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 United Nations Sustainable Development Goal to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

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 Trinidad and Tobago.” Co-located libraries are smaller, flexible spaces in the heart of communities. Different to 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 of Trinidad and Tobago. 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 in St Helena community. Initial collaborations have been with the Ministry of Sport and Community Development, the Ministry of National Security and the Kiwani’s 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.

“These cooperative 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 instill digital literacy in the community. This project reflects Nalis’ vision and mission and clearly demonstrates the distinguishing role libraries play in Trinidad and Tobago’s development.”

Daniel Boivin, executive director, OCLC Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean said that Nalis is very deserving of this recognition for its outstanding work. He added, “Development Goals, provide a diverse range of products and services tailored to meet the targeted needs of communities, promoting lifelong quality learning opportunities, accelerating the pace of digital literacy, and generally enabling members of underserved communities to be successful in business, education, and employment.”

The OCLC Award for Innovative Cooperation Initiatives in the Caribbean recognises and distinguishes a school, academic, public, or national library for an innovative accomplishment in the planning and implementing of a collaborative programme or service, ideally using technologies, for the benefit of its community.

About OCLC

OCLC is a nonprofit global library organization that provides shared technology services, original research, and community programs so that libraries can better fuel learning, research, and innovation. Through OCLC, member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the most comprehensive global network of data about library collections and services. Libraries gain efficiencies through OCLC’s WorldShare, a complete set of library management applications and services built on an open, cloud-based platform. It is through collaboration and sharing of the world’s collected knowledge that libraries can help people find answers they need to solve problems. Together as OCLC, member libraries, staff, and partners make breakthroughs possible.

OCLC, WorldCat and WorldShare are trademarks and/or service marks of OCLC, Inc. Third-party product, service and business names are trademarks and/or service marks of their respective owners.

Photo courtesy OCLC

From left: Daniel Boivin, Executive Director, OCLC Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, Beverly Ann Williams, Deputy Executive Director, Nalis and Edwar Delgado, OCLC Library Services Consultant, Latin America.