KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, in partnership with the Jamaica Library Service (JLS), has launched the School Library Standards, establishing a national framework to guide the development and operation of school libraries across Jamaica.

The standards were introduced at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Library under the theme “New Standards, New Horizons: Transforming School Libraries for the Future.”

The framework aims to strengthen school libraries as centres that support literacy development, research skills and information literacy among students.

Director General of the JLS, Maureen Thompson, said the standards represent an important step in strengthening the administration and effectiveness of school libraries within the education system.

“The School Library Standards represent a structured, measurable and nationally aligned framework addressing our school libraries. They establish clear benchmarks for facilities, management, staffing and services, ensuring that school libraries are properly supported and positioned to contribute meaningfully to teaching and learning,” Thompson explained.

She noted that the framework is designed to strengthen accountability and ensure that school libraries across government schools operate with clear standards and measurable outcomes.

The School Library Network, administered by the JLS  currently provides support to 898 schools across Jamaica, but challenges related to infrastructure, staffing and uneven development of library services have highlighted the need for a structured national framework to guide improvements across the system.

UNESCO Regional Director for the Caribbean, Eric Falt, welcomed the initiative and highlighted the continued importance of school libraries in strengthening education systems and improving literacy outcomes.

“School libraries remain vital hubs for improving literacy and education. They provide equitable access to information and technology while fostering reading habits, research skills and critical thinking. In an era where societies are flooded with information and digital technologies are transforming how knowledge is produced and shared, libraries also play a critical role in strengthening media and information literacy,” Falt said.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dr Kasan Troupe, emphasised that strengthening school libraries is essential to preparing students for an increasingly knowledge-driven and technology-enabled world.

“We want to create the kind of young people we want for Jamaica and ensure that they remain globally competitive. Libraries must continue to serve as centres of learning, research and innovation where students can develop the reading habits, research skills and independent learning abilities that support lifelong success,” said Troupe.

The School Library Standards are designed to guide the development of effective school library programmes across government schools.

Education leaders, teacher-librarians, policy makers and international partners attended the launch, which also highlighted the role of libraries in supporting literacy, information literacy and independent learning among students.