Spoken Word Open Day at University of West Indies, Jamaica
Come and listen to some historic gems in the collection of the Library of Spoken Word, 24th October, 10.00 am-4.00 pm
University Archives: www.uwi.edu/archives/default.aspx
The activities in Jamaica were organized by the University Archives, The University of the West Indies which had a ‘Spoken Word Open Day’ on Thursday October 24 as October 27 is a Sunday and all offices are closed. The Archives had recently become a major repository for audio visual material with the transfer to it of the ‘Library of the Spoken Word’ which is the archival collection of the Radio Education Unit, with over 10,000 tapes, cassettes, CD’s etc. See attached flyer announcing the event.
The Open Day had two main components:
A live broadcast from 9 am to 12 noon from the University Archives of the radio programme “STRAIGHT UP” from the radio station (News Talk FM 93) located on the University campus. This is a talk show and the whole focus of the discussion was on audio visual materials especially those from “Library of the Spoken Word”. This priceless collection, which dates back to the early 1950’s contain chiefly audio recordings relating to the history, arts and culture of the West Indies . Persons interviewed included past and present members of staff and researchers who have used the collection. Excerpts from some of the historic recordings were also played.
The second component was a small display on the significance of the occasion, mounted in the Reading Room and tours of the Archives facility especially the Media Digital Laboratory where historic tapes were played throughout the day. The occasion was widely advertised and persons came from the University campus, and other organizations such as the National Library of Jamaica, the Jamaica Archives and the Jamaica National Commission for Unesco.
The occasion was really a national one in that among the persons interviewed was the Audio visual librarian at the National Library of Jamaica and the African Institute of Jamaica/Jamaica Memory Bank.
