Ground breaking for the Accompong Town Primary and Junior High School library and media centre

Author: Paul Williams
Title: Mystic Bowie Delivering The Goods In Accompong Town
Date published: January 11, 2014
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
URL: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140111/news/news1.html

Abstract:

Article reports on an event to break ground for the building of a library and media centre for a Jamaican school, commemorating the historical events particularly significant to the Jamaican Maroon community. Background information is provided on the major sponsor or donor for the project, Mystic Bowie and the set of events that lead to the initiative. The article also reports on Bowie's motivation for sponsoring the project. Further provided is information about the ground breaking event, including a list of some of the persons attending, including Coral B. Barnett, principal of the Accompong Town Primary and Junior High School and Director of Culture in the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Dahlia Harris. Other information provided in the article deals with some minor details about the building itself and some of the equipment and resources that it is expected to house.



Excerpt:

ACCOMPONG TOWN, St Elizabeth:One year ago, Mystic Bowie, a producer, reggae singer, and international recording artiste, who was born Fitzroy Alexander Campbell in Accompong Town, St Elizabeth, in the presence of members of the Government and Opposition, broke ground for the building of a library and media centre at the Accompong Town Primary and Junior High School. This took place as part of the Accompong Maroons' observance of Captain Cudjoe's birthday and the 275th anniversary of the signing of the peace treaty with the British.

In speaking with Rural Xpress at the time, the Connecticut, United States, resident said, "I am 100 per cent committed, if not, I would be wasting my time." As a member of the Council of Overseas Maroons, he was approached by the council's president/secretary, Coral B. Barnett, for assistance to the school and the community.

The building of the aforementioned complex was the main assistance Bowie suggested, and from all indications, he is delivering on his promise, and stage one of the project is now complete. It consists of the main hall for the library and computer clusters, an administrative office, and a rooftop space for the hosting of special events. The special-events level wasn't part of the original plan, but it will be part of the fundraising outreach to maintain the centre.

Death of Chief Librarian of the Guyana National Library

Author: Michel Outridge

Title: Chief Librarian Gillian Thompson dies in road accident
Source: Guyana Chronicle Online
Date published: Dec 24, 2013

URL: http://guyanachronicle.com/chief-librarian-gillian-thompson-dies-in-road-accident/

Abstract:

The news article reports on the death of Gillian Thompson, the Chief Librarian of the Guyana National Library. Outlined are some details about the circumstances leading to her death. Biographical details are also reported about her life. The reporter also captures the emotions of a staff member of the National library, Margaret Eastman, Coordinator of External Activities. Also reported is the statement released by the Ministry of Education offering condolences to the family as well as providing further biographical details about Gillian Thompson. 

Excerpt:

Thompson served as Chief Librarian for the past nine years after pursuing post-graduate studies in Library Science at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus.
Many staff members bemoaned the loss of a person who they considered to be “a good boss.”Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

 Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education expressed sincere condolences to the family, friends and staff of the National Library, on the passing of Ms. Thompson.

 The Ministry in a release said Thompson worked at the National Library for just over two decades, beginning on November 1, 1991. In 2004 she became the Chief Librarian and worked tirelessly until her untimely passing on December 24, 2013.

 “A consummate professional who dedicated her time, energy, and professional training in library science towards the advancement of reading in Guyana, Gillian would be dearly missed not only by her family, but by her colleagues and friends at the National Library and those from within the education fraternity,” the Ministry said adding: “May her soul Rest In Peace!.”

CARIB LIN's 6th anniversary and 2014 goals

It has been 6 years since I have been keeping this blog going. As is my custom, since it is now December, I reflect on and review the year for the Carib LIN blog.

In December 2007, when Carib LIN was born, the blog represented my timid foot into blogging. Here I refrained from commentary and sharing opinion, but just providing a referral blog to other news relevant to the region's library and information professionals. Hence, my aim and objective in Carib LIN was to provide documentary evidence of facts and descriptive and analytical summaries. Today, the blog is still operated in this manner. (However, I have become a bit bolder in blogging, in my blog Small Island Librarian, taking greater risks by publishing my professional opinions, rants and ideas).

At the writing of this post, the Carib LIN statistics indicate that I have managed to maintain this blog with at least one post per month, with an average of 2 posts per month. This is a good achievement considering the effort it takes to: a) keep blogging and b) to keep an eye out for news to blog about.

For 2014, I will strive to continue:

• providing an abstracting and selective information dissemination service for important library and information related news in the English-speaking Caribbean
• maintaining grammatically and error free entries, while ensuring that this blog is accurate, trustworthy and reliable 
• providing a voice in the blogosphere for issues in Caribbean library and information service environment 
• reporting developments that are of interest to and affect librarians and information professionals who have an interest in the region. 
• and maintaining the survival of this blog through at least one blog posting per month.

Apart from this, I want to give a shout out to Athaliah Reynolds, from Jamaica Information Service (JIS), who has consented to alert me to relevant news published by JIS that are suitable for mentioning on this blog. Finally, I want to give thanks to you, the reader, for the continued visitation of Carib LIN, and I wish you a prosperous 2014.

Faithfully yours,

Mark-Shane Scale,
Chief editor, curator and blogger of Carib LIN.