This event, which took place from June 9 to June 12, is the largest library conference in the Caribbean, inviting all librarians, archivists, information specialists, and museum personnel to come together for inspiring discussions related to their fields.
The theme for this year’s conference, Digital Humanities: Connecting the Caribbean (communities) through Archives, Museums, and Libraries, emphasizes the important role of technology and collaboration in how we collect and preserve our stories and identities.
Through presentations, workshops and exhibitions, the conference covered a wide variety of themes, including:
- Digital preservation, identity, and the decolonization of Caribbean heritage
- Collaboration, education and capacity building
- Innovative technologies, public engagement and emerging trends
- Sustainability, resilience, and funding in the digital era
Guest speakers included Clara Reyes, Head of Department of Culture within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport of Sint Maarten, Michele D. Pierre-Louis, founder of Fondation Connaissance et Liberté (FOKAL, Knowledge and Freedom Foundation) and past Prime Minister of Haiti, and Dr. Bryan Carter, Professor in Africana Studies at the University of Arizona.
A key moment during the event was the presentation of gifts from the Aruba National Archives and Aruba National Library, as well as a gift from Curacao ACURIL. Mary Thielman received these on behalf of Saba.
Other highlights comprised of special events such as the Human Library Experience, where local storytellers took participants to various historical locations, creating a lively and interactive experience, and an artful walking tour.
This informative and engaging conference gave participants ample space to discuss the current challenges that libraries face in the Caribbean, and to explore the vast potential of our libraries and archives while identifying necessary changes.
