Prepared by Adrian St. Patrick Duncan

1. “My Library, the International Librarians
Networking Program and Me”
Adrian St. Patrick Duncan
The University of the West Indies, Mona Library
Adrian St. Patrick Duncan
The University of the West Indies,
Mona Library
Law Branch Library
Email: Adrian.duncan02@uwimona.edu.jm
Website: https://www.mona.uwi.edu/library/
Phone: 876-977-4860 (Ext. 7436)
Contact
Introduction to the
Mona Library
The program overall had the potential to be
excellent however, due to limited
communication and lack thereof, on the part of
team members the best outcome was not
achieved. Nevertheless, the program allowed the
opportunity to at least network, for a brief
moment, with other experts and gain a bit of
understanding as to the nature of the work that
they do as well as the extent of the work that is
done daily. Additionally, there was the exchange
of thoughts on the common technologies that
were used in both our libraries.
There was an exchange on the nature of the
work that was done during the pandemic as the
Mona Library had to transit to an online
modality with limited physicality.
Adrian St. Patrick Duncan is a Librarian at the
University of the West Indies, Mona Library. He can
be described as a 21st century Librarian with his
effective usage of Information and Communications
Technology to make library research, access and
retrieval as well as using technology-based tools to
aid in e-referencing for ease of use by clients and
staff. He is a skilled researcher and is excellent in
translating library services and policies into
tangible, comprehensible resources for users.
Equipped with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees
in library and information studies coupled with his
award-winning abilities in display development and
implementation, he prides himself on being a
versatile, technical and hands-on librarian, who
adeptly provides support to staff and students.
Mr. Duncan continues to publish articles on Smart
& Intelligent Libraries, Augmented Reality,
Artificial Intelligence and Heuristic Evaluation
About the participant
The services that the Mona Library offered had to
be slightly shifted in a bid to adjust in the pandemic
and to suit the teaching modality which moved
online.
The staff adjusted and the library rolled out their
curbside pick up and online information
dissemination; which was already being done but
not as exhaustive. The beefing up of the online
instant messaging platform, Kayako, was fully
staffed so as to ensure that during the opening hours
of the library students were able to get their queries
satisfied without being hindered by physicality.
Additionally, the Library shifted to online
information instruction sessions as well as allowed
students to send information digitally to the Mona
Information Literacy Unit for consultation and
scrutiny.
The presence of the Mona Library was felt on social
media platforms as the library sought to be reached
at the touch of a finger tip from your mobile
devices; including through their Instagram pages
and “Mona Cybrarian podcast”.
Shifting gears
due to the Pandemic
Though limited in nature, the interaction with
fellow participants was rich and allowed for an
understanding into the work done.
There were similarities in the nature of the work
done by the other team members in their
respective libraries. Of note, both my institution
and that of another are using D-Space to host
respective collections as well as give access to
specific content. Mona Online Research
Database (MORD) gives access to
Bibliographic information from Published
works such as books, articles (refereed and non-
refereed), conference papers. Unpublished
works including technical reports, project
reports, conference papers. theses, full text,
multi media, significant speeches, etc. and
exhibitions.
ILNP Information sharing :
from Jamaica - Pakistan - Nigeria
The Mona Library offers to its clients several
services including :
1) Access to computers, tablets etc.
The Library provides computer access to registered
users. Wireless access is also available via UWI
Hot Spots from all locations in the Library.
Additionally, the library provides laptops,
Chromebooks and tablets for students to borrow
from the duration of the semester.
2). Library Instruction
i. Lecturers and tutors can request information
literacy sessions designed to assist students with the
research process. This includes information on how
to identify and cite sources, and how to avoid
plagiarism.
ii. Students can also request training on the
respective electronic databases as well as platforms
that the library uses to retrieve and disseminate
information.
3) Halls of Residence Librarians / Liaison
Librarianship
All students are assigned to a Hall. There is a
special reference service offered to first year
undergraduates to aid them as they adjust to their
new environment. First year students may contact
their liaisons - Halls of Residence Librarians - to get
advice and assistance on library and research
matters.
ILNP Interactions and information
sharing
Image1. Entrance to the Law Branch library,
Located inside the
Faculty of Law building
Image 3 : The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus Main Library
Image 4 : Inside the Law Branch Library
The University of the West Indies Library
was established in 1948 at the Mona campus,
then part of the University College of the
West Indies.
The Mona Library serves a diverse group of
students, staff as well as researchers through
its five (5) branches; Law, Science and
Engineering, Medical Branches as well as the
Main Library (HQ) and the Western Jamaica
Campus Library. Dubbed by many as the
“Intellectual hub of the University” the Mona
Library has prized itself on offering excellent
customer oriented services as well as both
electronic and physical resources to supports
the teaching, learning and research
curriculum of the University as a whole and
its unique clientele.
Services offered by
the Mona Library
Image 2 : Mr. Adrian Duncan
Librarian, Law Branch Library
UWI, Mona Library