BIBLIO November 2020 (Issue 1)

BIBLIO

N O V E M B E R

2 0 2 0

Official Newsletter of the Library Association of Trinidad and Tobago

IN THIS ISSUE President's

Message • P. 2

In recognition of LATT's 60th anniversary • P. 3

Navigating the new normal • P. 4

Staying connected during Covid-19 via online video conferencing applications • P. 6

Enhancing the way we reach & serve our clients

• P. 8

An examination of online meeting platforms • P. 9

Chaguanas South Secondary slmc – A small school library with an enduring impact on the community and beyond!

• P. 11

The Role of Medical Libraries in a Pandemic • P. 12

Death by Zoom• P. 14

Civil Engineer Representing Libraries and Librarianship during a Pandemic

• P. 16

Medical Sciences Library Service Continuity During a Time

of

Covid-19 Lockdown • P. 18

The time to PIVOT is NOW!

BY BEVERLY WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT - LATT

Welcome Colleagues, If this year was to be described using one word, that word would be unprecedented. The year 2020 arrived and with it came several exceptional firsts. In fact, it has been a year of reckoning for most with COVID-19 practically bringing the world to its knees. This pandemic has been nothing short of disruptive but coming out of the disruptions were necessary innovations. Innovations, which have the potential to propel libraries beyond the proverbial crossroads that we have adopted as a symbol of our somewhat vanishing or declining existence.

2020 the year of disruptive innovations I am impressed by the inventive approaches that members of the Association adopted to revolutionize services, simplify everyday tasks, remain connected with and support the information needs of their clients.

If anything, this pandemic has thought us that we need to adopt new strategies, drastically change our approaches and focus on a different set of positions, but not in delayed reaction to disruptions, proactively!

When a market changes, our response must also to propel us into the new market.

As such, while some may see uncertain times wrought by a seemingly bold and avenging virus intent on destruction, I see potential. I envision an opportunity to refashion what we do, change the narrative and re-engineer services through harnessing our cultural confidence and creative imagination. I see a time to adopt new strategies and drastically change approaches, if not out of necessity then as a result of desire to evolve and shed our self-contempt which has us holding on steadfastly and rigidly to dying concepts and ways of being.

And so, I reiterate that "steadfastly holding unto the past will gain us nothing" and echo the words of renowned Caribbean Leader and esteemed Bajan Prime Minister Mia Mottley, "it is time that we PIVOT!" We thank this edition’s contributors and encourage you to follow all safety precautions and stay safe.

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PAGE 02

In recognition of LATT's 60th

BY JENNA SANDIFORD - MAUNDY, SECRETARY- LATT The inaugural meeting of the Library Association of Trinidad & Tobago LATT) was held at Federal House on January 16th, 1960. As we grapple with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are unable to celebrate this phenomenal milestone as we had hoped. Instead, we must reflect on the Association’s many successes and express our gratitude to the many professionals and paraprofessionals who have so willingly contributed to LATT’s existence.

Our 60th year festivities should have culminated with the completion of the Digitization of the Historical Records of LATT as well as a grand celebration at our 60th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in 2021, where a new Executive Board would be elected and expected to chart the way forward. However, the earthquake in 2018 had resulted in significant damage to LATT’s office in the NALIS Building and halting of the project due to many different health and safety concerns.

As we began to slowly recover from that disaster, the world was ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in limitations of movement, minimization of gatherings and various public health regulations.

We are bound to adapt to the ‘new normal’ since the business of the Association must endure.

Libraries and information professionals must, now more than ever, demonstrate our resilience and steadfastness in demonstrating the significance of libraries and library services in curtailing the spread of misinformation and disinformation during these perilous times" Promoting digital inclusion and access to information is critical, while supporting education, research, and economic, social and cultural participation.

We say a heartfelt thank you to the past and present Executive Board members, the many affiliates and stakeholders including our dedicated members who continue to advocate for and promote library and information services.

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PAGE 03

NAVIGATING THE NEW NORMAL

BY DEBBIE MURRAY,

“Mommy I can’t wait until we are back to normal” is often the cry these days by my kids and everyone for that matter. The pandemic will be over at some point, and the quarantines will get lifted, but we are not going “back to normal.” It is not probable.

We will have a new normal that comes of this situation, just as we have throughout history as we have overcome great tragedies. The COVID-19 pandemic will be written about in history books, and your grandchildren will read about it. We are living through a historic time right now.

The question is, what kind of normal will you help create for your kids?

01 02 BIBLIO

Do not sweat the “small” stuff.

It is okay if your child has a little more screen time than normal if it’s quality time and not just brain rot.

Let go of expectations.

This is a time where nothing is “normal,” so the expectations of a normal routine might not be reasonable right now.

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03 04 05 06 07 08

Redefine productivity.

That word does not mean what it did a few months ago for anyone.

Let the grief happen.

There are people dying alone, goodbyes exchanged over FaceTime, kids not getting to say goodbye to friends, teachers. Everyone was thrust into this hybrid work-school-home situation.

Be gentle with yourself. T here is no Pandemic 101 handbook to help you know what to do. You’re going to mess up. You may lose your temper. Dinner may end in disaster. Breathe! We are far gentler with others than we are with ourselves.

Adapt and overcome.

There might be days where nothing works. The internet goes out, or your toddler walks in naked on your Zoom meeting. Things are going to happen. Everyone is doing the best they can. Try to plan to overcome and not succumb to a bump in your day.

Don’t compare.

Don’t, under any circumstances, allow your family to compare your life to anyone else’s.

You are a rock star and are kicking this pandemic to the curb! Remember, none of us are perfect.

Love your children.

This sounds ridiculous — of course you love your children. At times they may not be very likeable. We don’t all deal with crisis well, and you’re in a contained space with lots of emotions and lots of being human happening. Whatever this looks like for you, make a concerted effort to connect with your child(ren) in a special way every day. These will be the photographs in their minds they remember most. These will be the stories they tell your grandchildren about “growing up in the pandemic.”

09 10 BIBLIO

Find a safe space for you.

This is important — and difficult! Find a place where you can be alone for at least five minutes a day. If you must hide in the bathtub, do it. There are so many demands and pressures on you right now; you deserve a timeout.

This is important and difficult!

Find a place where you can be alone for at least five minutes a day. If you must hide in the bathtub, do it. There are so many demands and pressures on you right now; you deserve a timeout.

PAGE 05

STAYING CONNECTED DURING COVID-19 VIA VIDEO CONFERENCING APPLICATIONS

BY GINELLE FIELDS, Covid-19 has changed how we work and where we work. On account of Covid-19, remote communication is no longer viewed as a luxury but rather, a necessity, in order to maintain connection and productivity within the workplace. This has led to a massive uptake of video conferencing technologies since this type of technology allows virtual face-to-face meetings from diverse locations. This should not be the reality for only large corporations, video conferencing technology holds numerous benefits for actors including libraries. The following sections discuss the eatures of 3 popular online platforms, which Information Specialists can utilize in order to stay connected with staff and patrons.

GoToMeeting This platform is a popular choice for its international capabilities. Participants in over 50 countries are able to call into meetings directly from their cell phones using a toll-free number, and the cost for the call can be billed to the organizer of the meeting on a monthly pay-as-yougo basis. The basic plan costs $14 USD/ month and offers all the standard features, including the capability of recording meetings. Transcription service is not included at the basic plan but is available in the higher priced options. The free version allows up to 3 participants, screen sharing, video & audio-conferencing capabilities with a 40-minute cap.

Microsoft Teams For industries already using Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams can be a natural pick. As it allows seamless integration with other Microsoft apps like Outlook and SharePoint. Therefore, users can complete all their tasks from this platform, which facilitates file sharing and co-authoring. The first payment plan starts at $5 USD/month (annual commitment). It accommodates up to 250 participants and includes standard features like 24/7 online and phone support. Using the free version, one can host 20 persons on video call with a 24-hour limit.

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PAGE 06

Zoom Zoom has quickly become a medium used by several groups to stay connected and outside of meetings is useful for sharing educational programmes and social events. The host can invite participants into a meeting by sending a link which joins the participant directly to the meeting without downloading the application. The basic paid plan starts at $15 USD/month and allows additional capabilities like poll taking and session recording. The free version accommodates up to 100 participants with a 40-minute limit. There is unlimited FaceTime with one-to-one video conferencing.

Conclusion Covid-19 has changed the way libraries maintain contact. The applications reviewed ways to connect with stakeholders. The following is offered for ease of reference:

highlight

References B e s t V i d e o C o n f e r e n c i n g S o f t w a r e [h t t p s : / / w w w . g 2 . c o m / c a t e g o r ie s / v i d eo -co nf er enci ng ] M i c r o s o f t T e a m V S Z o o m : W h i c h P l a t f o r m is B e t t e r f o r Y o u r O r g a ni zat i o n [ h t t p s : / / w w w . u n i f y s q u a r e . c o m / b l o g / m ic r o s o f t - t e a m s - vs - z o o m - w h i ch-p l at f o r m -i s -b et t er for-your-organization/] M i c r o s o f t T e a m s : M o r e W a y s t o b e a T e a m [h t t p s : / / w w w . m ic r o s o ft .co m / en-w w / m i cr o s o f t 365/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software] P i c k Y o u r O n l i n e M e e t i n g P l a n [ h t t p s : / / w w w . g o t o m e e t in g . c o m / m eet i ng / p r i ci ng ] W h a t i s Z o o m a n d H o w D o e s i t W o r k ? P l u s T ip s a n d T r ic k s [h t t p s :/ / w w w .p o ck et l i n t . c o m / a p p s / n e w s / 1 5 1 4 2 6 - w h a t -is - z o o m - a n d - h o w - d o e s - it - w o r k - pl u s -t i p s -and -t r i ck s ] Z o o m : C h o o s e a P l a n [ h t t p s : / / z o o m . u s / p r ic in g ]

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PAGE 07

ENHANCING THE WAY WE REACH & SERVE OUR CLIENTS

BY JASMIN RAYMOND

The

inability

resources

to

and

physically

provide

a

access

our

... this digital platform we foresee would allow for “finger-tip” access to the Court’s key content ...

comprehensive

service to our judges and public due to the stay

at

workers

home

orders

emerging

pandemic,

has

for

from

reminded

Industrial Court Library strengthen

our

online

non-essential the

COVID-19

us

here

at

that

we

need

content

and

the to

quicken

our ability to serve our customers digitally.

Subsequently, advance

its

delivering reaching

the

use

Library

of

has

e-methodologies

authoritative the

public

decided

via

the

content creation

to

when and of

a

mobile app that would make the Library’s r eady reference information as well as some of the Court’s all-important content more accessible and visible.

Further, would

this

allow

digital for

platform

“finger-tip”

we

foresee

access

to

the

Court’s key content on the smartphone, one of

the

ICT

devices

of

choice

for

both

the

lay-man as well as the professional.

It is hoped that this mobile app would be a more

interactive

communicate public

as

access

well our

way

with

for

our

as

be

us

to

reach

and

and

the

clients

portal to “ Judgments ”

another

proprietary

database (contains meta-data and full text of the cases of the Court as well as related High

Court,

Court

of

Appeal

and

Privy

Council judgments) as well as be.

At present, we are in the preliminary stages of

creating

potential

and

content

as

authority well

as

checking evaluating

potential platforms. It is our goal to roll out this initiative before the year end.

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PAGE 08

AN EXAMINATION OF ONLINE MEETING PLATFORMS

BY HELEN JOHNSON, Director Information Networks Division, NALIS The significance of online meeting platforms has skyrocketed in light of the distancing measures being implemented by organisations arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for business ontinuity. This form of communication was quite common in the library community as persons were familiar with Webex and Skype which were developed in 1995 and 2003 respectively. WebEx was the preferred option for overseas suppliers to either demonstrate new products or to conduct training, whilst Skype enabled persons to participate in meetings or in more recent times, interviews.

With the sudden, widespread demand for access to online platforms, Webex, the industry leader could not keep pace with its offshoot and main rival Zoom, which had been steadily increasing its market share both with individual users as well as in the corporate environment. Zoom instantly became the online platform of choice with a one year increase in users of 378% (Bary).

Part of Zoom’s attractiveness was that it was a fully integrated software which made it much easier to use than Webex and its basic plan was free so that organisations with limited resources could host group meetings with a maximum of 100 participants for a period of forty minutes. Webex has since countered by offering the option of free meetings with 100 persons for a period of fifty minutes. It has also reduced its prices and updated its software to be more integrated with other online platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Slack. Despite these efforts

by Webex, Zoom has remained an attractive choice for users even after the highly publicized security breach (Wakefield). Ease of use remains the critical factor.

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For organisations which operate primarily in a Windows environment, Microsoft Teams which is the replacement for Skype for Business was the preferred choice as it formed part of the Microsoft ecosystem and integrated easily with Microsoft Office and SharePoint.

Although Zoom, Webex and Microsoft Teams are the three most common platforms used by organisations, there are over a dozen other platforms with varying subscription packages.

These include ezTalks Meetings, GoToMeeting and Google Meet.

A Word of Caution An emerging concern has been the length and frequency of online meetings. As with face to face meetings, online sessions should be carefully planned with a clearly defined agenda. If the meeting becomes too prolonged, participants will lose interest and the meeting becomes unproductive. Similarly, if meetings are being held too frequently, and employees are not being given sufficient time to complete assigned tasks then some level of frustration will develop. The current Work From Home (WFH) scenario must also be assessed in the context that whole families may be at home and this presents a particular challenge to the employee. Supervisors should therefore take this into account to avoid burn out of their employees or Zoom Fatigue. (Duffy) For most companies, online meetings have been both productive and cost-effective. This has impacted on their business model and may result in permanent changes even after COVID-19 has been brought under control.

Works Cited Bary,

Emily.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/zoom-microsoft-cloud-usage-are-

rocketing-during-coronavirus-pandemic-new-data-show-2020-03-30. 1 April 2020. 27 August 2020.

Duffy, Liz Fosslien and Mollie West. https://hbr.org/2020/04/how-to-combat-zoomfatigue. 29 April 2020. 27 August 2020.

Wakefield, Jane. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52133349. 2 April 2020. 27 August 2020.

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CHAGUANAS SOUTH SECONDARY SLMC – A SMALL SCHOOL LIBRARY WITH AN ENDURING IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND!

BY DAVI RAMKALLAWAN, LIBRARIAN ELSD NALIS There’s never a dull moment at the library where the vibrant staff are always willing and ready to assist when called upon. We have become the catalyst for change within the Chaguanas community and by assisting one child or one family, we have created a ripple effect of difference makers. During this uncertain time of COVID-19, the library has sought and employed various methods/techniques in our electronic information support service to proactively engage members not only within our school community but externally. Behind the scenes is where the action takes place of trial and error, long days and hours into producing a learning resource for our ever-present digital natives, who are eager consumers and avid responders/critics to what is offered/recommended. Learning resources range from literacy and numeracy worksheets, educational games, presentations and research handouts/tutorials.

Some initiatives launched and successfully continued with the support of the community are: 1. Research Resources Assistance Initiative – this service was initially launched in May 2020 with the Director of CTS College (Educational Institution based in Chaguanas) and Principal of Holy Faith Convent, Couva to aid students in research queries. Over the past months, it has expanded where we have completed research queries for Project Engineers, Teachers, Principals, Entrepreneurs, and individuals pursuing undergraduate and post-graduate studies.

2. Interactive educational and recreational games such as Quarantine Jeopardy with areas: Spell-a-Roo, T&T Traffic Jam, Maths Mania, Don't be too Tense, Mixer-It-Up, Library Facts, Well-read Titles, Popular Authors, Can’t get enough Book Series and Parts of the Book. Also, among the favourites are Danger Word and Dictionary Challenges.

3. Power-Point Presentations and videos which include local, regional and international observances, festivals and safety during COVID-19. Craft tutorials which were usually done during the school term, are now being digitally shared. These craft tutorials promote upcycling and repurposing materials as care for the environment is a priority at the school.

4. Technological support from verbal social media application walkthroughs to practical Big 6 Skills tutorials in researching an easy chocolate cookie recipe to actually baking said cookies.

5. Proof-reading documents for students from CAPE to Master’s Degree Level and also literary articles for local entrepreneurs.

The library staff have become avid storytellers, dynamic and dedicated advocates by diversifying audience reach and services. We have truly achieved our objective in creating an exciting, flexible, student-centered and energizing environment for a wide range of learning activities which has become the hub of the school. With continued support from the school and wider community, who knows what strides we can achieve in life-long learning!

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THE ROLE OF MEDICAL LIBRARIES IN A PANDEMIC B Y L IS A R A M B A D H A N , L I B R A R I A N I

Every library has gone through some kind of challenge during this period of pandemic, but one thing remains the focus of any organisation and it is to remain relevant.

Medical libraries are no exception. Although, doctors and nurses are considered front line workers, janitors and ward attendants services have also risen in value. They are required to assist patients and sanitize hospitals, clinics and doctors’ offices.

Where do medical libraries fit in during this time? Do they serve any purpose? Why should they remain open and continue to function, when economies have fallen and many businesses are closed or lost? Do they still have a role? In the medical field, medical libraries are essential, more so during a pandemic.

Believe it or not, medical libraries play an extremely important role. They are part of the communication network in a medical environment. This is where the most recent, accurate, evidence - based information can be found as the pandemic evolves. Both medical professionals and the public can receive information through different platforms as librarians continue to disseminate articles and research, such as, development of vaccines, rules and regulations and other vital information, through the services they provide.

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"...healthcare professionals and other stakeholders have a place where they are sure the information is credible..."

Medical librarians are needed for their research skills in evaluating information even through search engines like Google. With the bombardment of information coming in from different sources, these librarians carefully evaluate and select accurate information coming from sources that are reliable and authentic.

Therefore, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders have a place where they are sure the information is credible and they are able to obtain proper guidelines, procedures and research results needed during this time.

Medical libraries also have licenses and access to medical information, that no other organisation or facility may be able to provide.

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Throughout the years, relationships developed between medical libraries, publishers and database providers. They also have access to journals and reports circulated from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), which are agencies responsible for improving international public health.With access to many avenues of accurate information, medical libraries use technology to keep management teams, health care workers and other patrons, informed in a timely manner, through hospital Intranets, emails, databases, virtual libraries and social media accounts.

All stakeholders are kept abreast of the changing trends of the pandemic and are able to use the information to make effective and efficient decisions. As the pandemic continues, medical libraries will continue to assist in the fight and adapt well to changes that may occur. The role may be evolving, but continues to be relevant and essential, especially during a pandemic.

For more information feel free to contact Delise @ 359-2089 or Ayaana @310-5914 BIBLIO

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DEATH BY FROM THE DESK OF MERLIN BEEDAISE- GANGOO, LIBRARIAN III, ESSU, INFORMATION NETWORKS DIVISION.

In 2020, Zoom evolved as the premier choice of video conferencing platform. Its utilization in a myriad of unexpected ways was brought about by the global pandemic and the resultant work from home or stay at home regulations. For businesses, it made communication with colleagues situated at remote locations easier, more effective and decidedly efficient. It facilitated online meeting platforms that proved advantageous in enhancing communication, providing ease of access to stakeholders. As an efficient medium of interaction for business participants, it ensured business continuity. However, challenges such as decreased personal contact, security issues, and health issues did emerge.

Security researchers pointed out these flaws could allow outsiders to steal login in information, gain access to messages and take control of user’s cameras and microphones.

According to the founder of Zoom, Eric Yan, the software was not designed with the foresight that, in a matter of weeks, every

With the rapid demand for zoom in 2020, there were concerns regarding issues of security, privacy and harassment that left its growing audience at risk. Security researchers claimed that Zoom’s programming code was dependent on techniques that left the participants’ computers exposed to breaches. Zoom’s datasharing arrangements have the ability for some users to record conversations without the consent of all parties involved. This undermined people’s privacy as they engaged in sensitive discussions from remote locations.

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person in the world would be suddenly working, studying, and socializing from home.

According to app-analytics company, Apptopia, Zoom‘s mobile app had approximately 173 million monthly active users in May, compared to 14 million in March.

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Our entire life at present is orbiting around Zoom. Teachers, trainers, students, employers, employees have all been figuratively abducted by zoom. According to the World Economic Forum, the price of lockdown is plagued with significant health disparities such as health burnouts, poor emotional wellbeing, stress and eye strain.

This isolation has tainted our mental well-being. Intensive sitting through Zoom meetings in front of a laptop s or a smartphone screen can result in pain in the eyes. Exhaustion, blurry vision, fatigue, headaches, dry eyes, and other neurological problems were the resultant conditions that emanated from prolonged usage of devices. With extensive access to digital screens, this lead to chronic backaches disfigured spinal cords and migraine complaints which were widespread among people who sat for long periods on video calls. Additionally, extensive video calling can lead to increased physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle with the resultant concomitant effect of increased diabetes, obese populations and other long term lifestyle comorbid conditions and adverse health effects, for example, high blood pressure, obesity, cardiovascular complications and diabetes. Death by zoom, a true reality BRIGHAM YOUNG in today’s world.

While Zoom may have its benefits, it is having major repercussions on our health and wellbeing, therefore, I postulate a DEATH by ZOOM. References: Acquah, V. (2020). ‘The impact of Zoom Fatigue and digital eye strain.’ Thrive Global. Accessed on 17th August 2020. https://thriveglobal.com/stories/the-impact-of-zoom-fatigue-digital-eye-strain/ National Geographic (2020). ‘Zoom Fatigue is taxing the brain. Here why that happens.’ Accessed on the 18th of August: 2020 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/04/coronavirus-zoom-fatigue-is-taxing-the-brainhere-is-why-that-happens/ Boyarsky, K. (2020). “The 10 best video meeting https://www.owllabs.com/blog/best-meeting-app

apps.”

Accessed

on

19th

August

2020

Taylor, P. (2020). “Death by Zoom: Have we failed the mass home experiment?” Accessed 30th August 2020. https://paulitaylor.com/2020/05/08/death-by-zoom

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CIVIL ENGINEER REPRESENTING LIBRARIES AND LIBRARIANSHIP DURING A PANDEMIC

BY STEPHAN LEWIS, PROJECT ENGINEER, NALIS If the title did not attract you to read this article, then your interest must have been captured by the radiating smile of the person in the photograph. Nonetheless, I appreciate that you have taken the time to read if not all, at least part of the contents herein.

You may be asking what is a civil engineer or what does a civil engineer have to do with libraries or librarianship In simple terms, a civil engineer is the profession which is responsible for our civilization, the built environment in which you a n d I, c i v i l i a n s , r e s i d e ( A S C E , ICE). The houses in which we live, the road networks on which we drive, the buildings in which we are educated or work or visit for one reason or the other, the water and sewerage systems which fuels our daily consumption or bowel relief, the ports in which harbour our vessels or aircrafts, are just a few examples of what a civil engineer does through designs, building and maintenance. You may still be wondering, confused even.

Because, what does that have to do with a librarian? It’s simple, the libraries in which librarians operate need to be built and for this reason, the civil engineer is called upon to facilitate in the development projects of libraries.

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Simple enough? Feel free to stop me anytime to explain further.

As the title refers, I have decided to emphasise librarianship representation in the time of a pandemic, namely, the Coronavirus ( C O V ID - 1 9 ) p a n d e m i c . W h e n the organisation in which I work, National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS), was shuttered because of the C O V ID - 1 9 r e s t r i c t i o n s , m y work was not. I was still working from home and at times I even had to report for duty at the office. I must say, at first, I revolted but after reflecting upon my upbringing, I recall my humble obedience and disciplined conduct which have brought me this far.

So, I complied and I am thankful for the benefits of my resolve.

While many, if not all, of my projects may have been non-operational for some time, I was still required to ensure that the necessary arrangements remained ongoing to facilitate its resumption. Further to this, I was also asked to assist in the preparation of the guidelines for the reopening o f N A L IS p o s t C O V I D - 1 9 restrictions. While I admit that I have been ardently o b s e r v i BRIGHAM n g t h e w aYOUNG y librarians function and operate over the past years of being employed in the organisation, this responsibility gave me the opportunity to increase my awareness, understanding and appreciation for libraries and librarianship.

Since my childhood, I was introduced to the Public Library in my hometown, Arima.

Every Saturday morning, my parents would take my family and I to the library for at least one hour to read, borrow books and partake in the library activities.

PAGE 16

Sometimes if not most, my elder brother held that responsibility to take us there. Hence, I can safely say that I have a longstanding relationship with the public library. Even throughout my primary, secondary and tertiary educational levels, I was prone to utilise the libraries at these institutions to facilitate my learning. The memories of silently reading, reading out loud, dramatizing Bo Nancy or other traditional folk stories, studying or completing assignments are favourably etched on my mind. Even the ring-ears by your teacher for talking during library time or the “DING� of the bell to alert you to be silent can never be forgotten. Those were the days.

I have somewhat digressed. However, this was simply to show you that I have a true appreciation and fondness for libraries and what they offer. Let’s refocus. The tasks of librarians may seem simple. I beg to differ. Librarians are tasked with the herculean responsibility to channel the labyrinth of information that is available in the myriad of formats into one that is precise and understandable for each of its patrons. I emphasise, Each! To this end, bear in mind that the patrons who librarians serve also come in different forms, be it, the children, the young or the adult, the visual or hearing impaired, the differently abled, the different language-speaking, and the list goes on. Librarians are also tasked with developing programmes for these patrons to ensure that meaningful and credible information and knowledge is made available and taught through these means. I lament on credible information because of the multitude of misinformation that is available and the ease in which it is available through the worldwide web and social media platforms. As such, the role of the librarians is crucial to ensure reliable, equitable and inclusive library and information services are offered, the mission of NALIS. Thus, as the COVID-19 pandemic issues the unprecedented wave of challenges which we are all confronted by, I am optimistically eager to observe the way in which my organisation, NALIS, transforms, evolves and overcome. Librarians by nature are well-equipped to mitigate BRIGHAM YOUNGthese obstacles as they provide a source of comfort through knowledge, understanding and research and enable the learning that is necessary to rise above the feat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Take a page out of their book and join the force of libraries and librarianship.

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MEDICAL SCIENCES LIBRARY SERVICE CONTINUITY DURING A TIME OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

BY NIALA DWARIKA – BHAGAT AND AYAANA ALLEYNE – CUMBERBATCH THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES MEDICAL SCIENCES LIBRARY

On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic following the worldwide outbreak of a novel coronavirus subsequently named COVID-19. As a number of reported cases escalated globally, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, The Honourable Dr Keith Rowley announced on Friday 13th March, 2020, all places of learning, inclusive of schools and universities would be closed for one week effective from Monday 16th March, to help slow potential community spread of the virus. This date was thereafter extended to April 20th and following a national lockdown and the closure of the nation’s borders, places of learning, inclusive of universities, remained closed.

This article focuses on the delivery of library services during the period of lockdown Monday 16 March to Sunday June 28th, at the Faculty of Medical Science, (University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago (UWISTA).

The UWISTA campus is one of the five campuses of the University of the West Indies (UWI) which serves 15 Caribbean countries regionally. The Faculty of Medicine UWISTA was established in 1989 and has a current enrolment of approximately 2700 plus students (2020) in the five schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing and, an Optometry programme.

Consequent on the national directive, the transformation from a physical to a virtual environment was immediate. Given that the top priority was business continuity, the Medical Sciences Library (MSL) accelerated its existing virtual reference services to full-on delivery using online platforms, within a matter of hours. The MSL continued to provide services to its student and faculty user-base, embracing the knowledge that users likewise were required operate in full-online mode.

The table below outlines at-a-glance, the services offered by the Medical Sciences Library to the Faculty of Medical Sciences and Students during the period March 16th – June 28th, 2020.

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Reference The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus : Comparative Registration Statistics 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 (Ongoing). (2020).

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IN REMEMBRANCE It is with heavy hearts that we acknowledge the passing of our very own Mr Lyndon Karl Jackson.

Lyndon

Jackson served on the Executive Board of the Library

Association of Trinidad & Tobago (LATT) from 2015 to time of his passing with a level of dedication that remains unmatched to

this

date.

He

exemplified

the

quintessential

librarian,

he

delighted in serving his publics, connecting with communities, imparting

knowledge

and

facilitating

development

of

the

whole person; client and team member alike.

His

contributions

IN REMEMBRANCE

to

the

field

of

Library

and

Information

Systems spanned sixteen years of dedicated and meritorious service

characterized

by

humility,

courage

to

transcend

the

barriers of traditional librarianship and preparedness to be the driving force behind any initiative that served libraries and the citizenry simultaneously.

"WITH GREAT RELUCTANCE AND HEAVY HEARTS WE BID YOU REST IN ETERNAL PEACE"

LYNDON KARL JACKSON

August 28, 1983 - May 05, 2019

On November 26th 2020 the library profession lost one of its hard working soldiers.

The Library Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) joins library professionals globally to offer its condolences on the passing

of

Dr

Luisa

del

Carmen

Carolina

Vigo

Cepeda

affectionately known as Dr Vigo Cepeda.

Dr Vigo Cepeda was a founding member of the Association of Caribbean University Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL). Her tireless work with this association became one of

her

hallmarks

demonstrating

her

commitment

and

dedication to the library and information profession.

Due to her ill health Dr Vigo was unable to attend ACURIL’s 50th anniversary celebratory conference - a conference she attended and participated in since its inception.

Thank you for your years of service and dedication Dr Vigo

Cepeda.

You

will

surely

be

missed.

May

your

spirit enjoy eternal rest.

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