By Wallace Williams, Librarian/Library Advocate

Furthering the capacity of Virgin Islands' libraries to serve people is an ongoing process. What follows are observations and recommendations, some personal concerns, in regards to vital Virgin Islands' institution, libraries/librarianship. They relate to their continued development. This perspective is of a professional librarian, and of an advocate of libraries and librarianship. These observations/comments, etc. will appear as letters to the editor, reports, response to inquiry, on the Internet as supplemental material on the web page entitled: "Your Library...What's In It For You?". It will have links to related sites.

Ultimately librarianship and the responsibility of providing quality library service in the Virgin Islands rests in the hands of the professional librarians; librarians are the professionals, this is what we do.

People in the Territory have a need to know, libraries and librarians are challenged to provide for that need with basic, standard and quality library service.

Is there a comprehensive plan for the continued development of libraries and librarianship in the Virgin Islands? Is there a plan for public, school, university, government, special and other libraries, "national archives"? If a plan/s does exist, what is the status of this plan? Is this plan for all libraries? If not, should a comprehensive plan be developed? Where does the responsibility for the development of such planning lie?

There does exist, in what one could consider to be, a "blueprint" for the continued development of libraries and librarianship in the Territory, it is formulated in library oriented institutional initiatives. These initiatives have surfaced over the years in varying formats but not necessarily with single focus. To what degree these initiatives have met with success is debatable.

In the history of libraries in the Virgin Islands, the institutional initiatives which in my opinion, have provided the most focus and comprehensive content are the 1978 Governor's Conference on Library & Information Service, and the 1979 White Conference on Library & Information Science. These initiatives provided the opportunity for a broad cross-section of the Virgin Islands community to input on the status, needs and development of libraries in the Territory. These initiatives although they are dated, address many of the concerns we recognize today; they encompass the technological advances we see today in library and information science, they  were thorough and specific. These initiatives were goal oriented.

In the 22 years of my association with the public library system, professional library associations, library advocacy groups and organizations and the Government of the Virgin Islands, I have utilized the Governor's Conference and the White House Conference as a primary guide in my efforts to help further develop the profession and its associated/related institution/s.

Libraries in the Virgin Islands are structured according to law as represented in the Virgin Islands Code. Librarians/librarianship is organized according to association affiliation by individual and by organizations and/or through institutional affiliation (local, regional, national and international affiliates). The Government of the Virgin Islands employs most librarians, the government has jurisdiction over most library systems in the Territory.

Over the years, many have decided that libraries, to a significant degree, fall short as to the level, quality, and scope of service they provide. Institutions, local, regional, national and international, share a common bond relating to the library service concept and development of it's professionals. Over the years, there have been efforts, albeit with varying degrees of success, to marry institutional resources as a way to seek a means to better library service in the Virgin Islands. Perhaps it is time to revisit the basis and basic instruments of these institutions as a way of putting into place evolving solutions that will enable the provision of continued development of our library service institutions and library profession.

The following list includes some of the institutions which have played roles in the evolution of libraries in the Virgin Islands. Some have had more impact than others, some are less active than others, particularly the local ones, than in the past, but they exist non-the-less. Collectively they have an enormous resource base. They have broad and far ranging responsibility.

• The Virgin Islands Library Association (VILA)
• The St.Croix Library Association (SCLA)
• The St.Thomas/St.John Library Association
• The Virgin Islands Library Network (VILINET)
• The Governor's Advisory Council on Libraries (also known as the Territorial Advisory Council on Libraries--TACL)
• The Government of the Virgin Islands (relevant agencies including: The Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Division of Libraries, Archives & Museums)
• The local chapters of the Governor's Council = St.Croix and St.Thomas/St.John
• The Governor's Conference on Library and Information Services 1978
• The White House Conference on Library and information Science 1979
• The White House Conference on Library and information Science 1991
• The U.S. Government (relevant agencies)
• Library Services and Technology Act LSTA (formerly LSCA)
• Institute of Libraries, Museums and Archives (IMLS) others
• The Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional (ACURIL)
• The American Library Association (ALA)
• The Public Library Association (PLA)
• The School Library Association (SCLA)
• The International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA)
• The National Commission on Library and Information Science (NCLIS)
• The Association of Caribbean Studies
• The FRIENDS of the Library (each public library traditionally has a FRIENDS that support its efforts)
• Collective Bargaining Units
• The National Endowment for the Humanities
• The Virgin Islands Humanities Council
• The National Endowment On the Arts
• The Virgin Islands Council On the Arts
• The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

Authority

The Virgin Islands Code (V.I. Code)

The United States Code (U.S.Code)

Rules & Regulations (governmental, organizational, etc.)

Constitutions & By-Laws

Agreements, formal/informal

Contracts

These institutions and regulatory entities in philosophy and principle, represent the critical mass of the science and have representatives who are librarians and/or those who are sensitive to the needs, issues, challenges and the value of libraries. Collectively the quantity and quality in the wealth of information and resources they represent is staggering. This is to the benefit of libraries, library users, library advocates, library staff and library professionals. These institutions provide the necessary theoretical, philosophical, program, adversarial and technical base necessary to set and meet the goals of any library concept. Let us revisit the initiatives these institutions have put forth in effort to help develop a focus that will take advantage of each of them and use them and others to be identified, to help further development of libraries in the Virgin Islands (I will visit each of these institutions individually in time, in my column "Your Library...What's In It For You?").

One of these institutions, the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science NCLIS, continues to lead the way in the evolution of libraries and the library profession. The following is a sketch of the chronology of its history with random selection of its initiatives, many of which has been of benefit to the Virgin Islands.

1970-1974 NCLIS focus in part--"Understanding the information needs of users. Financing of libraries and information systems. Assessment of adequacies and deficiencies of present libraries and information systems. Application of new technology to users' information problems. Improved staffing of libraries and information systems". We know that this was a period when more funding for libraries on the national level was available. It is this funding in part that made it possible for the building of the Florence Williams Public Library in St.Croix. The record will show that local funding sources were not available to maintain necessary level of effort.

1975-1979-- NCLIS focus in part--"the role of the Library of Congress in the national network. Impact of federal funding programs on public libraries. Inventory of national library needs. Volume and characteristics of library photocopying national periodicals. System role of school libraries in a national network...." We in the Virgin Islands became acutely aware that libraries were inadequately funded and supported by the local government. The first Governor's Conference on Library and Information Science was held as a lead into the first White House Conference on Library and Information Science (see resolutions).

1980-1984-- NCLIS pushed for: "development of specifications for library legislation improving the dissemination of federal information improving library and information services through resource sharing and applications of technology." Federal Depository Libraries were to become a mainstay in the Territory (2 in the public libraries and 1 at the university library) The Regional Library for Blind and Physically Handicapped expanded in the Territory. The emergence of VIALS (the Virgin Islands Automated Library System) in the public library system took place.

1985-1989--In 1987 "the Commission participated in three meetings with the British Library and the Canadian Institute for Research on Public Policy on the role of information in the economy. They adopted the Glenerin Declaration Toward Coordinated Policy Agenda with nine public policy recommendations for an improved economy through use of information and its attendant technologies.

Promotion of the National Library Card Campaign, hearings on sensitive but not classified information, support of the Bicentennial of the Constitution and an agreement with ACTION to enhance services for the elderly were also among NCLIS' varied activities during these years." The public library in the Virgin Islands continued its effort to provide service to those areas remotely located including Senior Citizen's agencies, Spanish speaking communities, Government institutions via bookmobile and the opening of a kiosk library, outreach projects, VISTA USVI Reads and other literacy projects.

In 1988 the Commission began its Recognition Awards to honoring initiatives taken by individuals (not librarians) and organizations (not library-related) to promote and improve library and information services.

In 1988 President Reagan signed P.L. 100-382, authorizing the second White House Conference to be held between September 1989 and September 1991.

In 1989 two hearings were the catalyst for other major initiatives by the Commission. The first was to assess the adequacy of library and information services to the Native American population. The second hearing concerned the Office of Technology Assessment's report, Informing the Nation: Federal Information Dissemination in an Electronic Age and the Office of Management and Budget's proposed revision to Circular A-130 on managing information resources.

1990-1994--The second White House Conference on Library and Information Services convened July 9-13, 1991, in Washington, D.C. It had been authorized by Public Law 100-382, signed in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan. The three conference themes were library and information services for literacy, democracy and productivity.

The 1991 WHCLIS delegates approved 95 recommendations, with two top-priority ones on services for children and youth and on the information superhighway. NCLIS focused on those priorities in the early 1990s, holding three hearings on library and information services for young people, surveying selected school libraries and working toward school library media provisions in the reauthorize Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The Virgin Islands participated in this White House Conference.

In April 1991 the first public library data from all states (was V.I. included?), based on standard data elements and definitions, became available in print and machine-readable form. Annual data collection has continued. Cooperation to collect school library media and academic library statistics has also progressed. The Commission also began to concentrate on reauthorization of the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA).

1995-1996--NCLIS has continued its focus on the proposed Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) to replace the LSCA and the proposed Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Commission also participates in discussions of other major issues concerning the Administration and the Congress, including copyright in a digital age and public access to government information. Now that LSCA has been replaced, the public library system continues to benefit from LSTA funds, primarily for the Virgin Islands Automated Library System VIALS.

Continuing its investigation into public libraries and the Internet, in 1995 NCLIS published Internet Costs and Cost Models for Public Libraries. In 1996 it published The 1996 National Survey of Public Libraries and the Internet. The data from these and the 1994 studies have been important to policy-makers in telecommunications, information superhighway development and other areas.

Now that all government library systems in the Territory have to some degree, become automated to include access to the Internet and the World Wide Web, it is important to take advantage of the possibilities offered as a result of the 1996 survey and other mechanisms established for library benefit. They include input to National Center for Education Statistics.

Libraries in the Territory are poised to take advantage of the E-rate as we move into the next millennium. Libraries have friends in high places. President Clinton and Vice President Gore have made commitments to have a "computer in every classroom" by the year 2000. Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress, Dr. Donna Christian-Christiansen is keeping an eye out for changes in federal legislation including the E-rate package which is an outcome of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. U.S. Representative to Congress from New York, Major R. Owens, a speaker at our Governor's Conference as far back as 1979, is a librarian and continues to look out for libraries. The Virgin Islands has hosted two presidents of the American Library Association. Our Delegate to Congress is anxious to help. Why not put forth an agenda for the both of these representatives in Congress?

Libraries continue to benefit from non-government support. Most recently The Virgin Islands Telephone Company and it parent companies, Innovative Communications Corporation and Emerging Communications Corp. of the Virgin Islands, donated to the people of the Virgin Islands, over a half-million dollars in computer technology and Internet capability in the public libraries. Other corporate citizens and private citizens continue to help the library with gifts. The popular St.Croix Propane Bookmobile is another example of cooperative support. This library service unit which serves people located in areas remote from the library, is an energy efficient vehicle provided to the people of the Virgin Islands with a grant from Virgin Islands Energy Office and the U.S. Dept. of Energy. Propane fuel is provided through the efforts of the FRIENDS of the Library and St.Croix Gas Company.

Libraries are poised to continue to reap the benefits of a wide-range of sources, government and private such as the benefits of the Institute of Libraries, Museums and Archives, the Gates and Carnegie Foundations. There is a need to take a serious look at our institutions, assess and evaluate them, to plan for their future. This very effort was initiated at least 20 years ago and culminated in the 133 resolutions which came out of the 1979 Governor's Conference on Libraries and Information Service.

The following is one specific issue taken verbatim from The Governor's Conference on Library and Information Services that exemplifies the situation faced for years with the provision of/or lack thereof of public and school library service.

Issue #3

How are deficiencies in facilities and maintenance of buildings and equipment to be corrected so as to provide adequate community services?

3a. The federal government should allocate funds for public and school library construction.

3b. School library facilities should be used to serve the community in general.

3c. The Virgin Islands Department of Conservation and Cultural Affairs should establish branch libraries in areas of high population and should provide adequate parking facilities for library patrons.

3d. The public library agency is responsible for ensuring proper maintenance of public libraries, especially in regard to physical plant, air conditioning and audiovisual equipment.

3e. Adequate maintenance of audiovisual equipment must be recognized as high priority for school libraries, and the territorial government should provide funds to ensure it.

Program Recommendations

3a. The federal government should allocate funds for territorial school library construction. This may involve allowing local government to use present allocations in a more flexible manner.

3b. Extended use of school libraries should be made after school hours (evenings), and during the summer months. Students should be employed as aides in this extended school use.

3c. Branch libraries should be located in high population areas and should serve the communities in which they are located according to the needs of the community with regard to hours and types of material.

3d. The Bureau of Libraries should provide better parking facilities for the patrons of public libraries as follows:

--Enid M. Baa Public Library in St.Thomas

1. Find immediate parking spaces.
2. Relocate library to site with adequate parking and accessible to available public transportation.

--Florence Williams Public Library in St.Croix

1. Provide free parking at commercial or other parking area for library patrons.