The Caribbean Genealogy Library on St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

Author: Gerald Singer
Title: Caribbean Genealogy Library
Date published: October 21, 2013
Source: Life on St. John USVI/ St. John Life
URL: http://seestjohn.com/st_john_life/life-on-st-john/caribbean-genealogy-library/

Abstract:
This article or post reports on the Caribbean Genealogy Library, a library in the US Virgin Islands. The post also declares its location and outlines the scope of its collection.

Excerpt:

The Caribbean Genealogy Library is a little known library on St.Thomas that is a veritable treasure trove of information for those interested in genealogical studies as well as Caribbean history. The Library is located at Al Cohens Plaza, next to Mango Tango Art Gallery, across from Randys Restaurant, on St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Just a 10 minute ride by taxi from the WICO cruise ship dock.

The library features rare books, maps, newspapers, & magazines, Danish West Indies/US Virgin, Islands census records, Virgin Islands Church Records, US National Archives M1883 & M1884 microfilms, Virgin Islands Funeral Booklets, Ancestry.com, Family History Library affiliate library, Caribbean Jewish family genealogies and a St. Thomas Graphics publications collection.

Heritage public library restoration commences in Trinidad and Tobago

Author: Rachael Espinet
Title: Old Public Library to be restored

Date published: Saturday, August 3 2013

Source: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

URL: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,181677.html

 

Abstract:

This article reports on announcements made at a reception held by the Board of the National Library and Information Systems Authority (NALIS). Lucia Phillip, Executive Director of  NALIS, is reported as giving some historical background and significance to the Knox Street Library. The article provides further information about the historical background of the library, including when it was opened and when it declined due to poor structural building conditions.

 

The article however positively reports on the heritage restoration plans for the building. Jennifer Joseph, Vice-Chair of NALIS Board and the Chair of the Restoration Committee is reported as stating what the new library building after restoration will look like and the types of services that it will provide. Plans for the restored library include making hold collections and artifacts from the country’s leaders and for it to become both a research library and a heritage museum.

The reporter also reports on the donations received by the library from various Prime Ministers and presidents of Trinidad and Tobago,  as well pending donations of  photographs, audiovisual memorabilia, documents relating to speeches and government business and other general artifacts. Information is also given about the architectural style of the building. The architect responsible for the restoration, Rudylyn Roberts, is also named and the work done so far and expected due date of completion is highlighted.

The Education Minister, Dr Tim Gopeesingh, is also reported as affirming the Government's commitment towards allocating the necessary funds for the restoration and refurbishment of the building.

Professor Brinsley Samaroo, historian and a member of the Restoration Committee, is also mentioned as calling for donations of artifacts like letters, spectacles, books, journals, or any item belonging to a leader of Trinidad and Tobago for the library's collection.

  

Excerpt:

The old Trinidad Public Library on Knox Street, Port-of-Spain, will be fully restored and filled with a collection of historical artifacts from past and present presidents and prime ministers.

This was announced yesterday at a reception held by the Board of the National Library and Information Systems Authority (NALIS).

The restored library will hold collections and artifacts from the country’s leaders so that it will become both a state of the art research facility and a heritage museum.

 

Marcus Garvey Resource Centre established: Youth urged to use it

Author: Garfield Angus
Title: Youth Urged to make use of Marcus Garvey Resource Centre
Date Published: WEDNESDAY, 05 SEPTEMBER 2012
Source: Jamaica Information Service

Abstract:

The article reports on the Marcus Garvey Resource Centre housed in St. Ann, Jamaica. The facility officially opened on August 17, commemorating the 125th anniversary of the National Hero's birth. Information about some of the materials in the collection is provided. Information about how the resource centre came into existence is also provided, including the funding agencies and partners behind the project. The article also reports on the Director of Jamaica Library Service, Patricia Roberts, giving her vision for the centre and its major objectives. Future plans for the centre are also outlined

The article also reports on a number of other officials making various statements about the resource centre. The Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay, Councillor Desmond Gilmore, discusses the significance of the facility and his feelings towards it. The Custos of St. Ann, Hon. Radcliffe Walters, encourages young people in particular to use the facility. St. Ann Festival Queen, Kemesha Kelly also provides statements on the value of the centre. At the end, a brief biography about Marcus Garvey is also provided.



Excerpt:

Young people in St. Ann are being encouraged to make use of the Marcus Garvey Resource Centre in the parish to gain greater insight into the National Hero’s life and work. The facility, housed at the Parish Library in St. Ann's Bay was officially opened on August 17, to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Garvey’s birth. It is equipped with books written by the National Hero, the works of Garvey scholars, several memorabilia, and copies of the Negro World newspaper that Garvey founded and was its chief editor.

National Library of Jamaica unveils new logo

Title: More Jamaicans encouraged to visit the National Library
Date published: Thursday, March 15, 2012
Source: Jamaica Information Service (JIS)/ Jamaica Observer
URL: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/More-Jamaicans-encouraged-to-visit-the-National-Library

Abstract:

The article reports on a speech by Jamaica's Minster of Youth and Culture, Lisa Hanna, at the unveiling of the National Library of Jamaica's (NLJ)'s new logo at the library’s East Street office. Hannah's speech endorsed the work of the NLJ and mentions the value of its collection to Jamaica. Hannah also mentioned her wish for more Jamaicans to know about NLJ's collection and for greater private sector contributions to the NLJ.



Excerpt:

MINISTER of Youth and Culture, Lisa Hanna, is encouraging more Jamaicans to visit and make use of the opportunities offered at the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ), to learn more about the country’s culture and history.

“The work that you are doing here is phenomenal and I would really appreciate if more Jamaicans come, see and learn about our history, the journey that we have made as a people, and even to see what we do with very small resources,” Hannah said.

She was speaking at the unveiling of the NLJ’s new logo yesterday at the library’s East Street office.

The minister also encouraged private sector persons who want to give back something to Jamaica, to do so through the National Library.

“I think the national library is one of those symbols that we can stand very proud on as Jamaicans. The rich history that you have sitting here and what you are able to collect is truly remarkable,” Hanna told the staff.

Indian High Commission proposes Gandhi section at National Library in Port-of-Spain

Author: Paras Ramoutar

Title: T&T observes Gandhi’s death anniversary

Source: Trinidad and Tobago Guardian

Date published: 31 Jan 2010

URL: http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2010/01/31/tt-observes-gandhi-s-death-anniversary

Abstract:
The article reports on some of the cultural activities, tributes and memorials in Trinidad and Tobago in recognition of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. The report also entails outlines of a proposal by the Indian High Commission in the twin island republic, to establish a section at the National Library. This proposed section will feature collections on Gandhi supplied and financed by the Indian High Commission.


Excerpt:

"The Indian High Commission has proposed that a Gandhi section be established at the National Library in Port-of-Spain. “The High Commission is willing to provide additional books, documentaries, papers to enrichen the library on the works, philosophy and writings of Gandhi,” according to Indian High Commissioner Shri Malay Mishra at the presentation of more than 100 books to Minister of Information Neil Parsanlal, yesterday, at the National Library."

Jamaica Music Museum Update: Controversial but contemporary collection

Author: Mel Cooke
Title: Non-exclusionary approach taken to museum, Dermott Hussey donates entire collection
Date Published: Sunday | January 17, 2010

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100117/ent/ent7.html


Abstract:

The article reports on some of the comments made by the curator, and Jamaica Music Museum director, Herbie Miller during a tour of the Jamaica Music Museum exhibition. Miller shares in this article's report the mission of the museum and how controversial some of its collections and items are. The article reports on some of the items that were donated to the music museum and its donors. It also documents some of the comments and reactions made by visitors to the museum.


Excerpt:

The last and latest Jamaican music genre in the mini-exhibition on Jamaican music is dancehall. It is written that "perhaps the most controversial and polarising genre of Jamaican music, dancehall, currently dominates the island's musical landscape".

While walking through with The Sunday Gleaner, Jamaica Music Museum director Herbie Miller said, "that's why a museum is so important. We are not just looking at the past. We are looking at the present and the future." At this dancehall stop, he points out to The Sunday Gleaner that many people did not like ska, which is now considered classic. Similarly, many people did not like reggae, which is now called the golden age of Jamaican music.

"Our duty as a museum is to collect it all, whether we like it or not. Let future scholars look at it and figure out what it means. Who knows? The world may develop in a way that what is seen as negative now will be seen as positive," Miller said, singing a few lines from Cole Porter's Anything Goes.

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.

Barbadian Special Collection Destroyed by Fire: Millions of Rare materials vanish in smoke

Author: (MR)

Title: Wealth of information up in smoke

Source: Nation News

Date Published on: August 11, 2009.

URL: http://www.nationnews.com/news/local/MILLIONS-of---in-books-up-in-smoke-FRONT-PAGE-OTHER

Abstract:
Tragedy hits Barbados, when a special collection of books and research material donated by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)to the Israel Lovell Foundation vanished in a fire. The materials produced by the BBC featured some research and publications on the nation and the Caribbean. The collection was intended to be organised into a public library for academic research to benefit the nation. The materials were not insured and the loss marks a major setback to the project.

Excerpt:
ABOUT $2.5 MILLION in books and research material donated by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)to the Israel Lovell Foundation went up in smoke just after midnight yesterday.

A pensive Trevor Prescod, director of the foundation, told the DAILY NATION there was no way of replacing the collection of books which were stored in a block near the St Giles Nursery School compound, My Lord's Hill, St Michael. The books were not insured.

The entire block was ravaged by the fire.

The Seaga Collection Preview at UWI Mona

Author: Kimone Thompson
Title: The wait is still on for the tantalising Seaga collection
Source: Jamaica Observer
Date published: Sunday, May 03, 2009
URL: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20090502T220000-0500_150667_OBS_THE_WAIT_IS_STILL_ON_FOR_THE_TANTALISING_SEAGA_COLLECTION_.asp
Abstract:

Article provides information about a special collection being established at the Main Library of the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI). The collection will contain information about Jamaica's social and political history compiled by Seaga based on his experiences and involvement in Jamaica's politics and society. The article also makes mention of perceptions of several dignitaries of the contribution that Seaga has made to Jamaica, as one of the longest serving politician and public figure and their reaction to the preview of the collection.

Excerpt:

The University of the West Indies (UWI) which houses the collection, staged a whet-the-appetite launch last Thursday at the Main Library on the Mona Campus at which benefactors like Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, Maurice Facey, and government ministers Mike Henry and Andrew Holness, among other dignitaries, came to give their blessing.

Already described as the "most extensive" collection of Jamaica's social and political history in one location, the body of works comprises a compilation of 27 speeches made by Seaga in the past four years titled Revelations: beyond Political Boundaries; a book titled The Grenada Intervention: the Inside Story; Seaga's autobiography in two volumes; a digitised collection of papers and recordings and a compilation of macroeconomic data from 1950 to 2007.

The collection - catalogued under the UWI's West Indian Collection, and undertaken with funds raised by the institution's development and endowment fund - was put together by Seaga who was made a Distinguished Fellow in the UWI School of Graduate Studies and Research in 2005.