instruction into specific courses rather than leave the training as part of student orientation.
FURTHER AREAS OF RESEARCH The analysis of the results of the three surveys raises new questions about whether there is a correlation between where and/or when library training is offered and students’ use of library-provided electronic sources. For example, training for students in both Jamaica and The Bahamas (with the exception of the doctorate of education students) was delivered when students were first starting classes and often before they had even attended one class. The majority of these students, however, also had access to Web-based instruction available for business students. More research is needed into possible correlations between timing and/or method of delivery and learning outcomes. Further research will also be needed to look into possible cultural explanations for why the international students at these two sites might prefer to use search engines in lieu of scholarly full-text databases and document delivery services. One possibility that needed to be explored further was the question of whether faculty did not require students to include more scholarly library resources because the instructors did not fully understand the scope of the resources that could be obtained online and through document delivery. Still another question that arises from the results of these surveys is whether using a survey instrument is the best method of assessment for the library. Use of focus groups and interviews would address problems presented by students’ unfamiliarity with library terms such as full-text databases and library training, correct misunderstandings, and provide more in-depth insights into student motivations.
CONCLUSION Comparing survey results between the university-wide survey and surveys of specific user groups can provide an unobtrusive method to examine student behavior patterns. This approach is particularly useful when assessing
300
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
whether international students are accessing library resources and services in ways equivalent to the student body as a whole. Our assessments show that NSU students in Caribbean programs are not using resources and services equivalent to that of the entire student body even though equivalent resources and services are provided and are available. Documenting that a large majority of NSU students in both Jamaica and The Bahamas were not accessing the library’s online resources or utilizing the library services in spite of library training was important, because it highlighted problems that would not have been readily apparent to the library administration otherwise and opened new avenues for improvement.
WORKS CITED Association of College and Research Libraries. Guidelines for Distance Learning Library Services. Nov. 2005. 3 Jan. 2006. www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlstandards/guide linesdistancelearning.htm. Casey, Anne M. “A Historical Overview of Internet Reference Services for Distance Learners.” Internet Reference Services Quarterly 9.3/4 (2004): 5–17. Chakraborty, Moushimi and Johanna Tuñón. “Going the Distance: Solutions and Issues of Providing International Students with Library Services.” Outreach Library Services for Distance Learners Proc. of the AAOU Pre-Conference Seminar, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India, 2002, Eds. Neela Jagannathan, Santosh Panda, and Uma Kanjilal. New Delhi: Viva Books, 2004: 148–156. “Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education.” Philadelphia, PA: Middle States Commission on Higher Education. 2002. 3 Jan. 2006. www.msche.org/publications/ Characteristicsbook050215112128.pdf. —-. “Taking the Distance out of Library Services Offered to International Graduate Students: Considerations, Challenges, and Concerns.” Journal of Library Administration 37.1–2 (2002): 163–176. “Distance Learning Abroad: Challenges and Solutions to D.L. Library Services to Foreign Countries.” Paper presented at LITA Distance Learning Interest Group, International Relations Committee, American Library Association Annual Conference, Chicago, 9 July 2000. Franklin, Brinley and Terry Plum. “Library Usage Patterns in the Electronic Information Environment.” Information Research 9.4 (2004). 12 Dec. 2005. http://informationr.net/ir/9-4/paper187.html. Gandhi, Smiti. “Academic Librarians and Distance Education: Challenges and Opportunities.” Reference and User Services Quarterly 43.2 (Winter 2003): 138–154. Wilson Library Literature and Information Full Text. 3 Jan. 2006. Kelley, Kimberly and Gloria J. Orr. “Trends in Distant Student Use of Electronic Resources: A survey.” College & Research Libraries 64.3 (2003): 176–191. Wilson Library Literature and Information Full Text. 11 Dec. 2005. King, Dwight. B. Jr. “User Surveys: Libraries Ask, ‘Hey, How Am I Doing?’” Law Library Journal 97.1 (2005): 103–115. Wilson Web Library Literature and Information Science. 23 Feb. 2006. Lebowitz, Gloria. “Library Services to Distant Students: An Equity Issue.” The Journal of Academic Librarianship 23 (1997): 303–308. Wilson Library Literature and Information Full Text. 3 Jan. 2006. MacFarland, Thomas. Nova Southeastern University Students Evaluate the University’s Library and Library Provided Services: Results of a Fall Term 2000 Survey. Feb. 2001.
Equivalent Library Services for International Students?
301
Nova Southeastern University. 16 Jan. 2006. www.nova.edu/rpga/reports/forms/ 2001/01-04f.pdf. —-. Nova Southeastern University Students Evaluate the University’s Library and Library-Provided Services: Results of a Fall Term 2003 Survey. July 2004. Nova Southeastern University. 18 Feb. 2006. www.nova.edu/rpga/reports/forms/2004/ 04-06f.pdf. —-. Students in Jamaica Evaluate Resources and Services of the Nova Southeastern University Library, Research, and Information Technology Center: Summer Term 2003. July 2004. Nova Southeastern University. 16 Jan. 2006. www.nova.edu/rpga/ reports/forms/2003/03-18f.pdf. —-. Students of Nova Southeastern University Evaluate the University’s Library and Library Services. Sept. 1997. Nova Southeastern University. 16 Jan. 2006. www.nova.edu/rpga/reports/forms/1997/97-12.pdf. Ramirez, Laura and Johanna Tuñón. “Considerations, Challenges, and Concerns for Providing Library Services to Nova Southeastern University’s Distance Students in Latin America.” Models of Cooperation in U.S., Latin American and Caribbean Libraries: The first IFLA/SEFLIN International Summit on Library Cooperation in the American (IFLA Publication 1005) Ed. Bruce E. Massis. Munchen, The Netherlands: K. G. Saur, 2003. 61–66. Reference and User Services Association. Guidelines for Implementing and Maintaining Virtual Reference Services. 2004. American Library Association. 16 Jan. 2006. www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusaprotools/referenceguide/virtrefguidelines.htm. Ren, Wen-Hua. “Library Services to Distance Learners Across the Pacific”(supporting Rutgers University International Executive MBA Program).” National Meeting Proceedings 2002. Medford, NJ: Information Today, Inc. Riggs, Donald. “Distance Education: Rethinking Practices, Implementing New Approaches” [Editorial]. College & Research Libraries 58.3 (1997): 208–209. Simonson, Michael. “Equivalency Theory and Distance Education.” TechTrends 43.5 (1998): 5–8. Wilson Web Education Full Text. 3 Jan. 2006. —-. “Equivalency Theory and Distance Education.” Paper presented at the National Convention of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology, Houston, Texas. 1996. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED436128) 1999. 3 Jan. 2006. www.eric.ed.gov. Slade, Alexander L. and Marie Kascus. “An International Comparison of Library Services for Distance Learning.” The Eighth Off-Campus Library Services Conference Proceedings. Eds. P. Steven Thomas and Maryhelen Jones. Mount Pleasant, MI: Central Michigan University, 1998. 259–273. Southern Association of College and Schools (SACS). “Distance Education: Policy Statement.” 2003. 13 July 2006. www.sacscoc.org/pdf/081705/distance%20 education.pdf. Tuñón, Johanna. “Going the Distance: Distance Library Services for International Students.” [Roundtable discussion]. ACRL X: Crossing the Divide Conference, Denver, CO. 9 Mar. 2001. Tuñón, Johanna and Paul Pival. “Library Services to Distance Students: Nova Southeastern University’s Experience.” Florida Libraries 40 (1997): 109–116. Tuñón, Johanna and Sandra Ramdial. “Lessons Learned: Nova Southeastern University Survey Distance Students in Jamaica.” Electronic Information Resources in the Caribbean: Trends and Issues. Proc. of the ACURIL XXXIV Conference, May 23–29, 2004, Trinidad and Tobago. Eds. Shamin Renwick and Jaishree Kochhar. Trinidad: UWI, 2005. 35–41.
302
CHAPTER 23
Blended E-Learning Techniques: Lessons Learned from the Delivery of Distance Learning Courses to The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica Carole Compton-Smith Douglas College, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Wendy Duff University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
John McDonald Information Management Consulting and Education, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada ABSTRACT This chapter reports on the delivery of two one-semester records management courses at the Department of Library and Information Studies (DLIS), The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Jamaica, using both Web-conferencing technology and learning management software as well as some face-to-face sessions in the winter of 2005. These hybrid courses, one at the graduate level and the other at the undergraduate level, were designed to complement the library courses with the expectation that over time students would graduate with the interdisciplinary knowledge and skills required to address a range of information intensive issues, such as new access to information legislation, emerging government online initiatives, electronic commerce, and the shift of modern organizations to the electronic record as the de facto record of business delivery and accountability. The chapter describes the development and delivery of the courses by three Canadian instructors, and discusses the rewards and challenges afforded from teaching records management courses in a developing nation using various technologies to support online teaching. The chapter also highlights the lessons the instructors learned from the teaching experience. For instance, while the adequacy of the technology was a significant factor, equally significant were human and pedagogical factors such as the capacity 303
304
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
to change, the ability to coach and assess individual students at a distance, and the challenge of nurturing a group dynamic in a virtual environment. The chapter concludes with some recommendations for addressing these and other related factors as well as for revising the courses for future offerings.
INTRODUCTION The delivery of education and training programs at a distance is becoming more feasible as tools and techniques continue to grow in sophistication and greater understanding is gained of what it means to design and deliver learning opportunities at a distance in an online environment. Correspondence courses have given way to online real-time teaching where students and teachers can interact in a virtual space that overcomes the limitations presented by distance. “A new generation of e-learning software, called learning management systems (LMS), is quickly replacing the course management systems (CMS) of the 1990s in colleges and universities around the globe.”1 It is inevitable that the vision of the virtual classroom and the concept of the virtual continuous learning environment will become a reality—the global virtual village supported by a global virtual centre of learning. To date, programs in business and education have led the way in distance education, but numerous other professional programs, including library and information studies, are also being offered in this manner.2 For example, in 1998, it was estimated that more than half of the universities in the U.K. offered courses in library and information management at the master’s level.3 In North America, the WISE (Web-based Information Science Education) consortium, which involves library and information science programs at 13 universities, is promoting and facilitating Web-based education in library and information science. The vision of the consortium “is to provide a collaborative distance education model that will increase the quality, access, and diversity of online education opportunities in library and information science.”4 The three pillars of WISE are quality, pedagogy, and collaboration. The consortium enables any student at one of the WISE schools to take distance education courses at any other university in the consortium. Support for the teaching of these courses is provided through workshops and documentation such as “A Model for Quality for Online Education in Library and Information Science (LIS),” which reviews and defines quality online education for LIS.5 Programs in archives and records management have also taken advantage of advances in information and communication technologies (ICTs) to deliver their programs at a distance. The “Info Guide and Resources: A Guide to Distance Learning Options,” produced by the U.K. Records Management Society, identifies 13 universities that deliver records management courses online.6 Although Australia leads the way with numerous programs being taught at five different universities, little information about these programs is
Blended E-Learning Techniques
305
available in the published literature. The program at the Northumbria University is the exception with articles written about its development and two research papers evaluating its effectiveness from both the students’ and instructors’ point of view.7 This program is aimed at individuals working in the field and places a strong emphasis on technological needs. It is interesting that one of the greatest challenges identified by both students and faculty in the research papers was the limitations of the IT infrastructure. As revealed in this chapter, the gap between the current reality of teaching online courses in many countries and the vision of the virtual classroom described above is huge. From technology issues, management issues, pedagogical issues, to the issues associated with human beings interacting in a virtual space, we are still learning about what it means to enhance knowledge and understanding through the use of online distance learning tools and techniques. By focusing on the experience gained through the design and delivery of two online courses on the management of records, one at the graduate level and the other at the undergraduate level, the case study described in this paper seeks to underline the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach to online course design and development—an approach that pays equal attention to the human and technological factors and in a manner that reflects the integration of both factors to the benefit of students and faculty alike. The multisession courses, which were delivered to students at DLIS between January and April 2005, were sponsored by the UWI and designed and delivered through the Faculty of Information Studies (FIS), University of Toronto (U of T). The UWI is a multicampus university with sites in several of the Caribbean Countries. However, not all campuses deliver the same programs. For example, courses at the DLIS are only taught on the Mona Campus, in Kingston, Jamaica. The department has both an undergraduate and graduate program, but does not currently have a PhD program. Most of the students in the graduate program work in libraries and take their courses part-time. Some students from Caribbean countries other than Jamaica attend full time. The DLIS is paying special attention to distance learning because it has the potential to enable students to participate without leaving their home country.
THE ONLINE COURSES Both courses had their genesis in the recognition by Fay Durrant, professor and head of the DLIS, that the existing program would benefit greatly from the inclusion of courses on records management and archives. If graduates of the program were to find their way into modern information-based organizations then they would need to be equipped with multidisciplinary skills and knowledge. The Jamaican government passed its Access to Information Act in 2002 and, in support of this bill, the government moved to establish records management units in all government departments. The
306
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
need created by the government legislation coincided with the interest by the UWI in developing a records management and archives course program to complement its library services program. There were other factors as well. The launch of Online Government initiatives across the Caribbean was increasing the demand for information management specialists who knew how to function effectively in a complex information-based electronic environment where the implications of developing 24/7, location-independent, online information, and service delivery environments were significant, especially in terms of the nature of the changing relationship between citizens and their governments. Another factor was the recognition that organizations were rapidly making the shift from paper-based to electronic means of carrying out their mandated activities, making decisions, and holding themselves accountable. The ability of organizations to manage important records that were increasingly being recorded in electronic form was being challenged in the face of their dependency on changing technologies, the absence of effective management practices, and above all, the lack of expertise. These factors were instrumental in the decision to establish the two courses. In spring 2003 and based on funding provided by Canadian International Development Agency, Durrant identified courses at the U of T that she felt would best meet the identified need. Wendy Duff, associate professor and director of graduate studies at FIS was approached and, after some discussion, an agreement was established to develop both an undergraduate and a graduate level course in records management. An initial challenge was the difficulty in finding qualified instructors to teach the multisession courses onsite in Jamaica. This was when the idea surfaced to conduct the courses online from Canada using special purpose online distance learning technologies. In considering the graduate course, it was determined that an existing U of T graduate course on electronic records, being designed and delivered in partnership with the School of Information (SI) at the University of Michigan (U of Mich), offered an excellent vehicle for the UWI course. Given that its delivery was to be supported through the use of video and Web-conferencing technology, Durrant’s proposal to offer the course to Jamaican students at a distance seemed like a great opportunity to expand this course even further, and to create a virtual classroom with students from Toronto, Michigan, and Jamaica.
THE GRADUATE COURSE: MANAGING ELECTRONIC RECORDS The graduate course included 13 weekly lectures, each three hours in duration. The course focused on the management of electronic records, though five of the lectures given on-site to the students at UWI included lectures on the classification and retention of paper records. Furthermore, the
Blended E-Learning Techniques
307
assignments were adapted to focus more on traditional records management issues and to make them more practical. The assignments included a literature review of a topic related to records management, the development of a records classification system, the identification of retention requirements for the records of a specific organization, and a review and analysis of an existing electronic information system. The first assignment was submitted electronically prior to Duff’s third visit to Jamaica. Returning papers in person during a visit provided an opportunity to answer any questions the students had regarding the marking scheme. The students also handed in the second assignment during this visit, and these papers were also marked and handed back during this trip. Since Duff was still on-site, students again had the opportunity to ask questions and meet individually with her for feedback. The third assignment was handed in and marked during the professor’s last visit to the university. The assignments worked well, but the class scheduling created some small problems. Each week the class in Toronto and Michigan began at 1 P.M. with a lecture from either Margaret Hedstrom, associate professor at the U of Mich or Duff. The Jamaican students could not attend the first hour of the class so they joined the class at 2 P.M. The classes at the U of T and U of Mich ended at 4 P.M., but the UWI students stayed for an extra hour for a one-onone session with Duff. Unfortunately, UWI was not able to have a faculty member on-site to help facilitate participation from the UWI students. Between visits, however, e-mail provided an excellent method for staying connected with the students. Many students wrote to ask questions or to get suggestions for articles to read for their assignments. Some students stayed connected even after the class ended. Six months after the course finished, one student e-mailed with news of her graduation along with a graduation photo, and another student e-mailed to simply provide an update on her progress through her program.
THE UNDERGRADUATE COURSE: RECORDS MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE The undergraduate course comprised 14 units with each unit delivered on a weekly basis. The content was based, in part, on course modules contained in the certificate-based records management course program developed through U of T’s Continuing Education Program. In reviewing the modules, the UWI agreed that much of the material could be adapted for use in some parts of the UWI course. However, other material would also need to be added to fill out the entire curriculum. To complete the process, two instructors, each having expertise in records and information management, offered to support the design and delivery of the course. One instructor, John McDonald (consultant at Information Management Consulting and Education), was in Ottawa, Canada while the other instructor, Carole
308
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Compton-Smith, (Director of Learning Resources, Douglas College) was in Vancouver, Canada. The expertise of the two instructors and ongoing consultation with UWI and U of T faculty were instrumental in shaping the final content that was delivered to the 25 students enrolled in the class. While at first it was thought that the Web-conferencing technology in Toronto could be used to support the course, this proved impossible because the instructors for the course were in Ottawa and Vancouver. As a result, attention turned to the services of a Web-based distance learning company, Intrafinity Inc. (based in Toronto, Canada), which offered to host the course on its servers and to provide the LMS that would enable the instructors to conduct the course online. Among the features available to both the instructors and the students were the following: • Online course material (easily upload documents, presentations, notes, and votes) • Synchronous eLearning • Online quizzes, tests, and surveys • Live and threaded discussions • Calendars In the case of most of the units, the content for each unit was “opened” on a weekly basis by one of the course instructors. The students reviewed the content of each unit and could complete quick quizzes designed to enable the students to know how well they understood the content. While the content for the first unit as well as units five and six were placed on the site and “opened” as usual, the students were also asked to attend a class for these weeks where they were able to hear lectures and presentations delivered by faculty and guest lecturers. The first and sixth sessions featured Duff while the fifth session featured speakers discussing the new Access to Information Act and issues concerning the management of personal information. As pointed out in the lessons learned section of this chapter, this hybrid approach (i.e., combined online and on-site course delivery) was an important factor that contributed directly to the success of the course. An effort to close the gap between instructors and students even more was realized when one of the instructors delivered one of the sessions using Web cameras and microphones. However, while the students were able to see the instructor and the instructor could see the class, communication was very difficult because of the low bandwidth and problems with the microphones. Only about four or five students from the entire class made active use of the “discussion board” facilities of the system to communicate questions or comments concerning the individual sessions or the course as a whole. A discussion board was associated with each session. Students were encouraged to use the board to post their reactions to the session content, ask questions,
Blended E-Learning Techniques
309
explore particular issues, and generally interact with one another as well as the instructors on a regular basis. The instructors often posted provocative questions or comments to stimulate discussion. While much of the discussion would focus on the content of a recently opened session, occasionally students would raise a question in an earlier discussion for an earlier session. When students and instructors accessed the discussion board, they would see where messages had been posted and would know if a message had been posted to the discussion for an earlier session. By the end of the course, the discussion board featured a number of useful discussion trails, some of which had grown over the life of the course. On the other hand, and as mentioned previously, participation in the discussions was limited to the four or five more active students of the class. As a complement to the weekly delivery of course content and the discussion boards, three pairs (i.e., one in the morning and one in the evening) of one-hour chat sessions were organized at regular intervals throughout the course. The purpose of the chat sessions was to permit the students, facilitated by one of the instructors, to discuss in greater depth the topics and issues they had covered in the course. The course also featured two assignments and an exam. The assignments were opened electronically and the students had approximately two weeks to complete them and deliver them electronically to the special area of the site reserved for assignments. They were marked and the marks recorded electronically. In the case of the exam, however, it was loaded as a protected file on the site but at the time of the exam, the students were required to complete a printed version of the exam in a supervised classroom. The completed exams were then couriered to one of the instructors who marked the exams and returned them by courier to the UWI. At any time throughout the course, the students were advised that they could e-mail the instructors to ask questions, discuss the contents, and seek help in using the system. Technical support was always available to the instructors and, throughout the course program, some of the features of the system were enhanced to improve performance and the overall learning experience for the students.
LESSONS LEARNED While the courses were completed successfully and overall the students and the instructors both felt that the objectives of the courses had been met, there were a number of lessons learned that should help to inform the design and delivery of similar courses in the future. One of the most important lessons was the need for human contact. Although it is possible to design and deliver a course at a distance with the participants never having to meet one another physically, the benefits to be gained from face-to-face contact, especially as the course is being designed and the students are being registered, are immeasurable. The weeklong visit by Duff to Jamaica in December 2004
310
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
allowed her to meet with Durrant and to work through the course design, content, and approach to the e-learning features supported in each of the two courses. She was also able to meet with individuals who would eventually become guest speakers in several of the course sessions. Above all, however, she was able to assess the requirements of the students, their readiness to participate in an e-learning environment, and the readiness of the site itself to support the technologies. On-site visits, on-site teaching sessions, and on-site exploration of the records management situation in Jamaica were all instrumental in ensuring the course content was relevant to the local situation. Finally, the visits permitted the opportunity to review and identify relevant resources at UWI’s library and to identify any additional materials that would need to be provided to the students. It also permitted the relevance of the material to be assessed especially in a situation where course material from a developed country was being adapted for the developing country context. Being on-site also enabled a review of how the students were to be evaluated and led to the decision to change the assignments for students in the graduate course as previously mentioned. Matching expectations from different university cultures was greatly helped by the discussions with Durrant who helped to align expectations for how the work by the students should be measured. Overall, the visits helped to ensure that everyone was on the same level playing field with respect to the content, the technology capabilities and limitations, and the way in which the course was administered. At the same time, the nature of the distance learning environment itself presented a number of important challenges. Encouraging the students to attend the chat sessions remained a problem with only a very limited number of students (i.e., about four or five students) actively committing themselves to the discussion. Again, an on-site visit by the instructors at the beginning of the course might have helped the students to get to know the instructors and to feel more comfortable communicating and interacting with the instructors in an online environment. Orientation sessions (becoming familiar with the use of the features of the LMS, conducting practice chat sessions, and quick quizzes, etc.) at the beginning of the course could also have helped to encourage students to open up and participate in the sessions and in the course overall. Acquiring a deeper understanding of how students prefer to work and where and in what way they wish to access the e-learning course is also important. Student engagement can also be secured through enabling them to ask questions (something like virtual office hours). In the undergraduate course, the Web site allowed students to ask three types of questions: • Questions about the course • Questions about using the technology supporting the course • Questions of a general nature about records management
Blended E-Learning Techniques
311
One of the keys to success is the response time of the instructors. The informal “service level standard” used for the discussion board was to never let a day go by without responding to a student message. The discussion board also became an archive as it stored for future retrieval the trail of messages associated with each course session. In spite of these techniques, however, student engagement in an e-learning course will lag at times. Reinforcement messages need to be sent out regularly and other means need to be found (e.g., short self-assessments, the assignments) to keep the energy level high. One strategy that might be useful is to set a mark for class participation. Although one would hope that students would want to participate in the learning experience being offered through the distance learning facilities, there may be times when one may have to rely on incentives such as a grade for participation. This could be extended to the technique of requiring each student to make a certain number of postings throughout the course or perhaps a certain number for each session. Another technique is to ask them to review an article and to post their observations on the article as part of a class exercise. They could even be asked to lead a chat session to discuss points raised in the article. Alternately, students could be assigned a topic and required to post a brief one- or two-page overview of the topic with issues highlighted. As part of this assignment they could be required to moderate a discussion on the topic. Students will often respond to another student’s presentation as a means of showing support. One of the advantages of using techniques such as these is that it levels the playing field in terms of those who are active participants and those who are passive and perhaps even shy. In an online environment where there is a greater degree of autonomy and privacy and where time can be taken to formulate and express thoughts and ideas, students who might not have opened up in the physical classroom may find themselves much more expressive in the virtual classroom supported in the online environment. In the end, however, it was clear from the experience gained through the two courses that instructors need to dedicate themselves to understanding how diverse the students are in terms of their readiness to engage in an online course, and, regardless of their readiness, what can be expected in terms of their level of participation. This means researching the student environment perhaps through consultation with on-site faculty and others. In looking to the future, it would be highly desirable to develop and employ an assessment tool to help, in an objective manner, assess the readiness of a given class (and perhaps the instructors as well) to launch into the design, development, and delivery of an online distance education course. In fact, the UWI does have such courses and tools but these courses were launched with the participation of the U of T students, which meant both groups needed to be using the same compatible system. Again, the use of orientation sessions at the very beginning of a course program would be invaluable because they could explain what it is like to be taught in an online environment, how the
312
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
distance learning environment can be exploited to maximize the benefits of the overall learning experience, how to relate to a teacher at a distance, etc. They can also help the instructors understand how to communicate with the students and how to tailor the environment to the specific needs of the students. The online e-learning industry is still in its infancy and in many instances, companies marketing e-learning products are still discovering new ways of designing their technology to be more effective in support of the virtual classroom. As a result, e-learning initiatives may have to deal with technologies that are not quite proven. Exacerbating the situation is the technological environment within which the e-learning technologies must be integrated. The compatibility of both sets of technologies and the ability to integrate the e-learning technologies into the host environment supported by the UWI was a major challenge. For instance, in the one effort to conduct an online session featuring Web cameras and microphones, the video and the sound kept being clipped making it difficult to follow what was being said. However, there were other technical issues as well, including microphones that didn’t work properly, presentation slides that were not displaying correctly, messages that weren’t being delivered to students, and UWI firewalls that were inhibiting access. Not all of the issues were technical. The lack of human capacity required to integrate the technologies and to be available on a regular basis to respond to requests for help from students and instructors alike was an impediment to the smooth functioning of the e-learning environment throughout the course program. It should be noted that neither courses in this initial endeavor used Moodle LMS, which is the current system in use at the UWI and serves more than 5,000 students in the UWI online course environment. In spite of these limitations, however, the technology environment that emerged to support both courses was a major achievement. The graduate course was able to feature three-way communication among the universities of the West Indies, Toronto, and Michigan. One lecture in the graduate program worked extremely well. The topic of the class was access to information legislation in the three countries. A virtual panel was created connecting speakers from all three locations with Aylair Livingstone, the director of the Access to Information Unit in Jamaica, a PhD student studying Access to Information in Canada, and an expert on the U.S. laws. Each speaker gave an overview of the legislation in his or her country and then the forum was open for student questions. The Canadian students appreciated having access to Livingstone. Her passion for her job and her message, Jamaican citizens must have access to government records, came through loud and clear. As previously mentioned, course timing proved a significant factor. In the case of the graduate course, for instance, trying to ensure that all of the students in three different locations (Toronto, Jamaica, and Michigan) would all be available for the class at the same time was problematic. Lectures had to be divided into sections and a repeat of the material covered in the first half of the class had to be provided to the Jamaican students after the U of T class
Blended E-Learning Techniques
313
ended. As one issue was handled another came to the surface. As it turned out, the semesters in the three universities all started at different times. The first class in Toronto started the first week of January, Michigan began classes the second week of January, and UWI did not begin classes until the third week of January. This required teaching to be duplicated to enable those students starting at a later date to catch up. The different start dates afforded some advantages, however, as Duff was able to deliver the first two classes in Toronto before going to Jamaica to deliver their first two lectures. During the third week of January, a guest lecturer taught the U of T students when Duff gave the introductory lecture to the UWI students. Of lesser significance but still a factor was the issue of time zones and daylight savings time changes. Extra care had to be taken to ensure that the time zones were accounted for in situations such as the conduct of chat sessions and the online delivery of a course session. The inability to discuss the course in person and to answer questions directly means that greater reliance needs to be placed on documentation. In the case of the two courses, considerable care had to be taken to the development of the course descriptions, the syllabus, the explanation of the assignments, the exam, the marking, the conduct of the chat sessions, etc. Clear and user-friendly documentation was also required to support student use of the online learning system. A glossary was required not just to support a shared understanding of the course material but also to ensure that students coming from one socio-cultural-political environment supporting one perspective on records management could interact effectively with instructors coming from another socio-cultural-political environment that may be reflecting another perspective on records management. Finally, careful attention needs to be paid to quality assurance. Although the course was accredited and the content was linked to an already accredited course at the U of T and reviewed internally within the DLIS, the online environment within which the course was delivered was not assessed from a quality-assurance perspective. Few quality-assurance models appear to exist that integrate the criteria used to accredit course programs with the criteria required to assess the integrity and quality of the online environment itself. In any distance learning initiative, it can be assumed that the level of support required would probably exceed what is being planned. In the case of the two courses, support needed to be provided to the students and to the technical people supporting the technology environment in the participating organization. Such support and the ability to respond rapidly are essential when courses are being delivered online in real time. At the same time, and in spite of the factors just described, the use of distance learning tools and techniques is making the previously impossible possible, bringing people together over large distances to embark on learning opportunities that would never have been dreamt of just a few years ago. The rapid development of new tools and the emergence of innovative approaches to distance learning
314
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
suggest that it would not be long before the vision of a global virtual society supported by a global virtual center of learning will become a reality. Indeed, in January 2006 the courses were offered again, this time with the undergraduate course using the UWI’s LMS, Our Virtual Learning Environment (OURVLE) with students receiving training in the system in advance of the sessions and with one of the instructors of the previous year remaining and teaching at a distance. Student participation in all of the interactive aspects of the online system showed a marked increase from participation in the 2005 sessions. Approximately 15 to 20 of the 27 enrolled students took advantage of chat and open forum opportunities. This apparent increase in use of the learning management system features and the stability and robustness of the system bodes well for future Library and Information Studies course opportunities in the Caribbean. The instructors learned many lessons and, most positively, the DLIS is not daunted by the challenges of offering distance learning courses and hopes to expand course offerings to other countries within its mandate as the demands for distance learning grows.
ENDNOTES 1.
Sandra C. Ceraulo, “Benefits of Upgrading to an LMS,” Distance Education Report, May 1, 2005.
2.
Audrey McCartan, “Use of IT in a Postgraduate Distance Learning Course: Part 1 Student’s Experience,” Innovations in Education and Training International 37 (2000): 181–191.
3.
McCartan, 181.
4.
WISE—Web-based Information Science Education, 2005, 18 May 2006. www.wiseeducation.org/home_p-home.aspx.
5.
Web-based Information Science Education (WISE), A Model for Quality for Online Education in Library and Information Science 29 Dec. 2004, 18 May 2006. www.wiseeducation.org/images/principles.pdf.
6.
Info Guide and Resources: A Guide to Distance Learning Options, 14 Feb. 2005, Records Management Society, 18 May 2006. www.rms-gb.org.uk/resources/188.
7.
Julie McLeod, “Piloting a Postgraduate Distance Learning Course in Records Management for Practising Records Managers,” Record Management Journal (1995): 61–78, Audrey McCartan, “Use of IT in a Postgraduate Distance Learning Course: Part 1 Student’s Experience,” Innovations in Education and Training International 37 (2000): 181–191, Audrey McCartan, “Use of IT in a Postgraduate Distance Learning Course: Part 2 Staff perceptions,” Innovations in Education and Training International 37 (August 2000): 192–198.
315
PA R T V I I I
Caribbean Librarians
316
CHAPTER 24
Whither Our Thoughts? A Decade of Scholarly Publishing by the Librarians of UWI St. Augustine Libraries, Trinidad and Tobago Tamara Brathwaite and Niala Dwarika-Bhagat The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago ABSTRACT There are three issues that this research will seek to address. First, how the past 10 years have affected academic library publishing at The University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus Libraries system; second, is this change identifiable in the literature, and; third, whether a clearly defined subject trend with an ICT perspective exists in the volume of articles published thus far. Since the study focused only upon articles published in peerreviewed journals, as opposed to providing an analysis of the entire body of academic output of the librarians at the UWI St. Augustine, it would be fair to observe that ICT-topic related articles have been published, but it would not be prudent to generalize trends for the decade under review as the research findings are only a subset of academic output. A listing of publications in peer-reviewed journals by UWI St. Augustine Campus librarians between 1995 and 2005 is provided.
INTRODUCTION Many definitions exist for what constitutes scholarly output. Scholarly communication, in its modern context according to the Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science (ODLIS), refers to the means by which academic researchers inform their peers. It further offers an array of what constitutes scholarly communication namely: monographs, journal articles, conference papers, which may be published in proceedings and transactions, reports for grant-writing purposes, the creation and maintenance of academic-oriented Web sites, and correspondence with peers via e-mail and electronic mailing lists. This broad definition does not preclude the peerreview process, which defined by ODLIS, states that “in evaluation for tenure 317
318
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
and promotion academic librarians may be given publishing credit only for articles accepted by peer-reviewed journals.”1 In “Principles and Strategies for the Reform of Scholarly Communication” published in ACRL News, scholarly communication is defined as “the system through which research and other scholarly writings are created, evaluated for quality, disseminated to the scholarly community, and preserved for future use.”2 Online reference tool Wikipedia notes that academic publishing “describes a system of publishing that is necessary in order for academic scholars to review work and make it available for a wider audience.” The “system,” which is probably disorganized enough not to merit the title, varies widely by field, and is also always changing, albeit slowly.”3 Wikipedia further states that most academic work is published in journal article or book form. In most academic institutions, in order to be considered for promotion or tenure, the scholarly output of academic staff comes up for review. Articles in peer-reviewed journals often carry the most weight in determining one’s contribution to knowledge and, as such, one’s ability to progress along a career path in academia. Though well debated in the literature, it is generally accepted that academic librarians have a responsibility to engage in scholarly publishing. Debates aside, some truisms endure—that is, by engaging in scholarly publishing, librarians display their competence in professional subject areas, discover and share new knowledge with their colleagues, and demonstrate their academic contributions to their university and the library and information science (LIS) profession. Mitchell and Reichel state that research promotes recognition for librarians. It is a means to an end for the academic librarian as it enhances core personal and professional competencies and builds curriculum vita (CVs) that secure professional advantages (233). Publishing is how professional librarians keep score: “The more you publish the more you have the opportunity for success” (Fusco par. 5). Additionally, their “initial appointment and eventual tenure, promotions, and research funding are largely based on the quality and the quantity of their publications.”4 Scholarly publishing has, undoubtedly, undergone transformation over the past decade. Gordon suggests in his editorial introduction to Scholarly Publishing in an Electronic Era that scholarly publishing “has become extremely dynamic and surprisingly evolutionary” (xii). Whereas the dynamics of scholarship have changed, in like manner there have been simultaneous changes within the LIS profession, most notably, the upsurge in the availability and distribution of networked information. Dorner expresses the general sentiments of library literature that the profession is in transition, the impact resulting from the digitization of information, and he notes that the roles played by authors, publishers, libraries, and other information services are changing (15).
Whither Our Thoughts? A Decade of Scholarly …
319
Library literature chronicles the tremendous impact ICTs—as advanced by the Internet and Internet technologies—have had in transforming library operations from the 1990s to today. With such an impact, libraries are now more concerned with access to information rather than holdings of material. In a Caribbean context, the question that arises: Is this trend discernable in a study of the academic publishing in peer-reviewed journals of librarians in one particular institution? This chapter attempts to answer this question.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM In planning a study of scholarly publishing by academic librarians over the past decade, one underlying assumption is that there is a discernable trend that reflects on and analyses the changes within the profession. Since theoretically the demands of scholarly research have not changed, it might also be assumed that the dynamics that have been responsible for decadelong changes in academic librarianship are consistently influencing the research pattern of scholarly communication. It is within this context that this study examines the contribution to peer-reviewed journals by academic librarians of one university library system in the Caribbean: UWI, St. Augustine Campus Libraries system. The research will address three issues: first, how the past 10 years have affected academic library publishing at the UWI St. Augustine Campus Libraries system; second, is this change identifiable in the literature; and third, whether a clearly defined subject trend with an ICT perspective exists in the volume of articles published thus far. A listing of publications in peer-reviewed journals by UWI St. Augustine Campus Librarians between 1995 and 2005 is provided in Appendix A at the end of this chapter.
PARAMETERS OF THE STUDY The UWI serves the territories of the Commonwealth Caribbean and has established campuses at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill, Barbados, and Mona, Jamaica, with a network of libraries on each campus. This research is limited to the St. Augustine Campus Libraries network, namely the Main Library, Medical Sciences Library (MSL), School of Education Library, the Institute of International Relations Library, the Seismic Research Unit Library, Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI), the School of Continuing Studies, Hugh Wooding Law School Library and the Patience-Theunisses Memorial Library, and the staff therein at these institutions. The term “academic librarian” falls within the “The University of the West Indies Rules For Academic Staff, Senior Administrative Staff And Professional Staff” to mean the subset of “full-time Academic Staff, Senior Administrative Staff and Professional Staff appointed in the employment of the University engaged in teaching and research or who hold administrative
320
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
and professional posts designated by the Council as senior posts.” For this study the term academic librarians refers to persons appointed as: Librarian I, Librarian II, Librarian III, Senior Librarian, Head (MSL), Deputy Librarian, and Campus Librarian/University Librarian. Although the term scholarly publishing is not so easily defined, in this study, scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals are exclusively and comprehensively explored as they relate directly to accepted professional output and as Joswick notes, it helps to define group characteristics and trends (340). In the literature, though, the concept of what are acceptable scholarly library journals in which to publish remains a debate. A listing of peer-reviewed library science journals was taken from the Auburn University Web site. This site provides a list of refereed library and information science journals. It states that the list was compiled referring to several authorities: Lynn Williams from Katz, Magazines for Libraries (1997) and Ulrich’s International Periodicals Directory (1999) under the search term “refereed.”
LITERATURE REVIEW Although there is an established body of literature that speaks to the requirements of tenure and promotion and scholarly publishing trends within the LIS profession, few studies focus on the author-based output of academic librarians (Joswick 340, Weller et al. 353). On the value of such research, Joswick notes that a study of the publishing trends of academic librarians offers “insight into the field by defining and describing the research patterns of the profession” (340). She further quotes Nisonger, who made a distinction in studying publication trends between journal based and individual based studies, and notes that individual based studies center on the publication habits of a defined population of librarians, whereas journal based looks at the output of authors (340, 342–343). A review of library literature suggests that the research interests of librarians are not self-exploratory regarding professional publishing and research activities. That is to say that librarians, some as research experts and others out of duty, publish on wide areas of interests. Riggs, in his introductory letter of How to Get Published in LIS Journals, described publishing by academic librarians as “uneven, fragmentary and non-cumulative” (2). Riggs points to insular perspectives that are increasingly oriented towards best-practice approaches based on current activities as opposed to publications based on research and intellectual inquiry. He also notes that in librarian’s publications there is an increasing trend in measuring with statistics (2). The literature generally suggests that peer-reviewed journal articles are a choice medium for publishing, there are many “how to publish” articles that offer tips on how-to-get published in peer-reviewed journals. A recent study suggests that peer-reviewed journals are the publication medium of choice of practicing professionals. Weller, Hurd, and Wiberley in their article “Publication Patterns of U.S. Academic Librarians from 1993 to 1997” examine
Whither Our Thoughts? A Decade of Scholarly …
321
the contributions to scholarly publishing by academic librarians. They note that in peer-reviewed journals, academic librarians by far contribute the most to the literature. They looked at productivity of academic librarians, as did Bahr and Zemon (410), and concluded that librarians are increasing in their contribution to scholarly publications, with particular emphasis of publishing within peer-reviewed journals (360–361). Research on publication patterns of librarians in a developing country context is scant. One study found, however, examined publication productivity of academic librarians and staff seminars in Nigeria. In contrast with academic librarians in developed countries, the authors Agboola and Oduwole noted that from 1990 onwards there has been a sharp decline in the number of articles published owing to a high percentage of papers rejected due to several factors, included inability to contribute anything new, unrealistic data reflected, lack of focus, and outdated references supplied (479). Agboola and Oduwole highlight the fact that although librarians recognize the importance of publishing, due to limited opportunities for research and the infrequency of staff seminars that would help stimulate research papers, scholarly publishing by academic librarians remain limited (479). Hart, in conducting a similar study, looked at the scholarly publications by university librarians at Penn State University Libraries; his focus, however, was on productivity and output rather than trends. In examining peerreviewed journals, he noted that many publications by librarians fell outside the journals under review, that is books, book chapters, and conference proceedings are omitted as are articles in non-refereed journals—as a result, almost a quarter of scholarly output by librarians are excluded from the research (455). He notes also that the imprecise definition of what constitutes a refereed journal further prejudices research (457).
METHODOLOGY Four challenges that the researchers encountered included: 1. Determining a working definition of the term scholarly publishing 2. Collecting all the data on the UWI St. Augustine librarians’ scholarly publications over the last 10 years 3. Determining that what was published in the literature was actually published in peer-reviewed journals 4. Finally, with the titles found, effectively using the sample size to extrapolate meaningful results Primary and secondary methods of data collection were employed to carry out this investigation. In the first stage of the research, it was necessary to conduct interviews and communicate via e-mail with the UWI and Main Library’s senior administrative staff to establish an understanding of the terminology
322
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
that underscores this research (scholarly publication at the UWI St. Augustine, academic librarian and peer-reviewed journals) as well as to secure relevant documents (annual reports, yearbooks, etc.). Also in the primary stage of data collection, e-mail was used to source from the Registrar’s Office, a listing entitled “Librarians during the Period January 1, 1995–December 31, 2005.” This listing indicated that 44 librarians were employed by the UWI St. Augustine in the last 10 years.5 The appointees at the ranked levels are as follows: Librarian I Librarian II Librarian III Senior Librarian I Librarian/Documentalist It must be noted that neither the campus librarian nor deputy campus librarian posts was included on this list but were considered for this research. Therefore, for the period under review, the publications of 44 UWI St. Augustine librarians were documented and analyzed. In the second stage of the research, the following secondary sources—publicly available UWI St. Augustine publications—were consulted to gather and assess data regarding publications by librarians in peer-reviewed journals: • Annual Report of the UWI St. Augustine 2003, 2004 • Annual Report of the Campus Librarian 1997/1998–2003/2004 • Research at the UWI St. Augustine 1993–1999 To eliminate possible vulnerabilities and limitations, the researchers sought to attain the most precise statistical data by querying the professional library databases Emerald Insight and Library Literature, which are available on the UWI Main Library’s Web site.6 Cross-referencing was done by querying personal names as well as institutional title (University of the West Indies, St. Augustine). Once this was done the e-mail method was used to source CVs and/or bibliographic references from currently employed librarians to source and verify references. Finally, search terms “Librarian,” “Trinidad and Tobago,” “UWI,” and “St. Augustine” were used in Google and Google Scholar to identify any publications that may have been missed. Where possible, librarians at the UWI St. Augustine were contacted by e-mail to clarify their publications, but not all 44 librarians on the list are still currently employed by the UWI St. Augustine and it was not possible to contact all participants individually to secure information in a timely fashion.
Whither Our Thoughts? A Decade of Scholarly …
323
FINDINGS
Definition As previously stated, it was necessary to establish a working definition of scholarly publishing at the UWI St. Augustine. Professional LIS literature generally suggests that scholarly publishing refers to “articles in refereed journals, chapters in books, contribution to reference sources and more” (Auburn par. 1), and that library publishing is not restricted to the information and library science field—after all librarians do publish outside of professional journals. Through anecdotal evidence, it was established that within the UWI St. Augustine Campus Libraries system the publish or perish directive to librarians is understood to be in full effect—as it is in many international universities. However, there exists no formal document that defines what constitutes scholarly publishing. By important extension, although there is an officially defined structure of ranked positions of academic librarians at the UWI St. Augustine Campus Libraries system, there is no approved working document that informs the publication standards for all levels of librarian. Despite the ambiguity of publishing standards and definitions, scholarly publishing is still understood to be a necessary element of the tenure and promotion process at the UWI St. Augustine. In discussions, Gene Francis, Assistant Registrar, human resources/appointments, UWI, confirmed that guidelines published by the UWI do not exist and noted that the definition of scholarly publishing tends to be subjective. Additionally, although there is no agreed-upon consensus among the three UWI campuses regarding quality vs. quantity of professional publications, she did admit that peer-reviewed journals amass the heaviest weighting/consideration regarding the granting of tenure and promotion and that all work must be innovative and constitute original research. Jennifer Dade-Hafeez, Administrative Assistant at the Human Resources Section, UWI, further noted that notwithstanding the prevalence of ICTs and a networked online environment at the UWI St. Augustine, scholarly publishing still embraces traditional print media and electronic aspects of scholarly publishing are yet to be considered in granting tenure. The unwritten publishing output standard at the UWI among academics is a book chapter or two journal articles per year (Gayle 2). Conference presentations are also considered. It should be noted that at the UWI when an academic staff member, and more specifically an academic librarian, is being considered for promotion and/or tenure, all of his or her scholarly output is considered by the Appointments Committee—”this includes research actually published” including works in refereed and non-refereed journals, books and chapters in books, conference proceedings and other publications, including reports, technical papers, occasional papers, newsletters, monographs, abstracts, working papers, guides, bibliographies,
324
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
and distance education courses (The University of the West Indies, Research at St. Augustine 1993–1999 iv). Currently, measures are being undertaken to take the guesswork out of publishing requirements towards standardizing scholarly output for the academics employed in the UWI St. Augustine Campus Libraries system. On November 18, 2005, an e-mail was circulated from Margaret Rouse-Jones, professor and university librarian, titled “Draft Publications Standards for Librarians,” which made reference to a meeting of the UWI Library Assessing Committee, which noted under the heading “Research and Publication Activity of Librarians” that “…Librarians should develop criteria specifying the number of publications that could be considered acceptable for promotion at different levels” (par. 2). The e-mail informed all that in order to meet this mandate, the university librarian had formed a committee of librarians to examine the scholarly publication output of librarians and to draft recommendations regarding scholarly publishing. The draft recommendations suggested the different types of publication media and the desired output per rank of librarian and was appended to the e-mail. This project is currently underway. It was fortuitous that during data-gathering for this paper, a senior librarian of the UWI St. Augustine Main Library had collated a matrix entitled “Scholarly Output 1999–2004 of the UWI Campus” as part of the effort to establish the aforementioned “Draft Publications Standards for Librarians.” The data for this document was collated using the St. Augustine Campus Librarian’s Annual Report and CV scanning and was shared with all professional librarians at the UWI St. Augustine via e-mail. The matrix indicated the year and the librarians who had published and presented at conferences between 1999 and 2004. It also indicated the publications in which articles had appeared making a distinction between refereed and non-refereed journals where applicable. This served useful as a cross reference to the research as it allowed the authors to further qualify scholarly output.
Statistics From 1995–2005, 31 articles were published in peer-reviewed journals and there were steady fluctuations, with every three years recording an increase in output (1996, 1999, and 2002), no publications in 1998 and a sharp increase in 2005 (see Figure 24.1). From 1995 to 2005, however, the number of articles published in peerreviewed journals over the 10-year period has increased from two to six articles (an average of 0.67 articles per librarian). By publishing productivity standards, this correlates with results published by Virgil F. Massman cited by Mitchell and Reichel (234) who found that the publishing output for academic librarians average at 0.7 articles per librarian.
Whither Our Thoughts? A Decade of Scholarly …
325
Figure 24.1 Number of articles published in refereed journals by year
About 20 percent of articles took the form of guides to information such as annotated bibliographies and indexes. This is quite in keeping with Langley et al. who note that many library journals publish “pathfinders, webliographies or resource guide to subject literature” (23). They conclude that academic librarians publish as a service to their users. Twenty percent of articles looked at user education and presented librarian’s responses to surveys, issues, and comments on best practice. Thirty-four percent of articles published were subject-specific outside of the profession of librarianship, usually among subject-specific librarians. Interestingly, 80 percent of librarians do not collaborate when writing articles that are published in refereed journals, only 20 percent of all articles published between 1995 and 2005 were co-authored, and with only one having an additional author. Librarians from the Main Library and Medical Sciences Library constituted the major volume of articles published, followed by the staff at the School of Education Library (see Figure 24.2). Publications were not noted from staff at the remaining libraries within the UWI St. Augustine Campus Libraries system. Librarians were publishing within a range of titles—as a result the scholarly thoughts of librarians at the UWI St. Augustine are shared within the body of professional library literature and other professional literature; these titles/articles can be found using popular Internet search engines and specific search terms. Thirty-four percent looked at professional concerns in librarianship (outside of ICTs). The collated titles did not reveal any clear trends in scholarly output directly related to the changing trends in the information society.
326
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
70 60 50 Main Library Medical Sciences School of Ed Other
40 30 20 10 0
Publication output
Figure 24.2 Percentage publication output by type of library
There is no evidence of librarians having published in open access journals, thereby, making their articles available freely online. Some publishers (Emerald Group Publishing Limited), however, do place electronic clones of printed articles on their Web site. Almost 40 percent of all articles found are available full-text online either through subscribed journal publishers, indexed databases, or sundry Web links. Thirty percent of all articles published during the period under review looked at the impact of ICTs, with specific reference to Internet technologies, on library practices. There is indication that the themes of the articles published reflect the trends in librarianship as impacted by ICTs in the 1990s when the impact of the Internet was heavily noted in librarianship. Themes included: information superhighway (1995), electronic service (1996), surfing with science (1997), cataloguing with Cooperative Online Resource Catalog (CORC) (2002), digital resources (2005), and electronic information sources (2005).7 Although it is correct to state that librarians are writing on the impact of ICTs, the small sample size is insufficient to generalize that there is an increase in subject-based articles published on the impact of ICTs in library practice. These results are, therefore, indicative as opposed to being representative. Interestingly, over the 10-year period, no two librarians have written on ICTs more than once—so one can surmise that ICTs are affecting different aspects of academic librarianship evident in the titles: general—information superhighway; reference/user services—electronic information services; medical librarianship—surfing with science, electronic information sources; technical services—cataloguing issues; therefore, different librarians are writing on the impact of ICTs/Internet technologies in different workspaces of academic librarianship at the UWI St. Augustine.
Whither Our Thoughts? A Decade of Scholarly …
327
CONCLUSION This research can be summarized as follows: First, librarians at the UWI St. Augustine have noted the impact of ICTs and this is reflected in the themes examined and in academic writings that have been published as peerreviewed articles. Second, it was found that librarians still have a preference for printed publications; neither is there evidence to substantiate the claim nor was it revealed that any librarian under review had published in an open access journal or electronically. The articles that were found to be available online were often clones of the printed version. Finally, the information society has obligated that the UWI librarian publish on electronic subjects that impact on librarianship and this is clearly shown in the literature published by this group; however, it has not totally subsumed the interest of the UWI St. Augustine librarian as other professional research interests are continuing to be explored and published. Bearing in mind that scholarly journal articles are not the only output of libraries at UWI St. Augustine, the authors were more concerned with themes rather than quantity of articles. The quantities of articles found were too limited to make a generalization about ICTs and publishing among the UWI St. Augustine librarians. Hart alluded to the fact that an isolated focus on peerreviewed articles ignores a large chunk of the scholarly output of professional librarians (455). Additionally, although there has been an increase in publication output over the 10-year period and some librarians have touched on the impact of ICTs in librarianship, a clear trend is not discernable. There is no evidence to indicate that librarians are publishing electronically or in open-access formats, although almost one in every two article(s) is available online. One must hasten to add that the UWI St. Augustine does not have a mechanism to assess scholarly electronic products and, as such, there may be little incentive to publish electronically. Beyond sourcing a definition for scholarly publishing at the UWI, two current trends are heartening to the authors and would have an impact on research findings should this survey be repeated in a decade’s time. First, an exercise is currently underway to produce publication guidelines/standards for the UWI St. Augustine librarians; this would ensure that professionals at all levels are guided in their requirements for scholarly output and its frequency. Second, the proposed Caribbean Library Journal is an open-access journal and initiative of the UWI St. Augustine Campus Libraries system. This journal, which is being launched in 2006, aims to feature peer-reviewed articles by Caribbean librarians and information professionals, bi-annually. These two initiatives may ensure that there is a stated standard towards the regular output of scholarly publishing and, indeed, a place for it. Along with the current exercise championed by the university librarian of documenting publication standards and collating output, it would be useful to conduct a cross-campus study of publication activity on the Mona and the
328
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Cave Hill campuses of the UWI to ascertain the levels of publishing output among these academic librarians. Since this type of study has not been done before, and preliminary feedback indicates that there is such interest, a collation of the UWI librarians’ publishing output would indeed answer the question: “Whither our thoughts?”
ENDNOTES 1.
With specific reference to the entry under “peer-reviewed,” ODLIS 2006.
2.
Definition taken solely from the first paragraph, which refers to a system of both formal communication media (e.g., publication in peer-reviewed journals, and informal ones, electronic listservs).
3.
The Internet-based encyclopedia, Wikipedia, offers several definitions of “academic publishing” but in this paper only the first paragraph/explanation is cited.
4.
In Vincent Resh’s “Science and Communication: An Author/Editor/User’s Perspective on the Transition from Paper to Electronic Publishing” (webdoc.sub. gwdg.de/edoc/aw/ucsb/istl/98-summer/article3.html), reference is made to quality and quantity of academic publishing. It is noted in this research paper that though quantity takes precedence, quality is equally important.
5.
At the start of the millennium, the UWI administration changed the rank/posts of librarians, to operate in ascending order chronologically, so instead of gaining entry as a Librarian III, entry-level staff at UWI St. Augustine begin as Librarian I, affecting the rank (but not qualifications) of individuals recruited prior to 2000.
6.
Main Library, UWI. Sept. www.mainlib.uwi.tt
7.
See Appendix A, Scholarly Output of UWI St. Augustine Librarians, at the end of the chapter.
WORKS CITED Agboola, A. T. and A. A. Oduwole. “Staff Seminars and Publications Productivity: a Study of Academic Librarians in Ogun State Nigeria.” Library Management 26.8–9 (2005): 478–486. Arnold, Kenneth. “The Scholarly Monograph Is Dead, Long Live the Scholarly Monograph.” Scholarly Publishing on the Electronic Networks. Proceedings of the Second Symposium. Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries, 1993. Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) “Principles and Strategies for the Reform of Scholarly Communication.” C&RL News 64.8 (Sept. 2003). 20 Sept. 2005. www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/whitepapers/principlesstrategies.htm. Auburn University Libraries. “Tenure and Promotion: Refereed Library Science Journals.” Auburn University. 19 Sept. 2005. www.lib.auburn.edu/tenure/refereed libscijrls.html. Bahr, Alice H. and Mickey Zemon. “Collaborative Authorship in the Journal Literature: Perspectives for Academic Librarians Who Wish to Publish.” College & Research Libraries 61.5 (Sep 2000): 410–419. Black, W. and J. Leysen. “Scholarship and the Academic Librarian.” College & Research Libraries 55 (1994): 229–241. Dade-Hafeez, Jennifer. Telephone interview. 9 Nov. 2005.
Whither Our Thoughts? A Decade of Scholarly …
329
De Four, Claudia. “Scholarly Output 1999-2004 of the UWI Campus.” Unpublished document. 15 Nov. 2005. Dorner, Daniel G. “The Blurring of Boundaries: Digital Information and its Impact on Collection Management.” International Yearbook of Library and Information Management 2000/2001: Collection Management. Ed. G. E. Gorman. London: Library Association Publishing, 2001: 15–44. Francis, Gene. Personal interview. 24 Jan. 2006. Fusco, Marjorie. “Publish or Perish! What’s a Librarian to Do?” DASLog 1 1:1,4 (2000). 13 Sept. 2005. www.dowling.edu/library/papers/marje/DASLOGPublishPerish Art.doc. Gayle, Dennis J. State of The Institute: Report by the Interim Executive Director, II, 7 Sept. 2005. Gordon, G. E. and Fytton Rowland, eds. Scholarly Publishing in an Electronic Era. London, UK: Facet Publishing, 2005. Hart, R. L. “Scholarly Publication by University Librarians: A Study at Penn State” College & Research Libraries 60.5 (1999): 454–463. Hinchliffe, Lisa Janicke and Jennifer Dorner, eds. How to Get Published in LIS Journals: A Practical Guide. (Library Connect Series). San Diego: Elsevier, 2003. Joswick, Kathleen E. “Article Publication Patterns of Academic Librarians: An Illinois Case Study,” College & Research Libraries 60.4 (1999): 340–349. Langley, Anne, Edward Gray, and K. T. L. Vaughan. The Role of the Academic Librarian. Oxford: Chandos Publishing, 2003. Lloyd, Diana. “Re: UWI Librarians - LIBRARIANS DURING THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 1995–DECEMBER 31, 2005.” (Information as at Jan 31, 2006).” E-mail to Tamara Brathwaite, 31 Jan 2006. Mitchell, W. Bede and Mary Reichel. “Publish or Perish: A Dilemma for Academic Librarians?” College & Research Libraries 60 (1999): 232–244. ODLIS: Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science. Libraries Unlimited.15 Jan. 2006. www.lu.com/odlis. Olsgaard, John N. and Jane Kinch Olsgaard. “Authorship in Five Library Periodicals.” College & Research Libraries 41 (1980): 49–53. Resh, Vincent H. “Science and Communication: An Author/Editor/User’s Perspective on the Transition from Paper to Electronic Publishing.” Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship 19 (Summer 1998). 2 October 2005 webdoc.sub.gwdg.de/ edoc/aw/ucsb/istl/98-summer/article3.html. Riggs, Donald. “Writing for the LIS profession: Introductory Comments and Questions.” Library Connect: How to Get Published in LIS Journals: A Practical Guide. Eds. Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe and Jennifer Dorner, San Diego: Elsevier, 2003. 2. Rouse-Jones, Margaret. “Draft Publications Standards for Librarians.” E-mail to all professional staff. 18 Nov. 2005. The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus (Trinidad and Tobago). “Powers of Appointment, Promotion and Dismissal” Ordinance 8. intranet.sauwi.uwi.tt/academic/docs/ord8.pdf. —-. Annual Report of the UWI St Augustine 2003. St. Augustine: UWI, 2003. —-. Annual Report of the UWI St Augustine, 2004. St. Augustine: UWI, 2004. —-. Annual Report of the Campus Librarian. 1997/1998. UWI St. Augustine. —-. Annual Report of the Campus Librarian. 1999/2000. UWI St. Augustine. —-. Annual Report of the Campus Librarian. 2001/2002. UWI St. Augustine. —-. Annual Report of the Campus Librarian. 2003/2004. UWI St. Augustine. —-. Research at St Augustine 1993–1999: A Publication of the Office of Research and the Office of the Principal, September 2000. St. Augustine: UWI, 2000. —-. Rules for Academic Staff, Senior Administrative Staff and Professional Staff. 12 Sept. 2005. intranet.sauwi.uwi.tt/academic/docs/bluebook_new%20%202003.pdf.
330
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Weller, Ann C., Juile M. Hurd, and Stephen M. Wiberley. “Publication Patterns of U.S. Academic Librarians from 1993 to 1997.” College & Research Libraries 60.4 (1999): 352–362. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 11 May 2006. Wikimedia Foundation. 26 Jan. 2006. en.wikipedia.org. Zemon, Mickey and Alice Harrison Bahr. “An Analysis of Articles by College Librarians.” College & Research Libraries 59.5 (1998): 422–432.
APPENDIX A SCHOLARLY OUTPUT OF UWI ST. AUGUSTINE LIBRARIANS 1995 Barnes, Sandra. “From Neglect to Recognition and Now, Facing Extinction: The Heliconia Story.” Bulletin Heliconia Society International 7.3 (1995): 4–7. De Four, Linda Claudia and Jaishree Kochhar. “Caribbean Popular Culture: Development and Library Management Issues.” Popular Culture in Libraries 3.1(1995): 43–49. Helenese-Paul, Kathleen. “On the Threshold of the Information Superhighway.” New Library World 96.6 (1995): 23–27. 1996 Clarke, Reginald. “Putting Tobago’s Heritage on Video.” Audio Visual Librarian 22.1(1996): 44–49. Renwick, Shamin. “Access to Information in the English-speaking Caribbean.” Third World Libraries 6.2 (1996): 21–28. 1997 Francis, Hannah. “Environmental Information Issues in the English-speaking Caribbean.” Libri: International Journal of Libraries and Information Services 46 (1996): 35–40. Greenidge, Ernesta. “Surfing with Science” MEDSA 1.1 (1997): 8–9. Helenese-Paul, Kathleen. “In the Name of Development: Change at the University of the West Indies Library.” Library Management 18.3–4 (1997): 183–188. Peltier-Davis, Cheryl. “Public Libraries as National Libraries: the Caribbean Experience.“ Alexandria 9.3 (1997): 213–238. 1998 No articles were published in 1998. 1999 Clarke, Reginald. “User Education at the Main Library, the University of the West Indies, St Augustine: a Historical Chronicle.” Library Review 48 (5) 1999: 242–250.
Whither Our Thoughts? A Decade of Scholarly …
331
2000 Clarke, Reginald. “Thesis Checking and Preservation at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad: A Librarian’s Input.” World Libraries 10.1–2 (2000) 20 Dec. 2005. www.worlib.org/vol10no1-2/clarke_v10n12.shtml. Lewis, Marilyn P. “Library Requirements and Problem-based Learning: The Medical Sciences Library, The University of the West Indies. “Bulletin of the Medical Library Association 88. 3 (July 2000): 255–257. Taitt, Glenroy R. “Review of John Cowley’s Carnival, Canboulay and Calypso: Traditions in the Making.” Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 28.2 (May 2000): 128–129. 2001 Fullerton-Rawlins, Janet. “Women and Education in the English-speaking Caribbean, 1999-2000: An Annotated Bibliography.” Caribbean Curriculum 8 (2001): 59–87. Taitt, Glenroy R. “An Indo-Trinidadian Man of the Cloth: Rev. Charles Bliss Ragbir (1865–1951).” Journal of Caribbean History 35.2 (2001): 208–221. Taitt, Glenroy R. “Review of Arthur Dayfoot’s The Shaping of the West Indian Church, 1492–1962 by Arthur Dayfoot.” Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 29.3 (Sept. 2001): 131–132. 2002 Clarke, Reginald. “In Quest of an Ideal Library Environment: the Case of the Main Library, the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad.” Library Review 51.6 (2002): 287–292. Peltier-Davis, Cheryl A. “The National Library and Information System (NALIS) of Trinidad and Tobago: A Public Library System Performing National Library Functions. “Alexandria 14.3 (2002): 151–159. Rankine, Kazuko and Cheryl A. Peltier-Davis. “Cataloging with CORC: The Main Library, UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago Participates in the Founders’ Phase of OCLC’s CORC Project.” Journal of Internet Cataloging 5.2 (2002): 43–56. Renwick, Shamin. “What Caribbean Librarians Want from Caribbean Publishers.” World Libraries 12.2 Fall 2002. 10 Dec. 2005. www.worlib.org/ vol12no2/print/renwick_print.html. Steele, G. and E. Greenidge. “Integrating Medical Communication Skills with Library Skills Curricula among First Year Medical Students at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.” Health Information and Libraries Journal 2002. 19(4): 206–213. 2003 Fullerton-Rawlins, Janet. “The Principal as Instructional Leader: An Annotated Bibliography.” Caribbean Curriculum 10 (2003): 61–83.
332
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
2004 Sandy, Stella and Jennifer Joseph. “Index to the Journal of Caribbean History 1996–2002.” Journal of Caribbean History 37 (2004): 123–169. Soodeen, Frank and Allison Dolland. “An Information Commons in a Caribbean Context: emerging paradigms in electronic service at the Main Library, the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.” IFLA Journal 30:4 (2004): 302–309. 2005 Clarke, Reginald. “The West African Library Association (WALA).” Focus on International Library and Information Work 36.2 (2005): 76–79. Francis, Hannah. “The Information-Seeking Behavior of Social Science Faculty at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus.” The Journal of Academic Librarianship 31.1 (2005): 67–72. Gosine-Boodoo, Meerabai and Mark McNish. “Comparing Polarized Perspectives: Librarians’ Professional Skills and Development.” New Library World 106: 7–8 (2005): 363–377. Nero, Lorraine M. “Cataloguing Digital Resources: The Experience of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus.” Library Review 54.2 (2005): 100–107. Nero, Lorraine M. and Beverley Wood. “Beyond Walcott: an Annotated Bibliography of the Literature of St. Lucia.” Collection Building 24 (2005): 100–107. Renwick, Shamin. “Knowledge and Use of Electronic Information Resources by Medical Sciences Faculty at the University of the West Indies.” Journal of the Medical Library Association 93.1 (January 2005): 21–31. Taitt, Glenroy. “Co-operation among Caribbean Theological Libraries: A Case Study.” Libri: International Journal of Libraries and Information Services 55 (2005): 148–153.
CHAPTER 25
Change Management in Caribbean Special Libraries Sandra E. John United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago ABSTRACT Change happens! But it is our attitude to it that influences the effectiveness with which we respond. This chapter attempts to analyse the various factors that have altered the environment in which Caribbean librarians, documentalists, and other information specialists function today, focusing not only on developments driven by advances in information and communications technology, but on the new priorities of users and organisations and the related twin challenges of dwindling resources and heightened expectations. Some areas in which the librarian should take action and take responsibility are identified. The strategies that have been used with some success in the transition of the Caribbean Documentation Centre (CDC) to a Knowledge Management Centre are described.
INTRODUCTION Change management issues pose an important challenge to most organisations in the Caribbean today. Small libraries have been particularly hard pressed to maintain their usefulness in an environment characterised by dwindling resources and heightened expectations. Some libraries have managed to successfully embrace the opportunities presented by the advances in information and communications technologies (ICTs) and become major beneficiaries of these developments. Many others though, in seeking to avoid change, have become its hapless victims. The notion of what constitutes an effective and efficient library or information service has evolved significantly during the last 10 to 15 years. Librarians have, therefore, had to change not only the manner in which they do their business. They have had to take a new look at the business that they do. Libraries must now shift their focus from managing documents, and begin to manage the knowledge that the documents contain. Libraries that are not prepared to make the required shift are right on course for, and some may have already arrived at, a destination called “irrelevance.” 333
334
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
There are many recognisable landmarks along the way. Talented staff members begin to be redeployed to other departments; posts made vacant by retirement or resignations may not be filled; no retraining is provided; no effort is being made to build capacity; new departments are created and given responsibilities for tasks related to information delivery; the library no longer attracts new project funding; there is limited or no access to top decision makers in the organisation. These are some signs of a library becoming increasingly peripheral to the business of the organisation that it was created to support and serve. This chapter will attempt to analyse the various factors that have altered the environment in which Caribbean special libraries (understood to include those attached to a parent organisation) and documentation centres function today, focusing not only on developments driven by advances in information and communications technology, but on the new priorities of users and organisations. Some areas in which the librarian should take action and take responsibility are identified. Some strategies that have been used with some success in the Caribbean Knowledge Management Centre (CKMC) in the current circumstances are described. The insights shared in this chapter are based on experiences drawn from the special library perspective but many of the lessons will be relevant to libraries of all types and sizes.
THE NEW ENVIRONMENT Change is usually discussed in the context of the phenomenal advances in information and communications technology, and indeed these developments have completely reframed the manner in which people interact with each other, but technological advances have also been a catalyst for change in several other areas. Perhaps the most dramatic shift occurred in the relationship between the library service and its users, made suddenly independent of the modest efforts of the organisation’s library by the infinite research possibilities available via the Internet—now regarded by most people as the reference source of first choice. The Internet provided researchers with the means to function fairly adequately without the direct intervention of a librarian. The typical client of a special library now does much of his research using online sources. He corresponds directly with information providers. He publishes the results of his research on Web sites and in electronic journals. He revels in his newfound independence. Librarians had been preaching for years—to organisations far too preoccupied with other important things to take notice—that information was an invaluable input in the process of decision making. Suddenly organisations began to listen, but not to librarians. Finally convinced of the strategic importance of information, managers drew the conclusion that information was now too important to be left in the worn-out hands of librarians! Abruptly, the environment in which libraries function within organisations
Change Management in Caribbean Special Libraries
335
became more competitive, teeming with public relations specialists, computer systems analysts, programmers, knowledge managers all competing for the attention and the resources of the organisation, each determined to “roll out” rather than simply provide impressive solutions to the organisation’s information challenge. Small wonder then that some special libraries in organisations and government departments began to receive less sympathetic reaction to requests for resources to preserve and, ultimately, improve systems now considered passé. Librarians and information specialists did not help their cause by operating in a manner that was increasingly isolationist. The Internet gave librarians a certain degree of new independence as well, which manifested itself in the disinclination towards networking. This might have had the unintended effect of further reducing the strategic importance and, indeed, the bargaining power of many libraries. Priorities in the donor community were also being reordered. In the 1980s, an “Information for Decision Making” strategy in the Caribbean was supported by donor agencies outside of this region, the most generous being the International Development and Research Centre (IDRC). This period saw the creation in the Caribbean of several information systems— advanced as the solution to organising and providing access to the published and unpublished information in areas such as agriculture, trade, energy, and health, all considered important to the Caribbean development at that time. By the mid-1990s, the World Wide Web with its capacity for disseminating documents in full-text had made these systems obsolete. Donors lost interest in information strategy and focused more on development strategies facilitated by ICTs. This meant that project resources previously allocated to institution building were now redirected towards capacity building. In addition, donor agency interest in the Caribbean was fading as well, with resources diverted to other areas of the world where the needs were considered more urgent.
TAKING RESPONSIBILITY: THE BEST RESPONSE In the face of these challenges, how must the librarian respond? Becoming proactive is the first imperative. The librarian must respond by taking responsibility. An effective librarian must take steps to become aware of and conversant with the information environment. He must follow trends in the profession and make every effort to become familiar with the coping strategies employed by other libraries and librarians that have been similarly challenged. He must look for opportunities to increase his strategic importance in the current movement towards a global information society. Not all of the developments are negative. Embedded in nearly every challenge are opportunities. It should be the librarian’s task to uncover them. For example, many researchers, who one decade ago might have been constrained by a shortage
336
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
of facts and figures, now find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information available via the Internet, facing a new challenge of having to sift and select and assess information sources for accuracy and reliability. Selecting, endorsing, and repackaging of information—this can be a new area of focus. Second, the librarian must also understand the mission and current direction of the organisation with which the library is affiliated, not only understanding the business that they are in, but the threats and challenges that face the organisation. This knowledge should determine the menu of services that the library will offer. Third, librarians should be sensitive to the social and economic context in which they operate. The librarian must also commit to learning more about the issues that impinge on the development of the region. The library’s involvement has to be more than just the acquisition, organisation, and dissemination of the appropriate documentation related to issues such as the impact of globalization on small vulnerable island states; the challenges associated with the Caribbean’s attempts to forge a single economic space through the CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Single Market and Economy (CSME); and the social dislocation caused by the collapse of the banana industry in some Caribbean islands. This information is not tangential to the job of being a good information specialist in the Caribbean. This is an essential part of the Caribbean librarian’s toolkit. There must also be an understanding of and empathy for the “new” user: suddenly a stranger, increasingly self-centered, with a disconcerting attitude of impatience; a user who is no longer interested in the practice and processes that go into the delivery of an information service; a user who will not visit the library because she is too busy and staggering under the weight of challenges of her own. The new user is often overwhelmed by the volume of information that is available and which she is expected to digest and base judgments on. The new user is not impressed with your efforts, burdened as she is to fulfill the enormous expectations that are being placed on her. She judges your service only by the positive results that you are able to achieve for her. That user can again be your ally, but it will take a little work and a lot of readjustment. A library that has embraced change will develop a new relationship with users, treating them as partners. The librarian must become a supportive partner in the achievement of the user’s objectives. Indeed there should be a progressive blurring of the boundaries between the library and the rest of the organisation.
RELATED CHALLENGES Most importantly, the librarian has to expand his skills set. It has never been easier, and with all the opportunities for formal distance education and informal learning, there really is no excuse not to learn new skills. This is crucial
Change Management in Caribbean Special Libraries
337
because in attempting to cope with change, there are several related challenges that the librarian must cope with as well. The librarian has to develop an approach to managing the new technology, or resign herself to being managed and manipulated by it. After all, the technology is a tool that must be placed at the service of the library and used to respond to its needs. It is a good idea therefore to draft needs statements very clearly, communicate needs confidently, and evaluate proposals by several vendors in accordance with pre-established criteria. In this connection it is important to ensure that your choice of technology is not determined by the interests of the vendor. You have to be very sure that you are sufficiently familiar with your need to be able to communicate your requirements firmly and confidently. Your eventual choice should not be determined by the quality of the sales pitch, but the requirements of your situation. The same confident attitude should attend the management of people. The skills that are required by a typical library are very complex now. Twenty years ago, a librarian in the typical small Caribbean special library would have been expected to supervise an assistant librarian, one or two library assistants, and a secretary/typist. Now the librarian will be expected to supervise staff with a wide array of skills. He may be required to evaluate the work of a systems analyst or a Web master. Even where he lacks the technical knowledge though, the librarian should be able to confidently rely on his own unmatched knowledge of what he needs. There are other areas of people management in which the librarian will have to become shrewd: communicating human resource needs to management; revising job descriptions; and making creative suggestions that might involve job sharing, and/or the hiring of two or three part-time employees instead of one full time, in order to acquire the range of skills needed to make the library function optimally. Effective use of time is another important function. A great deal of multitasking is required by the staff of small libraries. As if juggling cataloguing, indexing, preparation of abstracts, literature searching, other forms of research assistance did not provide sufficient challenge, now librarians have to cope with maintaining digital collections, winning back users, repackaging and prepackaging information for easier use. Most librarians would have been fully occupied before all these new demands were placed on their time and resources. The menu of services provided by a traditional special library would typically include loans, selective dissemination of information (SDI), reference services, literature searches, preparation of subject bibliographies, and current awareness services. Add to this now, management of electronic documents, maintaining a Web site and or an intranet, and learning new computer applications. The result can be a logistical nightmare. This all translates into a very complex portfolio for the library. Remember, it is not as though librarians have a lot of choice. If they are to enjoy continued relevance, the service has to match expectations and trends in other
338
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Important
Urgent
Not Urgent
MANAGE:
FOCUS ON:
Crises
Preparation and planning
Problems that stop work flow
Prevention
Projects with deadlines
Clarifying values
Last-minute preparations for
Building relationships
scheduled activities Not
AVOID:
AVOID:
important
Interruptions
Trivia
Some mail & reports
Junk mail
Some meetings
Escape activities
Figure 25.1 Adapted from Steven Covey’s time-management matrix (Covey, Stephen R., A. Roger Merrill, and Rebecca R. Merrill. First Things First: To Live, to Love, to Learn, to Leave a Legacy. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994: 38) organisations. Steven Covey’s Time Management Matrix would be a useful tool to help librarians to organise their time and tasks more efficiently. His advice is to divide tasks into the four areas (see Figure 25.1). Most libraries perform, at least, some of the following tasks: • Abstracts, preparing • Author abstracts, requesting • Correspondence • Current Awareness Bulletin, preparing • Current contents, circulating • Equipment maintenance • Loans, issuing • Loans system (automated), installing • Meetings with users • Meetings, professional
Change Management in Caribbean Special Libraries
339
• Newspaper clippings file • Ordering books • Project proposals, writing • Queries, responding • Shelving • Subscriptions, renewing • Telephone calls, returning • Training of staff • Web sites, updating • Work plans, preparing “Urgent and important” activities are those with deadlines, or unexpected crises such as the effects of a natural disaster or equipment breakdown, which require an immediate response. The tasks considered “urgent but not important” include those for which immediate response is required, but completion of these tasks does not contribute in any significant way to accomplishing the library’s mission. Covey recommends that organisations should concentrate most of their efforts on doing activities that are “important but not urgent.” These would include things like training, preventive maintenance, and other developmental work. Good time management entails recognizing the area to which each of the tasks regularly performed by your library falls in the matrix and allocating your time accordingly. Tools and techniques for managing paper and other records must also be acquired. The information and communications revolution with its capacity for generating electronic files was once considered a great antidote to the reliance on paper. What has happened is that, instead of one or two copies of an item being circulated in an organisation, multiple copies are printed. The tools of electronic records management are still relatively unfamiliar to most Caribbean organisations. What must be stored, and where and for how long—these are the questions for which librarians must find answers. Managing physical space also requires some rethinking. Most librarians instinctively react defensively to threats to reduce the physical space allocated to the library, citing the fact that a library’s document collection expands with the constant acquisition of journals and new monographs. Tough decisions have to be taken though. It is important that the library uses space in a manner that brings maximum impact. It is also important that the library become conscious of the cost of the space that it occupies and ensure that the benefit that it provides to the organisation is commensurate with the cost of the space being utilised. The aim should be to deliver the service with
340
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
the minimum cost, since the library will typically be competing with other departments for resources, space included. What for instance currently sits on the reference shelf? If the information available in the reference documents can be easily acquired via the Internet, should a decision be made to reduce the size of the reference shelf and utilise the space made available with a bank of computers? Should a decision be made to digitise part of the current physical collection and so further reduce the demand for physical space? There must also be a new approach to the management of financial resources allocated to the library. With so many documents available for free download, it might be useful to request that a part of the documents budget be diverted to outsourcing of some skills not available in the library, to promotion of the services, and/or to retraining. The budget should reflect the priorities articulated in the vision. Finally, the library must take deliberate steps to manage its image. Some people hold the view that “image is everything.” It is not. But the image a library projects influences the enthusiasm with which its service is viewed. It would be a good idea therefore for the librarian to lose the understated, selfeffacing persona and project an image of confidence and assertiveness. This should also be reflected in the publications, (both electronic and hard copy of the library) as well. The process of change requires not only good management, but strong leadership. Strong leadership does not have to be aggressive or abrasive, but it has to be decisive and vision-based—the better to ensure that the library is equipped to manage knowledge. The final section of this paper will deal with the transition at the Caribbean Headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) from documentation, to knowledge management “harnessing the collective brain.”
MANAGING KNOWLEDGE: THE CASE OF THE CARIBBEAN KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT CENTRE The librarian-leader must first recognize and acknowledge the inadequacy of the current direction and paint a picture of the likely endgame if there is no alteration in the present course. The first step therefore is to anticipate the crisis and recognize and communicate the need to do something immediately to arrest the slide, in the case of many libraries, the slide towards irrelevance and ineffectiveness. One of the texts, which the staff of the Caribbean Documentation Centre (CDC) used as a change manual, was “The Heart of Change” by Kotter and Cohen. This document identified an “increased sense of urgency” as the first step towards achieving large-scale change in organisations. The developments that culminate in the feeling of urgency need not be dramatic.
Change Management in Caribbean Special Libraries
341
This was the case with the CDC. We recognized that we were in a “holding pattern” that could not be allowed to persist. What triggered our alarm bells was the fact that our users were notably fewer, and there was a creeping apathy among those who remained. The road to irrelevance was not one the CDC was prepared to take. The centre had always been defined by its pioneering willingness to try new approaches to delivering information, always with the development of the Caribbean as its raison d’être. Something had to be done, and fast! It was not that the CDC had remained fixed in the decade that had seen the popularization of the Internet. We had been responding with significant though small steps, aimed at keeping the CDC in line with the developments in the technology and the expectations of our staff and other users. Before use of the Internet became widespread in the Caribbean, the centre had as early as 1991, an online bibliographic catalogue that could be queried by remote users. Building on this, six years later the centre developed a Web site initially as a vehicle for its Web-based bibliographic catalogue. Then a virtual library was established, which eventually evolved into the Caribbean Digital Library (CDL). The CDL is a virtual collection of Caribbean documents and other electronic information resources available on the World Wide Web, organised for easy retrieval under 27 broad subject headings and publicised via an annual newsletter, CDL Update. The Web-based records show a trend of increased usage. During January to April 2004, the CDL was accessed 3,229 times, with 84,786 items viewed. During the same period (January to April) in 2005, the CDL was accessed 9,336 times with 349,650 items viewed. In other words during the space of one year, the number of users almost tripled and there was a fourfold increase in the number of documents viewed. We were proud of the fact that we had kept abreast of the technology and used it to do things more efficiently. Yet now, fewer and fewer people seemed to care about what we did and about the service that we offered. The idea of an irrelevant CDC did not match our self-image. The staff hunkered down to figure things out. The second step identified by Kotter and Cohen is the development of a “guiding team” to lead and champion the process of change. Libraries attached to organisations or government departments in the Caribbean are typically managed by one or two persons. The CDC had a staff of six persons—large enough to do some useful brainstorming. We were assisted in our work by a systems analyst acquired through the United Nations Fulbright programme, to whom we were able to explain our needs. We also enlisted the help of some of our users in order to ensure that the shape of the new information service would match their expectations and to create a sense of ownership of any new ideas that might emerge. We deliberately courted our younger users to be a part of this group. This was a means of ensuring that there were allies and advocates among the users. Libraries that have only one or two staff members might want to use
342
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
this approach, creating a library committee or “Friends of the Library” group as a source of advocacy and encouragement. Persons who have the ability to influence decision making, either by reason of their position or their personality or a combination of both, should be persuaded to be a part of the guiding team. Potentially, the most valuable member of the guiding team will be the person at the head of the organisation. If the boss can be persuaded to be a member of the guiding team the library would have scored a virtual coup. How does one persuade influential members of the organisation to become champions of the library? This is where an intimate knowledge of the organisation’s mission and understanding of the threats to the achievement of its objectives can pay dividends. The library must line up firmly on the side of its organisation as a powerful part of its team—positioned not as a drain on the organisation’s resources but as an important weapon in its arsenal. The librarian-leader’s approach should neither be whining and self-focused, nor too abstract to be persuasive. The importance of the right team cannot be overstated, because the third step, identified by Kotter and Cohen, “shaping the vision” is arguably the most important component in the process of change. A guiding team that includes persons not directly involved in overcoming the challenges of managing the library from day to day will be more likely to think outside of the limited operating space that librarians have created for themselves. Left to ourselves librarians might instinctively focus on the service, which he or she will provide within the constraints and limitations of the present system, to the exclusion of, or at least paying insufficient attention to the broader vision of the organisation as a whole. It is at the point of visioning that the whole process could be won or lost. The first role of the team therefore is to engage in creating a vision that can be shared by the entire organisation. It will be important to create an atmosphere of trust in order that perspectives might be aired honestly and constructively. The team will discuss the library’s strengths and weaknesses in the context of the larger goals of the organisation and identify opportunities for useful intervention and pitfalls to avoid. Given these realities, what kind of service should be provided and what should be the guiding principles that would influence the choice? A realizable vision cannot be outside of the scope of the overall mission of the organisation. The mission of the ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean is: to deepen the understanding of the development challenges facing the Caribbean and contribute to solutions by conducting research and analysis and providing sound policy advice and technical assistance to Caribbean Governments with a focus on growth with equity and an appreciation of the region’s vulnerability.
Change Management in Caribbean Special Libraries
343
The CDC, recognizing that collecting, classifying, recording, storing, and disseminating information no longer came close to what is expected of an information service in the 21st century, modified its mission, making a commitment to: compile, analyse and organise data into intelligible items of information that would create knowledge in the shortest time and with optimal use of our own scarce resources and to ensure that this information fills a real need, is easily accessible, and contributes to a fuller understanding of the development issues facing the Caribbean region. Still following the Kotter and Cohen eight-part plan, the fourth step was “communicating the vision” to various audiences. Communicating the vision to the CDC staff was easy, because it was a shared vision. Communicating the vision to the wider ECLAC staff took some effort. It helped that the director was a very visible part of the guiding team. We also created a system of personal knowledge management and a knowledge partner was assigned to each member of the research staff. Figure 25.2 illustrates a typical message sent out to staff. We shared the new vision with the public by launching the new CKMC to replace the CDC at an event in November 2005, to which a number of people were invited: our staff, the media, our colleagues in the local United Nations System, other development agencies, librarians, and other individuals involved in information-handling, and students and teachers from schools in
Dear ______: In an effort to become more efficient and effective we have included Personal Knowledge Management as an important part of our KM strategy. Each person in the KM Centre has responsibility for dealing with the information needs of a small group of staff members. I have volunteered to be your personal Knowledge Partner. Starting immediately, in this role I will: • become more familiar with your areas of research (or other knowledge-centred work) • develop an understanding of what information you have to contribute to the KM system and what you need from the system • extract information from your research for the Country Development Profiles • (If you agree), show you how to add information to the development profiles for each country We look forward to closer collaboration in 2006
Figure 25.2 Message to research staff
344
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
the neighborhood. The new name reflects the new understanding of our role. A commemorative brochure was produced as part of the promotion effort. The launch of the new centre was a significant high point. We had to make an effort to avoid going steadily downhill from there. Kotter and Cohen’s fifth step has to do with “empowering people to act in accordance with the new vision.” This is where we are at the moment. This is the difficult part because it involves changing the culture and internalizing new routines. The process is going reasonably well. Without any formal change in written job descriptions, the CKMC staff began to perform in the manner required by our new mandate. We extended ourselves in other ways in an effort to ensure that all the new tasks were performed on time. However, several barriers remain, chief among them, the shortage of manpower. This is being addressed by drafting project proposals for each activity that requires resources not currently available in the CKMC. Our short-term wins (Kotter’s sixth step) were the creation of the knowledge partners, and the availability of the development profiles of each Caribbean country, which have made research a lot easier for the staff. Kotter and Cohen warn: “Don’t let up,” and we haven’t, but it is a major challenge, perhaps the most difficult instruction of all. We understand that we are involved in a marathon and we are conscious of the danger of resting on our modest achievements. Competition, both internal and external has not gone away. Indeed it has intensified. Our resources are stretched thin. We have not yet given up all of the tasks identified as “less important” in the time-management matrix. But ours is a work in progress. The final direction given by Kotter and Cohen is: “Make change stick” and only time will tell how well we are able to do this. Our approach has been to keep reviewing and assessing the impact of the changes that have been made so far and making adjustments where these are indicated. Our own enthusiasm has not waned. We still enjoy the confidence of our users. All in all we think that there is reason for optimism.
CONCLUSION The popularization of the personal computer and the communication facilitated through the Internet, have given librarians and other information managers powerful new tools with which to do business. On the other hand, these same developments have created ambitious new expectations in clients of information services of all kinds, and called into question the usefulness of traditional libraries. Therein rests the challenge. It would seem logical to expect that librarians, conditioned as they are to finding, organizing, disseminating and using information, would have a distinct advantage over many other professions in an emerging information society, and they do. However, librarians must take deliberate steps in order to exploit this advantage.
Change Management in Caribbean Special Libraries
345
Change is inevitable. Unfortunately, the survival of librarians is not. To survive and thrive, librarians must take responsibility, grasp the opportunities embedded in the changing circumstances, articulate a clear vision, and commit to acquiring the skills necessary to lead and manage Caribbean libraries into the future.
WORKS CITED Covey, Stephen R., A. Roger Merrill, and Rebecca R. Merrill. First Things First: To Live, to Love, to Learn, to Leave a Legacy. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and CARICOM Secretariat. A Regional Information System Strategy for the Caribbean for the Year 2000. Ottawa: IDRC, 1989. Johnson, Spencer. Who Moved My Cheese? New York: Putnam, 1998. Kotter, John P. and Dan S. Cohen. The Heart of Change: Real-life Stories of How People Change Their Organizations. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 2002. Megill, Kenneth. Thinking for a Living: The Coming of Age of Knowledge Work. Munich: Verlag, 2004.
346
List of Acronyms ACNIS ACP ACRL ACURIL AGRIS/CARIS ALA ALVABED ANH ANV APLA AUP BDC BIREME BLA BWS CAIS CARALL CARDI CARICOM CARINDEX CARIRI CARISPLAN CASE CAST CCCJ CCS CCTV CDC CDCBPD CDERA CDL
Advisory Council for the National Information System African, Caribbean and Pacific States Association of College and Research Libraries Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries International Information System for the Agricultural Sciences and Technology American Library Association Association of Archivists, Librarians and Documentalists Archives Nationales d’Haiti Algemeen Nederlands Verbond Antillean Public Library Association Acceptable Use Policy Bibliography Dutch Caribbean Biblioteca Regional de Medicina–Regional Medical Library Bahamas Library Association Blind Welfare Society Caribbean Agricultural Information Service Caribbean Law Libraries Association Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute Caribbean Community An index to the contents of West Indian journals, published in the Caribbean region Caribbean Industrial Research Institute Caribbean Information System for Economic and Social Planning College of Agriculture and Science Education College of Arts, Science and Technology Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica Cultural Centre Suriname Closed Circuit TV/Video Magnifier Caribbean Development Centre Caribbean Digital Collection for the Blind and Print Disabled Committee Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency Caribbean Digital Library 347
348
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
CDL CDS-ISIS CELOS CHE CIDA CJIP CKMC CLIF CMS CNIB COB COLINET COMLA CONALIS CORC COSTAATT COTT CSA CSME CTA CV DAISY DIOS DLIS dLOC EBSCO ECLAC ERIC EWMC EXED FAO FIS FIU FTE FUNGLODE HEART HP ICTA ICTs IDRC
China Digital Library Computerized Documentation System/Integrated Set of Information System Centre for Agricultural Research in Suriname Commission on Higher Education Canadian International Development Agency Caribbean Justice Improvement Project Caribbean Knowledge Management Centre Canadian Local Initiative Fund Course Management Systems Canadian National Institute for the Blind The College of The Bahamas College Libraries Information Network Commonwealth Library Association Secretariat of the Council for National Library and Information Services Corporative Online Resource Cataloguing College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago Copyright Organization of Trinidad and Tobago Caribbean Studies Association CARICOM Single Market and Economy Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation Curriculum vitae Digital Accessible Information System Stichting Documentaire Informatie Opleidingen Suriname Department of Library and Information Science (UWI) Digital Library of the Caribbean EBSCO Information Services Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean Education Resources Information Center Eric Williams Memorial Collection Excelsior Community College Food and Agricultural Organisation Faculty of Information Studies Florida International University Full-Time Equivalent Fundación Global Desarrollo y Democracia Human Employment and Resource Training Trust Hewlett-Packard Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture Information and Communication Technologies International Development and Research Centre
List of Acronyms IFLA IFLA/SLB IICA ISBN JAMCOPY JARDIN JAWS JLS KIT KITLV LANIC LAPTOC LATT LCSH LIAJA LIMS LINET LIS LISOS LLB LLILAS LMS MEDCARIB MILU MFN MIT MLA MLIS MORI MSACS MSL NACOLADS NALIS NATIS NBLC NCU NDL NFIL
349
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions International Federation of Library Association, Section of Libraries for the Blind Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture International Standard Book Number Jamaican Copyright Licensing Agency Jamaica Agriculture Research Development Information Network Job Access with Speech Jamaica Library Service Royal Institute of the Tropics Royal Institute of the Tropics and Cultural Anthropology Latin American Network Information Center Latin American Periodicals Tables of Contents Library Association of Trinidad and Tobago Library of Congress Subject Headings List Library and Information Association of Jamaica Library Information Management System Legal Information Network Library and Information Science Library Information Systems and Outreach Services Bachelor of Laws Latin American and Caribbean Centre on Health Sciences Information Learning Management Systems The Health Sciences Literature of the English-speaking Caribbean Mona Information Literacy Unit Master File Number Massachusetts Institute of Technology Medical Library Association Masters in Library and Information Science Market Opinion Research Institute Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Medical Sciences Library National Council on Libraries, Archives and Documentation Services National Library and Information System Authority National Information System Nederlands Bibliotheek en Lektuur Centrum Northern Caribbean University U.S. National Digital Library National Forum on Information Literacy
350
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
NGO NLJ NLS NSU NTA OAI OAS OCLC OCR OPAC OPReP OURVLE PAHO PALMM PAVI PDBA PTA QAS SACS SALALM SciELO SDI SECIN SGU SIAMAZ SICE SIDALC SOE STICUSA STIN TICFIA TTPost UCJ UCWI UF UG UIC UN UNA
Nongovernmental Organization National Library of Jamaica National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Nova Southeastern University National Training Agency Open Archives Initiative Organisation of American States Online Computer Library Center, Inc. Optical Character Recognition Online Public Access Catalogue Oral and Pictorial Records Programme Our Virtual Learning Environment Pan American Health Organisation Publication of Archival, Library & Museum Materials Persons Associated with Visual Impairment Political Database of the Americas Parent-Teachers Association Question and Answer Service Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Seminar on the Acquisitions of Latin American Library Materials Scientific Electronic Library Online Selective Dissemination of Information Social and Economic Information Network St. George’s University Amazonian Information System for Environmental Data Foreign Trade Information Service The Agricultural Information and Documentation System of the Americas School of Education Stichting Culturele Samenwerking Science and Technology Information Network Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information Access Postal Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago University Council of Jamaica The University College of the West Indies University of Florida University of Guyana University of Illinois at Chicago United Nations University of the Netherlands Antilles
List of Acronyms UNESCO UNICA U of Mich U of T UPR U.S. USAID USC USVI UTech UVI UWI VBS VHL VIPs W3C WASC WBU WHO WISE WSIS WTO
351
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Association of Caribbean Universities and Research Institutes University of Michigan University of Toronto University of Puerto Rico United States United States Agency for International Development University of the Southern Caribbean United States Virgin Islands University of Technology, Jamaica University of the Virgin Islands The University of the West Indies Vereniging van Bibliotheekpersoneel in Suriname Virtual Health Library Visually Impaired Persons World Wide Web Consortium Western Accreditation Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities World Blind Union World Health Organisation Web-based Information Science Education World Summit on the Information Society World Trade Organisation
352
About the Editors Cheryl Ann Peltier-Davis is Associate Cataloging Librarian at the Alvin Sherman Library, Research and Information Technology Center at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. Previously, she was the Head of the Cataloging department at Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington; Librarian at the Main Library, UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; and Departmental Librarian at the Department of Library and Information Studies, UWI, Mona, Jamaica. Cheryl acquired her BA from UWI (Trinidad and Tobago) and her MLS degree from UWI (Jamaica). A recipient of the creative writing award from UWI (Trinidad and Tobago), she is the author of several refereed journal articles on public and national libraries in the Caribbean. In 2001, she collaborated with colleagues at the Main Library, UWI, St. Augustine, to write an Essay on Caribbean Libraries for the International Dictionary of Library Histories. She has given conference presentations on a diverse array of library-related topics. She was an active member of the Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA) and the Library Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT). She is currently the co-chair of the Special Interest Group for Academic Libraries in ACURIL, and a member of ALA. In 1995, she received the Dorothy Collings Postgraduate Award from the Department of Library and Information Studies, UWI, Mona, Jamaica. Shamin Renwick, MPhil, MLIS, FCLIP, is currently head of the Multimedia and Information Technology Unit, Medical Sciences Library, The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. She obtained an MPhil in agricultural extension and MLIS from UWI in Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, respectively. She has 21 years of experience working in school and academic libraries; has presented papers, workshops, and posters at conferences; and 353
354
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
has written several refereed publications as well as edited the Proceedings of the ACURIL 2004 Conference. She is a Past President of the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL), 2003–2004. As a member of the Library Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) since 1986, she has served three terms at the executive level. She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). She is the recipient of several awards: a National Scholarship to study library science in 1984; a fellowship to attend the 2001 International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Conference in Boston, USA; a joint awardee of the ACURIL/Gale Group Award for “Innovative And Effective Information Services with the Application of Information Technologies” in 2001; and the ACURILEANA medal for outstanding contribution to ACURIL in 2004.
About the Reviewers Stephney Ferguson is a former president of the Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA), 1975; Commonwealth Library Association (COMLA), 1986–1990; Association of Caribbean University and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL), 1999–2000; and an IFLA Presidential Candidate (1991). She has held positions as Senior Librarian, Jamaica Library Service, 1962–1970; College Librarian, College of Arts Science & Technology (now University of Technology, Jamaica), 1971–1980; Director, National Library of Jamaica, 1980–1992; Senior Lecturer and Head, Department of Library and Information Studies at The University of the West Indies (UWI), 1992–1997; and the joint positions of Campus Librarian, Mona, UWI, 1997–2004 and University Librarian, UWI, 1998–2004. Stephney has served on the editorial boards of several international professional journals and has published a number of refereed journal articles. She was conferred with the National Honour, Order of Distinction (O.D.) by the Government of Jamaica in 1991; the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence for service to the UWI and for Public Service in 2004; and the Pelican Award by the UWI Mona Alumnae Association in 2005. Derek Law (Professor) is Head of the Information Resources Directorate, at the University of Strathclyde, Chair in the Department of Computing, and also serves as the Head of the Centre for Digital Library Research. He has worked in several British universities since 1970 and has published almost 200 book chapters, articles, and conference papers since then, some of them republished in seven other languages. Most of his work has focused on the development of networked resources in higher education and on the creation of a national information policy. Since 2003, he has worked on the use of wireless technology in developing new methods of teaching and learning. He was awarded the Barnard prize for contributions to Medical Informatics in 1993, Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1999, an honorary degree by the Sorbonne in 2000, the IFLA medal in 2003 and an Honorary Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) in 2004. Maurice Line retired in 1988 as the Director, General Science Technology and Industry in The British Library, a position he held for 15 years. Before that, he worked in five university libraries. He is a Professor Associate at Sheffield University (U.K.), and has honorary doctorates from Heriot-Watt (DLitt) and Southampton Universities (DSc) in the U.K., and a fellowship 355
356
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
from Birmingham Polytechnic (U.K.). He has written 14 books and 430 articles and papers. He is a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute. He was President of the Library Association (U.K.) in 1990, and was awarded the medal of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) in the same year. Margaret D. Rouse-Jones (Professor) is currently the University Librarian of The University of The West Indies (UWI). She has been on the staff at the UWI St. Augustine campus since 1981. She is a graduate of UWI, Johns Hopkins University and University College, London. Her scholarship, which spans the field of history, historiography, Caribbean bibliography, and librarianship, includes four monographs, more than 30 published articles and conference presentations, as well as library guides and reports. She has been active in the library and information profession locally and internationally and currently serves on OCLC Members Council and the Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean of the UNESCO Memory of the World Program. In 2004, she received the Association of Caribbean University Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL) Award for Excellence in Research and Publications in the Information Field in the Caribbean and the UWI Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in the area of Service to the University Community.
About the Contributors Monique Alberts-Luijdjens is currently employed as a Librarian at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library, St. Maarten (Netherlands Antilles). Previously, she was a Librarian at the National Library of Aruba. During the years 1991–1998, she worked at the libraries of the University of Amsterdam, the TOOL (Technologie Overdracht Ontwikkelings Landen) Foundation and the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam. From 1989 to 1991, she worked for the Holland Committee on Southern Africa as a campaigner and as Head of the Documentation Centre. She studied political science and library science in Amsterdam (The Netherlands). Gwendolynn G. Amsbury is currently working for several defense lawyers in Portland, Oregon, as an electronic case records manager. She also volunteers for the Oregon Maritime Museum, where she is conducting a photograph preservation project. She received her MSc in Information in Archives and Records Management from the University of Michigan’s School of Information, and holds undergraduate degrees in history and folklore. Her past work has focused on preservation and conservation of physical collections including photographs, manuscripts, slides, rare books, and scrapbooks. Marva Bradford is Head of the Client Services Division at the Calvin McKain Library, University of Technology, Jamaica. She is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University, Florida (MBA), The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica (BA), and the Church Teachers’ College, Jamaica. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the Jamaica Customer Service Association ( JaCSA) and second Vice President of the Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA). Tamara Brathwaite is a Librarian at the Institute of International Relations, The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. She holds a BA from the Department of Library and Information Studies, UWI, Mona, Jamaica, a Post Graduate Diploma from the Institute of International Relations, UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad Tobago and an MA in Electronic Communication and Web Publishing from the School of Library, Archive and Information Studies, University of London. She has worked in libraries in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, England, and the U.S.
357
358
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Raynold K. Cartwright is a trained lawyer, having graduated from the Norman Manley Law School, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. He has brought a wealth of experience to his position, having served within the Bahamian Public Service. Under the Director of the Libraries and Instructional Media Services, he was responsible for the overall management of the library at its inception from 2000 to 2002, assisting with collection development and the physical organization of the facility. He currently provides reference services. He is a founding member of the Bahamas Association of Law Libraries and a member of the Caribbean Association of Law Libraries. Barbara A. Chase works as Acquisitions Librarian in the Main Library, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados. She has years of experience as a collector of Barbadiana and Caribbeana having worked at the National Library Service and the Department of Archives in Barbados. She also worked at special libraries at the Caribbean Conservation Association and the Attorney General’s Chambers. She has an interest in creative writing and her young adult fiction novel The Silent Killer was published by Ian Randall in 2004. Nancy Cirillo is an Associate Professor emeritus in the Department of English at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She holds a degree in comparative literature from New York University and teaches post-colonial studies with a concentration on the Caribbean. Her most recent publication in this field is a chapter in the volume On Anthologies: Politics and Pedagogy (Nebraska, 2004) titled “Anthologizing the Caribbean: Squaring Beaches, Bananas and Nobel Laureates” and a chapter in the forthcoming volume Exterminating Narratives: The Discourse of Genocide titled “Regarding the Holocaust from Caribbean Perspectives.” Carole Compton-Smith is Director, Learning Resources, Douglas College, British Columbia, Canada. She has managed and developed records management and indexing system from the paper based and microfiche/microfilm systems to the electronic requirements of today. From 1988 to 2000, she developed and taught a three-module records management course within the Library Technician Program of the Nova Scotia Community College. Since 1996, this course was developed into a Distance Learning Program and offered to students throughout Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. She has been active in the Association of Records Managers and Administrators and presented at various library conferences. Claudette de Freitas is Information Resources Manager at the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute where she coordinates the information and communication programme for the Technical Centre for
About the Contributors
359
Agricultural and Rural Cooperation Caribbean Regional Branch Office, and the Caribbean Agricultural Information Service. She has been employed with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, and Ministries of Agriculture in Antigua and Barbuda and Trinidad and Tobago. She holds a BSc in Agriculture and a Post Graduate Diploma in International Relations from The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, and Tobago and an MLIS from the University of Western Ontario, Canada. Yemisi Dina is Head of Public Services, Osgoode Hall Law Library, York University, Canada. She was Manager of Adult Services at the Central Library of the Richmond Hill Public Library, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada (November 2005–May 2006); Law Librarian at The College of The Bahamas Law Library, Nassau, The Bahamas (2001–2005); Council of Legal Education, Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus (March–June 2001); and Law Librarian Adeola Odutola Law Library, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria (1995–2001). Wendy Duff is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Information Studies, University of Toronto. She received her PhD from the University of Pittsburgh where she was project coordinator for the University of Pittsburgh Electronic Recordkeeping Project. Her primary research interests are electronic records, user studies, and metadata. Current research projects include a study of the usability of a text analysis portal, the development of generic user-based evaluation tools for virtual archives, a study of archival reference service, and a long-term research project examining information studies education. Niala Dwarika-Bhagat is a Librarian at the Festival Library and Cultural Resource Centre, Centre for Creative and Festival Arts, The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. She holds a BA in English from the UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago and earned her MLIS from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. She has strong interest in archiving photographs and library-related digital photography projects. She presented a poster session, Public Libraries into Posterity: A Photo Essay on the Evolving Face of Public Libraries in Trinidad and Tobago, at the ACURIL Conference (2004) in Trinidad and Tobago and the Special Libraries Association 95th Annual Conference (2004) in Nashville, Tennessee. Gwyneth E. George is currently the University Librarian at the University of Guyana (UG), Guyana. She has been employed at the UG Library since April 1993, where she was first hired as Librarian I, with responsibility for the Division of Science and Technology. She received her BA from The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica and her master’s degree from UG. She is an active member of the Guyana Library Association and works closely with its
360
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Committee on training for library technicians. Her current research and publication effort is centered on the impact of information technology and management issues related to information technology. Barbara A. Gordon is a Lecturer at the Department of Library and Information Studies (DLIS), The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Jamaica. She worked at public, school, and special libraries before joining the staff at DLIS. She was educated at the UWI, Mona, Jamaica, and the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. She has served as Chairman of the Special Libraries Section of the Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA) and currently works with the Research and Publications Working Party of LIAJA. Claudia Hill is a Harvard Administrative Fellow (2005–2006) in the Harvard College Library, Cambridge, Massachusetts. She has been a Technical Services Librarian at Columbia University, New York, for the past eight years where she administered cataloguing for Columbia’s Avery Library. She has written for a wide range of publications including the Encyclopedia of Caribbean Literature, Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance, Encyclopedia of Comparative Iconography, and the journal Popular Culture in Libraries. She is an active member of the American Libraries Association (ALA) and is currently Chair of ALA’s Library and Information Technology Association’s International Relations Committee. Sandra E. John heads the Caribbean Knowledge Management Centre at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean where she established the Caribbean Digital Library. From 1987–1995, she was the Network Manager at the Secretariat of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. She is a former Fulbright Scholar and a graduate of The University of the West Indies. She has a keen interest in a broad range of development issues including change management, youth entrepreneurship, information and communications technology policy, and information repackaging. Beryl W. Johnson is a Reference Librarian at the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center, Nova Southeastern University, Florida. She holds an undergraduate degree in music with a concentration in jazz studies. She received her MSc in Information from the School of Information, University of Michigan, where she became interested in the potential of libraries to mobilize and facilitate community-building, specifically in rural areas. Willamae M. Johnson has been the Director of Libraries at The College of The Bahamas since 1990. She has served as President of the Bahamas Library
About the Contributors
361
Association (BLA) (1990–1992), and the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL) (1995–1996). She earned her BA in English and Spanish from Fisk University (Nashville, Tennessee) and her master’s degree from Atlanta University. Her interests are in strengthening library infrastructure and library cooperation. She supports information skills development and is an advocate for library training and professional development. Jennifer M. Joseph is the Deputy Campus Librarian at The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. She is a graduate of Columbia University (New York), where she completed the MSc in Library and Information Science. She holds a Diploma in Library Studies from UWI, Mona, Jamaica and a BA from UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. She is an active member of the Library Association of Trinidad and Tobago and served as President for two terms, 1993–1997. Erich Kesse currently serves as Director of the Digital Library Center, Smathers Libraries, University of Florida. Prior to this appointment, he served as Chair of the Libraries’ Preservation Department and as one of the Libraries’ Rare Book and Manuscripts Catalogers. He has been very active on committees within the American Library Association, the Association for Information and Image Management, the Research Libraries Group, the National Institute for Standards Organization, and the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC). Presently, he serves as a consultant for digital library projects in Florida; at the University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas; the Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET); and the “Digital Library of the Caribbean.” Catherine M. Marsicek has been the Curator of Latin American and Iberian collections at the University of New Mexico Libraries since August 2006. Before this appointment, she was the Latin American and Caribbean Information Services Librarian and the Director of the Latin American and Caribbean Information Center at the Florida International University Libraries. She has presented papers on library issues relating to the Caribbean at various professional conferences and co-authored the successful grant proposal to fund the development of the Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC), serving as Co-Director of the project during its first year, 2005–2006. John McDonald is an independent consultant specializing in Information Management (IM). He has undertaken IM consulting projects and developed IM training and education programs both in Canada and internationally. He was employed from 1975 to 2000 with the National Archives of Canada. He has authored or contributed to government guides and standards on the
362
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
management of government information and has published numerous articles in leading information management journals. He is a Past-President and Fellow of the Society of Canadian Office Automation Professionals, Past Chair of the Committee on Electronic Records of the International Council on Archives, and founder and Past Chair of the Canadian Federal Government’s Information Management Forum. Vanessa Middleton is Instruction Services Coordinator at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. She is currently working as a visiting Librarian at the American University of Sharjah in The United Arab Emirates. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in Business Administration, and a graduate degree from Wayne State University Library and Information Science Program. Her research interests include information technology, information literacy, and comparative international librarianship in the Caribbean and West Africa. Her most recent project includes planning the U.S. National Information Literacy Forum’s International Information Literacy Conference hosted at the University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas. Janice A. Modeste has been the Librarian at the Eugene Dupuch Law School in The Bahamas since 2002. She held the position of Librarian in several government libraries in Trinidad and Tobago from 1984 to1998. In 1998, she became the Librarian at the Court of Appeal in St. Lucia. While there, she was on the Editorial Board responsible for the publication of the Eastern Caribbean Law Reports. She holds an MA in Library and Information Studies and an MSc in Computerised Systems for Libraries from the University College, London. Linda Naru is a Librarian and Director of Advancement for the Library at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Her current position is responsible for fundraising and promoting collaborative projects that make the resources of the UIC Library more accessible to a wide range of readers. She has also worked at the Center for Research Libraries (Chicago, Illinois), the California Academy of Science, and the Michigan State University Libraries. Dorothy M. Palmer is Librarian at the School of Education Documentation Centre, The University of West Indies Mona Campus Jamaica. She has an MSc in Sociology and an ALA in Library Science from the Library Association (U.K.). Her areas of publication and research interests include collection management, electronic resources, knowledge management, and lifelong learning. Petronetta Pierre-Robertson is currently the Director of Library Services at the University of the Southern Caribbean (USC), Trinidad and Tobago. She
About the Contributors
363
is a member of the Faculty at the university and, in this role, has taught library research and introductory courses in communication skills. She serves on several committees at USC including the Administrative Council, Academic Policies Committee, Editorial Committee, and Information Technology Board. Sandra Ramdial is Coordinator of the Distance and Instructional Library Services in the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center, Nova Southeastern University (NSU), Florida. She coordinates and conducts library-related research and assessments; is an Adjunct Professor at NSU and the University of Phoenix; and teaches courses in Diversity and Conflict Resolution. She obtained a BSc in Psychology and a PhD in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from NSU. She has conducted research in gender violence in Trinidad and Tobago and is currently consultant for Medina House (Home for Battered Women) in Trinidad. Angela Ramnarine-Rieks is employed in the Serials and Acquisitions Unit at the Main Library, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. She received a dual-degree in library science and information management from Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York. Her major research interests are in the use of information technology applications in managing information and issues facing Caribbean librarianship. Heather Rodriguez-James is the Director of Library Services at the Northern Caribbean University in Jamaica. She received her MLS from Queens College, City University of New York. She is a member of the Library and Information Association of Jamaica, the American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries, the Association of Seventh-day Adventist Librarians, and the College Libraries Information Network. Judith V. Rogers is a Manager in the Information and Technology Services component at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), St. Croix. She has directed a variety of initiatives for UVI including a grant-funded, multiagency, collaborative digitization project. She has provided leadership for faculty development at the university since 1998, and is currently developing initiatives for curriculum and technology support. She directed the UVI servicelearning initiative and documented the experiences of students and faculty in two articles published by the Community College National Center for Community Engagement: Through Whose Eyes (2002) and We Are All Related (2003). Hermine C. Salmon is currently University Librarian at the University of Technology, Jamaica and Co-ordinator of the College Libraries Information
364
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Network (COLINET). She obtained an MBA from Nova Southeastern University, Florida and a BA from The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica and was awarded an MCLIP: Chartered Membership by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). She is also a graduate of the Liverpool Polytechnic (U.K.) where she earned a Diploma in Librarianship. She is a Past President of the Library and Information Association of Jamaica. She was awarded a Centenary Medal for contribution to Librarianship, by the Institute of Jamaica in 1980. Cherrell Shelley-Robinson (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Library and Information Studies at The University of the West Indies, Mona Jamaica. Her teaching and research interests relate to Caribbean children’s literature, information literacy, and school libraries. She has published several journal articles and has written one book The School Library as a Learning Resource Centre under the Organization of American States sponsorship for training school librarians in the Caribbean. She has also conducted workshops throughout the Caribbean and has served as a consultant. Dolsy Smith is a Reference and Instruction Librarian at the George Washington University (Washington, DC), where he works closely with faculty in the first-year writing program. He received his MSc from the School of Information at the University of Michigan in 2005. He also has a graduate degree in creative writing from the Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Jane W. F. Smith has been the Director of the Library Anton de Kom at the University of Suriname since 2002. Her previous positions at this library include Head, Central Library (1998) and Cataloguing Librarian (1989). In 2001, she worked as an Information Manager at the Institute for Quality and Information Management, University of Suriname. She is a graduate of the University of Amsterdam where she majored in Documentary Information Science. She also studied librarianship at the Library Academy in Tilburg and in Amsterdam (The Netherlands) where she obtained a School Librarian Diploma. Ellen Starkman is a Librarian and Library Systems Coordinator for the Library at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She specializes in managing projects that adapt technology to best meet the needs of the user and to most effectively deliver information electronically. She has also worked for the Chicago Public Library. Johanna Tuñón is the Head of Distance and Instructional Library Services at the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center, Nova Southeastern University (NSU), Florida. Her MLS is from Texas
About the Contributors
365
Woman’s University and her Doctor of Education was in Instructional Technology and Distance Education from NSU. She is an Adjunct Professor at Clarion University, University of Maryland University College, and NSU and serves as doctoral chair for a number of library students. She is the current chair of the Association of College and Research Libraries/Distance Learning Section of the American Library Association and is currently working on a research grant using citation analysis as an assessment tool for quantifying the quality of dissertation reference lists. Berthamae L. Walker has been employed at The College of The Bahamas (COB) Library since 1987. At this library, she has served in several capacities with responsibilities for Circulation and Reference, Acquisitions, Special Collections, and more recently, as Acting Law and School of Hospitality Librarian. She also serves as coordinator/advisor for the Associate Degree programme in Library Science at the COB. Since 1992, she has served as Deputy Director of COB Libraries. She is a graduate of Alfred University, New York (BA), State University of New York at Buffalo (MLS), and Nova Southeastern University (PhD). Annette Wallace is currently the Executive Director, National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS), Trinidad and Tobago. Her paper “Library Services for the Visually Impaired: the Trinidad and Tobago Experience” was delivered at the Association of Caribbean University Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL) preconference, Ocho Rios, Jamaica in 2002. A similarly titled poster presentation was presented at the American Library Association (ALA) Conference, 2004. She obtained a BA (Honours) degree from The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago and an MLIS from the University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. She is a member of the Library Association of Trinidad and Tobago, ALA, and the Steering Committee of the Caribbean Collection for the Blind and Print Disabled (CDCBPD). Beverley A. Wood is a Librarian in the Cataloguing Department at the Main Library, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados. She has worked in libraries in Jamaica, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados. Her research interests include technical services functions in libraries, librarianship as a profession and information-seeking behaviour.
366
Index A academic libraries. see also college libraries in Aruba, 38 broadening influence, 41–51 Caribbean dissertations, 45 collection development in, 69–78 collection management, 70–71 college libraries, 219 curriculum development, 270–272 digitization projects, 203–206 ephemera and, 79–94 human resource needs, 60–62 impact of university status, 55–58 information literacy initiatives, 262–266 institutional repositories, 205 in Jamaica, 55–67, 69–78, 218–219 librarians in, 319–320 in Netherlands Antilles, 38 physical facilities, 63–64 in Puerto Rico, 48 questionnaire, 51 scholarly publishing, 317–332 services for international students, 291–301 in Suriname, 23–24 Web presence, 47 Academic Policies Committees, 274 Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs), 191, 193, 194, 197t access to collections, 238–240 to denominational libraries, 20 by international students, 298 Internet at home, 285t policies, 189–199, 197t
Access to Information Act, 305, 308, 312 Achong, Vera, 12, 15n6 acquisition functions, 100, 177t, 184–185 ACRL News, 318 acronyms, list of, 347–351 ADLIB, 21 administrative support, 61t adults, services for, 9, 148 Advisory Council for the National Information System (ACNIS), 220 African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP), 159 African-American studies, 230 African-Americans, 281 African slaves, descendents of, 18–19 Agricultural Extension Division, 163 agricultural sector, 157–169 AGRIS/CARIS (International Information System for the Agricultural Sciences and Technology), 27–28, 208 Alexandria Declaration, 108 Alliance for Sustainable Development and the Rural Milieu in the Caribbean, 166 ALVABED (Association of Archivists, Librarians and Documentalists), 26 Alvin Sherman Library, 293 American Association of Law Libraries, 120 American Development Bank, 184 American Library Association (ALA) College of The Bahamas library and, 44 on information literacy, 257 Information Literacy Competency Standards, 263, 264
367
368
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
American Library Association (ALA) (cont.) Presidential Committee on Information Literacy, 257–258 West Indies College and, 63 AmericanSouth.org, 245 Amerindians, 18 Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, 207 “Anthurium: A Caribbean Studies Journal,” 207 Antigua, 162, 163 Antigua State College, 42 Antillean Public Library Association (APLA), 37, 39 Anton de Kom University of Suriname, 23, 25t, 28 Archives Nationales d’Haiti (ANH), 243, 247 Arima, Trinidad, 10 Aruba academic libraries, 38 ANV libraries, 36 development of libraries, 31–40 libraries in the 1950s, 37 library automation, 38–39 library Web sites, 40 location of, 32 planning for the future, 39–40 the Spanish period, 34–35 Asher, Curt, 270, 273 ASK (Agricultural Services for Knowledge) services, 163 assistive technologies, 135–137 Association for Librarians in the Netherlands, 21 Association of Caribbean Universities and Research Institutes (UNICA), 244, 245 Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL), 227, 238, 261 2004 conference, 84 CARINDEX, 49 Executive Council of, 27 library networking, 17 members, 39, 43, 44, 48 Association of College and Research Libraries, 292
Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), 262 Association of Library Personnel in Suriname (Vereniging van Bibliotheekpersoneel in Suriname), 26 Auburn University Web site, 320 Augst, Thomas, 149 Australia, distance learning, 304–305 automation in Aruba, 38–39 of cataloging, 39 cost of, 184 DataTrek system, 45 in the Netherlands Antilles, 38–39 staffing levels and, 183 in Suriname libraries, 21
B Bahamas geography of, 280 international students, 293 libraries in, 280–281 Bahamas Library Association (BLA), 48 Bahamas Public Library Association, 48 Bahamas School Library Association, 48 Bahamas Teachers’ Colleges, 44 Bahamas Technical Institute, 44 Barbados, 79–94, 162 Barbados Community College, 43 Barbuda, 162, 163 Barrow, Nita, 85 basketry industry, 134 Belle Garden, Tobago, 7 Bengal library, 229, 232 Bengali publications, 228 Bennett, Merle, 64 Benson, Pamela, 12 Bernard, Angela, 15n6 Betancourt y hijos, 34 Better Village Development Programme, 10 bibliographic records, editing of, 184
Index Bibliography Dutch Caribbean (BDC), 38 Bishop, Maurice (Prime Minister), 83 Black British programs, 230 “Blind Independence through Technology,” 137 blind populations, 133–144 Blind Welfare Society (BWS), 139 Bogle-l’Ouverture, 236 Bonaire, 32, 36 book donations, 9 book jackets, 234, 239, 240 bookmobiles failures, 11 needs of adult patrons, 149–150 problem years (1962-1974), 9–10 routes, 9 1960s, 10f Scotia Bank donation, 12 social aspect of visits to, 150 staffing, 101 Tobago services to schools, 12 Bowen, Hilda Valerie, 45 Braille, 135, 138 Braille embossers, 136 “brain drain” issues, 183, 185 branch libraries, 10–11. see also specific branch libraries British Council, 5–6, 9, 15n4 British Library, 207–208 British Library Association, 4, 5 British Museum, 180 budgetary support collections development and, 72 college libraries, 223–224 currency devaluations and, 72 financial management and, 340 institutional missions and, 76 serial prices, 76 Burgie, Irving, 83 Buttrick, Ann, 63
369
C Cable & Wireless, 197 Calabar Theological College, 218 Calvin McKain Library, 57, 60–64, 224 Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), 122, 306 Canadian Local Initiative Fund (CLIF), 139 Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), 137, 138 Canadian School Library Association, 105 Capriles, Abraham, 33 Carberry, Georgina, 235 Carberry, Hugh Doston (“Dossie”), 229, 235–236 CARDBOX, 21 Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), 158–159 Caribbean Association of Law Libraries (CARALL), 123, 126 Caribbean Collection facilities, 63 Caribbean Community (CARICOM), 82 agricultural sector, 158 challenges of, 336 Digital Library of the Caribbean and, 243, 248 Documentation Centre, 185 legal materials on, 125 Caribbean Digital Collection for the Blind and Print Disabled Committee (CDCBPD), 133, 138–139, 140 Caribbean Digital Library (CDL), 209, 341 Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), 46 Caribbean Documentation Centre (CDC), 333, 340–341 Caribbean Justice Improvement Project (CJIP), 123 Caribbean Knowledge Management Centre (CKMC), 334–345 Caribbean Law Library Association (CAR-ALL), 44–45
370
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Caribbean Library Journal, 327 Caribbean literature, UIC collection, 227–242 Caribbean Maritime Institute, 219 Caribbean Newspaper Imaging Project, 207 Caribbean School of Architecture, 63 Caribbean Studies, degrees in, 82 Caribbean Studies Association (CSA), 248 Caribbean Trade Database, 46 Caribbean Union College. see University of the Southern Caribbean (USC) CARICOM (Caribbean Community), 82 CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), 158 CariLaw, 284 CARINDEX, 49, 208 CARISPLAN (Caribbean Information System for Economic and Social Planning), 26 Carnegie Corporation, 4, 6 Carnegie Free Library, 9, 12, 134, 135 Carter, Martin, 236 Casey, Anne Marie, 292 Castro, Fidel, 236 cataloging automation of, 39 COBWEB online catalogue, 45 deprofessionalizing, 175 functions, 178t impact of ICTs, 182 preprinted cards, 179 reproduction of cards, 179 technical advances, 177–178 Catholic University, 48 CDL (Caribbean Digital Library), 26 CDL Update, 341 CDS-ISIS (Computerized Documentation System/Integrated Set of Information System), 21, 24, 86 Central Bank of Suriname, library, 25t, 27, 28 Central Library Scheme. see also Regional Library
Carnegie Corporation funding for, 6 deposit collections, 7 early years, 7–11 population served by, 5 Trinidad and Tobago, 5 vision, 7 Central Library Services, 134 Central Vereniging van Werkers in Archieven, Bibliotheken en andre Documentatiediensten, 25–26 Centre for Agricultural Research in Suriname (CELOS), 23 certificates of competency, 5 Chaguanas branch library, Trinidad, 11 Chakraborty, Mou, 292 change management, 333–345 Charles, Eugenia, 85 Chester Castle Branch library, 152–153 children, services for, 9, 148. see also students China Digital Library (CDL), 210 Church Teachers’ College, 218 Classification Scheme for Law Books (Moys), 119–129 clerks, 61t Client Services Division, 63 Clifton Dupigny Community College, 43 Closed Circuit TV (CCTV)/Video Magnifier, 136 CLR James Collection, 204 COBWEB online catalogue, 45, 285 Codrington College, Barbados, 42, 49 colegios, closure of, 35 COLINET (College Libraries Information Network) Advisory Committee, 225 description, 220 future activities, 224–225 in Jamaica, 217–225 library development and, 221–225 networking, 224–225 Principals’ Forum, 225 COLINET News, 219, 224
Index collaboration benefits of, 270 in the Caribbean, 26–27 challenges of, 270–272 facilitation of, 275–276 collection development acquisition of ephemera, 85 COLINET and, 221–225 college libraries, 222 for dLOC, 246 in school libraries, 104 collection management literature review, 70–71 research into current practices, 73–75 college libraries. see also academic libraries budgetary support, 223–224 categories of, 219 collection development, 222 future of, 224–225 human resources, 221–222 networking, 224–225 physical facilities, 221 services, 223 technology, 223 College Libraries Information Network (COLINET), 77, 217–225 College of Agriculture, 219 College of Agriculture and Science Education (CASE), 219 College of Arts, Science and Technology, Jamaica, 42, 55. see also University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica College of Arts, Science and Technology, Jamaica (CAST), 56, 60 College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT), 142 College of The Bahamas (COB) collections, 44 development of, 41–51 Eugene Dupuch Law School Library, 121–122 international student satisfaction, 295t law programme, 279 library construction, 281
371
outreach programs, 46 perception of library function, 279 user studies, 281–282 College of the West Indies, 295t Colonial Bank Correspondence, 204 Colonial Library (Koloniale Biblioteek), 20. see also Koloniale Landsboekerij Colonial Office records, 248 Commission on Higher Education (CHE), 262 Commonwealth Caribbean, 96–98, 100 Commonwealth Library Association (COMLA), 259 Commonwealth of Dominica, 162 Commonwealth of the Bahamas, 48 communication change management and, 343 importance of, 66 librarian/lecturer partnerships, 271 project management and, 274 scholarly publishing, 317–332 community centers, 153 Components of the Big6 Skills course, 274 Compton-Smith, Carole, 308 computer literacy, 137–138. see also information literacy computers in schools, 104–105 content management systems, 141 copying techniques, 179, 187n1 copyright issues, 140, 142 Copyright Organization of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT), 140 Council for National Library and Information Services (CONALIS), 12 Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ), 222 Council of Legal Education, 121 course management systems (CMS), 304 Couva branch library, Trinidad, 10, 11 Covey, Steven, 338, 338t, 339 Creole languages, 19, 32 Cuff, Patricia, 147
372
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Cultural Centre Suriname (CCS), 21, 22, 25t, 28 cultural heritage ephemera in study of, 82–83 preservation of, 235, 240–241 transmission of, 240–241 Curaçao libraries in the 1950s, 37 libraries in the 19th century, 33–34 library Web sites, 40 location of, 32 the Spanish period, 34–35 tension with Venezuela, 35 currency devaluations, 72 curriculum development, 270, 271–272 customer care skills, 192 cyber villages, 174
D Dade-Hafeez, Jennifer, 323 dance tickets, 80–81 data processing, advances, 179 database subscriptions, 284 DataTrek system, 45 Dearing Report, 71–72 decision making, 334 Declaration of Human Rights, 133 denominational libraries, 20 Dental Auxiliary School library, 219 Department of Educational Studies, 72–73 Department of Library and Information Studies (DLIS), Mona, Jamaica, 126 Depository Library, 24 Derek Walcott Collection, 204 Developing Partnerships to Serve Blind Children and Adults (Owen), 138 Dewey Decimal Classification system, 122 Diaries of Sir William Young, 204 Diario de La Marina, 207 Diego Martin, Trinidad and Tobago, 12 Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY), 133, 137, 139
digital divide, 146, 175 Digital Library Fellowships, 250–251 Digital Library of Ibero-America and the Caribbean, 209 Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC), 209 building of, 243–253 central storage of content, 250 early stages, 245–247 future of, 251–252 need for, 244–245 objectives, 247–251 significance of, 244–245 digitization academic library initiatives, 203–206 book jackets, 234, 240–241 of Caribbean resources, 206–208 computer memory storage, 178 dLOC projects, 245 initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago, 201–213 libraries, 39–40 as library venture, 211–212 of newspaper clippings, 141 online projects, 202–203 outsourcing of, 212 Directorate of Culture, 20 discussion board facilities, 308–309 dissertations, 45 distance learning e-learning techniques, 303–314 feasibility, 304 firewalls and, 312 glossary use, 313 hybrid courses, 303 lessons learned, 309–314 Managing Electronic Records course, 306–307 resource use, 296, 296t services for international students, 291–301 student readiness for, 310–314 technical support, 309 time zone issues, 313 donations, 9, 104, 110, 138
Index donor communities, 335 Douglas, Daphne, 48 Dragon Naturally Speaking Professional Voice Recognition, 136 DSpace, 204 Duff, Wendy, 306, 307, 308, 313 Durrant, Fay, 259, 305, 306, 310 Dutch language, 32, 37 Dutch Society (de Gezelligheid), 34 Duxbury Braille Translation Software, 136
E e-learning techniques, 303–314. see also distance learning e-mail, global outreach and, 47 Eagleton, Terry, 82 Earn and Study Programme, 60 Easepublisher, 139, 140 EBSCO Information Services, 224 EBSCOhost, 284 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), 209 Edna Manley School for the Visual Arts, 219 education access policies and, 192 denominational, 19 e-learning techniques, 303–314 library assistants, 5–7 library usage and, 150 self-sufficiency, 42 societies of learners and, 96 status of library staff, 61t of users, 189 Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), 86 Educational Library (Algemene Onderwijsbibliotheek), 23, 25t, 28 El Dorado project, 209 electronic journals, 205–206 electronic records, 306–307 Elgin Marbles, 233 Emerald Group Publishing, 222, 224 Emerald Insight, 322
373
English language, 32 entertainment, library usage and, 150–151 environmental information literacy, 264 ephemera academic libraries and, 79–94 access to, 85–86 acquisition of, 85 book jackets, 234 collection of, 82–85 intrinsic value of, 83 management of, 85–86 preserving historical events, 83 responsibility for, 81–82 selected examples, 89–94 types of, 80–81 Eric Williams Memorial Collection (EWMC), 47, 204, 207 Ethiopia, libraries in, 82 ethnic groups, 18–19 Eugene Dupuch Law School Library, COB, 121–122 Eugenia Charles Collection, 85 Europa World of Learning 2006, 262 European Union Member States, 159 Eustatius, Maritza, 39 Evers, Medgar, 87 Evers-Williams, Myrlie, 87 Excelsior Community College, 55 Excelsior Community College (EXED), 220 exiliado poets, 34 Exuma Island, 45
F facilities management, 339–340 facsimile transmission, 178 faculty, collaborative efforts, 271 Farquhar College of Arts and Science, 294 financial support. see budgetary support; funding Fischler School of Education and Human Services, 294 Florida, U.S., 243
374
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Florida International University (FIU), 246, 247 Focus 44 Braille DisplaysRefreshable Braille Display, 136 Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), 24, 208 Foreign Trade Information Systems (SICE), 46 Francis, Gene, 323 Francis, Hannah, 264 Franklyn, David Omawale, 83 Free Masons, libraries, 20 Friends of the Library groups, 142, 342 Fundación Global Desarrollo y Democracia (FUNGLODE), 243, 248 funding. see also budgetary support collection development and, 69–78 from CTA, 159 for NALIS projects, 203 for online catalogues, 77 for school libraries, 105–106, 110–111, 110t services for the blind and visually-impaired, 140–141 fundraising initiatives, 142
G Gandhi, Smiti, 292 G.C. Foster Sports College, 219 General Dutch League (Algemeen Nederlands Verbond [ANV]) libraries, 36 General Library Rio Piedras, 48 George, Verna, 261 Ghosts of Mississippi, 87 Gleaner Printing Company, Kingston, 236 globalization, 69, 209–211, 314 Gocking, William Eric, 15n6 Goslinga, Cornelis, 33 Grand Bahama branch library, 45 graphic artists, 61t Grenada, library, 46 Grenada National College, 43 Grenadines, 162
Guayaguayare, Trinidad, 7 Guevara, Ché, 236 Guidelines for Distance Learning Library Services, 292 Guillen, Nicholas, 236 Guyana, brain drain in, 183
H H. D. Carberry Collection of Caribbean Studies, 227–242 book jackets, 234 purchase of, 235 size of, 237 H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship, 294 Haiti, cultural heritage collection, 247 Hanover, Jamaica, 146, 154n4 Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre, 46 Hartog, Johan, 31 Hartzell, Gary, 276 Haycock, Ken, 271 Hedstrom, Margaret, 307 Heritage Library (NALIS), 138, 203, 206 Herman Lavity Stoutt Community College, Tortola, 43 Hewlett-Packard, DSpace software, 204–205 Hilda Bowen Library, 45 Hill, Errol, 6, 9, 15n3 Hiram S. Walters Resource Centre, 57, 58, 62, 64–65 Hispaniola, 248 Historical Archive of Curaçao, 38 Hockey, Sydney W., 15n6 Holandisashon policy, 35 housebound persons, transportation of, 141 How to Get Published in LIS Journals (Riggs), 320 Hugh Wooding Law School, Trinidad and Tobago, 121, 124 Human Employment and Resource Training Trust (HEART)/National Training Agency (NTA) Programme, 60
Index Hutchinson, Lynette, 15n6
I Ibero-American Digital Library, 141 Idiodi, Evelyn, 266 Illinois Humanities Council grant, 234 image management, 340 Images of the Caribbean database, 239–240 IME (Information Made Easy) Navigator, 184 Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture (ICTA), 4, 42 imperialism, 228, 233 indigenous cultures, preservation of, 209–211 influence, definition of, 42 Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) access to, 135, 165–166 cost of, 182, 186 distance learning initiatives and, 304 firewalls and, 312 global development of, 167 impact of, 181–185, 327 impact on scholarly publishing, 319 improvements, 180 information literacy and, 258 institutional development strategies and, 335 new competencies, 186 obsolescence issues, 182 standardization and, 180 Technical Services Division and, 173–188 technology selection, 186 transitions, 180–181, 181t Information for All Programme, 259 information literacy. see also computer literacy academic library initiatives, 263–266 awareness of, 107–108 best practices, 257–268 COLINET support for, 223
375
definition of, 261 within developing countries, 266–267 environmental, 264 international standards, 258–260 key elements, 196 literature overview, 260–262 participating academic libraries, 262–263 standards, 257–268 tertiary level students, 192 workshops, 260 Information Literacy Competency Standards, 263 Information Literacy Core Committee, 264 information skills instruction, 107 Institute of Information Literacy Immersion, 263 Inter-American University, 48 interlibrary loans, 48 International Association of School Librarianship, 261 International Book Year, 10 international databases, 75 International Development and Research Centre (IDRC), 335 International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 44 Information Literacy Section, 259 International Information Literacy Resources Directory, 259 Libraries for the Blind Section, 138 on physical facilities, 238 The Public Library Service IFLA/UNESCO Guidelines for Development, 135 public library standards, 4 School Library Manifesto, 95–96, 112–113 International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs), 46
376
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
international students. see also students library usage, 294–295 satisfaction levels, 295t survey responses, 295–297 Internet access in school libraries, 105 access management, 189–199 accessibility, 141 Aruba library access, 38–39 college libraries and, 223 global outreach and, 47 home access, 285t information volume and, 336 library catalogues through, 38 as library substitute, 271 Netherlands Antilles library access, 38–39 services for the blind and visually-impaired, 141 services for the visuallyimpaired, 137–138 staff access to, 105 telecenters, 166 Internet kiosks, 197 interviews, taped, 205 Intrafinity Inc., 308
J jacket cover collections, 84 Jacob Gelt Dekker Foundation, 38 Jagan, Cheddi, 236 Jagdeo, Bharrat, 158 Jagdeo Initiative, 158 Jamaica academic libraries, 55–67, 69–78 CARDI Headquarters, 162 college libraries in, 218–219 international students, 293 Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, 72–73 public libraries, 189–199 rural libraries, 145–155 school libraries, 95–117 Supreme Court Library, 124 West Indian Reference Collection, 47
Jamaica Agricultural Documentation and Information Network (JADIN), 163 Jamaica Agriculture Research Development Information Network (JARDIN), 220 The Jamaica Gleaner, 150 Jamaica Institute of Management, 219 Jamaica Institute of Technology, 56 Jamaica Library Association, 101–102, 103, 105 Jamaica Library Service (JLS), 47 Chester Castle Branch, 152–153 Internet access management, 194–197 NATIS and, 220 overview of, 146–147 rural library services and, 145 staffing, 154n Jamaica Police Academy library, 219 Jamaica Theological Seminary, 219, 220 Jamaican Copyright Licensing Agency (JAMCOPY), 140 James, CLR, 232 Jewish communities, libraries, 38 Job Access with Speech (JAWS) software, 135 Jordan, Alma, 41, 43, 49 journals collection development, 76 peer-reviewed, 320 journals, online, 207
K Katz, Magazines for Libraries, 320 Kavanaugh, Rosemary, 138 KC 770, 125 Kerr, Paulette, 261 Kingdom of the Netherlands, 32 KIT (Royal Institute of the Tropics), Netherlands, 27–28 KITLV (Royal Institute of the Tropics and Cultural Anthropology Netherlands University Library), 27–28
Index KJ, 125 Koenders, J.G.A. (Papa), 19 Koloniale Bibliotheek, 23 Koloniale Landsboekerij, 22, 23 KP, 125
L La Breva branch library, Trinidad, 10 La Casa de las Americas, 236 Lamming, George, 236 large-print books, 133, 151 Latin-American and Caribbean Center for Information in the Health Sciences (BIREME), 209 Latin American Network Information Center (LANIC), 207 Latin American Periodicals Tables of Contents (LAPTOC), 208 Lau, Jesús, 259 law libraries, 4 Law Library Journal, 120 law student profiles, 283, 283t, 285t Lázaro, Josò M., 48 Le Nouvelliste, 207 learning management systems (LMS), 304 Lebowitz, Gloria, 292 lecturers, librarian partnership with, 269–277 Leeward Islands, 32, 33, 37–38. see also specific islands Legal Information Network (LINET), 220 legal materials, classification of, 119–129 LexisNexis, 284 librarian assistants, 61t, 62t librarian/lecturer partnerships, 270–272 librarians budget processes and, 66 change management and, 66 educational status, 61t, 62t expanding skill sets, 336–337 facilities management by, 339–340 financial management skills, 340
377
leadership skills, 340 partnership with lecturers, 269–277 people management by, 337 postgraduate courses, 21 professionalism, 37 promotion decisions for, 323–324 recruitment, 22 relationships with students, 276 scholarly publishing by, 317–332 tenure decisions for, 323–324 time management, 337–340 training, 21 training of, 5 workflow, 211–212 librarianship, 20–21 “Libraries in British and American Possessions in the Caribbean” (Savage), 4–5 Library and Documentation Academy, 21 Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA), 47, 63, 64, 220, 222 library assistants, 5, 21 Library Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT), 138 library associations, roles of, 48–49 library classification, 119 library collections acquisition functions, 177t budgets and, 69–78 capacity building and, 238 cataloging, 175 cataloging functions, 178t development of, 71, 74 digital, 201 dissemination of, 238–240 on the Leeward Islands, 37–38 maintenance of, 176 management of, 70–71 materials acquired, 74 online catalogues, 77 organization of, 105, 176 paperback books, 149 periodical titles, 74–75
378
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
purchasing, 176 recommendations, 75–77 research into current practices, 73–75 school libraries, 100 selection committees, 74, 76 selection criteria, 71–72 in Suriname, 22–23, 24 user complaints, 151 virtual, 208–209 Windward Islands, 38 Library Information Management System (LIMS), 63 Library Literature, 322 library management systems, 66, 310 Library of Alexandria, 228 Library of Congress catalogues, 180 Classification schedules, 86, 122 National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program, 139 Library of Congress Subject Headings List (LCSH), 86 Library of the Central Bank of Suriname, 23 library organizations, cooperation between, 40 library services electronic, 337 standards for, 292 traditional, 337, 338–338 Library Staatsolie (State Oil Company), 23 Library Studies Program, 45 Library Technical Assistant Certification, 222 library technical assistants, 62t Library Telesur (Telecommunication Company), 23 lifelong learning, 261–262 LILACS (Latin American Caribbean Centre on Health Sciences Information), 26 literacy, definition of, 261 “Living Library Conference,” 138 Livingstone, Aylair, 312
Lomé Convention, 159 Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS), 207 Lucea, Jamaica, 146 Lumsden, Marjorie, 6, 15n6
M MacFarland, Thomas, 293 Magic Screen Magnification Software, 136 Maloney, Trinidad and Tobago, 12 Managing Electronic Records course, 306–307 Manley, Michael, 236 Margarita, island of, 248 Marion Library, St. George’s University, 46 Market Opinion Research Institute (MORI), 142 Marland’s taxonomy of information skills, 263 Martin, Robert, 234 Mason, Ruth, 46 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 204–205 Massman, Virgil F., 324 Master File Numbers (MFNs), 86 Mayaro, Trinidad and Tobago, 12 McDonald, John, 307 McGuirk, John, 46, 47, 49 McKain, Calvin, 67n2 MEDCARIB, 26, 209 Medical Library Association (MLA), 44 Medical Research Institute, 23 Meeting the Challenge: Public Libraries as National Libraries (Peltier), 81 Memory of the World Register, 204 mentoring relationships, 222 Mico Teachers’ College, 55, 73, 218, 219, 220 microfilm, 39–40, 178 Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS), 262 Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 292
Index Ministry of Education and Community Development, 20, 23, 219 mission statements, 191 mobile library services collections, 9 problem years (1962-1974), 9–10 service points, Tobago, 13f service points, Trinidad, 13f Trinidad and Tobago, 8–9 Modica, Charles, 46 Mona Information Literacy Unit (MILU), 264 Moneague Teachers’ College, 218 Moodle LMS, 312 Moravian congregations, 20, 218 Moriah, Tobago, 7 Moruga, Trinidad, 7 Mother of Maurice (Franklyn), 83 Moys Classification and Thesaurus for Legal Materials, 125, 126 Moys Classification Scheme, 119–129 multimedia, in school libraries, 104 Municipal relation ParamariboAntwerpen (Stedenband Paramaribo-Antwerpen), 28 museums, ethics of, 228
N NACOLADS, 220 Naipaul, V. S., 232 National Council on Libraries, Archives and Documentation Services (NACOLADS) COLINET and, 217 National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program, 139 National Digital Library (NDL), U. S., 210 National Forum on Information Literacy (NFIL), 257 National Information Literacy Survey, 257 use of, 262 National Information System
379
(NATIS), 220 National Library, Trinidad and Tobago, 133 National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) awards, 143 goals of, 135 Heritage Library, 138 Information Networks Division, 12 introduction of, 133 Main Library and, 206 marketing initiatives, 141–142 mission of, 203 on outsourcing of digitization, 212 partner organizations, 137 Public Library Development Plan, 14 staff training guidelines, 137 survey on online projects, 201–203 Web site, 140 National Library of Jamaica (NLJ), 77 Digital Library of the Caribbean and, 243, 248 Easepublisher conversion services, 139 on the H.D. Carberry Collection, 232 National Information System and, 220 Nationale Database Suriname creation of, 17 establishment of, 20, 26 online accessibility through, 24 use of WINISIS, 21 needs assessments, 9, 337 Netherlands, librarian recruitment, 22 Netherlands Antilles academic libraries, 38 development of libraries, 31–40 exchange programs, 26 libraries in the 20th century, 36–38
380
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Netherlands Antilles (cont.) library automation, 38–39 library Web sites, 40 planning for the future, 39–40 special libraries, 38 Nettleford, Rex, 47 New Deal for Education, 218 New Providence, Bahamas, 280 newspapers, 141, 207 Next Talk Software, 136, 143 Nigeria, 82, 266, 321 Nita Barrow Collection, 85 Norman Manley Law School, Jamaica, 121, 125 Northern Caribbean University (NCU), 218 Department of Educational Studies, 73 evolving status of, 55–57 physical facilities, 64 technological changes, 65 transition from a college library, 219 Northumbria University, 305 Notas y Letras, 34 Nova Southeastern University (NSU), 291–301
O offset duplication, 187n1 online catalogues, 77, 105 Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), 45, 86, 202, 224, 239 Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science (ODLIS), 317 Online Government initiatives, 306 online library projects, 202–203 Online Public access Catalogue (CALCAT), 64 Open Archives Initiative (OAI), 248 Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Reading Systems, 137 Oral and Pictorial Records Programme (OPReP), 205 Organization of American States (OAS), 26, 46 organizational manuals, 190 Our Virtual Learning Environment (OURVLE), 314
outsourcing, 175, 212 Owen, Victoria, 138
P Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), 26, 27–28, 46, 63, 209 paperback books, 149 Papiamento language, 32 books published in, 37 Catholic Church and, 35 emancipation of, 35–36 on the Leeward Islands, 33 policies about, 39–40 Paramaribo, Suriname, 20 Parent-Teachers Associations (PTAs), 152 Passley Gardens Teachers’ College, 218–219 PDBA (Political Database of the Americas), 26 peer-review, 320 Peltier, Cheryl Ann, 81 Penn State University Libraries, 321 periodical titles, 74–75 Perkins Braille Writer, 137 Persons Associated with Visual Impairment (PAVI), 134, 138 Philipsburg Jubilee Library, 36 photocopying, 107 physical facilities capacity building and, 238 changes to, 339–340 school libraries, 102–104, 111 user studies, 281 Pioneer Press, 236 Poet Compact, 136–137 Point Fortin branch library, Trinidad, 11 policies. see also Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs) budgets and, 69 collection development, 74 content of, 197t development processes, 193–194 quality assurance mechanisms, 192–193 review of, 193
Index Port Fortin branch library, Trinidad, 10 Port-of-Spain, 4, 5–6 Portmore Community College, 222 Postal Corporation of Jamaica, 197 Postal Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (TTPost), 141 Prichard, Roger, 43–44 Prime Minister’s Innovating for Service Excellence Award in Making a Difference to People— The Social Inclusion Award, 143 Princes Town branch library, Trinidad, 10 print-disabled populations, 133–144 ProQuest database, 45 public libraries access management, 194–197 in Barbados, 81–82 Internet access management, 189–199 NALIS and, 203 in Suriname, 22 user-education programmes, 189 Public Library Development Plan, 14 Public Library Manifesto, 4 Public Library Network, 145, 147 The Public Library Service IFLA/UNESCO Guidelines for Development, 135 Publication of Archival, Library & Museum Materials (PALMM), 207, 245 Puerto Rico, resource-sharing, 48
Q quality assurance mechanisms, 192–193, 313 Queen Wilhelma Library, 36 Question and Answer Service (QAS), 157–160 challenges, 164–166 devolution of, 160, 162 history of, 159–160 human resources, 165 information systems, 165–166
381
infrastructure, 165–166 models for delivery of, 162–163 policy support, 166, 167 promotion of, 164 services, 161 strategy, 160–162 user profiles, 163–164
R Ramdial, Sandra, 292 Ramirez, Laura, 292 rare book collections, 238 Raymond, Ursula, 15n6 reading guidance, 107, 149 for leisure, 148 social dimension of, 148 records management, 339 Records Management Principles and Practice course, 307–309 recruitment, of staff, 5 reference services, 292, 318 Regional Library, 6–7 Reiner, Rob, 87 Republic Bank, 138 resources allocation of, 191 for CARDI, 158–159 digitization of, 202–203 library as mediator, 192 limitations, 96 rural branch libraries, 151–153 for school libraries, 111–112 use by students, 296t Riggs, Donald, 271 Rodney, Walter, 230 Roman Catholic congregations, 20, 35 Roos, John, 140 Rouse-Jones, Margaret, 324 Roxborough branch library, Tobago, 7, 10 Rudasill, Lynne, 266 rural branch libraries, 151–153 rural communities, 148–151 rural libraries, 145–155
382
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
rural library services 21st Century changes, 12–14 standards for, 4 Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of, 3–16 Rutgers, Wim, 31, 35
S Saba, 32, 36–37 S.A.L. (Mongui) Maduro Foundation, 38 Salkey, Andrew, 236 Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, 218 San Fernando Carnegie Free Library, 4, 9 San Juan branch library, Trinidad, 10, 11 Sangre Grande branch library, Trinidad, 10, 11 Saunders, Jim, 138–139 Savage, Ernest, 4–5 scholarly publishing, 317–332 definitions, 320, 323 electronic products, 327 literature review, 320–321 output of UWI St. Augustine librarians, 330–332 parameters of the study on, 319–320 print publications, 327 standards, 323 statistics, 324–326 study findings, 323–324 study methodology, 321–322 themes, 326 by type of library, 326f by year, 325f Scholarly Publishing an an Electronic Era (Gordon), 318 scholars, collaboration with, 240 school libraries books per child, 105 funding for, 110–111, 110t literature review, 98–100 organization of, 105 patterns of development, 96–98 physical facilities, 102–104, 111
policymaker perceptions, 99 questionnaire, 114–117 resources, 96, 104–106, 111–112 in secondary schools, 98 services, 106–108, 107t, 112 space for activities, 103t staff qualifications, 109, 109t staff training, 106 staffing, 108–110, 112 survey of, 102–112 School Libraries Network, 145 School Library Manifesto, 95–96, 112–113 school library systems Catholic schools, 35 in Jamaica, 95–117 secondary schools, 23 in Suriname, 20 schools, mobile services to, 12 Schools Library Service, Jamaica, 100–101, 104, 110 Science and Technology Information Network (STIN), 220 Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), 209 Scotia Bank, 12 Selvon, Samuel, 236 Seminar on the Acquisitions of Latin American Library Materials (SALAM), 49 Seventh Day Adventists, 58, 218, 272 Seymour, A. J., 83 Shell Oil, 35 Shelley-Robinson, Cherrell, 259–260 Shera, Jesse, 40 Sherman Library, 293, 298 Shortwood Teachers’ College, 218 SIAMAZ (Amazonian Information System for Environmental Data), 27–28 SIDALC (Agricultural Information and Documentation System of the Americas), 26 Single Market and Economy (CSME), 336 Siparia branch library, Trinidad, 10 Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, St. Lucia, 43
Index Smathers Library, 247 Social and Economic Information Network (SECIN), 220 South African Library for the Blind, 140 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), 292, 293 Spanish language, 32 Special Collections pilot project, 205 special libraries Central Bank of Suriname, 25t change management in, 333–345 Educational Library, 25t risk of isolationism, 335 in Suriname, 23 Sranan Tongo, 19, 32 St. Eustatius, 32, 36 St. George’s University (SGU), Grenada, 41–51 St. George’s University (SGU) Library, 46–47 St. Joseph Teachers’ College, 218 St. Kitts College of Further Education, 43 St. Kitts/Nevis, 162 St. Lucia, 108, 162, 163 St. Maarten ANV libraries, 36 libraries in the 1950s, 37 library Web sites, 40 location of, 32 semi-private libraries, 36 St. Peter’s College, 218 St. Vincent, 162 staff collaborative efforts, 271 college libraries, 221–222 communication of the vision, 343, 343f libraries in Suriname, 24 mentoring relationships, 222 new roles, 186 qualifications, 109, 109t salary scales, 183 workloads and, 108–109 Standard Rules of Equilization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, 134 statistical reports, generation of, 183
383
Stewart, Helen Gordon, 5, 9, 15n2 Stichting Documentaire Informatie Opleidingen Suriname (DIOS), 21 STICUSA (Stichting Culturele Samenwerking), 22–23 students. see also international students e-learning environment and, 310–314 interactions, 308–309 international, 291–301 library research, 296t use of information resources, 269–277 Suriname, Republic of (Republiek Suriname) academic libraries, 23–24 automation in libraries, 21 culture, 18–19 history, 18 languages of, 17, 19, 32 librarianship in, 20–21 libraries in, 17–30, 28 library collections, 22–23, 24 library staff, 24 major libraries, 25t public libraries, 22 special libraries in, 23 Suriname Museum (Stichting Surinaams Museum), 23 Sutton, Margot, 263 synchronous eLearning, 308
T teacher education student profiles, 283, 283t, 285, 285t Teachers’ Society, 20 Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), 159 Technical Services Division challenges, 185–186 collaborative opportunities, 186–187 impact of ICTs, 181–185 Information and Communication Technologies and, 173–188
384
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
Technical Services Division (cont.) literature review, 175–176 mission of, 174 overview of, 176–177 reengineering of, 175 traditional technology and, 177–180 technicians, 61t Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information Access (TICFIA) program, 247 telecenters, 166 Teledesic Corporation, 211 telex, 179 Thesaurus of Education Resources Information Center descriptors, 86 time management by librarians, 337–340 record management and, 339 Steven Covey’s matrix, 338, 338t Tobago bookmobile service points, 13f branch library, 10 landmass, 3 Tobago Public Library, 4, 9 Torres, Ancil, 135 Torres Foundation, 135, 137 Train-the-Trainers course, 26 training access policies and, 192 in administrative routines, 194, 195, 195t APLA courses, 37 courses for disadvantaged communities, 142 librarians, 5–7, 21 library assistants, 5–7, 21 new competencies, 186 school library personnel, 97 services for the visuallyimpaired, 137–138 Train-the-Trainers course, 26 transportation issues, 141 Tribute to Irving Burgie, 83 Trinidad bookmobile service points, 13f
Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of background, 3 book van routes, 9–10, 13f branch libraries, 10–11 CARDI Headquarters, 162 digitization initiatives, 201–213 Eric Williams Memorial Collection, 47 Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, 42 librarian education levels, 110 library services for the blind and print-disabled, 133–144 mobile library services, 8–9 National Library, 133 number of visually-impaired persons, 134 Public Library Development Plan, 14, 134 QAS devolution and, 162 resurgence in libraries (1990s), 12 rural library services, 3–16 school libraries in, 97–98 21st century rural libraries, 12–14 Supreme Court Library, 121 Trinidad Guardian, 10 Trinidad Public Library, 4 Tunapuna branch library, Trinidad, 10 Tuñón, Johanna, 292 25 Poems (Walcott), 83
U UIC Library Online Catalog (UICCAT), 239 U.K. Records Management Society, 304 Ulrich’s International Periodicals Directory, 320 UN/Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), 26 Union Theological Seminary, 218 United Kingdom, 134, 304
Index United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), 340, 342 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Alexandria Declaration, 108 cultural collections and, 238 El Dorado project, 209 funding by, 139 on information literacy, 258 Memory of the World Register, 204 Public Library Manifesto, 4 The Public Library Service IFLA/UNESCO Guidelines for Development, 135 School Library Manifesto, 95–96, 112–113 WINSIS distribution, 184 United Nations Fulbright Programme, 341 United Nations (UN), 46 collaboration with, 45 Declaration of Human Rights, 133 Depository Libraries, 24 Food and Agricultural Organization, 208 Standard Rules of Equilization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, 134 United States Virgin Islands History and Culture, 246 United States Virgin Islands History and Culture Project, 246 United Theological College, 218 Universidad de Oriente, Venezuela, 243, 248 University College of the West Indies (UCWI), 42 University Council of Jamaica (UCJ), 56, 73, 222 University Library ACURIL Executive Council, 27 Depository Library status, 24 international cooperation, 27–28
385
University of Suriname, 23 University of the Netherlands Antilles, 38 University of Durham, England, 42 University of Florida (UF), 207, 246, 247 University of Guyana (UG) Library, 82, 122, 173, 184–185 University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Library, 84–85, 227–242 University of Miami, Florida, 84 University of Michigan, 146, 306 University of Puerto Rico (UPR), 48, 247 University of Suriname, 23 University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica, 55, 218 Administrative and Support Staff Association, 60 budgetary support for libraries, 65 collections, 63 Department of Educational Studies, 73 Earn and Study Programme, 60 information resources, 62–63 library staff educational status, 61t, 62t restructuring of, 59–60 technological changes, 65 transition from a college library, 219 University of Texas, Austin, 207 University of the Netherlands Antilles (UNA), 38 University of the Orange Free State, South Africa, 159 University of the Southern Caribbean (USC), 269–277 University of the Virgin Islands, 42, 84 University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), 246 University of the West Indies (UWI) automated catalogues, 183 campuses of, 319 electronic journals, 205–206 law programme, 279
386
Caribbean Libraries in the 21st Century
University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill, Barbados Faculty of Law Library, 121, 124 information literacy survey, 262 Main Library, 79–94 University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Jamaica, 79, 220 courses for disadvantaged communities, 142 Department of Educational Studies, 73 Department of Library and Information Studies (DLIS), 126 distance learning courses, 303–314, 305 information literacy initiatives, 263–264 information literacy survey, 262 information skill training, 108 University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, 79 CARINDEX and, 49 dLOC and, 245 information literacy initiatives, 263 information literacy survey, 262 Librarians Annual Report, 324 Main Library, 4 scholarly publishing by librarians, 317–332, 330–332 survey on online projects, 201–203 University of Toronto, Canada, 305, 307–309 University of Wisconsin, 140 U.S. Agency for International Development ( USAID), 122, 123 U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), 243 User Education Centre, 263 user-education programmes, 189, 196t user studies international students, 291–301
limitations, 281–282 literature review, 281 methodology, 282, 294–295 questionnaire, 287–288 reasons for usage, 284t results, 282–286, 295–297 self-reported patterns, 293 usage patterns, 284t users, Internet access, 191–193
V Valenza, Joyce, 143 Velben, Thorstein, 231 Venezuela, 35 Vereniging van archivarissen, bibliothecarissen en documentalisten, 26 Victor Reader, 137 virtual classrooms, 305, 310–314 virtual collections, 208–209 Virtual Health Library (VHL), 209 visual impairment definition, 134 social inclusiveness services, 137–138 training services, 137–138 Visually Impaired Persons (VIPs) facility, 133 volunteerism, 142 Voyager library system, 45
W Walcott, Derek, 83, 232, 236 Wallace, Annette, 15n6 Walters, Hiram Sebastian (Tim), 67n3 Watch Me Fly (Evers-Williams), 87 Web-conferencing technology, 308 Web of Science, 209 Web sites, 39, 141 WebCT, 294 WebVoyage, 64 West Indian literature, 84 West Indian Reference Collection, Mona, Jamaica, 47 West Indian Training School, 56
Index West Indies College, 56, 57, 58, 218. see also Northern Caribbean University (NCU) West Indies Training School, 218 Western Accreditation Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (WASC), 262 When You Meet a Blind Person (CNIB), 137 White skin, black kin: “Speaking the unspeakable” catalog, 84 Wikipedia, 318 Williams, Eric, 232 Williams, Lynn, 320 Windward Islands, 32, 36, 38 WINISIS (CDS-ISIS for Windows), 21, 24, 184 WISE (Web-based Information Science Education), 304 World Bank Country Study, 42, 43 World Bank III Programme, 57 World Bank Project, 101, 111 World Blind Union (WBU), 138 world culture, 211
387
World Health Organization (WHO), 45, 46 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), 138 World Trade Organization (WTO), 45, 46 World Wide Web, 335 World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), 141 WorldCat, 202 Writers Group ‘77 (Schrijversgroep ‘77), 19
Y Young, William, 204 young readers, 148
Z Zenas Gerig Library, 219 Zephyrine, Patricia, 15n6
388
More Great Books from Information Today, Inc. Social Software in Libraries Building Collaboration, Communication, and Community Online By Meredith G. Farkas This guide provides librarians with the information and skills necessary to implement the most popular and effective social software technologies: blogs, RSS, wikis, social networking software, screencasting, photosharing, podcasting, instant messaging, gaming, and more. Success stories and interviews highlight these tools’ ease-of-use— and tremendous impact. Novice readers will find ample descriptions and advice on using each technology, while veteran users of social software will discover new applications and approaches. Supported by the author’s Web page. 344 pp/softbound/ISBN 978-1-57387-275-1 $39.50
The Thriving Library Successful Strategies for Challenging Times By Marylaine Block Here is a highly readable guide to strategies and projects that have helped more than 100 public libraries gain community support and funding during challenging times. Marylaine Block integrates survey responses from innovative library directors with her research, analysis, and extended interviews to showcase hundreds of winning programs and services. The strategies explored include youth services, the library as place, partnerships, marketing, stressing the economic value, Library 2.0, outreach, and helping the community achieve its aspirations. 352 pp/softbound/ISBN 978-1-57387-277-5 $39.50
389
390
Blogging & RSS A Librarian’s Guide By Michael P. Sauers Author, Internet trainer, and blogger Michael P. Sauers, MLS, shows how blogging and RSS technology can be easily and effectively used in the context of a library community. Sauers showcases interesting and useful blogs, shares insights from librarian bloggers, and offers step-by-step instructions for creating, publishing, and syndicating a blog using free Web-based services, software, RSS feeds, and aggregators. 288 pp/softbound/ISBN 978-1-57387-268-3 $29.50
Library 2.0 A Guide to Participatory Library Service By Michael E. Casey and Laura C. Savastinuk Two of the first and most original thinkers on Library 2.0 introduce the essential concepts and offer ways to improve service to better meet the changing needs of 21st- century library users. Describing a service model of constant and purposeful change, evaluation and updating of library services, and user participation, the book outlines the theoretical underpinnings of Library 2.0 and provides advice on how to get there. From incorporating technology to reaching the “Long Tail,” from getting buy-in to maintaining momentum, all aspects of Library 2.0 are covered. 200 pp/softbound/ISBN 978-1-57387-297-3 $29.50 Ask for these books at your local bookstore or order online at www.infotoday.com For a complete catalog, contact:
Information Today, Inc. 143 Old Marlton Pike Medford, NJ 08055 609/654-6266 • e-mail:
[email protected]
