Overview

The Jamaica Library Service provides under the Ministry of Education and Youth, a Public Library Network and a Schools Library Network.  The organization is managed at two levels through a Central Statutory body - the Jamaica Library Board and the local Parish Library Committees. 

The Service is organized with the administrative headquarters in Kingston and a network of service points scattered throughout thirteen (13) parishes, which are arranged in six (6) regions.  At the administrative level the organization is headed by a Director General who reports directly to the Board of Directors. 

At Headquarters, the organization is divided into different divisions with the mandate of organizing their specific activities for the island wide network.  Each region is headed by a Regional Director who oversees the activities for the Parish Library Network within that region in addition to the school libraries within that region.  Each Parish Library Network is managed by a Parish Library Committee with a Senior Librarian having responsibility for each Parish Library Network.

The Service has responsibility for one hundred and twenty-nine (129) public libraries and nine hundred and twenty-five (925) school libraries throughout the island and is the only organization which provides free, unlimited public access to recorded information.  It also operates five hundred and eleven (465) mobile library stops as well as offering access points for eleven (11) special categories of persons

JLS Island-wide Network Coverage as at April 2006

The Board of Directors

The Jamaica Library Service is managed at two levels through the Central Statutory Body, The Jamaica Library Board and local Parish Library Committees. read more...

The Jamaica Library Service Head Quarters

The Service is organised with the administrative headquarters at 2 Tom Redcam Drive in Kingston and network of service points scattered throughout thirteen (13) parishes, which are arranged in six (6) regions  learn more...

The National Library Network read more...

The Public Library Network read more...

The Schools Library Network read more...

Activities and Services

All Parish Libraries promote a variety of activities in order to encourage the reading habit and stimulate interest in special subjects

Services

Public Libraries

• Exhibitions to mark national and community events

• Public Education activities

• A Free Postal Service

• Books, audio visual material and periodicals for home use for adults and children

• Reference, Research and Information Service

• Book Request, Reservation and Inter-Library Loan Service

• Current Awareness Service

• Community Information Service

• Special Collections

• Professional and technical advice to other organizations

• Bibliographies and other publications

• Service to the visually challenged

• Service to the housebound, hospitalized and persons confined to special institutions

• Training in and use of Information Communication Technology

• Special interest activities for adults and children

School Libraries 

• Bibliographies, Bookmarks, Booklists and other publications

• Seminars and workshops for principals and teacher/librarians

• Training for School Library personnel

• Advice and assistance in the establishment of School Libraries

• Displays and Exhibitions of Children’s Books

• Book Request and Reservation Service

• Participation in Panel Examinations with the Ministry of Education, Youth & Culture

• Professional and Technical advice to schools

• Referral Service

• Special collections

Other Activities

These include:

In addition, the library staff is fully involved in community cultural and educational activities, e.g. the Literacy Programme, 4H Clubs, Citizens Associations.