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56-841: As a statutory authority under the Ministry of Communication, NALIS is governed by a board which ensures proper and efficient performance of the functions of the organisation. NALIS is managed by an executive director assisted by a deputy executive director and directors of its various divisions. NALIS provides library and information services at the Heritage Library (located in the National Library Building, Port-of-Spain), 23 public libraries, 4 mobile libraries, 66 special libraries, 133 secondary and 483 primary school libraries, 25 ECCE centres. Library services are also provided through its website at www.nalis.gov.tt and its social media sites:

112-651: A British style of parliamentary democracy such as the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth countries like Australia , Canada , India and New Zealand . They are also found in Israel and elsewhere. Statutory authorities may also be statutory corporations , if created as a body corporate . '. A statutory authority is a generic term for an authorisation by Parliament given to a person or group of people to exercise specific powers. A statutory authority can be established as

168-765: A Statutory Authority under the NALIS Act, No. 18 of 1998 entitled: This Act brought together the administration and management of all libraries in the public sector, that is, public, special and school libraries, under an independent Board - the NALIS Authority. The three (3) existing Public Libraries (the Public Library of Trinidad, the Carnegie Free Library and the Central Library of Trinidad and Tobago) and their resources of buildings and stock were transferred to

224-459: A corporate Commonwealth entity or a non-corporate Commonwealth entity. A statutory authority may also be a body within a Commonwealth entity, exercising the powers given by Parliament but administratively part of the entity." A statutory corporation is defined in the government glossary as a "statutory body that is a body corporate, including an entity created under section 87 of the PGPA Act" (i.e.

280-641: A list of "20 Best Literary Festivals Around the World That You Should Attend" chosen by Penguin Random House - The Writers' Academy, alongside other prestigious festivals including Hay , Edinburgh and Jaipur . Another accolade, from Jonathan Ford of the Financial Times in May 2017, noted: "In the seven years since Bocas launched, Caribbean writers have been heaped with international accolades —

336-654: A marketing and media professional. In 2019, Rani Lakhan-Narace was appointed as president of the Bocas Lit Fest. The festival's name derives from the Spanish word for mouth, boca – the organ of speech and song and storytelling – while also referencing the Bocas del Dragón (the Dragon's Mouths), which are the narrow straits off Trinidad’s north-west peninsula that connect the Gulf of Paria to

392-414: A period of three years (2013–15), and announced at the Bocas Lit Fest in 2012 by Sue Woodford-Hollick , the prize was awarded to writers in three literary genres over consecutive years: fiction in 2013; non-fiction in 2014; and poetry in 2015. The first winner in 2013, for fiction, was Barbara Jenkins of Trinidad & Tobago. The winner in 2014, for non-fiction, was Jamaican Diana McCaulay. In 2015,

448-651: A statutory authority may be a statutory corporation). An earlier definition describes a statutory corporation as "a statutory authority that is a body corporate", and the New South Wales Government 's Land Registry Services defines a state-owned corporation as "a statutory authority that has corporate status". Statutory authorities at the State or Territory level are established under corresponding State or Territory laws. Each statutory authority tends to have its own enabling legislation, or originating act , even if it

504-720: Is the prime centre for information needs whether for research, leisure or entertainment. Journals can be read in a relaxed atmosphere, patrons can borrow books, listen to lectures, surf the Internet or find out about Trinidad and Tobago and Caribbean history, people and places. Conveniently, there is a Rituals Coffee House on the premises which serves hot and cold beverages and snacks. The seminar rooms, Audio Visual Room, open-air Amphitheatre and other exhibition areas are fully utilized by NALIS and other organisations for lectures, seminars, book launches, other literary events and for significant exhibitions. The annual NGC Bocas Literary Festival and

560-564: Is to acquire, preserve and promote information in all formats, on or about Trinidad and Tobago. In addition, the Heritage Library houses the Legal Deposit items and acts as a national depository and resource for materials published in Trinidad and Tobago. The goal of the Heritage Library is to preserve and promote the culture of Trinidad and Tobago by staging educational programmes, exhibitions and displays commemorating national festivals throughout

616-749: The Caribbean Review of Books and of Caribbean Beat ; Funso Aiyejina , prize-winning author and dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Education at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine ; Marjorie Thorpe , former professor of literature at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, independent bookseller Joan Dayal of Paper Based Bookshop; Danielle Delon, editor of The Letters of Margaret Mann ; local businesswoman Lucita Esau; and Patrice Matthews,

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672-486: The British Library , Oxford University and the University of East Anglia . The Bocas Lit Fest was held for the first time in 2011 – from Thursday, 28 April to Sunday, 1 May – including readings, panel discussions, workshops, film screenings and art exhibitions. Attracting 3,500 attendances over the four days. the festival reflected its founder's aims "to promote literature and publishing in Trinidad and Tobago and

728-730: The Caribbean Sea . For centuries, the Bocas were the gateways connecting Trinidad to the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean . The festival's strapline is: "Celebrating books, writers, and writing from the Caribbean and the rest of the world". The main venues are the National Library (NALIS) and the Old Fire Station, in downtown Port of Spain , with satellite evening events at venues around

784-699: The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC). Other sponsors and partners include First Citizens Bank , One Caribbean Media (OCM), who sponsor the associated OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature , CODE (sponsors of the Burt Award), and the Commonwealth Foundation . The NGC Bocas Lit Fest also works in collaboration with other international festivals and initiatives, and has hosted events showcasing Caribbean writing talent in New York, at

840-967: The Tobago House of Assembly . The key component in the information-seeking/ information-providing chain is the information professional who provides the community with information resources in whatever format available: books, magazines videos, CD-ROMs, DVDs and websites. The traditional duties of librarians are being redefined from accessing paper records and books to using the most advanced technologies. A librarian must do more than check out books; they are technology experts, researchers, managers, literacy experts, children's storytellers, community programme coordinators and reading advisors. Within NALIS, librarians often specialize in one service, such as, children, young adult, systems and acquisition. Librarians require specialized education in Library and Information Science at either

896-760: The Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival often have events scheduled at the National Library, and the Adult Literacy Tutors Association (ALTA) conducts regular adult literacy classes at the National Library Building. The Heritage Library of the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) evolved from the integration in 1994 of the West Indian Reference Library of the Central Library Services of Trinidad and Tobago and

952-440: The 2015 Man Booker Prize for Fiction , four Forward Prizes for Poetry between 2014 and 2016, and a slew of National Book Awards . Virtually all the writers honoured — including Marlon James , Kei Miller and Vahni Capildeo — were first recognised at this extraordinary little festival in the tropics, a place that is only far away to those who refuse to read." The Bocas Lit Fest, together with its founder Marina Salandy-Brown,

1008-679: The Brooklyn Book Fair, the Harlem Book Fair and elsewhere in the US. In 2012, Bocas partnered with the Edinburgh World Writers Conference as part of a lineup of 14 countries delivering a multinational series of talks marking the 50th anniversary of the five-day meeting of "an impressive, sensational and sometimes scandalous group of writers" at the first Edinburgh International Festival of Music and Drama . The Bocas Lit Fest

1064-482: The Burt Award sponsored by CODE (Canadian Organization for Development Through Education) for Caribbean authors of literature for young adults, launched in 2013. The first-place winner in 2014 was A-dZiko Gegele , in second place was Joanne Hillhouse and in third place Colleen Smith-Dennis. In 2015, first prize went to Imam Baksh. In second place was Diana McCaulay and third was Lynn Joseph . The 2016 prize winner

1120-568: The Central Library Service was introduced at the Ministry of Education in 1949. These three organisations were responsible for the administration of library services in Trinidad and Tobago until 1998. On 18 September 1998, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago repealed the Acts that governed these three separate bodies and established the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) as

1176-558: The Hollick Arvon Caribbean Writers Prize, is jointly administered by the Bocas Lit Fest and the creative writing organisation Arvon , and is an award that allows an emerging Caribbean writer living and working in the Caribbean to devote time to developing or finishing a literary work in-progress, with support from an established writer as mentor. Sponsored by the Hollick Family Charitable Trust for

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1232-708: The National Open School of Trinidad and Tobago (NOSTT) and the Corporate Ministry of Education. The Division also partners with the National Training Agency OJT programme. The School Library Services Unit forms part of the Ministry of Education, and is managed by the Educational Library Services Division of NALIS. It was first set up in 1978 to promote and coordinate the development of the libraries in sixth form schools. Over

1288-481: The Sea . In 2019, the awardee was publisher Ian Randle . The 2021 recipients were Edward Baugh and Mervyn Morris , both professors emeriti of the University of the West Indies . Merle Hodge and Funso Aiyejina won the 2022 award. Trinidad-born scholar Sandra Pouchet Paquet received the award in 2023, and Guyana-born publisher Arif Ali was announced as the 2024 winner. The Bocas Lit Fest additionally administers

1344-667: The South+Central NGC Bocas Lit Fest, scheduled to take place annually in November, was inaugurated. In November 2014, NGC Bocas Lit Fest South was hosted by Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA) in San Fernando, birthplace of the writer Sam Selvon , and the festival commemorated the 20th anniversary of his death. In 2014, "Festival Radio" was inaugurated, to "bring the festival experience to listeners around

1400-777: The Tobago House of Assembly. NALIS also administers three Libraries in Correctional Institutions in accordance with the guidelines for library services for disadvantaged persons as recommended by the International Federation of Library Associations and Instuitions (IFLA). The Public Libraries provide several key services to the public, such as the following: Youth Literacy Project : The Youth Literacy Project aims to provide effective literacy instruction to students in primary or secondary schools with literacy challenges. The Adult Tutors Literacy Association (ALTA) provides

1456-634: The Undergraduate or Postgraduate levels. Other positions such as Library Assistants and Technicians range from O’Levels to associate degree qualifications. The National Library of Trinidad and Tobago stands juxtaposed to three historic landmarks: The Holy Trinity Cathedral, the Red House and Woodford Square in downtown Port of Spain. This state-of-the-art library facility is the administrative seat and focal point of NALIS’ libraries and information service centres in Trinidad and Tobago. The National Library houses

1512-632: The West Indian Reference Section of the Trinidad Public Library. Ms. Pearl Eintou Springer served as the first director of the Heritage Library Division from October 1993 until her retirement in 2003. Under her stewardship, the Heritage Library was placed in the centre of the community, presenting the society to itself through a rich collection of information on Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean by extension. Her work

1568-451: The authority of sections 4 d-e, 5-6 of Act 18, 1998. The department has the responsibility of monitoring and evaluating the operations of all special libraries, to ensure that international benchmarks in information management standards are maintained. The core responsibilities of the Division are achieved mainly through conducting supervisory visits, meetings and training sessions and advising

1624-419: The availability of various Caribbean resources and to train them in their use. In addition to hosting lectures, workshops, exhibitions and displays, the Heritage Library has managed NALIS’ First Time Authors Appreciation Programme (initiated in 2009). The First Time Authors Appreciation Programme is designed to encourage writers to have their works published and to raise public awareness of the issues involved in

1680-621: The award was made to John La Rose (posthumously) and Sarah White of New Beacon Books . In 2014, the award was jointly won by Professors Kenneth Ramchand and Gordon Rohlehr . The 2015 recipient was Margaret Busby . The 2016 award went to Jeremy Poynting of Peepal Tree Press . In 2017, the award went to Joan Dayal, the owner of one of Trinidad and Tobago's leading independent bookshops, Paperbased Book Store. The 2018 honour went to Anne Walmsley , previously an editor and publisher for Longman Caribbean and Africa, who produced two key Caribbean literature anthologies: The Sun’s Eye and Facing

1736-496: The blog, Facebook , Twitter and YouTube . The National Library of Trinidad and Tobago, located at Hart and Abercromby Streets in Port of Spain , is the administrative seat and focal point of NALIS' libraries and information service centres in Trinidad and Tobago. The Public Library Service began in Port of Spain in 1851, the Carnegie Free Library was established in San Fernando in 1919, and

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1792-456: The care and preservation of their library collections. Statutory authority A statutory body or statutory authority is a body set up by law ( statute ) that is authorised to implement certain legislation on behalf of the relevant country or state, sometimes by being empowered or delegated to set rules (for example regulations or statutory instruments ) in their field. They are typically found in countries which are governed by

1848-624: The city. There is also a full programme of activities for young readers, sponsored by KFC , and in the run-up to the festival storytelling events take place in Tobago , Couva , Chaguanas , San Fernando , Point Fortin , Mayaro and Arima . A new venture is a year-round programme of events at The Writers Centre (TWC) at Alcazar Street, Port of Spain, and the 10th anniversary celebrations of Bocas in 2020 included plans for Caribbean writers with new books to participate in UK literary festivals as well as events at

1904-497: The establishment of a Preservation and Conservation Laboratory, housed in the basement of the National Library Building. In 2012, over 5,000 collection items were safely insect exterminated using specialized equipment, the Wei T’o Book Dryer and Insect Exterminator (BDIE). The Library Conservator and the supporting staff have lent technical assistance to clients in both in the private and public sectors, advising and assisting with

1960-489: The following areas; NGC Bocas Lit Fest The NGC Bocas Lit Fest is the Trinidad and Tobago literary festival that takes place annually during the last weekend of April in Port of Spain . Inaugurated in 2011, it is the first major literary festival in the southern Caribbean and largest literary festival in the Anglophone Caribbean . A registered non-profit company, the festival has as its title sponsor

2016-407: The globe", as well as attracting "a lot of attention on social media, spurred on in part by the active new media presence of the festival itself". As of 2022, Nicholas Laughlin has been the festival and programme director of Bocas, with Marina Salandy-Brown remaining as the festival's president. In February 2017, the Bocas Lit Fest was named as one of "the world's very best literary events" in

2072-423: The goals of their organizations. They are employed most frequently by corporations, private businesses, government agencies, museums, colleges, hospitals, associations, and information management consulting firms." A new Special Library Services Department of NALIS is being established for the purpose of administering the professional operations of all special libraries under its purview, in the public sector, and by

2128-432: The literacy instruction at 10 public libraries to individuals aged 12–15 years and, where the feeder schools are primary and not secondary, children 9–11 years. In 2012, 62 students graduated and to date a total of 185 young people have improved their literacy skills and received certification. Computer Literacy : Basic computer literacy training courses are held monthly at the public libraries. The Move that Mouse programme

2184-582: The need for Caribbean writing to be celebrated everywhere". The scores of writers taking part in the 2012 festival, both locally based and from abroad, included Fred D'Aguiar , Earl Lovelace , Vahni Capildeo , Chika Unigwe , Monique Roffey , Kenneth Ramchand , Mervyn Morris , Achy Obejas , Rabindranath Maharaj , George Lamming , professor of genetics Steve Jones , Merle Hodge , Rahul Bhattacharya , and Michael Anthony . The festival featured readings, discussions, performances, workshops, screenings of films based on Caribbean writing and music. In 2013,

2240-833: The new Authority. The Act also gave to NALIS the responsibility to manage the national human resources of library and information science personnel in Public Service bodies; this was brought about through the transfer of staff from the Public Service and the Statutory Authorities Service Commissions to NALIS. Under the Act, NALIS has the authority generally to administer funds allocated by Parliament , raise funds, recruit and manage staff and manage all resources and library infrastructure, such as buildings and bookmobiles. NALIS cooperates with libraries in Tobago that fall under

2296-616: The offices of the executive director, the deputy executive director, the Management Team, the divisions of Finance, Human Resource Management, Educational Library Services and Information Networks. The building also houses the departments of Public Relations and Marketing, Research, Planning and Development, Technical Services and the offices of the Corporate Secretary and Senior Internal Auditor. The National Library offers Heritage, Adult, Young Adult and Children's library services. It

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2352-900: The prize are in the categories of fiction, non-fiction and poetry for a book by a Caribbean writer published in the previous year, with the overall winner being chosen by a panel of judges from the three genre winners. The winners have been: in 2011, Derek Walcott 's poetry collection White Egrets , in 2012 Earl Lovelace 's novel Is Just a Movie , in 2013 Monique Roffey 's novel Archipelago , in 2014 Robert Antoni 's novel As Flies to Whatless Boys , in 2015 Vladimir Lucien 's Sounding Ground (poetry), in 2016 Olive Senior 's The Pain Tree (fiction), in 2017 Kei Miller 's Augustown (fiction), in 2018 Jennifer Rahim 's Curfew Chronicles (fiction), and in 2019 Kevin Adonis Browne's High Mas (non-fiction). The Emerging Caribbean Writers Prize, formerly known as

2408-504: The prize was awarded to poet Danielle Boodoo-Fortuné. The Bocas Henry Swanzy Award for Distinguished Service to Caribbean Letters (named after the influential producer of the BBC radio programme Caribbean Voices that ran from 1943 to 1958) was inaugurated at the 2013 NGC Bocas Lit Fest, as an "annual lifetime achievement award to recognise service to Caribbean literature by editors, publishers, critics, broadcasters, and others". In 2013,

2464-587: The protection of intellectual property as well as the enforcement of copyright. There are twenty-five Public Libraries in Trinidad and Tobago. Twenty-two libraries, in addition to the Mobile Library Service for the North and South Regions, are administered by the Public Libraries Division located at the NALIS headquarters in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The three libraries in Tobago are administered by

2520-432: The public sector Heads of Departments on strategic activities affecting their library service. The Mobile Library Service offers a lending service to rural areas where there are no established Public Libraries. This service has been in operation in Trinidad since the 1940s. Registration of students is done once a year around March/April. Adults can join during any routine Bookmobile run. NALIS' first digital mobile library

2576-556: The same fashion as an act of parliament, but usually with specific initials (depending on the authority) and a number. Just as with laws enacted by Parliament, all laws made by a statutory authority must be published in the Government Gazette. The Parliament of Australia , or a State or Territory Parliament , will delegate its authority to a statutory authority for several reasons; The power to enact legislation has been delegated by Australian Parliaments (State and/or Federal) in

2632-681: The use of the Brailler, ClearView Magnifier, the Poet Compact Reader and Microsoft Office Suite. Homebound Services to Senior Citizens : Outreach services were extended to senior citizens at 12 homes for the elderly across Trinidad and Tobago. The residents of these homes have stories read to them and are engaged in stimulating discussions. Items offered for loan include large print materials. The Educational Library Services Division delivers and supports library services to Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Centres, Primary and Secondary Schools,

2688-400: The year. It also provides a support base and information center for the branch libraries. It facilitates this role by providing repackaged information/materials, and organizing and disseminating all information on various national heritage exhibitions about our nation's diverse ethnic groups and cultures. The Heritage Library also regularly hosts Caribbean Research Workshops to expose students to

2744-514: The years, the mandate was expanded to include a service to all secondary schools. The Unit currently supervises the school libraries in 497 primary schools and over 137 secondary schools. Responsibilities of the unit include: Special libraries function to provide customized service to a particular clientele, in pursuit of defined organizational goals. The international Special Libraries Association defines special librarians as: “ information professionals dedicated to putting knowledge to work to attain

2800-431: Was continued by Mrs. Joan Osborne, director of Heritage Library from 2003 to 2012. They succeeded in transforming the Heritage Library into a notable institution, intimately involved in culture, the arts, history and literature on Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. The Heritage Library is committed to the preservation of the nation's Heritage Collections and building of the oral history records. Its main role, therefore,

2856-544: Was debut novelist Tamika Gibson, with Florenz Webbe Maxwell of Bermuda second, and Danielle Y. C. McClean in third place. The 2017 winner was Viviana Prado-Núñez (Puerto Rico/USA), with Kevin Jared Hosein (Trinidad & Tobago) as runner-up, and Lisa Allen-Agostini (Trinidad & Tobago) in third place. Launched in 2012 was the Caribbean Literature Action Group (CALAG), a new partnership between

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2912-407: Was described by Claire Armitstead of The Guardian as "expansive in its cultural reach, reflecting a region that has responded to its own colonisation over the centuries by seeding its people to every continent". The Bocas Lit Fest was established in 2011, with the organising team comprising Marina Salandy-Brown , founder and managing director; programme director Nicholas Laughlin , editor of

2968-474: Was established before the relevant over-riding legislation. For example, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) was established in 1949 by the Science and Industry Research Act , but it has since come under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 as legislation covering statutory authorities has evolved. Laws made by statutory authorities are usually referred to as regulations. They are not cited in

3024-413: Was honoured by the International Women's Forum (IWF) in the "Ideas Remaking the World" segment of IWF's World Leadership Conference in November 2021, being described as "the embodiment of Caribbean vibrancy, energy and creativity". The centrepiece of the NGC Bocas Lit Fest festival is the announcement at an award ceremony of the overall winner of the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature. Entries for

3080-413: Was officially commissioned on 6 December 2007. This new mobile library, like no other in the NALIS fleet, provides wireless access to the Internet, the online catalogue and electronic databases. Airconditioning, automatic lifts for wheelchairs and washroom facilities are other features. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago continues to recognize the value of preserving the nation's heritage by investing in

3136-437: Was specifically targeted to elderly patrons. Services for the Visually Impaired : Visually impaired patrons continue to receive assistive technology training at Arima, Port of Spain, Carnegie, Maloney, and Chaguanas public libraries. This group includes members of PAVI (People Associated with Visual Impairment) and the Blind Welfare Association. Visually impaired patrons are taught how to access Jaws for Windows and instructed in

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