Shortwood Branch library's annual essay competition

Title: Oberlin Student Tops Shortwood Library Essay Competition
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
Date Published: Thursday, June 6, 2013
URL: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130606/lead/lead95.html

Abstract:
The article reports on a prize-giving award ceremony for an essay competition. At the event a secondary school student receives an award for her submission  to the Shortwood Branch Library's Annual Essay Competition held at the Shortwood Branch Library, St Andrew. Both excerpts of the speeches of the winning student and the librarian are reported. The student comments on her emotions at winning the award as well as summarizes what her essay was about, whereas the librarian discusses the purpose and rationale behind the competition and its theme. Colleen Mignott, the librarian also mentions that the programme was outreach to the community and provides background information including the length of time the essay competition has been in operation.

Excerpt:

Colleen Mignott, librarian at the Shortwood Branch Library, noted that the theme was inspired by the recognition that, as children begin to define their own ideals such as human rights, equality, honour, and justice, they often seek to identify heroes who symbolise the qualities and ambitions that they themselves aspire for.

"We thought that children use such ideals to define themselves, so we wanted to see them bring that out in their current-day heroes, not only the ones that are gone such as Marcus Garvey and Norman Manley, as there are several that are among us today. Some even wrote about their teachers as their heroes, and that is really good," Mignott said.

She also stated that the competition is a part of the library's community outreach programme.
"We like to consider ourselves as stakeholders in the education process as a library service, especially as a public library. So in doing this, we tried to help the children to develop their writing skills," she said.

Branch Library's annual essay competition grows

Title: Shortwood Branch Library's annual essay competition growing
Date Published: April 30, 2012
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
URL: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120430/news/news6.html

ABSTRACT:
Article reports on the Shortwood Branch Library's annual essay competition. Aim of the competition is reported as well as the history of the competition, its benefits, the participation level from students and the current awardees.

EXCERPT:

ALL EYES were fixed on Shana-Kay Ritchie of Oberlin High School as she collected her trophy for first place in the Shortwood Branch Library's fourth annual essay competition.

The aim of the competition was to exhibit the country's achievements over the last 50 years to the nation's children.

"The competition is beneficial as we get to critique the essays, make evaluations and communicate with the students directly or the teachers as to how they did and how they can improve. It helps with the writing process, researching and how to make references, among many other things," said Melony Leitch, librarian for the Shortwood Branch Library.

More Jamaicans urged to access government information

Author: Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter

Title: Access to information needs to be more public

Source: Jamaica Gleaner

Date Published: Friday, October 2, 2009

URL: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091002/news/news3.html


Abstract:

Article highlights the situation following the implementation of the Access to Information Act in Jamaica, in 2002. The views of Damian Cox, director of the Access to Information Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister are revealed. He suggests that there is need for more publicity on the Act among the ordinary Jamaicans, and highlights that currently, mostly professionals and academics are making use of the provisions and the rights afforded by the act.

The article also discusses the high school essay competition to promote the knowledge and importance of the Act among students.


Excerpt:

Damian Cox, director of the Access to Information Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister, says more people need to take advantage of the Access to Information Act.

"I think we need more Jamaicans to use the law, I don't think even in this time when we are going into a review of the act everybody feels like we need to get more persons, ordinary Jamaicans using the law because the system
is in place," he told The Gleaner at the launch of the Access to Information National High School Essay
Competition, yesterday.

Jamaica's Access To Information Essay Competition 2009

AUTHOR:

TITLE: Campion College Student Wins ATI Essay Competition

SOURCE: KINGSTON, JAMAICA INFORMATION SERVICE(JIS)

DATE: Friday, April 03, 2009

URL: http://jis.gov.jm/information/html/20090403T000000-0500_19060_JIS_CAMPION_COLLEGE_STUDENT_WINS_ATI_ESSAY_COMPETITION.asp


EXCERPT:
The Public Relations Manager for the ATI Unit, Damian Wilson, said the unit would be launching another essay competition for tertiary level students.

He also outlined that the unit has also embarked on a number of other initiatives to increase awareness of the Act. These include the launch of its Facebook page and a channel on YouTube. He disclosed that the unit is getting ready to launch an advertising campaign on Jamaica Urban Transit Company(JUTC) buses, and on liquid crystal display (LCD) screens in supermarkets.

The ATI Unit spearheads the implementation and administration of the ATI Act, which was passed in June 2002. The Act provides the public with a general right of access to official documents held by public authorities.


ABSTRACT:

The article reports on an award ceremony for the Access to Information Unit's Essay Competition which seeks to promote awareness of the act among school students. Contains information about the purpose of the competition and future plans for the competition.