IFLA /UNESCO / NALIS SEMINAR ON SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LIBRARY MANIFESTOS AND GUIDELINES
COUNTRY REPORT ON THE PUBLIC AND SCHOOL LIBRARY SECTORS OF NEVIS

Prepared by Sonita Daniel and Versalie Powell

NEVIS

1.   Federation of St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis

2.   Nevis Public Library Service and The Teachers' Resource Centre (TRC), Department of Education

3.  HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Library services were first provided in St. Kitts and Nevis in 1890. Legislation to separate the functioning of the Nevis Library from that of St. Kitts was passed in 1911. The library moved from a subscription library to a free public library after adult suffrage in 1952. This allowed for greater access by the public.

During the mid-50s, two (2) library centres were established in the rural area, one (1) in Gingerland and the otehr in Combermere. During the late 1950s, a fortnightly mobile library service providing recreational reading materials to primary schools not in close proximity to the Library Centres, namely Prospect, St. John's, St. James and St. Thomas, was introduced. In 1985 the position of Librarian was created and filled in July of that year.

With the unfortunate closure of the Combermere Library Centre in 1992, a mobile library service was provided to the Combermere Primary School. The regular provision of the mobile library service to the rural primary schools was hampered by the lack of reliable transport facilities. This prompted the need to establish libraries at the primary schools previously served. In February 1998 the first primary school library was established at the Prospect Primary School. This was followed by the opening of the Combermere School Library in November 2000. Library materials, recreational and informational, were psrovided for the students of the St. Thomas Primary School in 2002, and are circulated by individual classroom teachers. In 1999 the Gingerland Library Centre was upgraded to a branch library and re-named the St. George's Branch Library.

The Teachers' Resource Centre was opened in 2000.

Development of the Library Service 

1890
Establishment of St. Kitts and Nevis Subscription Library Service

1911
Nevis Library Service established as separate entity.

1953
Establishment of the Nevis Public Library

1950s
Opening of two rural Library Centres

1958
Commencement of the mobile service to primary schools

1985
Appointment of professional Librarian

1988
Development of Environmental Awareness Programme for children with OECS fundraising and technical support

1998
First school library established at Prospect Primary School

1999
Gingerland Library Centre moved to more spacious location

2000
Gingerland Library Centre upgraded to a branch library and renamed St. George's Branch Library.

Opening of the Combermere School Library and the Teachers' Resource Centre.

2001
Informational and recreational reading materials provided for the St. Thomas Primary School Library

2002
Organisation of International College Fair

4.   ORGANIZATION

A. The Nevis Public Library Service and the Department of Education fall under the aegis of the Ministry of Education & Library Services. The organizational structure of the Public Library consists of a central Library and administrative headquarters, the Nevis Public Library Service, the St. George's Branch Library, and three (3) school libraries, namely the Prospect, St. Thomas' and Combermere School Libraries.

The Teachers' Resource Centre, which supports the teaching-learning process in the schools, is a division of the Department of Education.

Organizational Chart of Ministry of Education & Library Services: Provision of Library Services

B. STAFFING LEVELS

Total Library staff including the Teachers' Resource Centre (TRC)         17

Staff
Number
Service Point

Professional Librarian

1

Central Library

Graduate Teacher

1

TRC

College Trained (including trained teachers)

3

Central Library, School Library

Trained Clerical

2

Branch Library, TRC

Non-professional Library Technicians

3

Central Library

Non-professional Library Assistants

3

Central Library, School Library

Non-professional Bookbinders

2

Central Library

Janitorial

2

Central and Branch Libraries

C. STAFF DEVELOPMENT POLICIES

There is a policy of continuous upgrading and training of staff in the various areas of library and information work. However, the funds for implementing the training and development programme are limited and as a result the level of training of the staff is limited.

D. MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of the Nevis Public Library Service is to provide quality resources, services and lifelong learning opportunities through books and a variety of other formats in support of education, work, leisure, personal, professional and cultural development.

VISION

The Nevis Public Library Service (NPLS) represents a fundamental public good in our democratic nation.

Library and information services are necessary for a learning society for knowledge and information are required for the realization of human potential.

The NPLS plays a leading role in the building of social capital, the most vital component in a small country with limited resources.

In today's globalized information society the NPLS will be recognized as a very dynamic and responsive library. This recognition will arise form the library's dedication to the informational, cultural, intellectual and recreational reading needs of its changing population, the excellence of its collections and its access to the new information and communication technologies and its highly trained staff committed to its patrons and the very highest ideals of library service.

The library therefore recognizes the role it plays in empowering the people of Nevis to take control of their lives, their government and their community.

The collection of resources, which is developed, the access provided and the new information and communication technologies will carry the people of Nevis into a creative and productive future.

TEACHERS' RESOURCE CENTRE

MISSION

The TRC will provide support for teaching and learning in the form of teaching materials, workshops and other relevant services to support teachers in the school system.

VISION

That the curriculum will be recognized by all stakeholders as the pivot of the entire process of education and that quality teaching and optimum learning be characterized in every classroom.

E. SWOT ANALYSIS OF LIBRARY SERVICES

INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT

 
STRENGTHS
WEAKENESSES
  • A number of committed staff
  • Strong community support
  • A sound basic collection of materials supporting the CXC and CAPE programme at the Central and Branch Libraries
  • Completed corporate plans for the public and school libraries and the TRC for 2003-2007, in addition to annual work plans
  • Established year-long programme of activities for children and adults
  • Use of seniors to interact with younger children and pass on the culture
  • Up-to-date and widely used collection of materials at the TRC
  • Media support and coverage of outreach activities
  • Supportive written governmetn policies
  • Supportive group of volunteers at the Branch Library.
  • Lack of finance for sustainable development
  • Lack of professionally trained staff
  • Insufficient current reference work at the public and school libraries to support UWI Distancce Education Programme and Teacher Education Programme
  • Inadequate physical space at the central library for housing the library and conducting outreach activitie
  • Inadequate supply of culturally appropriate reading materials for children
  • Not meeting the needs of the new emergent sector of the population
  • Lack of professional periodicals/journals to support the Teacher Education Programmes and the UWI Distance Education programmes

EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT

 
OPPORTUNITIES
THREATS
  • Involvement of international and regional organisations in the educational development projects, particularly the World Bank, OECS and UWI.
  • Educational and other informational opportunities provided by the Internet.
  • Vulnerability to frequent and violent hurricanes
  • Rapid advance in technological development
  • Negative influences of foreign television programmes
  • Competing ways for using leisure time with the influx of CD players and the Internet
  • Openesss of local economy
  • Changing client tastes for new information technologies in lieu of traditional formats

F. PEST ANALYSIS OF LIBRARY SERVICES

Political Factors

a. Political Stability

b. Playing a role in the modernization and delivery of public services

c. Providing public access to the storehouse of information and knowledge available worldwide

d. Promoting a climate of social inclusion by trying to bridge the gap between the information poor and information rich in the society

Economic Factors

a. Economic recession and high inflation rate being experienced locally suggest that residents will have less disposable income and the library services must continue to increase and provide a wider variety of materials to satisfy the informational and recreational reading needs and to continue to develop innovative programmes and services

b. The Library plays a vital role in the community and must adapt and work with the community to ensure that residents can develop personally socially and intellectually.

Social Factors

a. Family lifestyles. Parents are too busy to bring children to outreach activities. Some parents are not being good reading models.

b. Consumerism. More Televisions are baby sitting children and no recreational reading

Technological Factors

a. Need to develop information network across the whole service

a. EMIS to link schools

c. TRC to get online

d. Need for automated catalogue in the public library system.

G. OBJECTIVES AND FUNCTIONS

The Nevis Public Library Service's role is the provision of a public and schools library service.

Objectives for Corporate Plan 2003-2007:

PUBLIC LIBRARY SECTOR

  • To promote a culture of reading at all levels of society
  • To train library staff including three professional librarians
  • To expand the physical space by 3000 square feet providing space for Circulating collections. Reading Room, Reference Room, Computer Room, Audio Visual Room, Bindery, Computer Room and a room for Outreach Activities
  • To increase the collection of resources by 30%
  • To recruit one trained librarian for cataloging and information technology
  • To computerize the libraries' collection
  • To monitor and evaluate the success of the libraries' activities
  • To upgrade the St. Georges' Branch Library

SCHOOL LIBRARY SECTOR

  • To establish learning resource centres at the St. Thomas', St. James', Charlestown and Gingerland Primary Schools.
  • To train seven persons to manage the primary school Learning Resource Centres.
  • To train a coordinator for the Schools Library sector
  • To provide support for the reading programme in the primary school
  • To develop a curriculum of library/information skills for students
  • To support the implementation of the school curriculum

OUTREACH PROGRAMME

  • To increase participation in outreach activities
  • To develop a bookmobile service to the parishes of St. Johns, St. Thomas and St. James
  • To develop a multi media approach to marketing the libraries' activities

FUNCTIONS:

  • Comprehensive provision of lending and information resources and services for children and adults through school and public libraries supported by an up-to-date and efficient catalogue.
  • Stimulate life-long reading for information and pleasure through a variety of motivational reading programmes
  • Development of branch libraries in the rural area and school learning resource centres in all primary schools.
  • Encourage life-long learning through books and other resources
  • Provision of opportunities for staff training and development locally, regionally and internationally.
  • Teaching of skills for information literacy.
  • Network with social and cultural institutions in the local, regional and international community to meet the needs and interest of our citizens

OBJECTIVES & FUNCTIONS OF THE TRC

OBJECTIVES

  • Utilization and sustainability of the TRC
  • Provide programs and opportunities for gifted students
  • Implement, monitor and evaluate Curriculum
  • Improve teacher competences at the primary and secondary level

FUNCTIONS OF THE TRC

  • Produce support for teachers in the form of resource materials and teaching aids for effective delivery of the curriculum
  • Assist in -service teachers involved in the Induction Programme and also the teachers -in-training with research projects
  • Support teachers at all levels (Pro-school to 6th Form) in designing projects and appropriate activities for improving the teaching-learning process
  • Assist facilitators in the planning of local workshops for teachers

H. SERVICES OFFERED

Services vary according to the type of library and user-market being served but include: Circulation, Reference, Current Awareness Services, Inter-library Lending, Compilation of Bibliographies, Internet Service, Scanning Services, Photocopying Service Lamination Service, Educational Advising Services, Bookbinding Services. There is also a service to the Prison.

5. REACH

a. Target Group: The whole community

i.There are six (6) service points:

  • Charlestown Public Library
  • St. George's Branch Library
  • Prospect Primary School Library
  • Combermere Primary School Library
  • St. Thomas Primary School Library

ii. Teachers' Resource Centre (at the Department of Education)

Service Point
No. of Registered Users
No. of Persons Served

Nevis Public Library

4069

4500

St. George's Branch Library

1200

1800

Prospect Primary School Library

170

180

Combermere Primary Library School

90

100

St. Thomas' Primary School Library

178

190

Teachers' Resource Centre

100

200

TOTAL

5809

6970

ii. DEMOGRAPHICS

A 6.7% decline in the population of Nevis was recorded in the 1991 Population Census. The results of the 2001 Population Census have not yet been published. However, the preliminary estimate of the 2001 Population and Housing Census puts the population of the island at 11, 245 persons. With the recent increase in economic activity on the island, Nevis has become a destination for immigrants from Caribbean countries and further afield.

The distribution of the population by parish follows.

Nevis Population by Parish
Preliminary Estimate
Population & Housing Census 2001

Parish
Total Population
Male Population
Female Population
Households

St. Paul's

1820

892

928

607

St. John's

2922

1427

1495

982

St. George's

2632

1289

1343

859

St. James

1836

918

918

674

St. Thomas

2035

999

1036

740

TOTAL

11245

5525

5720

3862

Source: Statistics Department, Nevis
August 2002

6. FUNDING

A. Governmental

Funding for Public and School Libraries, as well as the Teachers' Resource Centre is provided by the Government. Due to the many demands on the national budget, financial provision for these services is inadequate. The operating budget for the Pubhc L,branes for the current fiscal year is EC $ 426, 782 (US$157,084), while that of the TRC is EC $84,260 (US$31,013).

B. Corporate

Some corporate entities (e.g. Nevis Co-operative Credit Union, the banks. Cable & Wireless, small and large business firms in both St. Kitts & Nevis) provide funding in support of outreach activities for children and young people and collection development.

Funds have been secured in the past from international donor agencies (British High Commission, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for the acquisition of furniture and equipment.

C. Other

It is important to point out that material support (books, periodical subscriptions, furniture and stationery) have been provided by local individuals, the expatriate community, local statutory companies, (Philatelic Bureau) as well as Nevisian organizations in Canada and the United States of America (U.S.A.)

Desirables for the Public and Education Library Sector

  • (School Library Sector and the TRC)
  • Modern library facilities in Charlestown, the capital, and in St. John's, St Thomas', and St. James catering to the needs of all sectors of the population.
  • Highly trained and committed staff
  • An adequate supply of current and relevant materials to meet the growing information needs of the diverse clientele.
  • A more informed public as a result of wider access to Library and information services
  • Increased adult participation in library outreach activities
  • Increased readership
  • Development of a Library website with links to the website at the Department of Education
  • The Library playing a leading role in information creation and dissemination
  • Adequate funding for sustainable development
  • Enactment of modem library legislation
  • Online catalogue

School Learning Resource Centres

  • Well resourced Learning Resource Centres in all schools
  • Professionally trained Teacher/ Librarians to manage the Learning Resource Centres
  • Trained support staff
  • Development and implementation of an Information Literacy Skills Curriculum in schools
  • Online and up-to-date library catalogue linking the schools
  • Learning Resource Centres equipped to serve the entire school community
  • The school library sector administered by the Department of Education
  • The creation of the Education Library Sector at the Department of Education covering school learning resource centres and the TRC

The Teachers' Resource Centre

  • Provision of additional furniture and workspace for teacher research
  • Adequate resources to help teachers meet the needs of all students
  • Adequate financial resources for sustainaUe development
  • A full compliment of trained staff
  • TRC equipped with resources to support school programmes
  • Cataloguing and maintenance of TRC collections
  • Adequate shelving to display stored materials
  • Collaboration between TRC and Learning Resource Centres in schools

D. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

  • First International College Fair - 2003
  • Children's Library Environmental Awareness Programme 1998+
  • World Book & Copyright Day Celebrations 1999+
  • Family Literacy Programmes 2000+
  • University Pre-departure Orientation Programme 1998+
  • Christmas Craft Workshop 1994+
  • Monthly Lecture Forum 1990+
  • Establishment of School Libraries 1998+
  • Provision of free Internet-access 1997+
  • Celebration of Black History Month 1992+
  • Member of IFLA 1998+
  • Member of COMLA 1990s
  • Member of ACURIL 1990s
  • Appointed as the official USIS Educational Advising Centre
  • Introduction of Library Skills Programme at two primary schools 2001
  •   After School Art Class 2001+
  • Story Time Programmes for infants, preschoolers and primary schoolers 1998+
  • Poetry Writing Workshop 2003
  • Commemoration of World Poetry Day 2000+
  • Member of UNESCO Network of Associated Libraries (UNAL)
  • Publication of Booklet "Christmas Past in Nevis" (result of oral history project in collaboration with Nevis Historical and Conservation Society (NHCS)