Library services still needed, says director

With the advancements in technology, have the services of the library become outdated?

Maureen Thompson, director general of the Jamaica Library Service, gave a resounding no. Thompson disclosed, however, that the challenge being faced by libraries across the island is severe budgetary constraints.

She said that what they have done to make the industry more relevant is to include services where users can have access to computers and the Internet.

"We use technology as another platform just to make the experience of our users more diverse. They are able to come in with their own devices to access free Wi-Fi and the Internet. We maintain our collections as well," she told The Gleaner, following the donation ceremony of 1,000 books by Carlong Publishers yesterday.

"The libraries are plagued with budgetary constraints, and it has significantly impacted how we are able to replenish our collections. We are not able to do it as frequently. They still have an interest in books. It's just that we are not able to satisfy that interest that they have. When they come, they might ask for a particular title, and we don't have it in our collection because of the limited funds," she continued.

Despite the challenges, however, she told The Gleaner that more than 200 persons visit the library on a daily basis. She noted, too, that while resource constraints remained an issue, rural areas, especially, utilise the services very often.

"In the rural areas, the libraries are used more because of the limited resources that families would have in those areas. What you find in the rural areas is that there is not as much connectivity as it relates to the Internet, so they are always dependent on the printed source of materials," Thompson said.

"In some libraries, the connectivity is not what it should be, and that is because we have the infrastructure and we have the equipment, but we don't have an Internet service provider in those areas."

jodi-ann.gilpin@gleanerjm.com