About Us
The National Library and Information System Authority is a corporate body established by the NALIS Act No. 18 of 1998 to administer the development and coordination of library and information services in Trinidad and Tobago.
With the Heritage Library, 25 public libraries (in Trinidad), 3 libraries under the Tobago House of Assembly in Tobago, 4 libraries in correctional institutions, NALIS makes easily accessible to members of the public a library and information service in order to facilitate cultural, economic, educational, political and social development of the people of Trinidad and Tobago (Act No 18 of 1998, Part II, 4a).
Additionally, and in accordance with the NALIS Act (1998), NALIS has entered into arrangements with several Ministries and the Tobago House of Assembly. NALIS Staff provides professional services to 27 Government Agencies and 134 Secondary Schools.
Indeed, it this through these arrangements and collaborations that NALIS has embarked upon the NALIS Co-located Library Project. The project involved collaboration with Ministry of Sport and Community Development, the Ministry of National Security and the Kwani’s Club of St. Helena and other entities. The co-located libraries, slightly different from public libraries by virtue of accomodation, size and service, have been housed at various public spaces such as communities centres. This initiative has earned NALIS the 2023 OCLC’s Caribbean Innovative Cooperation Initiative Award.
The Authority's headquarters is located in the renowned National Library of Trinidad and Tobago, located 23 Abercromby Street, Port of Spain 100509.This facility was opened to the public in 2003.
The National Library and Information System Authority falls under the remit of the Office of the Prime Minister.
Historical Background
The Public Library Service began in Port of Spain in 1851, the Carnegie Free Library was established in San Fernando in 1919, and the Central Library Service was introduced at the Ministry of Education in 1949. These three organisations were responsible for the administration of library services in Trinidad and Tobago until 1998.
On 18 September 1998, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago repealed the Acts that governed these three separate bodies and established the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) as a Statutory Authority under the NALIS Act, No. 18 of 1998 entitled:
“An Act to establish the National Library and Information System, to provide for the development and co-ordination of all library and information services in Trinidad and Tobago and related matters.”
This Act brought together the administration and management of all libraries in the public sector, that is, public, special and school libraries, under an independent Board - the NALIS Authority. The three (3) existing Public Libraries (the Public Library of Trinidad, the Carnegie Free Library and the Central Library of Trinidad and Tobago) and their resources of buildings and stock were transferred to the new Authority.
The Act also gave to NALIS the responsibility to manage the national human resources of library and information science personnel in Public Service bodies; this was brought about through the transfer of staff from the Public Service and the Statutory Authorities Service Commissions to NALIS.
Under the Act, NALIS has the authority generally to administer funds allocated by Parliament, raise funds, recruit and manage staff and manage all resources and library infrastructure, such as buildings and bookmobiles.
NALIS cooperates with libraries in Tobago that fall under the Tobago House of Assembly.