LIBRARY SERVICES IN SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES: AN OVERVIEW

by
Michelle King

SECTION ONE

1.0 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Department of Libraries, Archives andDocumentation Services will provide an important national resource education, culture, information, and personal life-long development. Libraries offer opportunities to adults and children for self-education, and are an important resource in the development and strengthening of reading habits in children and adults.

The Public Libraries and National Archives and Documentation Centre are accessible to serve all members of the community. This year, the Library Services in St. Vincent and the Grenadines celebrated 110 years of existence and service. The Kingstown Library Services was started in 1893 by the then Town Board as a reading room. In 1909 services started at the Carnegie Free Public Library. Kingstown Public Library has been housed in rented accommodation for the last 13 years.

The National Documentation Centre was established in 1982 to provide a pertinent information service to planners, policy makers, technical personnel, and researchers in the public sector. The Centre's main functions involve the collecting, organising, and disseminating of all locally generated documents, particularly those emanating from government sources,
with priority given to the area of social and economic planning. For this reason, the Centre is integrally linked to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Development, its primary user.

The National Archives of St.Vincent and the Grenadines was established in 1990 as part of the Department of Libraries, Archives and Documentation Services. Important national records housed in the National Archives, include government administrative files, rare books, maps, photographs, and private papers dating from the 1700s.

At present there are eighteen (18) Branch Libraries throughout St Vincent and the Grenadines.

SECTION TWO

2.0. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT

The staffers within the Library Divisions operate under their respective mission statements and relevant Civil Service Orders. There is no separate/independent legislative portfolio or jurisdiction that governs the delivery of services.

Core competencies are centred around values such as professionalism, originality, efficiency, effectiveness, initiative, and responsibility.

2.1. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

2.2. STAFFING

Director - Library Services
Library Assistant

A) Public Library
Librarian
Librarian Non-graduate
Senior Binder
Senior Library Assistants
Typist
Binder
Vault Attendant/Driver
Office Attendant
Apprentice (Binder)

B) Documentation Centre
Librarian
Research Assistant/Indexer
Typist

C) Archives
Archivist
Library Assistant
Vault Attendant

2.3. STAFF DEVELOPMENT POLICIES

To provide basic training for Librarians and Archivists through the following specific activities:

- Suitably trained staff in all libraries
- At least one qualified professional librarian per library to the Bachelor of Arts Degree level in Library and Information Studies by 2005
- Library Service improved through the service of a Computing Analyst to enhance systems administration
- Upgrade personnel and improved service by establishing two (2) new posts of Library Assistant (Barrouallie and Georgetown)

2.4. MISSION STATEMENT

The Department of Libraries, Archives and Documentation Services is committed to provide to users comprehensive and relevant information for educational, recreational, cultural and research purposes by:

- extending the out-reach services to all areas by establishing Branch Libraries, Bookmobile services.

- preserving the heritage of St Vincent and the Grenadines in our Archives through the preservation of documents, material records and historical artifacts, both from the public and private sectors, thus create an indispensable national heritage and source of resource.

- fostering a desire for knowledge by providing books and out-reach programs for children, senior citizens
and shut-in.

- providing relevant information services to Government Officials, Planners, Policy makers and Researchers in both public and private sectors to keep all persons up-to-date on advances in their relevant areas.

2.5. VISION STATEMENT

The Department of Libraries, Archives and Documentation Services seeks to establish a proactive role that will ensure democratic accountability and opportunities for research; also will enable the public to be completely satisfied with services
provided.

2.6. SWOT ANALYSIS

A. STRENGTHS

• Corporation and resource sharing.
  
• Branch services in 18 districts including the Grenadines
  
• Availability of a wealth of knowledge.
  
• Responsive to environmental changes
  
• Commitment and willingness to provide information
  
• In-service training.
• Adherence to financial rules and regulations.
  
• Efficient management of limited financial resources
  
• Assisting organizations with organizing their collections.
  
• Development of outreach programs:
  - Children's Library Annual Programs (CLASP)
  - Orientation for Secondary School
  - Workshops
  - Exhibitions/Displays/College Fair
  - Quarterly bulletin

B. WEAKNESSES

• In adequate and unsuitable accommodation e.g. Lack of space to house materials and to accommodate researchers,
  
• environment not conducive to work and study
  
• Unable to provide computer service to the public.
  
• Under - resource in computer and other information technology equipment
  
• Limited provision for security of material
  
• Obsolete legislation to set Library on a firm legislative basis e.g. Public Library
  
• Untrained professional staff
  
• Lack of exposure of Library staff to professional development and training

C. OPPORTUNITIES

• Trained Librarians.
  
• Improved application to technology and training.
  
• Established para-professional training.
  
• Implement Modern Library laws.
  
• Adopt/ adapt more innovative strategies to raise the level of literacy in the country e.g. bookmobile service
  
• Further enhance advisory and records management services throughout the Civil Service.
  Promote networking arrangements intra and extra-regionally with respect to Library, Documentation and Archival services in St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

D. THREATS

Poor public relation techniques has served to foster
a less than positive career image in the field of
Library services. This as resulted in high staff turn
-over rate, low staff morale and very low demand for
career choices in the field.
Inadequately trained professional
Periodical and other subscriptions are difficult to
maintain in a period of tight economic constraints.

2.7. PEST ANALYSES

2.8 OBJECTIVES

• To provide comprehensive, up-to-date and timely information services for the educational, cultural and recreational needs to all citizens of the State.
• To extend the information outreach service to all rural areas by establishing Branch Libraries and Bookmobile Services.
• To foster a desire for knowledge by providing outreach programmes for children, senior citizens and shut-ins.
• To preserve the heritage of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in our National Archives through the preservation of documents and historical artifacts, both from the public and private sectors, thus creating an indispensable national heritage for research.
• To provide relevant and timely information services to Government Officials, Planners, Policy Makers and Researchers to keep all persons up-to-date on advances in their relevant areas.
  

2.9 SERVICES OFFERED:

(i) Reference Services:

- St Vincent and the Grenadines, CXC, West Indian
- General, Black Authors
- Sir Rupert John
- Frank Dellimore/Music
- Japanese
- CTA Collection

(ii) Lending Services
(iii) Internet searching
(iv) SDI Services
(v) Microfiche Services
(vi) Interlibrary loans
(vii) Postal service of the aged
(viii) Database services
(ix) Research services
(x) Telephone enquiries/Email enquiries
(xi) Exhibition and displays
(xii) College Fairs
(xiii) Orientation
(xiv) Outreach services -

-Children's Library Annual Summer Programme (CLASP)
-Fieldtrips
-Storytelling

SECTION THREE

3.0 REACH

a. Target Group: Adults, Juveniles, Disabled, University Students

(i) Number of service points - twenty-one (21)

(ii) Demographics

Age range of users:

-- Juvenile (Ages 5 - 15)
-- Adults (15 - 60 and above)

There are more females than males registered in the Library (60:40 ratio)

(iii) Geographic Distribution:

(a) Kingstown

-- Main Library
-- Documentation Centre
-- National Archives

(b) Grenadines - Three (3) branches
(c) Leeward Side of Island - five (5) branches
(d) Windward side of Island - ten (10) branches

b. Number of persons served -- 20,000
c. Number of registered users - 40,000

3.1 FUNDING:

On average 70% of funding for the Department of Libraries, Archives and Documentation Services is provided by government with 30% from grants from multi-lateral donor agencies for the Archives and the Department of Libraries, respectively. It is
estimated that during the period of the Education Sector Development Plan (2002 to 2007), the capital and recurrent requirements for libraries from Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports will amount to EC$30.0 million and EC$7.5 million respectively. (See Table 3A in appendix)

3.2 STATED AND DESIRED VISION FOR THE COUNTRY'S INFORMATION NEEDS

• Kingstown Public Library refurbished and restocked by 2005
  
• Branch Libraries refurbished and restocked by 2005
  
• Librarians and Archivists trained by 2007
  
• Libraries with computers and multimedia rooms where appropriate by 2007
  
• Secondary School libraries upgraded to fully-equipped Branch Libraries by 2004

3.3 STATED AND DESIRED VISION OF ORGANISATION

• A modern fully equipped national library
  
• Well-equipped Branch Libraries in all zones
  
• Professionally staffed Libraries
  
• Modern fully equipped where feasible
  
• Improved national coverage of library system

3.4 RECOMMENDATIONS

• Construct a new public library with appropriate structures and personnel
  
• Upgrade, refurbish, establish (where necessary) and provide resources for Branch Libraries
  
• Provide training for Librarians and Archivists
  
• Develop a modern library facility that utilizes ICT equipment
  
• Integrate the development of the Schools' Library Programme with Branch Libraries, where appropriate
  
• Integrate the National Library service into other systems electronically

4.0. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

It is noteworthy to mention that the activities related to the upgrading and modernization of the Department of Library, Archives and Documentation Services (DLADS) should be seen as part of the overall goal and policy directives of the SVG's Education
Sector Development Plan (ESDP) 2002-07, which is currently being implemented in the country. The intended outcome of the plan is a nation that is functionally literate, numerate and computer competent. The indicative cost of the five year plan is estimated at EC$512.8 m, of which EC$172.5 m (34%) is capital expenditure and EC$ 340.3 m (66%) is recurrent (mostly salaries) ranging over ten (10) sub sectors as indicated in Tables 3A and 3B respectively. In Table 3B the capital expenditure for DLADS is allocated according to five broad categories, namely, Civil works (23.0 m), Design (2.3 m), Furniture and
Equipment (3.45 m), Training (1.0 m) and Technical Assistance ( 0.25 m), respectively.

SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARIES, ARCHIVES AND DOCUMENTATION SERVICES

SEMINAR ON IFLA/UNESCO MANIFESTOS FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES

PREPARED BY MICHELLE KING, LIBRARIAN

MAY 5th-7th 2003

This country report is written in partial fulfillment of the Seminar on IFLA/UNESCO Manifestos conducted by the National Library and Information Systems Authority (NALIS) Trinidad and Tobago