Opportunity for collective reflection

I TAKE pleasure in extending hearty congratulations to the Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA) as it celebrates Library and Information Week, under the theme, ‘ GLAM/R: Adapting to Changes and Expanding Access’. This theme presents an opportunity for library and information professionals who work in galleries, libraries, archives, museums and records centres to gather for a wellneeded discussion surrounding new and innovative ways of addressing user needs. This is critical in today’s information society, where information is the heartbeat of human existence. The ever-increasing dependence on technological forms of information has heightened the demand by users for more variety in, and access to, information. The library and information professional is called upon to adapt to changes in the interest of institution, community and national development. These challenges must be viewed through both philosophical and practical lenses. The theme, therefore, provides an opportunity for collective reflection and the formulation of recommendations for handling change and increasing reach, especially as we face a ‘new normal’.

The Department of Library and Information Studies, the premier training institution for library and information professionals in the Caribbean, supports the efforts of LIAJA. The value of a professional organisation cannot be overstated, especially against the backdrop of these unprecedented times, brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is i mportant that the relevance of the profession be highlighted, as the world comes to understand and appreciate the critical role of the library and information professional in supporting the life/existence of the 21st century citizen.

DR ROSEMARIE HEATH

Head Department of Library and Information Studies