Trinidad and Tobago's Ministry of Legal Affairs Launched Digital Legislative Library

Title: Ministry of Legal Affairs Launched Digital Legislative Library

Date published: Aug. 5, 2015
Source: CCN TV6
URL: http://www.tv6tnt.com/home/Ministry-of-Legal-Affairs-Launched-Digital-Legislative-Library--320800661.html

Abstract:
Announced is the launch of the Digital Legislative Library of Trinidad and Tobago and the resources that it provides access to as well as the cost of the initiative.

Excerpt:

The Ministry of Legal Affairs launched the Digital Legislative Library of Trinidad and Tobago this morning. The digital library will contain legislative material dating back to the 1800's. Costing the government just under a three million dollars Minister of Legal Affairs Prakash said this is a proud moment in the legislative history of Trinidad and Tobago.

 

National Library of Jamaica's holdings to be placed on Worldcat

Author: Minister, the Hon. Lisa Hanna, Ministry of Youth & Culture
Title: Contribution to the 2014/2015 Sectoral Debate
Date published: May 20, 2014
Source: Jamaica Information Service (JIS):
URL:  http://jis.gov.jm/media/hanna-sectoral1.pdf
 

Abstract:

The Hon. Lisa Hanna, the Minister responsible for the portfolio of the Ministry of Youth & Culture, announces a number of events and plans for the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ). Among the events mentioned are:

• the NLJ's 2014 Distinguished Lecture to be presented by novelist, poet and Panama historian Miss Olive Senior to mark the Centenary of the Panama Canal and its impact and influence on the construction of Jamaica's economy and culture.
• The award of Poet Laureate to Professor Mervyn Morris

Also mentioned in her speech to Parliament are the plans afoot to:

• outsource the NLJ's catalogue to OCLC's Worldcat Local 
• the launch of a digitized encyclopaedia of Jamaica for local and global references
• and the digitization of  legacy 16 millimetre film resources for dissemination through social media

Excerpt:

The National Library in an effort to maximise use of its resources will implement an alternative to the current library management system, which though very low in cost is the most effective at showcasing the NLJ resources locally and globally. The new system Worldcat Local will place the catalogue of the library's holdings into a global library catalogue that is discoverable through popular search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing. In a real way this new system will truly enable Jamaica to the World. 

In addition, in recognition of the public's preferred mode of accessing information we launched the National Library of Jamaica Digital Collection. NLJDigital will create a digitized encyclopaedia of Jamaica for local and global references. This digital encyclopaedia includes material from the library's paper and photograph collection as well as the full text of18th and 19th century Jamaican books already digitised by Google.

In a further move to preserve the nation's intellectual output, this year we will be transferring the legacy 16 millimetre film resources to digital and the concomitant dissemination of these resources through programming and social media.

 

UWI library digitizes newspaper clippings chronicling the history of the steel pan

Author: Ray Funk and Andrew Martin
Title: T&T steelpan newspaper history now on the Web... Just a click away
Source: The Trinidad and Tobago Guardian
Date Published: Tuesday, January 28, 2014
URL: http://guardian.co.tt/carnival/2014-01-27/tt-steelpan-newspaper-history-now-web




Abstract:


The article discusses the UWI St. Augustine library's digitization project chronicling the history of the steel pan through library clippings from Trinidad and Tobago's newspapers. Dubbed the UWI digital Steelpan Newspaper Collection, the main person behind the initiative, is steelpan historian and arranger Dr. Jeannine Remy. Remy, a senior lecturer in the Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA) at UWI, St Augustine approached the UWI library in 2011 with a plan to digitise her collection of newspaper clippings and create a database of these documents to preserve the information. Remy sought a grant as the library reported not having the financial budget to fund the project. This resulted in the award of a faculty research grant to complete the project in December 2012. 



Further details are provided about the work involved in the project including the scanning of the articles as well as summarizing and identifying keywords for each article to make it searchable, and linking all this information to the UWI library's Web site. Other participants in the project are named including Librarian Marsha Winter and the primary student research assistant, Aniya Carty.


Further details are provided about the project including the aim of project co-ordinators to upload more than 1,000 articles to the Web in the next few months. It is also reported that the current available articles can be accessed the UWI Website http://uwispace.sta.uwi.edu/dspace/handle/2139/17577. These available articles are also accessible via search through major online search engines like Google and Bing by entering in the search terms  and adding “uwispace” to limit the search to the UWI digital Steelpan Newspaper Collection. It is also reported that the articles from the UWI library collection that forms the UWI digital Steelpan Newspaper Collection include articles gifted from Remy’s personal collection as well as those of a number of her students and colleagues. Future plans for the project are also outlined.




One scholar, Mia Gormandy, a PhD candidate in ethnomusicology at planning a dissertation on the pan in Japan, is also cited as praising this new digital resource as well as expressing appreciation for the initiative.






Excerpt:


The history of steelpan as chronicled in Trini­dad newspapers is now only a click away. As a result of a grant from UWI and collaboration between students at UWI and the UWI library, more than 4,000 newspaper articles related to the history of steelpan in T&T will be uploaded to the Web.

Many articles can already be viewed now with more being added in the next several months.

The project is the brainchild of steelpan historian and arranger Dr Jeannine Remy, senior lecturer in the Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA) at UWI, St Augustine....




More info



UWI digital Steelpan Newspaper Collection is just one of the historical collections that the library at UWI is looking to digitise and make accessible to the public on the Web. [Special Collections Librarian Lorraine] Nero further notes that the Special Collections department is always seeking donations of material of historic significance. Nero can be reached at wimail@sta.uwi.edu . If anyone has clippings or photos or other steelpan memorabilia that they want to contribute to this project, it is not too late and they should feel free to contact the library. The UWI Library continues to explore the acquisition of funds to support the digitisation initiative. Sponsors interested in contributing to this effort can contact the Campus Librarian, the Alma Jordan Library at 662-2002 ext 2009.

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.

Universal Service Fund (USF) to fund the digitisation of works at the National Library of Jamaica

Author: RODGER HUTCHINSON
Title: Universal Service Fund Reports $9.7bn in Revenue
Date published: FRIDAY, 08 MARCH 2013
Source: Jamaica Information Service
URL: http://www.jis.gov.jm/news/leads/33174


Abstract:

The article discusses the Universal Service Fund (USF), an initiative by the Jamaican government to collect funds from incoming telephone calls, to be used for developing the nation's broadband services islandwide and enable more Jamaicans to access Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The purpose and work on the USF is mentioned, which includes creating an ICT platform in secondary schools, libraries, post offices, and at community access points (CAPs). The amount of funds collected as of February 5, 2013 is mentioned. Also mentioned are some of the projects being funded, approved and even completed. One such project is the digitisation of works at the National Library of Jamaica, of which the rationale behind the approval of the digitisation project is stated.

Excerpts:

Addressing a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on Wednesday, March 6, Chief Executive Officer of the USF, Hugh Cross, said some 34 libraries, 112 schools, and 57 post offices have already been connected.  

Among other projects being undertaken is the digitisation of works at the National Library of Jamaica located at East Street downtown Kingston.

“We just approved funding for them to digitise their entire content. They have vital content on paper and we would like to move that to where it is digitised and web-enabled and accessible from anywhere in the world, because, as you know, paper will deteriorate over time,” Mr. Cross stated.

UWI acquires and provides access to BBC Caribbean Archive 1988-2011

Title: BBC Caribbean Archive 1988-2011

Source: DSpace development team at the The Alma Jordan Library of The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
tel. 1 (868) 662 2002
URL: http://uwispace.sta.uwi.edu/dspace/handle/2139/11134

Abstract:
The University of West Indies has acquired the holdings of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Caribbean Service archives of recordings for the period 1988-2011. The context behind the acquisition is provided. Information is also provided about the scope of the collection and the types of subjects and content it covers. Information is also provided about how to access the archived recordings.

Excerpt:

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Caribbean Service donated its archive of recordings to The University of the West Indies (UWI) after it ceased broadcasting on March 25, 2011. This archive of audio recordings covers the period 1988-2011, when the BBC Caribbean Service operated mainly as a news and current affairs department. During this period, the flagship programmes of the department were the BBC Caribbean Report (morning and evening drivetime editions) and Caribbean Magazine, a programme that reflected the human face of the news agenda as well as reporting on the Caribbean region's music, literature, and other cultural issues. The BBC Caribbean Archive at The UWI provides a unique contemporary record of the political, social cultural and economic issues pertaining to the Caribbean, and will therefore serve an a very important facility for research regionally and extra-regionally.

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

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.