Case Study : "Using the Digital Library of the Caribbean to increase visibility of Guyanese and Caribbean LGBTIQ lives,

work and activism beyond HQ74 to HQ78 / 306.76" Presenter : Vidyaratha Kissoon,

Email : vidyak1@gmail.com

7 th Library Annual Research DayUniversity of Guyana Library

14 June, 2017

The Caribbean Region of the International Resource Network is a resource for people and organizations inside and outside the region whose work focuses on issues related to diverse genders and sexualities in the Caribbean. The network consists of activists, academics, scholars and other persons. The board members are Angelique Nixon, Rosamond King and Colin Robinson. The Co-ordinator is Vidyaratha Kissoon

Countries in our Caribbean

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire,

British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic,

Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, St.

Barthélemy, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Martin, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago,

Turks and Caicos Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Outline of presentation

The problem

The solution

Partnership with Digital Library of the Caribbean (DLOC)

Resources used to build and maintain the collections

Some results

An overview of the DLOC interface

The problem..

The problem..

Limited visibility of Caribbean LGBTIQ lives, activism and work inside and outside of HQ74 to HQ78 / 306.76

Diversity in sexual orientation and gender identity seen as a recent imposition and not part of Caribbean culture and identity

Diversity in Caribbean treatment of LGBTIQ citizens ranges from gay marriage in Martinique, Bermuda & Curacao to homophobic laws in Anglo-Caribbean countries

Solution : Caribbean IRN resources

Blog at http://caribbeanirn.blogspot.com

Theorizing Homophobias in the Caribbean

http://www.caribbeanhomophobias.org

Write it in Fire – Michelle Cliff tribute (wip)

http://caribbeansexualities.org

Facebook , Twitter ,Googlegroup

Collections on the Digital Library of the Caribbean

http://www.dloc.com/icirn

Digital Library of the Caribbean – dloc.com

Partnership with DLOC

Non-typical DLOC partner

Partnership started in 2009

“Archivist/Librarian” with no formal training!

Since 2013 – Voluntary work

DLOC donated scanner

Results

Results

Results

The Gay Freedom Movement of Jamaica sub-collection

Gay Freedom Movement of Jamaica - 1974 to 1983

2010 - Boxes of papers from Jamaica to Boston, USA

2010 - From Boston, USA to New York Public Library (Schomburg)

2010 to 2011 - Sorting and scanning – New York

2011 – Organising - Guyana

2011 – Launch of archive

DLOC Interface - overview

DLOC Interface - overview

DLOC Interface - overview

DLOC Interface - Overview

DLOC Interface - overview

Caribbean IRN Collection– Plans

Refine the collection with better use of the metadata

Creating some 'exhibitions' of items on special themes

Build other sub-collections

Demonstrate DLOC experience as an example of use by a group which is not an archival/library institution

Thank you!Vidyaratha Kissoonvidyak1@gmail.com