The National Library and Information System Authority’s (NALIS) Director of its Heritage Library Division, Jasmin Simmons, has been elected to the International Federation Library Association and Intuitions’ (IFLA) Regional Committee for Latin America and Caribbean Regional Division.  Simmons is the only representative from the English-Speaking Caribbean elected to this committee for the period 2025 to 2027. 

IFLA advocates for libraries, inspires and enhances professional practice and connects libraries and librarians.  As a member of the Regional Division Committee, Simmons will contribute towards the crucial role of ensuring that IFLA’s work aligns with the specific needs of libraries and library professionals within the Latin America and Caribbean Region.

Simmons’ election to this Committee is indeed a notable achievement.  NALIS is confident that she will represent the region well and do all she can to advance library and information services in Trinidad and Tobago.  The Authority congratulates her and wishes her all the best in this new role.

About Jasmin Simmons

Jasmin Simmons holds a wealth of experience in libraries spanning over 25 years which includes previous appointments as Director of the Educational Libraries Services Division, Director of the Public Libraries Division, and more recently, Deputy Executive Director (Ag), NALIS.

She is a 2010 Salzburg Fellow and 2016 International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Fellow. She possesses a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Literature and a Masters of Degree in Library and Information Science, with a Specialisation in Preservation.

Simmons has served on the UNESCO Memory of the World Committee where she demonstrated her passion for the preservation of documentary heritage of Trinidad and Tobago.

In April, Simmons delivered two presentations highlighting the role of NALIS’ Preservation and Conservation Laboratory (PAC LAB) at the two-day Sub-regional Hybrid Workshop, themed: Strengthening Subregional Practices: Enhancing Disaster Resilience of Caribbean Documentary Heritage”. This workshop was organised by the UNESCO Regional Office for the Caribbean in collaboration with the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Simmons participated in the conference on the topic: “Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in Urban Contexts” at the UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France.  Simmon is a well regarded expert in the areas of documentary heritage and preservation.