Jamaican alumni association plans fundraising concert for digital library project

Title: Classical duo to perform at Mico - School to use concert funds to digitise library
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
Date published: April 16, 2013
URL: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130416/ent/ent2.html

Abstract:
This article reports on a fundraising event planned by the Mico Old Student Association (MOSA). The fundraiser is a concert featuring two Jamaican international classical vocal artistes. Funds raised from ticket purchases  for the concert are to go towards digitisation of the archives and scholarly collections of The Mico's Renford Shirley Library. The project is estimated at $10-million. When completed, the digital library will feature a gallery of historical photographs, early prints, as well as newspaper and journal articles. The new digital library will also provide users with the opportunity to tag and add metadata. The college librarian, Vinell Spied, is briefly reported as giving a statement on the importance of this digital library initiative.

Excerpt:


Two of Jamaica's internationally acclaimed classical artistes, Curtis Watson and Pauline Forrest-Watson, will be the featured performers at the Mico Old Student Association's (MOSA) fund-raising concert entitled 'Evening of Classical Ballads', scheduled to take place at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Sunday at 5:00 p.m.

The concert is being held under the distinguished patronage of Sir Kenneth and Lady Hall.

While patrons attending this event will get another opportunity to enjoy the musical mastery of the classical couple, they will also be contributing to MOSA's efforts to preserve and digitise the extensive historical archives and scholarly collections of The Mico's Renford Shirley Library, to create a more user-centred information portal that can be shared locally and globally.

Barbados Archives urged to digitize

Author: (JH)
Title: Digitise records
Date published: June 4, 2012
Source: The Barbados Advocate
URL: http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=local&NewsID=25110

Abstract:
This article reports on comments made by a historian, Dr. David Browne, who delivered a public lecture as part to celebrate Archives Awareness Month 2012. At that event, Dr. Browne makes a number of comments, remarks, observations and suggestions, some of which are documented by the reporter. One such suggestion was that the Barbados Depart ment of Archives needs digitize its records to keep up with modern technological advancements, despite unavailability of resources. Browne articulates that access and preservation of archive materials are important to researchers, and makes suggestion about businesses needing to practice good record keeping and that schools need to create School Archives in similar ways that they have school libraries.



Excerpt:

THE BARBADOS Department of Archives must reposition itself for the modern era and the technological advancement that comes with it.

This observation was made recently by Dr. David Browne, who was delivering a public lecture on the topic “Preserving Archives as Evidence” in the 3Ws Oval. The lecture was hosted by the Archives Department and the West Indies Federal Archives Centre in celebration of National Archives Awareness Month 2012.

Acknowledging the current challenges which exist and which have existed for quite some time, namely the unavailability of resources, he said that access and preservation of this material is critical, particularly as it relates to persons seeking to carry out research on a given topic.

“More and more, information and documents are [being] produced digitally and stored in this fashion. I understand that the Archives Department was looking at the digitisation of records [and] that is the way to go.”
His comments came as he also questioned the purpose of record-keeping, whether it is for the use of researchers or just for posterity, otherwise known as the community memory.

National Library of Jamaica Gone Digital

TITLE: National Library of Jamaica Gone Digital
DATE: Tuesday, 06 July 2010
SOURCE: Jamaica Information News (JIS NEWS)
URL: http://www.jis.gov.jm/news/110/24585?mode=redirect


EXCERPT:

With the click of a mouse in the comfort of their homes, Jamaicans can now access historical materials, including maps, photographs and plans, which are stored on the website of the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ).
In an era when more and more information is being sought on the Internet, the NLJ has moved to facilitate the process, by digitising its collections as well as downloading and storing Jamaican publications on its website.
"We use robot software to scan the universe of web publication and collect and load and bring into the national library's collection, things having to do with Jamaica," Executive Director of the NLJ, Winsome Hudson tells JIS News.
This process, known as web-archiving, is one of the latest initiatives of the NLJ. Mrs. Hudson says the Library is also collecting selective publications from websites belonging to some ministries and government agencies.
"Of course, this is a pilot project, so we really are not collecting everything on the Internet about Jamaica, but we are collecting select publications at this point while we test the process," she adds.

ABSTRACT:
Executive Director of the NLJ, Winsome Hudson discusses the NLJ's activities and plans in digitizing aspects of its collection, as well as the activities involve in collecting digital collections that are already online. Patron and history lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, Dr. Kathleen Monteit also discusses how important the collection at the National Library of Jamaica is to historians and to the study of Jamaican and Caribbean history. She also indicates some unique sources that are available at the national library in a variety of formats

National Library of Jamaica's Digital exhibition on the Sam Sharpe Rebellion

Title: National Library Mounts Online Exhibit on Sam Sharpe Rebellion
Source:
Date Published: Sunday, May 16, 2010

URL: http://www.jis.gov.jm/education/html/20100515T190000-0500_23953_JIS_NATIONAL_LIBRARY_MOUNTS_ONLINE_EXHIBIT_ON_SAM_SHARPE_REBELLION.asp

Abstract:
The article reports on an online exhibition by the National Library of Jamaica on its website. This exhibition will feature information on one of the first strike by Jamaican-born slaves. Information about the items to be exhibited are given as well as the date when the exhibition will be viewable.


Excerpt:

An online exhibition on the Sam Sharpe Rebellion of 1831 has been established by the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ) for Labour Day. The exhibit will open on Monday, May 17 at the NLJ's new website at www.nlj.gov.jm.

Public Relations and Marketing Officer at the NLJ, Denise Walker, told JIS News that persons visiting the site will be able to view a map, which shows the sugar estates in the parishes of St. James, Trelawny and St. Elizabeth that were burnt during the uprising.

This map, which was drawn in 1832, shortly after the slave rebellion was quashed, has been digitised and set in a format that could be accessed by computer.

National Library Developing Digital Audio Books for Visually Impaired

Title: National Library Developing Digital Audio Books for Visually Impaired
Source: KINGSTON, Jamaica Information Service (JIS):
Date Published: Thursday, April 30, 2009
URL: http://jis.gov.jm/officepm/html/20090430t010000-0500_19425_jis_national_library_developing_digital_audio_books_for_visually_impaired_.asp


Excerpt:
The National Library of Jamaica is developing Digital Audio Books for visually impaired Jamaicans.

The new format will assist visually impaired persons who are unable to access research or recreational material, other than by Braille, because of the unavailability of Digital Audio Books and material.

Executive Director of the National Library, Winsome Hudson, made the disclosure at a recent JIS Think Tank news briefing in Kingston.

Abstract:
In this article the Director of National Library of Jamaica (NLJ) explains of plans to create Digital Audio Books for the visually impaired to support them in secondary and tertiary education. The article details the proposals, indicating how the project will be funded, the model to be followed, the partners to be involved and some of the problems encountered. The reasons why the project is being pursued is also highlighted.

Regional Libraries Going Digital

Title: Regional Libraries Expected to be Fully Digital in Five Years

Date: Saturday, June 07, 2008

Source: MONTEGO BAY (Jamaica Information Service)

URL: http://www.jis.gov.jm/information/html/20080607T130000-0500_15551_JIS_REGIONAL_LIBRARIES_EXPECTED_TO_BE_FULLY_DIGITAL_IN_FIVE_YEARS.asp

Abstract:

A report on the Association of Caribbean University Research and Institutional Libraries
Conference in Montego Bay, based on interviews with the local organisers of the conference. The report covers the theme of the conference and the expectations of the impact of the conference on regional library services.

Extract from the Source:
"Libraries in Jamaica and across the wider Caribbean region are expected to be fully digital and automated in another five years, making them more user-friendly and information more accessible to students in the global e-environment."

Evaluation:
A number of spelling errors plague the article. Also there is no signed author (so no one to hold responsible for the spelling errors and inaccuracies in the article). Despite these, the primary sources referred to in the article are reliable. In addition, the article is produced by the state runned news agency.