Jamaican public library director shares her career story

Author: By KIMBERLEY HIBBERT

Title: A leaf out of Karen Barton's book
Date published: Monday, June 22, 2015
Source: ALL WOMAN, Jamaica Observer
URL: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/allwoman/A-leaf-out-of-Karen-Barton-s-book_19151716

Abstract:
Article features Karen Barton's career story about how she entered into librarianship, her offered career advice and mentions her hobbies and achievements.


Excerpt:

SHE says she would never trade her job for anything, and if afforded the chance to live again, she would choose the same career path.

Born and raised in Lionel Town, Clarendon, Karen Barton, the director general of the Jamaica Library Service (JLS) tells All Woman that after leaving Glenmuir High School, she sought employment before pursuing her tertiary education. She was employed as a library assistant at the Clarendon Parish Library, a job that would seal her fate in the industry.

"At that time I wasn't considering librarianship as a career. I just thought this was a job on my way to going into the diplomatic service," she shares.

"I had dreams of doing Spanish, different languages and everything it would take to go into the diplomatic field. I went into the library that summer but I never thought of it as a career."

But on meeting the now deceased senior librarian Gloria Baker, she fell in love with the discipline.

Outstanding Jamaican Library and Information Professional to be honoured

Title: Dr Joyce Robinson new Pineapple Ball honoree
Source: Gleaner
Date: Friday, September 26, 2008
URL: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080926/social/social4.html


ABSTRACT:

The article covers briefly the employment history of the library and information professional, Dr. Joyce Robinson, while announcing the news about her selection for the Pineapple Ball award.

COMMENTS:
This is a remarkable library and information professional that has contributed a lot to the education and development of Jamaica's human resource potential.

She has played a role in Jamaica's public library service, Jamaica's state owned and first television station, the development of an organisation to advance literacy in Jamaica and finally, in the vocational training of those persons who, for one reason or another, do not pursue further academic studies and research.

So fully involve was this professional in advancing Jamaicans' access to information and opportunities for personal and professional development, that her example alone should inspire others in the profession of their calling.