The National Library and Information System (Nalis) is the winner of the 2023 OCLC Award for Innovative Cooperation Initiatives in the Caribbean for its work to create and promote co-located libraries along with a wide range of digital library services to underserved communities.
Nalis’ Co-located Library Project supports Trinidad and Tobago’s efforts to realise the UN Sustainable Development Goal to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, a media release said.
The award was presented recently to Nalis deputy executive director Beverly Ann Williams, at the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL) 2023 Conference in Jamaica.
OCLC, based in Dublin, Ohio, is a nonprofit global library organisation that provides shared technology services, original research, and community programmes so that libraries can better fuel learning, research, and innovation.
Nalis was established “to provide a national library and information service, easily accessible to the public in order to facilitate the cultural, economic, educational, political, and social development of the people of TT,” the release said.
Co-located libraries are smaller, flexible spaces in the heart of communities. Different from public libraries, these libraries are intentionally situated within already existing community spaces, such as community centres.
The value of this dynamic, sustainable model was recognised by the government, the release said. In 2019, co-located libraries were first established at the Mt Hope/Mt Lambert and the Barataria Community centres as well as the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) compound at Beetham Gardens and in St Helena.
Initial collaborations have been with the Ministry of Sport and Community Development, the Ministry of National Security and the Kiwanis Club of St Helena.
The Belmont Community Library was opened in 2022 and the San Fernando North Community Library in 2023. Additional government ministries were included in the rollout of this project, with an expanded mandate for a wider range of services for underserved communities. These new partners include the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service, Nalis said.
“These co-operative efforts allow all stakeholders to amplify their influence, increase impact and output at the community level, and facilitate greater use of scarce state assets by providing concentrated services in earmarked communities,” said Betty Ann Sieudath, librarian IV, research, planning and development, who prepared and submitted Nalis’ nomination.
Sieudath added, “Nalis will continue to set up community libraries with a focus on developing a range of services and products to facilitate online access to information and e-resources, reference and research queries, and training and programming to help instil digital literacy in the community. This project reflects Nalis’ vision and mission and clearly demonstrates the distinguishing
