The History of Libraries in Jamaica, 1697-1987

The History traces the development of libraries in Jamaica from the late seventeenth century to the present day. It examines reasons for the spate of anti-popery material in the earliest collections, and treats the subsequent story within the context of socio-economic conditions. Note is taken of the efforts of Ministers of Religion to inculcate the habit of reading among both the white and black population, as a means of improving their minds and strengthening their moral fibre. Increasing respect for books and demand for information appear, as the country puts aside its colonial status and assumes responsibility for its own destiny. The History documents the growth of the Jamaica Library Service, the emergence of the National Library of Jamaica, and the establishment of NACOLADS (the National Council on Libraries, Archives and Documentation Services) now regarded as a model for such development in the Third World.