US Embassy gives to a Jamaican School Library

Title: US Embassy gives Mona High Library a boost
Source: Jamaica Observer's Teenage
Date Published: Tuesday, October 13, 2009
URL: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/TeenAge/html/20091012T200000-0500_161659_OBS_US_EMBASSY_GIVES_MONA_HIGH_LIBRARY_A_BOOST.asp

Abstract:
This article reports on donations that the United States Embassy in Kingston made to a Jamaican high school. Included in the reported are some examples of the resources that were donated.

The article also reports on the embassy's Information Resource Centre (IRC) and the type of serivces and information it provides.


Excerpt:

The US Embassy in Kingston gave the Mona High School a boost last Wednesday, when the embassy presented the school with a brand new desktop computer and laser printer, as well as over 120 books.

The gifts earmarked for the school's library, includes titles from the Scholastic Secondary Ambassador collection among other books.

Jamaica to establish Parent Information Centres

Title: Education Ministry Partnering with JLS in Parenting Initiative
Source: Jamaica Information Service (KINGSTON)
Date Published: Tuesday, August 25, 2009
URL: http://jis.gov.jm/education/html/20090825T180000-0500_20900_JIS_EDUCATION_MINISTRY_PARTNERING_WITH_JLS_IN_PARENTING_INITIATIVE.asp

Abstract:
The article reports on the plans of the Ministry of Education to work with the Jamaica Library Service (JLS), in establishing parent information centres in the parish libraries all over the island.

According to the spokesperson, Senior Adviser/Consultant to the Minister of Education, Dr. Rebecca Tortello, these parenting information network/satellite information centres will collate parenting material locally, and international in the parish libraries. These materials will be linked and accessible via Internet accessible electronic databases as well as a hard copy database. The librarians will be trained in locating these materials in order to assist parents in finding the materials they need.

Dr. Tortello was speaking in an interview with JIS News and explained the initiative would also seek to find out what materials are available in Jamaica that are effective in training parents at different socio-economic levels, so as to effectively disseminate the message of effective parenting. The vision is that the initiative will include parenting materials not only in print, but in videos and DVDs, spreading the effective parenting messages in more than one ways including film, television, the sides of buses, and on cell phones.

Excerpt:

The Ministry of Education is working in conjunction with the Jamaica Library Service (JLS), to establish a number of satellite centres on parenting in the parish libraries islandwide.

This was announced by Senior Adviser/Consultant to the Minister of Education, Dr. Rebecca Tortello, in an interview with JIS News on August 24.

"The Library Service is going to work with us to create information network/satellite information centres on parenting, so that we will gather parenting material locally, and international best practices. The parish libraries are linked and they have internet access, so we can have an electronic database as well as a hardcopy database and the librarians will be trained to know where the material is, so parents can come in and find material if they need it," she informed.

Jamaican Youths satisfied with New Youth Information Centre

Author: Gardner, Claudia
Title: New youth centre turns heads
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
Date Published: Saturday, May 16, 2009
URL: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090516/lead/lead3.html



Abstract:

The article covers the reaction of several students to the opening of the National Centre for Youth Development's (NCYD) Youth Information Centre (YIC)at Humber Avenue in Montego Bay, St. James. The services and the facilities of the YIC are higlighted, which include "a cyber-café with free Internet access; a resource area and a conference room for meetings; counselling and referral services; empowerment sessions; career development and training opportunities". The purpose for the centres are also discussed. Chief among the mission of the YIC is to "allow youth to be comfortable, discussing and accessing information on issues concerning them - from safe sex to HIV/AIDS to employment and personal advancement." Further mention is also made about the Government's plan to ensure that YICs are operational in all parishes within the next three years. The Government's vision for these YICs is to "facilitate the empowerment of young people through the provision of information in a non-judgmental and friendly environment".

Excerpt:

Shabelle Johnson, a 14-year-old student of St James High School, told The Gleaner she spent her after-school hours at the centre following the shift-system school's dismissal at 12:15 p.m.

"My friends told me about it and I have been visiting for several weeks now. I like the quietness here. I also get to print assignments free of cost," she said.

"I prefer to visit here than going to the school or the parish library because students tend to fuss and sometimes I don't get through with the assignment because we only get a short amount of time on the computers."

JTI Reports Marked Success with Export Centre/Business Information Point Project

Title: JTI Reports Marked Success with Export Centre/Business Information Point Project
Source: KINGSTON (JIS)- Jamaica Information Service
Date Friday, February 06, 2009


URL: http://jis.gov.jm/commerce_science/html/20090206T090000-0500_18330_JIS_JTI_REPORTS_MARKED_SUCCESS_WITH_EXPORT_CENTRE_BUSINESS_INFORMATION_POINT_PROJECT.asp

Abstract:

Details are given about the Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI) Export Centre/Business Information Point (EC/BIP)project. This is a project set up to serve Small and Medium Enterprises in Jamaica. Business Facilitation Manager at the JTI, Marlene Porter, provides an evaluation of the project, its implementation, successes and the activities surrounding its implementation. Also revealed in Porter's comments, is the purpose of the project and the aspirations of the impact it will have on the target group (SMEs).

Export and Business Information Centre comes to Westmoreland

Title: Westmoreland Gets Export/Business Information Centre
Source: MONTEGO BAY (JIS):
Date: Monday, February 09, 2009

URL: http://jis.gov.jm/commerce_science/html/20090209T090000-0500_18377_JIS_WESTMORELAND_GETS_EXPORT_BUSINESS_INFORMATION_CENTRE.asp

Abstract:

Report on the launch or opening of an export and business information centre for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Jamaica. The opening took place at the Savanna-La-Mar Civic Centre on Great George Street. It was conducted by Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI), in partnership with the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce. The hopes, mission, objectives and expectations about how the centre will serve the SME sector in Westmoreland are expressed by President of the JTI, Robert Gregory.

First Caribbean community library radio launched in Bahamas

TITLE: First Caribbean community library radio launched in Bahamas
SOURCE: Communication and Information Sector's news service (UNESCO)
DATE: 22 October 2008
URL: http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=27676&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html


ABSTRACT FROM SOURCE:
The first Caribbean community library radio Infolight FM 108.0: The Power of the Information Literacy through Young Voices was officially launched by Carl Bethel, Minister of Education of the Bahamas, on 16 October 2008, at the Bahamas Library Service. This project is implemented in partnership with UNESCO.

ABSTRACT:
The article is about an initiative sponsored by UNESCO in association with the Bahamas Library Service. This initiative involves the establishment of a radio or broadcasting information service operated by library and information professionals. The initiative have a number of objectives, including recruiting future librarians and information professionals, as well as advancing and promoting literacy.