Born on the island of Curaçao but raised on Sint Maarten. She holds a bachelor’s degree in dance, a Master of Fine Arts degree in dance and choreography with a specialization in dance in education from the State University of New York at Brock.

Ms. Reyes is certified yoga instructor a former dance educator at the University of Rochester New York, a former Lecturer at the University of St. Martin, head of Department for Culture Artistic Formation at the St. Maarten Academy Vocational Campus, founder of Imbali Center for Creative Movement, Co-founder and former co-director for the National Institute of Arts.

Today Ms. Reyes is the Head of Department of Culture within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport of Sint Maarten.

González-Vélez is Dean for Academic Affairs at UPR-Rio Piedras. Holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Iowa.

Her research explores digital cultures, communication and imagined identities. Her most recent scholarship addresses Caribbean digital humanities as a fluid, community-based, postcolonial experience. 

She is a team member of Caribbean Digital Scholarship Collective (CDSC) and Archivo de Respuestas a Emergencias de PR (AREPR).

In 1995 she created Fondation Connaissance et Liberté (FOKAL, Knowledge and Freedom Foundation, www.fokal.org), a member of the Open Society Institute – Soros Foundation’s network – which she directed for 13 years. FOKAL focuses on education, culture, community development, environment, gender equity, and civil society endeavors.

In September 2008, she became Prime Minister of Haiti, while also serving as Minister of Justice and Public Security. Upon leaving office in November 2009, she returned to FOKAL as President, coordinating special projects related to Haiti’s post-earthquake reconstruction efforts. Pierre-Louis is also a University teacher and often lectures in foreign universities.

LIBER President since july 2022, Director of Libraries and Learning Center at University of Lille.

Julien Roche also has several national responsibilities including co-chair of the French training professional program for newly appointed university library directors, and co-chair of the “European and international” college of the French Open Science Committee since July 2018.

LIBER is the place where the role of European university and research libraries is and will be (re)designed for the future.

Keynote speaker Dr. Bryan Carter received his Ph.D. at the University of Missouri-Columbia and is currently a Professor in Africana Studies at the University of Arizona specializing in African American literature of the 20th Century with a primary focus on the Harlem Renaissance and a secondary emphasis on digital culture. Dr. Carter is also the Director of the Center for Digital Humanities for the College of Humanities.

Andy Stauder studied Translation Studies as well as Linguistics, Philosophy, and Computer Science. His PhD and research focused on the measurement of translation quality with machineand human-based methods. Also, he has worked as a translator, IT manager and project collaborator in academic and EU-funded research projects, managed a digitisation company for ten years, and co-founded and has been part of management of READ-COOP SCE, the provider of the Transkribus software, for six years.

Senior Product Manager, JSTOR Digital Stewardship Services, with over 14 years of experience in product management, marketing, and outreach, I am a passionate and innovative leader who develops and delivers products and features according to Silicon Valley Product Group (SVPG) principles and agile methodologies that enhance customer satisfaction and retention.

I have a proven track record of implementing product best practices, including writing product requirement documents, identifying relevant data-driven measures of success, and executing rolling releases. I also excel at working with internal and external stakeholders to identify and prioritize their needs, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure timely and quality delivery. Additionally, I have extensive domain expertise in publishing and education, and I leverage my knowledge and insights to create products that support the mission and goals of academic and research communities.

Currently Director of Digital Archives & senior acquisition editor at Cengage, where I work alongside other remarkably talented people in building digital collections of primary source content for students and scholars at colleges and research universities. I have worked a publishing professional with nearly thirty years of experience in publishing in a variety of media and for various markets, including electronic products on history and literature for K-12 markets; microfilm products from and for major research institutions across the globe; multimillion-page digital collections in the humanities and social sciences for major academic libraries; book products for public and academic libraries and individual readers. Fluent in small business operations, copyright issues, digital imaging and publishing technologies, publishing trends and new product development protocols.

AGENDA
1. Welcome and Opening Remarks: Mrs. Lianne Leonora, ACURIL President 2024-2025
1.1 Establishment of Quorum,
1.2. Adoption of Agenda
2. Adoption of ACURIL 2024 Guyana General Assembly minutes -
Dr. Elizabeth Pierre-Louis, Executive Secretary - VIRTUAL
3. Reports:
3.1 President Report: Mrs. Lianne Leonora
3.2 Executive Secretary: Dr. Elizabeth Pierre-Louis (virtual)
3.3 Treasurer: Mr. Luis Joel Crespo
3.4 Vice President: Loyda Nieves Ayala (virtual)
3.4.1 Special Interest Groups
3.4.2 Content Area Roundtables
3.4.3 Nominations
3.5 Immediate Past President Report: Mr. Erick Toussaint / Debra
Lowe
4. Voting Procedures: Dr. Ardis Hanson, Parliamentarian
5. Vote on Amendments of Bylaws: Dr. Ardis Hanson, Parliamentarian
6. Any Other Business

Aisha Thomas, MD is a transformative healthcare advocate certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine in the Specialty of Internal Medicine and Subspecialized in Infectious Diseases. She has further obtained Certifications in Lifestyle Medicine and Aesthetic Medicine with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and the American College of Procedural Medicine respectively. She is CEO of Sebastian ID Care and Libre Aesthetics and Wellness with locations in Florida.

 Through her work, Dr. Thomas has helped hundreds of patients address the root causes of illness and improve their overall health. She is passionate about the power of lifestyle interventions, having personally experienced the benefits through her own weight loss and wellbeing journey.

 Dr. Thomas is also an excellent teacher, serving as a national trainer for Aesthetics procedures and hosts medical and nursing students and other medical professionals in clinical rotations. She is an author of The Libre Lifestyle: A Transformative Guide for Women to Cultivate Inner and Outer Beauty and its accompanying guided journal. She is a sought after speaker at Wellness Events.  Her research interests are in Anti-aging and the Impact of Lifestyle on Health.

 Outside of her professional pursuits, Dr. Thomas is a devoted mother to two teenage sons, is part of God's Kingdom and enjoys painting and piano.

Senior lecturer II and Associate Research Faculty of Digital Humanities in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Yale University

Having gained a Bachelor’s in Art Education and a Master’s in Information Sciences, González currently works as a research assistant at [IN]Genios academic journal and BCBI library at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. Here she contributes to different efforts related to editorial management, content creation and journal administration. She is also currently enrolled in a Doctoral Degree in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, at the campus.

Ann-Marie White, a librarian by profession with degrees in management and librarianship.  She also holds certifications in Secretarial duties, Teaching, Records Management and Public Administration.   Ann-Marie is a Special Collections Librarian at the Sidney Martin Library, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados.   In this capacity, she has over eight years of experience in acquiring, managing, preserving and conserving resources related to the valuable collections of eminent Caribbean icons such as George Lamming, Dame Nita Barrow and Owen Arthur.   She had made presentations and conducted training in managing, preserving and conserving information resources locally, regionally and to her peers in the library.

Dr. Ardis Hanson is the Assistant Director of Research and Education at the Shimberg Health Sciences Library at the University of South Florida. Dr. Hanson has over 25 years of experience as a research librarian and has published extensively in behavioral health services, policy, and research. Her research focus is on language and social interaction, that is, how language is used in everyday practice to negotiate claims and identities, particularly in how behavioral health policy is created.

Ms. Arlene Alleyne-Regis is currently a Librarian at the University of the West Indies Global Campus and an IFLA trainer for measurement, evaluation, and demonstrating impact of library services in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Region. Arlene obtained her MLIS Library & Information Science in 2007 and has co-authored the article Trinidad and Tobago: State of the libraries regarding copyright. International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) (2016). She also presented at The Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL) in 2019 on Intellectual property rights: Considering the role of LAMs and at the Virtual Caribbean Association of Law Libraries' (CARALL) Conference and Annual General Meeting in 2022. Arlene’s interests include digital transformation, leadership, and the impact and value of libraries. She is an active member of the Library Association of Trinidad and Tobago and many other professional organizations.

Astrid Britten is the Director of the Biblioteca Nacional Aruba (National Library of Aruba). She earned her degree in Library Science from the P. A. Tiele Academy in The Hague, Netherlands. Since 1989, she has been an active member of ACURIL and served as President from 2005 to 2006, member of the Executive Council and Coordinator of the ACURIL Conference in 2019. 

Berber van Beek, is a driven, passionate, fun-loving humanitarian and nature lover, whom has been a lifelong advocate of sustainable development. Through her work aimed to have a positive effect on the awareness levels in Curacao, she is “connecting people”, so that this can lead to improvement in the lives of people, culture, nature and the environment. In this she has an affinity to work for those whom are the most vulnerable in our society. Using her passion for photography based on “seeing is believing” principle, she influences and doesn’t try to convince people, offering people the choice to make their own choices, like in her recent project “Hidden Voices 2.0”. But on top of that, she also is a strong believer in looking what is happening around her as she believes that many group initiatives like the ones regarding farming, where everyone is doing their little part and will create a snow ball effect and change Curacao in a positive way.  Berber is considered  part of the 250 Influencers of the island representing the Creative Sustainable Economy sector as a Humanitarian and Nature lover.

Dr. Berthamae Walker is the immediate past “University Librarian” of the University of The Bahamas (UB), a position she has held for several years. She currently serves as the Law Librarian within the Harry C. Moore Library & Information Centre of UB. In addition to serving as the managing librarian for the law unit of the library, she is also the liaison librarian to law faculty and students within the law programme at the university.

Additionally, Dr.  Walker has had the distinct pleasure of serving as a Past President of ACURIL (2019-2020) and for presiding at the first virtual conference of the association.

Bruce Harms is a multimedia engineer, educator, and technologist with over a decade of experience in graphic design, web development, and media production. As the Director of Full Stack Vision FND, he leads initiatives that integrate technology, education, and digital innovation to empower communities in the Caribbean. Full Stack Vision FND is the official growth partner of the Raspberry Pi Foundation in the Caribbean, working to expand access to coding education, digital literacy, and STEM initiatives across the region. Bruce is the driving force behind Code Club Caribbean, a regional initiative that fosters digital literacy, coding skills, and creative problem-solving among youth. Through his partnership with Raspberry Pi, he has introduced accessible and scalable STEM education programs tailored to the Caribbean context. Passionate about Environmental Engineering, Community Science, and the Creative Industry, Bruce advocates for the intersection of technology and sustainability. His work emphasizes open-source solutions, digital inclusion, and fostering an innovation-driven Caribbean economy. Bruce advocates for the platform Code Club Caribbean, by sharing insights into how technology, coding education, environmental engineering, and creative multimedia can drive sustainable development and digital transformation in the region

Chantal Cousins is the Manager of Research and Information at the National Library of Jamaica. She has over seven (7) years of experience as a Librarian in the school, special and public libraries. Chantal is also a researcher who is passionate about delving into and sharing information. She holds a B. A in Library and Information Studies and an M.A in Public History and Caribbean Heritage. She is also creative; thanks to her overly active mind and has worked on the concept of the Cultural and Creative Industry Policy spearheaded by the Ministry of Culture Gender Entertainment and Sport. Chantal is an avid reader who tends to keep up with trends and issues of society, mainly in the library and cultural sector.

Cheryl Peltier-Davis is a librarian, author, and digital information expert with a career spanning the Caribbean, the United States and Europe. She has worked primarily in academic libraries, specializing in metadata management, digital initiatives and emerging technologies. An advocate for integrating technology into library services, she authored  the Cybrarian’s Web series, exploring how social media tools and mobile apps can be utilized in library services. Her recent research focuses on disruptive technologies, notably AI, and the implications for information services. Her
contributions to the field earned her the Association of Caribbean University, Institutional and Research Libraries (ACURIL) Caribbean Information Professional of the Year award in 2019.

Dr. Cornelis W. (Coen) van Galen is an associate professor in social and colonial history at Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. He is the project manager of the Historical Database of Suriname and the Caribbean (HDSC), a combined data and citizen science project aimed at the production of open access datasets of the population of Suriname and the Dutch Caribbean between 1830 and 1950.

Dashowna Martha is a bachelor student at the University of Curaçao in Building Environment. She is completing her sixth semester, with an internship of six months at the National Archive of Curaçao. Due to her specific interest in the cultural heritage of Curacao, she applied for the internship for the pilot project mapping and is currently gathering information on the heritage and culture of Curacao.

Dimitri Cloose is a dedicated professional with a rich background in cultural anthropology, history, and heritage management. Born and raised in Curaçao, he completed his secondary education. He pursued higher education in the Netherlands, earning a BA in History, followed by an MA in Cultural Anthropology/Non-Western Sociology from the University of Amsterdam. Upon returning to Curaçao, Dimitri embarked on a diverse career path. He began as a history teacher while contributing to curriculum development projects with the Foundation for School Material (FMS). His passion for cultural heritage led him to the National Archaeological Anthropological Memory Management (NAAM) Foundation, where he initially served as Collections Manager in 2000. Demonstrating leadership and vision, he became the Director of the Curaçao Maritime Museum in 2001, a position he held for eight years. In 2008, Dimitri transitioned to the Curaçao Ports Authority, taking the role of Commercial and Marketing Manager. His tenure there was marked by significant contributions to the island's maritime sector. In 2017, he returned to NAAM as its Director, where he continues to oversee initiatives that preserve and promote Curaçao's rich cultural heritage. Throughout his career, Dimitri has been committed to community engagement and cultural preservation. He co-founded the Association of Museums and Cultural Heritage in Curaçao and has been an active board member in various organizations, including the Foundation Marine Archaeology Netherlands Antilles/Curaçao (STIMANA/STIMACUR). His dedication to education is evident from his contributions to school curricula and his role as an editorial member and writer for the social-cultural magazine Kristòf.

Edric Croes studied History at the University of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, since 2009 he started working at the National Archives of Aruba where he works as the head of the section ‘Conservation & Archives Management’. 

In addition to preserving the archival collection of Aruba, he focuses on making movies, images and archives digital available for researchers and the public. 

Together with his team of the National Archives, he collaborates with Mr. Peter Scholing of the National Library of Aruba on "Collection Aruba", the cultural heritage portal of Aruba. 

Edwar Delgado joined OCLC in January 2013. He is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the library activity in the region.

Edwar is a graduated librarian from Universidad Javeriana in Colombia – South America. He has been in contact with OCLC since 2005 when he was selected as the first librarian from Latina America to attend the Jay Jordan OCLC-IFLA Early Career Fellowship.

After he finished the fellowship with OCLC, he returned with the goal to bringing OCLC to Colombia. Thanks to his work, in 2009, OCLC entered the Colombian market. Since then more than 400 libraries in Latin America continue to use OCLC products thanks to his work and professional commitment. 

PhD in Library and Information Studies. Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Library Science from UNAM. Senior Researcher at the Institute of Library and Information Research.

Publications: Information Policies in Public Universities, Access to Government Information: The Other Agenda, Information Policies in the Information Society: Views and Reflections.

Member of the National System of Researchers.

Emilie Hardman is the Curator for Reveal Digital and the Lead Researcher for Archives and Special Collections in JSTOR Digital Stewardship Services. Previously Emilie has served as Head of Archives and Digital Initiatives at the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona, Head of Distinctive Collections at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Head of Teaching, Learning and Digital Initiatives at Houghton Library, Harvard University. Emilie’s academic background is in Sociology, which is currently applied to work on a monograph about vegetarian cookbooks as social movement carriers.

Eric started working as an Education / Marketing manager in the world of libraries, archives and museums 2003. Since then he worked for two educational institutes specialised in archiving, information retrieval and document management. From the start he had a keen interest in digitalisation of information and the consequences for the information specialist.

Since June 2021 Eric is responsible for the development of a generic education program for all Information Professionals working for the Dutch Government. As a part of this project he is currently focusing on competence profiles for the Information Specialist of 2030.

Since 2007 Eric is active in the Dutch Caribbean. Since then he organised training programs for the National Archives of Suriname, Cuarcao and Aruba as well as the Anton de Kom University Library of Suriname. In 2021 / 2022 he coordinated the activities of the Library School of Suriname.

Eric is a board member of the KNVI (Royal Dutch Association for information professionals), member of the Innovation Committee of the Dutch Royal Library and an editor for the magazines Od (Governmental Information) and IP (Information Professional).

Dr. Jeannette Lebrón Ramos has experience in library environments since 2000. She holds a doctorate in Documentation: Archives and Libraries in the Digital Environment from the Carlos III University of Madrid, and a master's degree in Public Administration and Information Sciences and Technologies, both from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus.
She is currently the president of the Latin America and Caribbean Division of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLALAC) and was the president of the Caribbean Association of University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL) from 2021 to 2022.
She works as a teaching librarian and coordinator of the virtual reference service in the Library System of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus.
She coordinates the archive of the Center for Research and Digital Archive on Afrodescendants (PRAFRO) at the University of Puerto Rico. She is the author of several publications addressing the topics of library services, e-books, and Creative Commons licenses, among others.
Dr. Lebrón has actively participated in professional activities in the information field, giving lectures and/or training workshops in Argentina, Aruba, the Bahamas, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Dubai, Guyana, Ecuador, El Salvador, the United States, Guyana, the Netherlands, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Suriname, among others.

Joanna Phillip is a dedicated information professional with over twenty years of experience working in academic libraries. I possess a strong educational background in information studies, international relations, and politics, along with extensive experience in library services. My interests include library administration and management, emerging technologies in libraries, information literacy, and the ethical use of information resources.

Johny van Eerden is a digital accessibility and preservation professional at The National Archives of Aruba. For the past three years he has made historical documents digitally accessible, using Transkribus, a leading tool in handwritten text recognition. In his role, he has collaborated with various institutions to enhance access to historical collections, unlocking these for preservation, research, storytelling, and a better historical understanding

Kamau Osborne has been an information services professional for twelve (12) years. He has a Master’s degree in Library & Information Studies with a particular interest in cataloguing & classification from Dalhousie University, a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of the West Indies (St. Augustine) and a Diploma in Human Resources Management from the Institute of Commercial Management (U.K.). Mr. Osborne has held the positions as Librarian at the Environmental Commission of Trinidad & Tobago, Librarian II and Head of Department at the Ministry of the Attorney General & Legal Affairs, Law Librarian at the Eugene Dupuch Law School and Librarian II at the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS). He joined the team at the Alma Jordan Library, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, in February 2023 where he holds the position of Faculty Liaison Librarian: Social Sciences.

Kamau Osborne has been an information services professional for fourteen (14) years. He has a master’s degree in library & information studies with a particular interest in cataloguing & classification from Dalhousie University, a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of the West Indies (St. Augustine) and a Diploma in Human Resources Management from the Institute of Commercial Management (U.K.). Mr. Osborne has held the positions of Librarian at the Environmental Commission of Trinidad & Tobago, Librarian II and Head of Department at the Ministry of the Attorney General & Legal Affairs, Law Librarian at the Eugene Dupuch Law School and Librarian II at the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS). He joined the team at the Alma Jordan Library, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, in February 2023, where he holds the position of Faculty Liaison Librarian: Social Sciences.

Katie Coldiron is the Outreach Program Manager for the Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC) at Florida International University Libraries. She is also pursuing a PhD in History at FlU and holds an M.S. in Information Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Florida, and a B.A. in Anthropology/Sociology from Centre College in Kentucky. At dLOC, she leads efforts related to promotion of the site and the many resources it makes available. Her research is focused on Latin America and the Caribbean during the Cold War, and her professional interests center on aiding research in Latin American and Caribbean studies through library and archival materials.

• Lianne Leonora is a Curaçaon historian and social activist who researches social, cultural and political effects of colonialism on identity formation and nation building in the former Dutch colonies through the lens of critical race theories studies, post- and decolonial studies and critical discourse theories. She currently serves as Senior Information Specialist in charge of conserving the Dutch Caribbean Cultural Heritage and Jewish Archives of the Mikvé-Israël Emanuel Congregation of Curaçao at Mongui Maduro Library, Curaçao. She is an IFLA Licenced Caribbean Trainer for the Building Strong Libraries Associations Program and collaborates with local and international organizations. One of her professional life goals is to collect and share knowledge, raise awareness about conservation and documentation of Cultural Heritage and Caribbean History with a focus on ensuring a de-colonial and/or inclusive and truly accessible documentation of the cultural heritage while highlighting local, regional and global connections.

Lissa Paul, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, is a Professor in the Department of English, Faculty of Humanities, and Director of the PhD Program in Interdisciplinary Humanities at Brock University in the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada. Her attention to the small and the overlooked has resulted in high-impact projects in multiple disciplines including poetry for children, the foundational scholarly apparatus for studies in children’s literature, the recovery of histories of 19th century Barbadian fugitive enslaved people, and the transnational life and letters of forgotten 18thcentury British author and teacher Eliza Fenwick (1764-1840). Her two-volume The Fenwick Letters 1797-1840: A Transnational Feminist Life Reconstructed will be published by the University of Delaware Press in late 2025.

Lorraine Nero is a senior librarian at the Alma Jordan Library, UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. She has expertise in cultural studies, archives and teaching with emerging technologies.

She is the Co-Chair of the ACURIL Archives and Records Management SIG. She was the co-conference coordinator for the ACURIL conference in Trinidad and Tobago in 2004 and served as programme coordinator for the 2018 ACURIL conference in Santo Domingo.

Louise Rahardjo is coordinator Programma Indisch Erfgoed Digitaal at the KB, National Library of the Netherlands. She assists institutions with selection, digitization and online availability of Dutch-Indonesian archives and collections on www.onsland.nl. During her studies Languages and Cultures of Southeast Asia and Oceania at Leiden University, Louise discovered the cultural sector. As assistant curator at Museum Nusantara in Delft, she curated the last exhibition about Batik Belanda. After the museum closed, she de-collected the museum collection according to the guidelines of the LAMO. Before she start working at the KB she worked at various museums in the field of collections. She worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), Rijksmuseum Amsterdam and Atlas van Stolk (Rotterdam). For many years, she was also involved in the organization of a Eurasian event called the Tong Tong Fair (formerly Pasar Malam Besar). Louise enjoys networking and working in networks, where sharing knowledge is key.

Luis Joel Crespo González is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education, Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Environments at the Ana G. Méndez University, Gurabo Campus, Puerto Rico. (In progress). He possesses a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) 2018, Administration of Academic, Public and Special Libraries, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, Puerto Rico, a Master of Information Sciences (MIS) 2013, Library Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Puerto Rico, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) 2010, International Business, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico. He previously obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2005, Political Science, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Puerto Rico.

He has published several articles in prestigious publications such as Aceso, or the Caribbean Library Journal. He Is member of several professional Association and is currently Treasurer of the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institution Libraries (ACURIL). He is currently Head of Acquisitions. University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. Rio Piedras. Library System, as well as Assistant Professor. University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. Rio Piedras.

I am a communicator specializing in public interest issues and hold a Master's degree in Political Science. Since 2021, I have worked as a Public Relations Officer at the Médiathèque Caraïbe (Laméca), where I demonstrate my passion for Caribbean culture by combining my communication skills. My mission is to promote a unique collection of more than 40,000 documents dedicated to the Caribbean, facilitating access to these resources through social media, newsletters, and a varied program of events: workshops, literary gatherings, and conferences. Driven by the desire to contribute to the development of public reading, I am committed to creating open and welcoming cultural spaces, deeply rooted in Caribbean identity. My actions are based on the conviction that culture is a vector of personal and collective development, and I strive to make this wealth accessible to all, promoting inclusion and the transmission of knowledge.

Located in Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean, Margo Groenewoud PhD is an independent scholar working with academic partners in the Caribbean, the US and the Netherlands. She is a cultural and social historian specialized in the Dutch in the Caribbean. In the field of Digital Humanities, Groenewoud is guest editor for a special edition of Archipelagos Journal (2025) and Collections Consultant for the Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC). In support of her research on transnational Caribbean mobility and migration history, Dr. Groenewoud was awarded a 2022-2023 Fulbright Scholarship, which she spent as scholar-in-residence at CUNY City College New York.

After gaining an M. A. in Archives Administration and Records Management from the University College, London in 1992, Mrs. Thomas returned to Saint Lucia and since then has been involved in spearheading work in the area of records management, archiving and libraries. Mrs. Thomas was instrumental in establishing the National Archives of Saint Lucia. She continues to assist both in the public service and the private sector, and is a frequent guest on both television and radio. Mrs. Thomas became involved with the International Council on Archives in 1996 at the ICA Congress in Beijing, China. She served as a member of the Executive Board and Bureau between 1999 and 2002. In 1997, Mrs. Thomas was unanimously elected President of CARBICA for a four year term and sought to assist the countries of the OECS in upgrading their National Archives and training government employees in records management. From 2004 Mrs. Thomas became involved in ACURIL and has held the chairmanship of the Archives and Records Management Special Interest Group (SIG) from then. She served on the ACURIL Executive Board
from 2005 in different capacities: as the representative for Personal members, Institutional members, and as Parliamentarian until 2015. In June 2008 Mrs. Thomas was one of twenty-five Saint Lucians chosen as a role model for students and inducted in the National Heroes Gallery for Students and presented with an Eagle award for the professionalism and excellence she has demonstrated in the area of records management and archiving. In December 2009, Mrs. Thomas was unanimously elected as the President of the Memory of the World Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean and represented the region at the International Memory of the World Congress which was held in Poland in May 2011. She served as President of the Mow Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean for four years. In January 2010 Mrs. Thomas spear-headed the establishment of the National Portrait Gallery and her latest quest is the establishment of the National Library of Saint Lucia and the passage of legal deposit legislation.
In February 2014, during Saint Lucia’s Thirty-fifth Anniversary Independence Awards, Mrs. Thomas was awarded a Merit of Medal (Gold) for cAprès avoir obtenu une maîtrise en administration des archives et gestion des archives de l'University College de Londres en 1992, Mme Thomas est retournée à Sainte-Lucie et depuis lors, elle a été impliquée dans des travaux de pointe dans le domaine de la gestion des archives, de l'archivage et des bibliothèques. Mme Thomas a joué un rôle déterminant dans la création des Archives nationales de Sainte-Lucie. Elle continue de travailler dans la fonction publique et dans le secteur privé et est fréquemment invitée à la télévision et à la radio. Mme Thomas s'est impliquée auprès du Conseil international des archives en 1996 lors du congrès de l'ICA à Pékin, en Chine. Elle a été membre du Conseil d'administration et du Bureau entre 1999 et 2002. En 1997, Mme Thomas a été élue à l'unanimité présidente du CARBICA pour un mandat de quatre ans et a cherché à aider les pays de l'OECO à moderniser leurs archives nationales et à former leur gouvernement. employés dans la gestion des documents. À partir de 2004, Mme Thomas s'est impliquée dans l'ACURIL et occupe depuis lors la présidence du Groupe d'Intérêt Spécial (SIG) sur la gestion des archives et des documents. Elle a siégé au conseil d'administration d'ACURIL
à partir de 2005 à différents titres : en tant que représentante des membres personnels, des membres institutionnels et en tant que parlementaire jusqu'en 2015. En juin 2008, Mme Thomas était l'une des vingt-cinq Saint-Luciens choisis comme modèle pour les étudiants et intronisés à la National Heroes Gallery. pour les étudiants et a reçu un prix Eagle pour le professionnalisme et l'excellence dont elle a fait preuve dans le domaine de la gestion des documents et de l'archivage. En décembre 2009, Mme Thomas a été élue à l'unanimité présidente du Comité Mémoire du monde pour l'Amérique latine et les Caraïbes et a représenté la région au Congrès international de la Mémoire du monde qui s'est tenu en Pologne en mai 2011. Président du Comité Mow pour l'Amérique latine et les Caraïbes pendant quatre ans. En janvier 2010, Mme Thomas a dirigé la création de la National Portrait Gallery et sa dernière quête est la création de la Bibliothèque nationale de Sainte-Lucie et l'adoption d'une législation sur le dépôt légal.
En février 2014, lors de la remise des prix du trente-cinquième anniversaire de l'indépendance de Sainte-Lucie, Mme Thomas a reçu une médaille du mérite (or) pour sa contribution au développement des archives de Sainte-Lucie. Mme Thomas est bien connue à Sainte-Lucie, dans les Caraïbes et à l'échelle internationale pour le travail qu'elle a effectué en matière de formation et d'enseignement en matière de gestion et d'archivage des documents. Elle a aidé le Sir Arthur Lewis Community College et le Département de
Bibliothèque et études d'information, Mona dans ces domaines. Mme Margot Thomas est également auteure publiée et artiste visuelle.ontribution to archival development in Saint Lucia. Mrs. Thomas is well-known throughout Saint Lucia, the wider Caribbean and internationally for the work she has been doing training and educating in records management and archiving. She has assisted both Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and the Department of
Library and Information Studies, Mona in these areas. Mrs. Margot Thomas is also a published author and a visual artist.

MA&ABD, Performance Studies, MIS, Ciencias y Tecnologias de la informacion, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus

Nalisa Bhagwandin is a seasoned information professional with 14 years of
dedicated service at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus Library. She is Librarian
1 and in charge of the Technical Services Division.
She has a Master’s degree in Public Administration and is currently pursuing a Master’s
in Library and Information Science. Ms. Bhagwandin brings a unique blend of
administrative expertise and technical proficiency to the field. Her commitment to
excellence, innovation in library services, and passion for knowledge management
make her an invaluable asset to the academic community.

Dr. Nancy Abreu Báez earned a doctorate in Hispanic Studies with a specialty in Puerto Rican literature, a master's degree in Library and Information Science, MLS, with a concentration in academic libraries, and a bachelor's degree in Hispanic Studies with a second concentration in French Language and Literature . In addition, she completed two minor concentrations in Comparative Literature and Portuguese. All her degrees are from the Río Piedras Campus.

In the 1990s she began her career as a teaching librarian at the Natural Sciences Library. She served as automation coordinator. She was part of the team made up of librarians and professors from the Department of Biology who developed the Bibliographic Research course integrated into the General Biology 3101 course.

In the Library System, she held several positions and was chief librarian of the Circulation and Reserve Collection. She was prominent in the Puerto Rican Library and Newspaper Archive, the Caribbean Regional Library and Latin American Studies, she was Assistant Director of the Collections Department and chief librarian of the Library of Library Sciences and Computer Science. She has been a Claustral Senator. She has taught courses in the Spanish Department of the Faculty of General Studies, DECEP and the Madre Maestra University in the Dominican Republic.

As director of the Library System, she has worked on collaboration agreements with different academic institutions and libraries, such as Rutgers University, the Library of Congress of Argentina, and the National Library. Make library work visible. Promote the development of projects, among others.

She has presented conferences at several national and international conferences on library and literary topics. She was part of a group of professors from the Faculty of General Studies who participated in the III International Colloquium “Cross Collective Representations: Africas, Americas and Caribbeans. XIX-XXI Centuries” held at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan, Ivory Coast in November 2019. Her articles have been published in the Revista de Estudios Hispánicos, Caribbean Studies and various publications.

La doctora Nancy Abreu Báez obtuvo un doctorado en Estudios Hispánicos con especialidad en literatura puertorriqueña, una maestría en Bibliotecología y Ciencias de la Información, MLS, con concentración en bibliotecas académicas, y un bachillerato en Estudios Hispánicos con una segunda concentración en Lengua y Literatura francesa. Además, completó dos concentraciones menores en Literatura comparada y portugués. Todos sus grados son del Recinto de Río Piedras de la Universidad de Puerto Rico.

En la década de los noventa inició su carrera como bibliotecaria docente en el Sistema de Bibliotecas. Durante su trayectoria ocupó varias posiciones fue bibliotecario de automatización en la Biblioteca de Ciencias Naturales, bibliotecario jefe de la Colección de Circulación y Reserva. Estuvo destacada en la Biblioteca y Hemeroteca Puertorriqueña, la Biblioteca Regional del Caribe y Estudios Latinoamericanos, fue Directora Auxiliar del Departamento de Colecciones y bibliotecario jefe de la Biblioteca de Ciencias Bibliotecarias e Informática/Comunicaciones. Ha sido Senadora Claustral y ha dictado cursos en el Departamento de Español de la Facultad de Estudios Generales, la División de Educación Continua y Estudios Profesionales y la Universidad Madre Maestra en la República Dominicana.

Como Directora del Sistema de Bibliotecas trabajó para establecer un acuerdo de colaboración entre el Centro de Estudios Latinoamericanos de la Universidad de Rutgers y la Biblioteca y Hemeroteca Puertorriqueña y otras iniciativas como ser la sede de una experiencia de internado para estudiantes de bibliotecología de la Universidad Old Dominion. Además, ha impulsado proyectos para modernizar la infraestructura tecnológica del Sistema de Bibliotecas.

Ha presentado conferencias en varios congresos nacionales e internacionales sobre temas bibliotecológicos y literarios, específicamente en Costa de Marfil (África), Jamaica, Guyana Inglesa, México, Cuba, y Uruguay. Sus artículos se han publicado en la Revista de Estudios Hispánicos, Caribbean Studies y diversas publicaciones colectivas.

Nicole-Rachelle Moore, Curator, Caribbean Collections, Eccles Institute for the Americas and Oceania, British Library Nicole-Rachelle Moore is the Curator of the British Library’s Caribbean Collections, responsible for acquisitions across heritage and contemporary print and digital, and developing a range of learning and cultural engagement programmes. At the Library she co-curated the exhibition Malorie Blackman: The Power of Stories (2023-24) and at the George Padmore Institute she co-curated Dream to Change the World: The Life and Legacy of John La Rose (2018). Her debut poetry-prose collection, Memories Musings & Unfinished Conversations was published in 2024.

Drs. Peter Scholing (p.scholing@bibliotecanacional.aw) is an information scientist and researcher at Biblioteca Nacional Aruba, Aruba's National Library, responsible for digitization, digital collections and research. As curator of the Aruba National Library's digital collections, his current main project is Coleccion Aruba, the “Aruba Collection,” a digital collection platform and information portal that aims to digitally unite and make available all of Aruba's documentary and cultural heritage that is physically scattered across diƯerent islands, countries and continents. Peter is a member of the Aruba National Commission for UNESCO and is the immediate past President of MoWLAC, UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean (2022-2024). He also currently serves as an Editorial Board Member for the International Journal of Documentary Heritage (IJDH), established in 2024, and as an Executive Board Member of dLOC, the Digital Library of the Caribbean. In May of 2024 he received the ACURILEANA Medal of Excellence as ACURIL’s Caribbean Information Professional of the Year 2024. In October of 2024 Coleccion Aruba was awarded Internet Archive's 2024 Internet Hero Award.

Philip Abraham, Eccles Programmes Lead Curator, Eccles Institute for the Americas and Oceania, British Library Philip Abraham is the Lead Curator of Programmes in the Eccles Institue for the Americas and Oceania, with particular responsibility for special projects in public engagement, learning, digital participation and research. He is a specialist on the early modern Anglophone Caribbean, and he has a particular interest in creative and artistic responses to Library collections.

Dr. Purisma C. Centeno Alayon is a Librarian IV at the Information and Technology Center, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico (UPR). She holds a Doctorate in Education, with a specialization in Curriculum and Teaching and a subspecialty in Learning Technologies. She is a Specialist in Scientific and Technological Information Management from the National University of La Plata, Argentina. She also holds a Master's in Information Science and Technology, and a Bachelor's degree in Communication Arts with interests in Journalism and Advertising, from UPR. She is currently the editor of Acceso: Revista Puertorriqueña de Bibliotecología y Documentación, published by the Puerto Rico Library Society.

Ms. Peters recently completed a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (General Management). She has worked at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus Library for over 10 years, beginning as a Clerk Typist and now serving as an Assistant Librarian (Temp).

Her research focuses on innovative strategies to enhance library services, streamline operations, and integrate technological tools to improve library efficiency. With strong skills in research assistance, paper formatting, and editorial work, Ms. Peters is committed to supporting patrons and advancing the academic library experience.

She actively keeps abreast with technological advancements relevant to academic libraries and regularly engages in collaborative research projects. Her dedication and expertise make her an invaluable asset to the academic library community.

Randy Siew is an experienced information professional with a Master's degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology from the University of Hertfordshire. He is also a certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor from the Chartered Quality Institute. He works as a Faculty Liaison Librarian at the Alma Jordan Library at The University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine. Randy has also worked at the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) and The Medical Sciences Library, UWI, St. Augustine. Randy is a Library Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) and ACURIL member. He has also served on various committees at the national and regional levels. Randy's research interests include information security, quality management, circular economy, and applying digital technologies and media formats to deliver information literacy.

Raymond Hernandez, has been the director of the National Archives of Aruba since 1994. A historian by profession, he completed his studies at the Rijks University in The Netherlands and previously worked as a scientific researcher at the National Historical Archives. He also served in the Aruban Parliament. Under his leadership the National Archives of Aruba became the department that it is today. With over 30 years of dedication to preserving Aruba’s history, he is committed to making historical records accessible and ensuring the nation’s heritage is safeguarded for future generations.

Rebecca Bakker is the Head of the Digital Collections Center (DCC) at Florida International University Libraries, where she leads efforts in digital stewardship, repository management, and digital scholarship initiatives. The DCC maintains FIU’s digital and data repositories, ensuring the preservation and accessibility of institutional research, historical records, and cultural collections. Through collaborations with partners, they support open access, research data management, and integration of emerging technologies in digital preservation. Rebecca’s research focuses on AI and machine learning applications in metadata creation, privacy, and digital scholarship.

Mr. Ronny Reinold Alders started to work in May 1991 at the National Library of Aruba in the service of the Government of Aruba. Mr. Alders obtained in 1992 the Diploma "Basisopleiding Bibliotheekpersoneel" of the Antillean Public Library Association. Mr. Alders temporarily supervised the school library of the Colegio Arubano of the Hoger Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs and the Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs in Oranjestad. Mr. Alders worked also temporarily at the library branch of the National Library of Aruba in San Nicolas.

Dr. Rosemarie Heath is Head of the Department of Library and Information Studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. She is dually qualified and experienced as an educator and librarian, with a career dedicated to advancing library and information sciences in the Caribbean. Dr. Heath’s publication record includes research, book chapters and position papers, primarily focusing on Media and Information Literacy, Academic Librarianship, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Humanities and Children’s Literature. She has played a pivotal role in the development of library services in Jamaica, serving the Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA) at the executive level for several years, including terms as 1st and 2nd Vice President. Her leadership extended to her role as Chair of the Hospitality Sub-Committee for the ACURIL 2023 Local Organizing Committee in Jamaica. Dr. Heath is committed to fostering information literacy, professional development, and community engagement within the library and information sector

Shakira Croes, has been working at the National Archives of Aruba since 2005 as a policy advisor. She is also the secretary of the Friends of the Archives foundation, which supports archival initiatives. She studied Public Administration & Government Management in the Netherlands. With her extensive experience and community engagement, she is dedicated to preserving and making Aruba’s history accessible to all.

Ms. Simmone La Rose, Librarian II, Berbice Campus Library, among her qualifications are MEd (Curriculum and Instruction) from the University of Guyana and a Graduate Certificate (Information Studies) from Robert Gordon University.  Ms. La Rose research interests include research skills, technology and knowledge and information management. She engages in research and periodically presents the same at various forums and has a number of publications.

Sofia Canepa is at the PONCE MUSEUM OF ART – (2010 today) Head of Education Programing & Communities Empowerment . She has a vast experience in the writing and management of concurrent financing proposals coming from governmental, private and non-profit sources. She is  Responsible for implementation of the educational programming of the Museum.

Auparavant, il était en charge du projet fondateur du Center de recherche du Musée. PUERTO RICO ART MUSEUM (February 2007 to October 2010). Il est titulaire d'un MASTER EN SCIENCES DE L'INFORMATION, M.I.S. Ecole de communication et d'information, Université de Porto Rico, Campus Río Piedras (2001-2005).

Somattie Sayrange holds a Master's Degree in Education and has over twenty
years of experience as an information specialist and Librarian in charge of the Readers';
Services Division at the University of Guyana's Berbice Campus Library. 
Ms. Sayrange is passionate about information literacy and is deeply committed to
empowering others with the skills to navigate and evaluate the vast information
landscape. She excels at teaching students, community members, and colleagues how
to identify credible sources, critically evaluate the validity and relevance of information,
and utilize it responsibly in both academic and everyday contexts.
Ms. Sayrange leads training sessions, creates resources, and offers one-on-one
guidance to help students and others become self-sufficient in their research and
learning so they can embrace the challenges of an ever-evolving digital world, where
misinformation and information overload hinder people's decision-making. Ms.
Sayrange advocates critical thinking and digital literacy, constantly adapting methods to
keep pace with new technologies and changing media landscapes.

Sonny Weeks grew up in both Seattle, Washington, and the west side of Puerto Rico. She/they are finishing an MA in Social Sciences through Antioch University Online. Research has included interviews and surveys with residents in Rincón, PR, focusing on the town’s history, community perspectives on urban development and gentrification, and the evolving cultural and language dynamics between Puerto Ricans and North Americans. Sonny is currently working on a digital storytelling project with the working title of Memoria Pública de Rincón, which highlights personal and collective histories in the town. They fell in love with oral histories several years ago and were thrilled to connect with the Oral Histories Lab at the University of Puerto Rico– Mayagüez. Outside of research, you can find Sonny exploring rivers, waiting tables, dancing, and playing basketball.

1. Stephanie Chancy is the Caribbean Partnerships Librarian, Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC) Operational Lead and Director of Digital Scholarship at the University of Florida’s George A. Smathers Libraries. She received her Ph.D. in History from Florida International University and her Master’s and Bachelors from the University of Miami. Stephanie’s research focuses on Black Atlantic Material Cultures, especially the cultural and artistic exchanges between the Caribbean, Europe, and the United States. Stephanie taught U.S. History and Art History courses at the undergraduate level for over a decade, and, prior to her academic career she worked in non-profit arts administration.  

Suzan currently works as Network Coordinator at the Dutch Digital Heritage Network, focusing on professional development and acting as liaison with the Caribbean network.

She holds degrees in journalism, primary education, and language and cultural studies, which inform her multidisciplinary approach to heritage work. She is an experienced professional in the museum and heritage field, specializing in museum education and public programming. At the Museum Association of the Netherlands, she served as project lead for the National Museum Week and designed a knowledge exchange program for museum professionals.

Suzan enjoys connecting people and organizations within the heritage community and is interested in developing innovative approaches to museum practice and digital heritage challenges.

Tammy Hopkinson is Head (ag.) of the Learning Resource Centre and a part-time lecturer at the University of Guyana. She has a Commonwealth Master of Public Administration, a bachelor's degree in Public Management, a diploma in Information and Library Technician, and a certificate in Introduction to Library and Information Management. Tammy Hopkinson has worked in the field of Library and Information Science for the past twenty-four (24) years in a senior capacity. Over her professional career, she has authored and co-authored numerous publications and presented papers at professional seminars. Her research focuses is multidisciplinary subject matters, and she recently authored a study on digital literacy to enhance students' digital competencies. She actively keeps up-to-date with development in library and information management and is enthusiastically involved in activities to teach and train students to enhance their study journey at the University of Guyana.

T-Kay Sangwand is a Certified Archivist, librarian, and DJ who specializes in building preservation partnerships for human rights documentation and cultural heritage materials, particularly in Latin America and the US. She is currently the Librarian for Digital Collection Development at UCLA where she manages the Library’s cultural heritage collaborations in Cuba. She holds a MLIS and MA in Latin American Studies from UCLA and in 2017, she was named a Fulbright Specialist in Library and Information Science. In 2018-2019, she was a Fulbright Scholar with Mexico’s Ministry of Culture. She is currently a resident DJ at the LA-based radio station dublab where she hosts her monthly program “The Archive of Feelings.

Verónica A. González, currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies at Florida International University, is driven by a profound passion for cultural preservation. She is a librarian in the Digital Collection Department at Florida International University Libraries. Her research focuses on Cuban and Latin American music audio preservation and community engagement. She has coordinated and collaborated on university events in both national and international contexts. Veronica oversees one of the most extensive publicly available collections of Cuban music in the United States, the Díaz-Ayala Cuban and Latin American Popular Music Collection (DAC). Verónica utilizes this collection to support research, advance preservation, access, and digitization efforts

Wal Moraes works as a researcher at the Brazilian Institute of Information, Science and Technology (IBICT/MCTI), where he leads the Strategic Center for International Relations (NERI). He has a Master's degree in Media Studies from the New School University (USA, 2011), a Specialization in Cinema and a Bachelor's degree in Sciences also from the New School University (USA - 2006). He is currently in a Doctoral Program in Information Science at the University of Brasília - UnB (Brazil). A multidisciplinary artist, he works on the border between art, anthropology, semiotics, narrative and psychoanalysis. Areas of interest: visual information, education, otherness, gender, social justice, inclusion and innovation.

Ximena Valdivia serves as a Cataloging and Metadata Librarian at Florida International University (FIU). She holds a BS in Library Science from the Metropolitan University of Technology in Santiago, Chile, a Master of Arts in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida and is currently studying for her Master of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the FIU Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center. In her position, she is responsible for providing original and complex copy cataloging, creating metadata to maximize discovery of digital content, and providing authority control for library materials and collections with a focus on Special Collections. She has previously worked with Barry University and the University of Miami in a number of capacities on significant historical collections.

Yiannitzah Jacobus began her career at the National Library of Curaçao in 2008, working in the cataloging department. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts & Design with a specialization in Audiovisual Design, as well as a degree in Media, Information, and Digital Literacy. Over the years, she has contributed to various projects centered on schools, reading promotion, media literacy, and exhibitions. In 2010, she became the program manager for school initiatives and played a key role in developing the library’s literature museum.  

From 2012 to 2016, Yiannitzah coordinated the department responsible for digital cataloging and the library’s collection. She joined the management team in 2016, and from July 2018, she served as Acting Director for nearly two years.  

In 2022, she chaired the Local Organizing Committee for the 51st Acuril Conference in Curaçao while serving as the library’s Deputy Director. Since September 2022, she has once again held the role of Acting Director, and as of November 2023, she officially became Deputy Director.  

Since August 2022, Yiannitzah has been a member of the IFLA LAC regional division, serving a two-year term. She is once again leading as Chair of the Local Organizing Committee for the 54th Acuril Conference, hosted this year in Curaçao.

Natalia Hernández Mejías has experience working in the field of information services and research. She holds a Master’s degree in History from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus (UPR-RP). Her thesis follows an oral history methodology that explores the relationship between a leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party in Cayey and his community. In 2016, she obtained her Master’s in Library and Information Sciences from UPR-RP. Her interests in the field include access to information and metadata management. She worked as a project manager for the Mellon Foundation’s digitization initiative at the General Archives of Puerto Rico, where she contributed to metadata design and the establishment of the digital repository, as well as supporting the various stages of the digitization process. Recently, she joined the library team at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez as the librarian of the Oral History Lab.

Ms. Shelley Headley, a dedicated professional, is the Senior Assistant Librarian in charge of the Circulation Department.  My lifelong desire for helping people especially children and the elderly and to gain higher achievements have led me to receive a Postgraduate Diploma in International Studies, a Diploma in Social Work and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus.

I have thirty-one (31) years of experience at the University of Guyana Library with twenty-three (23) years as a senior staff member.

I am very passionate about my job and my role in student engagement.  I like to share my expertise with clients by offering information on available services such as Reference, Information Literacy and Library Instructions among other library related subject matter.

Ms. Headley is a family-oriented person and enjoys spending time with them.

Ray Ganessingh is a staff member at the University of the West Indies Alma Jordan Library, St. Augustine Campus. He has 28 year’s experience working at the Medical Sciences Library, Mt. Hope. He is a graduate of the Aberystwyth University, Department of Library and Information Studies (DLIS), Wales in the United Kingdom (UK). He is a member of The Library Association of Trinidad and Tobago, The Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL) and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Ganessingh is involved in Open Access repositories such as MedCarib and UWISpace. Mr Ganessingh views MedCarib and UWISpace as valuable tools to enhance the discoverability of Medical and Health information from the English–speaking Caribbean and accessible to the Health and Medical populations.

Vincent Calvet is the associate Director of the Service Commun de la Documentation - Université des Antilles in Martinique, in charge of the digital library Manioc, since 2022. Before he worked as consultant for books and reading at the DRAC Nouvelle Aquitaine, site de Poitiers in FRance, He holds a Master 2 from the University of Lyon (2007).