About Saint Lucia
Region: Latin America and the Caribbean
Area: 620 km²
Population: 179,744
Libraries (Service Points): 19
Libraries in Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia has public, academic and special libraries, including a mobile service provided by the public library system. Special libraries include the law library, National Archives, a folk cultural research centre, Parliament library, National Trust Documentation Centre, and various government libraries. Academic libraries include college and university collections.
The public library system, established in the early 20th century, is centralised, with several branches located around the island. The school library system began in the mid-seventies. Both, the public library system and school resource centres/school libraries come under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education. A number of special libraries operate either under the jurisdiction of Government ministries, the Open Campus of the University of the West Indies, or private institutions.
While these systems are not in the initial stages of development, they are in need of intensive review and upgrade. Financial support, new and suitable infrastructure, policy guidelines, and staff training are also needed. A 1982 report pointed out that a “lack of professional staff and inadequate financial resources have hampered [the system’s] development and restricted its growth.” This is still true today.
The Ministry of Education is presently responsible for the development of policy and legislation concerning libraries. The development of a national library policy has been overdue since the mid-nineties. Efforts by library associations to draw the Government’s attention to this pressing need have largely failed. Libraries are primarily financed by the Government through the relevant ministry, and by Government subvention in the case of a few special libraries.
Some of the strategic development or policy priorities in the local library field include:
- Policy legislation to guide the development of libraries for a new generation that is digitally aware and equipped.
- To provide needed information services to communities whether urban or rural.
- To support programmes of life-long learning and information literacy.
- To support on-going professional training and updating both for new entrants in the field or experienced workers.
- To provide financial support for much-needed infrastructural development.
- To support strong advocacy programmes that promote and support the importance of libraries and information centres in the island’s small, developing societies.
The revitalising of a National Library Association, installation of an electronic management system for the public library using KOHA, and re-establishment of a mobile book service to under-served rural communities are among the few recent achievements.
Library data (Totals)
|
Library type |
Total |
National |
Academic |
Public |
Community |
School |
Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Libraries (Service Points)
Library service point is a fixed or mobile facility through which library provides a service to its users. Central libraries, branch libraries, mobile libraries, and external service points located in different geographical locations and managed by one administrative unit are all each individual service points. Number of libraries is the total number of central/main libraries, branch libraries, external service points and mobile libraries. 19 |
19 2018 |
— |
— |
19 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Main Libraries
Central/main library is usually part or those parts of an administrative unit where the main administrative functions and the important parts of the library collection and services are located. An administrative unit comprising several branch libraries does not necessarily include a central library. 1 |
1 2018 |
— |
— |
1 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Branch Libraries
Branch library is a part of a larger administrative unit providing, in separate quarters, a service for a particular user group (e.g. children, faculties) or for a locally defined clientele. Institute, departmental and other affiliated libraries are included. Mobile libraries and external service points are excluded. 17 |
17 2018 |
— |
— |
17 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
External Service Points
External service point is a point away from library premises at which a certain service is regularly offered to users. This includes places within a locality at which library material is deposited for informal circulation to a restricted group of users but without other library services, for example, old people’s homes, community centres, collections for hospital patients. Mobile libraries and their stops are not counted as external service points. — |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Mobile Libraries
Mobile library is a library, sometimes a division of a public library, using transport means to provide documents and services directly to users as an alternative to access on library premises. 1 |
1 2018 |
— |
— |
1 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Libraries (Administrative Units)
Administrative unit is any independent library, or group of libraries, under a single directorate or a single administration. The term “independent” does not imply legal or financial independence but only that the library is a recognisably separate unit, typically within a larger organisation. The administrative unit can be a single library or a larger organisation, typically containing a central/main library, branch libraries and administrative functions. 17 |
17 2018 |
— |
— |
17 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Libraries with Internet Access
Libraries (Service Points) that provides internet access from at least one workstation available to the public regardless of whether access is free, and/or provides a wireless network allowing users to connect to the Internet. 17 |
17 2018 |
— |
— |
17 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Full-Time Staff
Full-time equivalent (FTE) staff are all library employees who work for the library in return for payment. It includes professional staff, qualified staff, project staff and assistants. Other staff (library employees who work in security and on domestic duties, for example, cleaners, porters, caretakers and catering staff) and volunteers are excluded. 68 |
68 2018 |
— |
— |
68 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Volunteers
Volunteer is a person working on library tasks without payment. In counting volunteers, the concept of headcount is used. 3 |
3 2018 |
— |
— |
3 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Registered Users
Registered user is a person or organisation registered with a library in order to use its collection and/or services within or away from the library. Users may be registered upon their request or automatically when enrolling in the institutions. 27,164 |
27,164 2018 |
— |
— |
27,164 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Physical Visits
Physical visit is a person (individual) entering the library premises. 1,527 |
1,527 2018 |
— |
— |
1,527 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Physical Loans
Physical loan is a direct lending or delivery transaction of an item in physical form. Physical loans include loans of items in non-electronic form (e.g. books) and loans electronic documents on a physical carrier (e.g. CD-ROM). — |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
eBook Loans
eBook is a non-serial digital document, licenced or not, where searchable text is prevalent, and similar to a print book (monograph). eBooks can be lent to users either on portable devices (eBook readers) or by transmitting the contents to the user’s PC or other device for a limited time period. — |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Audio Book Loans
Audio book (or talking book) is a sound recording of readings of a book, magazine, or newspaper, usually designed for use by visually impaired people. Audio books can be lent to users either on a physical carrier or other device, or by transmitting the content to the user’s PC or other device for a limited time period. — |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Downloads
Download is a content unit that is successfully requested from a library-provided online service or other internet service (e.g. database, electronic serial or digital document). — |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Library data (Per 1M People)
|
Library type |
Total |
National |
Academic |
Public |
Community |
School |
Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Libraries (Service Points)
19
Library service point is a fixed or mobile facility through which library provides a service to its users. Central libraries, branch libraries, mobile libraries, and external service points located in different geographical locations and managed by one administrative unit are all each individual service points. Number of libraries is the total number of central/main libraries, branch libraries, external service points and mobile libraries. |
105.7 2018 |
— |
— |
105.7 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Main Libraries
1
Central/main library is usually part or those parts of an administrative unit where the main administrative functions and the important parts of the library collection and services are located. An administrative unit comprising several branch libraries does not necessarily include a central library. |
5.6 2018 |
— |
— |
5.6 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Branch Libraries
17
Branch library is a part of a larger administrative unit providing, in separate quarters, a service for a particular user group (e.g. children, faculties) or for a locally defined clientele. Institute, departmental and other affiliated libraries are included. Mobile libraries and external service points are excluded. |
94.6 2018 |
— |
— |
94.6 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
External Service Points
—
External service point is a point away from library premises at which a certain service is regularly offered to users. This includes places within a locality at which library material is deposited for informal circulation to a restricted group of users but without other library services, for example, old people’s homes, community centres, collections for hospital patients. Mobile libraries and their stops are not counted as external service points. |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Mobile Libraries
1
Mobile library is a library, sometimes a division of a public library, using transport means to provide documents and services directly to users as an alternative to access on library premises. |
5.6 2018 |
— |
— |
5.6 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Libraries (Administrative Units)
17
Administrative unit is any independent library, or group of libraries, under a single directorate or a single administration. The term “independent” does not imply legal or financial independence but only that the library is a recognisably separate unit, typically within a larger organisation. The administrative unit can be a single library or a larger organisation, typically containing a central/main library, branch libraries and administrative functions. |
94.6 2018 |
— |
— |
94.6 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Libraries with Internet Access
17
Libraries (Service Points) that provides internet access from at least one workstation available to the public regardless of whether access is free, and/or provides a wireless network allowing users to connect to the Internet. |
94.6 2018 |
— |
— |
94.6 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Full-Time Staff
68
Full-time equivalent (FTE) staff are all library employees who work for the library in return for payment. It includes professional staff, qualified staff, project staff and assistants. Other staff (library employees who work in security and on domestic duties, for example, cleaners, porters, caretakers and catering staff) and volunteers are excluded. |
378.3 2018 |
— |
— |
378.3 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Volunteers
3
Volunteer is a person working on library tasks without payment. In counting volunteers, the concept of headcount is used. |
16.7 2018 |
— |
— |
16.7 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Registered Users
27,164
Registered user is a person or organisation registered with a library in order to use its collection and/or services within or away from the library. Users may be registered upon their request or automatically when enrolling in the institutions. |
151,126 2018 |
— |
— |
151,126 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Physical Visits
1,527
Physical visit is a person (individual) entering the library premises. |
8,495.4 2018 |
— |
— |
8,495.4 2018 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Physical Loans
—
Physical loan is a direct lending or delivery transaction of an item in physical form. Physical loans include loans of items in non-electronic form (e.g. books) and loans electronic documents on a physical carrier (e.g. CD-ROM). |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
eBook Loans
—
eBook is a non-serial digital document, licenced or not, where searchable text is prevalent, and similar to a print book (monograph). eBooks can be lent to users either on portable devices (eBook readers) or by transmitting the contents to the user’s PC or other device for a limited time period. |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Audio Book Loans
—
Audio book (or talking book) is a sound recording of readings of a book, magazine, or newspaper, usually designed for use by visually impaired people. Audio books can be lent to users either on a physical carrier or other device, or by transmitting the content to the user’s PC or other device for a limited time period. |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Downloads
—
Download is a content unit that is successfully requested from a library-provided online service or other internet service (e.g. database, electronic serial or digital document). |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Contextual data
|
Population |
Saint Lucia |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Population Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates. |
179,744 2024 |
662,186,388 2024 |
8,141,808,945 2024 |
|
Proportion of Population Younger than 15 Age dependency ratio, young, is the ratio of younger dependents--people younger than 15--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population. |
24.1% 2024 |
33.3% 2024 |
38.0% 2024 |
|
Proportion of Population Older than 64 Age dependency ratio, old, is the ratio of older dependents--people older than 64--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population. |
13.2% 2024 |
14.5% 2024 |
15.7% 2024 |
|
Population Growth Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. |
0.3% 2024 |
1 2024 |
1.0% 2024 |
|
Population Density Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes. |
293.9% 2023 |
32.6% 2022 |
61.6% 2022 |
|
Urban Population Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division. |
29.1% 2024 |
81.3% 2024 |
57.6% 2024 |
|
Information Infrastructure |
Saint Lucia |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet Users Internet users are individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc. |
70.1% 2023 |
81.7% 2024 |
71.2% 2024 |
|
Female Internet Users This indicator refers to female individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc. |
- |
81.3% 2024 |
68.2% 2024 |
|
Male Internet Users This indicator refers to male individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc. |
- |
81.3% |
- |
|
Access to Electricity Access to electricity is the percentage of population with access to electricity. Electrification data are collected from industry, national surveys and international sources. |
100.0% 2023 |
98.4% 2023 |
91.6% 2023 |
|
Economy, Poverty, and Employment |
Saint Lucia |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GDP per Capita This indicator provides values for gross domestic product (GDP) expressed in current international dollars, converted by purchasing power parities (PPPs). PPPs account for the different price levels across countries and thus PPP-based comparisons of economic output are more appropriate for comparing the output of economies and the average material well-being of their inhabitants than exchange-rate based comparisons. Gross domestic product is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period. It can be measured in three different ways: using either the expenditure approach, the income approach, or the production approach. This series has been linked to produce a consistent time series to counteract breaks in series over time due to changes in base years, source data and methodologies. Thus, it may not be comparable with other national accounts series in the database for historical years. The core indicator has been divided by the general population to achieve a per capita estimate. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. The PPP conversion factor is a currency conversion factor and a spatial price deflator. PPPs convert different currencies to a common currency and, in the process of conversion, equalize their purchasing power by eliminating the differences in price levels between countries, thereby allowing volume or output comparisons of GDP and its expenditure components. |
27,567 2024 |
22,880.9 2024 |
24,405 2024 |
|
Poverty Rate Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $3.00 a day at 2021 purchasing power adjusted prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions. |
0.1% 2015 |
4.5% 2024 |
10.3% 2024 |
|
Inequality Gini index measures the extent to which the distribution of income (or, in some cases, consumption expenditure) among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. A Lorenz curve plots the cumulative percentages of total income received against the cumulative number of recipients, starting with the poorest individual or household. The Gini index measures the area between the Lorenz curve and a hypothetical line of absolute equality, expressed as a percentage of the maximum area under the line. Thus a Gini index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality. |
43.7% 2015 |
0.0% |
- |
|
Unemployment Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country. |
10.1% 2024 |
5.5% 2024 |
6.2% 2021 |
|
Inactive Youth The share of youth not in education, employment or training (also known as “the NEET rate”) conveys the number of young persons not in education, employment or training as a percentage of the total youth population. Youth not in education are those who were neither enrolled in school nor in a formal training program (e.g. vocational training). For the purposes of this indicator, youth is defined as all persons between the ages of 15 and 24 (inclusive). percentage of youth population |
22.6% 2024 |
18.4% 2024 |
- |
|
Education and Literacy |
Saint Lucia |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Education Spending General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of GDP. It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments. percentage of GDP |
3.8% 2024 |
3.8% 2023 |
3.5% 2023 |
|
Adult Literacy Rate Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of people ages 15 and above |
- |
3.8% 2023 |
87.7% 2024 |
|
Female Adult Literacy Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of females ages 15 and above |
- |
94.7% 2024 |
84.6% 2024 |
|
Male Adult Literacy Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of males ages 15 and above |
- |
95.2% 2024 |
90.9% 2024 |
|
Female Youth Literacy Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of females ages 15-24 |
100.0% 2012 |
98.9% 2024 |
92.0% 2024 |
|
Male Youth Literacy Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of males ages 15-24 |
100.0% 2012 |
98.5% 2024 |
94.1% 2024 |
|
Research and Innovation |
Saint Lucia |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Research Spending Gross domestic expenditures on research and development (R&D), expressed as a percent of GDP. They include both capital and current expenditures in the four main sectors: Business enterprise, Government, Higher education and Private non-profit. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development. percentage of GDP |
0.3% 1999 |
0.6% 2020 |
2.7% 2022 |
|
Researchers The number of researchers engaged in Research &Development (R&D), expressed as per million. Researchers are professionals who conduct research and improve or develop concepts, theories, models techniques instrumentation, software of operational methods. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development. per million people |
- |
582.7 2014 |
1,516 2018 |
|
Scientific Articles Article counts refer to publications from a selection of conference proceedings and peer-reviewed journals from Scopus in science and engineering fields, according to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics Taxonomy of Disciplines. fractional count |
5 2022 |
130,281.9 2022 |
3,338,192 2022 |
National Library Associations
National Association of Librarians and Information Professionals Saint Lucia
NALIP Goals are:
- To promote the profession of librarianship and bring to the forefront the value of information in nation building.
- To provide ongoing informational forum for people with common interest of all information related entities and professionals
- To advise and assist as necessary in implementation of programs and activities related to design, development and use of libraries and information related systems.
- To encourage and assist in development of its members to achieve relevant and required knowledge and skills to facilitate efficiency and effectiveness in the management of libraries and information resource centres and delivery of library services and other information.
- To promote the professional development of members, supporting and encouraging education, stimulating research, developing public awareness and exchanging professional information.
- To facilitate ethics, leadership and career growth of members.
- To play a pivotal role in advancement of national library and information managements in adherence to international standards, policies and applications.
Currently the membership is very small, less than 10 active members for 2019/2020. Some of the main areas of concern for the organisation include increasing membership of the Association, advocacy for the profession and libraries with stakeholders, and rallying for review and update of library legislation.
National Library
There is no information available.
Policy Making Institutions
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development
The Ministry is responsible for development of policies to guide the development of libraries and information centres.
Library Support Organisations
There are no library support organisations in Saint Lucia.
National Policy for Libraries
There is no information available.
Library Law
Chapter 18:07 – Central Library of Saint Lucia Act
The law applies to public library, community and school libraries. It covers establishment of the Public Library, appointment of librarian officers and servants, establishment of public library board, chairperson of the board, meeting, powers and functions of the board, regulations, financial and penalties. It is issued in 1951, then amended in 1953 and revised in 2005.
Legal Deposit Law
There is no information available.
Copyright Law & Library Exceptions and Limitations
Copyright Act of Saint Lucia, No. 10 (6 September 1995) as amended by No. 7 (27 March 2000)
Exceptions and limitations for libraries
Libraries are able to make and supply copies of articles or parts of other works for users for the purposes of research or private study, with rules preventing repeat-copying and supply beyond the initial beneficiary. Where licences exist, these prime.
Libraries can also supply copies to other libraries, as long as it’s not possible to find someone who could give authorisation.
Libraries can preserve works, where it is not practical to buy a new copy. They can also copy unpublished works as long as there’s no explicit bar on such copying. In both this case, and in that of supply to authors, the library is supposed to charge a fee in order to cover costs.
There is a lending right, but this only applies to audio-visual works.
More broadly, St Lucia has a fair dealing exception for research and private study, and for criticism, review and reporting, with fairness based on an assessment of the nature of the work, the extent and substantiality of the part copied, and the effect of use on the market. There are also limited exceptions for use of works in education, and encouragement to use licences where available.
Professional Qualification Requirements
Professional Qualification Requirements
There are professional qualification requirements set for public librarians, which were listed in the St Lucia Budget document 1986-1991 Appendix C, prepared by the St Lucia Government.
The required qualifications vary for different positions at the Public Library and include both certain professional training and a number of years of relevant experience.
Non-governmental libraries such as academic and special libraries have their own qualification requirements and salary scales.
Education
Education
Currently, there are no institutions in Saint Lucia providing professional education and/or training programmes in the LIS sector. Up to the mid-2000’s, the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College did offer Library Technical Assistant Program, but it is not available anymore.
Those seeking professional qualification must travel out of the country to regional (e.g. University of the West Indies) or international schools that provide the training or enrol in on-line courses.
Professional Publications
There is no information available.
Professional Events
Library and Information Week/Month
Organised by the National Association of Librarians and Information Professionals (NALIP), it is usually held annually in March/April. The main goal is to bring librarians together to celebrate achievements, the profession, to advocate for the work of librarians and showcase the work of libraries. Efforts are made to hold a Symposium, an information workers’ day that recognizes the work of library staff, and to highlight individual libraries.
Library Location Resources