Jamaica: State of the Libraries Regarding Copyright

Abstract

This paper was prepared by The Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA) as part of the project: "Impact of the copyright legislation on libraries in Latin America and the Caribbean.” This project seeks to identify and record the main issues that libraries are facing, as they seek to offer quality service in the digital age. The paper looks at the role of the Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA) in engaging stakeholders regarding the role that their libraries play in contributing to a creative knowledge economy and society and ensuring correct interpretation of the copyright act and its potential impact on libraries in fulfilling this role. The researchers employed a blended approach, utilizing both surveys and interviews. Purposive sampling was used for both the survey and interviews. The findings include a general lack of the specifics of the copyright legislation among some categories of library professionals. One recommendation is for measures to be taken to educate library and information professionals of the importance of copyright limitations and exceptions and instil an appreciation for the role that their libraries play in contributing to a creative knowledge economy and society.