Dr Joyce Robinson was my friend and confidante
JAMAICA has lost another of its icons, someone who, through her professional and personal life, has left indelible footprints across our island.
The name Joyce Robinson has become a household name, because she was loved and admired by all — not only for her significant and wide-ranging contributions to Jamaica’s education system, but also for her generous, caring nature which made her extend a helping hand to so many individuals in myriad ways.
Her contributions to the development of librarianship, adult literacy, lifelong learning, vocational training, and other fields of public endeavour, have been lauded in other well deserved tributes. However, in my personal tribute to the commendable life she lived, I will highlight the admirable personal qualities of exemplary leadership and innate kindness that she displayed throughout her life in counselling, guiding, assisting, and encouraging others in their career advancement strategies, private tragedies, and personal achievements.
Dr the Honourable Joyce Robinson (nee Lawson), a librarian, though working in several areas outside of librarianship, remained devoted to the library profession. This remarkable woman, who ‘walked with kings, but never lost the common touch’, went beyond the call of duty in any job for which she was responsible, yet found the time for her family and the upbringing of her two children, Ann and Anthony, and for her extended family of staff and friends. Her colleagues and friends often wondered how she wore so many hats and successfully completed all the tasks to which she was assigned and those that she took on voluntarily.
Dr Robinson was appointed director of the Jamaica Library Service (JLS) in 1957. I joined the JLS in 1956 and so was privileged to be a part of her team during the formative years when the “trenches” were being dug for the establishment of Jamaica’s free public library system. In those early years of limited staff and with the establishment of new service points, Dr Robinson’s networking skills were brought to the fore. This was a time of heightened community involvement and many persons offered a room in their home as a Book Centre or served on a branch library committee.
She had a remarkable talent for team building and galvanising others to immerse themselves wholeheartedly in her many undertakings. Her early JLS colleagues can easily recall their many heart-warming experiences with her as they toiled together in establishing and developing the service. Entire families became involved in the library development programmes. On the occasion of library opening functions, the husbands of librarians then called ‘library husbands’ joined the voluntary task force, working late some evenings folding programmes and performing other assignments. Children born to library staff were automatically dubbed ‘library babies’ and became part of a cohesive JLS family.
Visit from a British PM
It was recognised universally that Jamaica had an excellent public library system and, in an era of regional and overseas co-operation, librarians came to the organisation from the Caribbean and other countries for training and to benefit from the conferences organised. This engineered the formation of some very beneficial links, officially, as well as the start of long-lasting friendships. In addition, this renowned service was regularly on the schedule of visits for local and overseas dignitaries — including a visit in the early years by the prime minister of Great Britain and by our own governor general.
There was never a dull moment in the Joyce Robinson-led JLS. I recall a morning when the then Prime Minister Sir Alexander Bustamante stopped by the library on Tom Redcam Drive on his way to work. It was no planned visit but, immediately, Dr Robinson had ‘the red carpet’ rolled out and the PM invited to take a snapshot look at the Jamaica Library Service — the plans and programmes, the challenges, strengths and opportunities of the fledgling organisation. So impressed was he that immediately he gave attention to the director’s priority request and took the decision to acquire additional lands to facilitate the extension of the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Library. Within a matter of days, ‘Sir Alex’ got that ball rolling and the transfer of a portion of adjoining land was effected.
She epitomised justice, fairness
From the start of her career, Joyce Robinson set very high standards for everything and for everyone for whom she was responsible. Her leadership qualities were exceptional and filtered down to her librarians. This dynamo of a lady was a perfectionist in everything and, among themselves, her staff often regarded her as a hard taskmaster. In spite of this, it was unanimously accepted that she was the epitome of justice, fairness and impartiality. The lofty standards Joyce Robinson set for herself she also set for the Jamaica Library Service and for its staff. She was always immaculately dressed, and was known for her integrity, accuracy and professionalism.
She had an excellent relationship with all members of staff but would not accept mediocrity. As young librarians, many of us were known to dissolve in tears during management meetings when it was discovered that expected details of assignments had not been adequately covered. Perfectionist Director Joyce was never satisfied with shortcomings. To her credit it must be emphasised that, although her words often hit the mark painfully, our “boss” never maintained a record of wrongs, and never felt too big to apologise for any hurt caused.
Throughout her administration she required that all aspects of the work demonstrate 100% professionalism. She had a passion for hands-on experience and that dictated that she be kept apprised of all plans and programmes, ensuring that nothing went public in the name of the Jamaica Library Service unless it bore her stamp of approval and that approval was not won easily.
In August 1962, for the celebration of the achievement of the nation’s Independence, the JLS mounted a major exhibition in the Kingston & St Andrew Parish Library. With the official opening scheduled for the following afternoon, a group of us, harried members of staff, put the final touches to an ambitiously conceived activity and, about 8:00 pm, satisfied with our efforts, we went home. To our amazement, the next morning we saw evidence that the exhibition had been visited by Director Joyce while we slept! The obvious improved visual impact of the exhibition evoked superlative compliments from national, regional and international dignitaries, and underscored the fact that this imaginative, ingenious professional would present only the best — even if she risked her own well-being in the pursuit of excellence. On that occasion, she gracefully accepted the compliments and unselfishly assured the audience that the work had been done by her efficient, hard-working staff. The 1972 publication 21 years of Progress in Pictures, 1948 – 1969 encapsulates the achievements over these years and is available in all parish libraries.
In addition to continuously encouraging both children and adults to engage in reading and education, Dr Joyce was the motivating force for her staff engaging in work and study programmes, as a library school was not yet established in Jamaica. She sought and obtained scholarships and fellowships for further overseas studies and placements to enable librarians to gain experience in additional areas of public and school library work.
She was more than a friend, she was my trusted confidante. I remember a special occasion when she realised that I was experiencing a period of grief. She was no longer with the JLS, but invited me to spend a day with her and went the extra mile to pick me up, listened while I unburdened, and lavished on me her well-known care and compassion.
We thank God for her life with us, and for what we learnt from being members of her staff, and from our privileged position as her friends. We have suffered a great loss in the passing of a talented professional, a wonderful person and a dear friend and extend condolence to her family.