IMPACT Justice Hosts Caribbean Law Librarianship Workshop in Jamaica

Forty law library assistants from across the region will be trained at a workshop entitled “Caribbean Law Librarianship in the Digital Age” hosted by the Canadian Government-funded project Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice). IMPACT Justice, which is a regional justice sector reform project, is being implemented from within the Caribbean Law Institute Centre, UWI, Cave Hill Campus.

The workshop is being held from January 25^th – 27^th at the Knutsford Court Hotel, Kingston, Jamaica. It will provide training in law library procedures, organisation and research techniques.

Prof. Velma Newton, IMPACT Justice Regional Project Director, commented, “This workshop falls within our mandate to improve access to legal information in CARICOM Member States. It will provide the opportunity for non-professional staff who work in law libraries in government departments, private law offices and universities in the region to upgrade their research, administrative and service delivery skills. For some persons, this will be the first formal law librarianship training ever received.”

His Excellency Sylvan Sabi, High Commissioner for Canada to Jamaica, will deliver the Welcome Address on behalf of the Government of Canada. Ms. Connie Crosby, President of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries will bring greetings from that association and Prof. Velma Newton, will provide background information on IMPACT Justice. The Opening Session will also be attended by Dr. Eileen Boxill, Q.C., Advisor to the Minister of Justice, Jamaica; Mrs. Carol Palmer, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, who is the IMPACT Justice primary contact person in Jamaica; Dr. Paulette Kerr, Campus Librarian, UWI, Mona Campus; Ms. Stephney Fergusson, former University Librarian; Mrs. Patricia Roberts, Head, Jamaica Library Service and Ms. Donna Marie Rowe, Head, Jamaica Information Service.

Among the trainers are law librarians from the Norman Manley Law School, the Hugh Wooding Law School, UWI Cave Hill Campus, UWI Mona Campus, York University Canada and the Office of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. The Campus Coordinator for the School of Graduate Studies Research, UWI Cave Hill Campus, is also part of the training team.