TVET Courses in Electrical Installation & Refrigeration
From now until September 29, interested persons can apply for Electrical Installation and AC / Refrigeration Technology. Classes are scheduled to begin the week of September 29, and will conclude in December.
Defensive Driving is an interactive, eight-hour course that is delivered 100% online and synchronously. The course is accessible to all persons who currently possess a Provisional Driver’s License.
WORRRD Up aims to promote literacy and encourage literary creativity within young people.
Poetry, stories, and other forms of literature are brought to life by students, as they explore various literary tools and means of expression.
WORRRD Up 2025 was held on April 9, 2025, with seven talented student poets competing for the grand prize of EC$1,000 amongst other awards.
The top three finalists earned the prestigious opportunity to perform at Voices of the Underground, an event hosted by the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) as part of the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival.
A special day dedicated to celebrating the students, faculty, and staff who actively support and engage with the SALCC's libraries.
We recognize their role in fostering a vibrant library community, and their commitment to learning, research and academic success.
Author Talks
The Hunter J. François Library will host its second installment of “Author Talks” for 2025, featuring Ms. Dawn French.
Part 1 will feature tips on the writing process, offering valuable insights for aspiring writers, students, and anyone looking to improve their writing skills.
Part 2 will cover the publishing process, providing essential information for authors and those interested in the literary industry. This session is a great opportunity for attendees to gain practical knowledge and enhance their understanding of both writing and publishing.
Author Talks is aimed at connecting various aspects of the SALCC curriculum with the work of local authors, providing a platform for authors to promote their books, share their thoughts, and engage the audience with a deeper understanding of their creative process.
A day for individual libraries and information units to extend their outreach into the community, offering assistance and support where needed.
This encompasses the development and enhancement of libraries, literacy activities, and training initiatives. The outreach services aim to bridge the gap between library resources and people facing barriers to access, including those who are home-bound, have disabilities, or reside in underserved areas.
As part of this commitment, the Hunter J. François Library will visit the school libraries at Millet and La Croix to assess their needs.
Library Staff Appreciation Day
A day to honour the dedication and contributions of the Hunter J. Francois Library staff, recognizing their vital contributions to learning, teaching, research, and academic excellence.
Take Action for Libraries Day
A day designated to mobilize advocates and heighten awareness of the pivotal roles libraries play in nation-building.
This year a roundtable discussion will explore the enduring relevance of libraries in a rapidly evolving digital world. As information grows and technology reshapes access to knowledge, we ask: What continues to draw people to libraries?
Kathy Birch McDiarmed, Head Librarian of the Hunter J. François Library, and Sonia Rees, President of NALIP, will participate in the discussion.
Official Opening of National Library Week
Venue: La Croix SDA Church
Library workers and friends of the library will gather for the official opening of National Library Week at a Mass Service held at the Minor Basilica Church from 10AM to 12PM.
This special service will unite those who support and contribute to the success of libraries, celebrating their dedication and contributions to the community.
National Library Workers Day
A day to recognize the vital role of library and information professionals in empowering students and enriching academic and personal growth.
Through their dedication, they connect individuals with knowledge, resources, and opportunities that shape education and lifelong learning. Institutions will celebrate their teams with activities that honour their impact and commitment.
What is Library Week?
Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination.
They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life.
— Sidney Sheldon
National Library Week has been celebrated in Saint Lucia for the past twenty years.
It is an explicit call for a more nuanced understanding of the importance and uses of many different types of libraries, and seeks to promote greater understanding of how libraries have evolved — an invitation for everyone to join, visit, protect and support these public powerhouses of literary collections and information banks.
Libraries and Information Units around the island commemorate National Library Week, from April 27 to May 2, 2025, under the global theme, Drawn to the Library.
This theme emphasizes the transformative power of libraries and reading in enriching and enhancing one's life. It encourages individuals to embrace the habit of reading as a means of gaining knowledge, broadening perspectives, and experiencing the richness that literature can bring.
The theme also suggests that by immersing oneself in books and other written materials, one can embark on a journey of intellectual and emotional growth, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and meaningful life. It underscores the profound impact that libraries can have on personal development, highlighting the idea that books are not just sources of information but gateways to a richer and fuller existence.
About HJFL
Steadfast in its student-centric approach to scholastic support, the Hunter J. François Library facilitates the success of students at SALCC through its supply of informational resources and instructional support.
The Library ensures that students and faculty receive access to its resources, for use in academics, research, and other informative contexts. The Library also lends its support through the hosting of literacy workshops, community outreaches, and the integration of technology into the development of its various collections.
Our Sponsors
NTN Live
FICS Financial Centre
Bank of Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia Hospitality Industry Workers' Credit Co-Operative Society Ltd.
A growing body of evidence suggests that students' academic success is linked to library usage, including improved student retention and an enhanced academic experience.
The oldest library in the world, called The Library of Ashurbanipal, is located in Nineveh in modern day Iraq. It was founded sometime in the 7th century B.C.
Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie was a one-man library-funding machine. He donated $55 million ($1.6 billion today) between 1886 and 1919, to open 2509 libraries around the world.
The Central Library in Castries, Saint Lucia also benefited from his donations.
Hong Kong has around 300 libraries for 7 million people.
The Hunter J. Francois Library was the first in the OECS to become fully automated.
Featuring over 32 million ebooks, the Internet Archive is the largest digital library ever created.
The oldest digital library, Project Gutenberg, was founded in 1971, by American writer Michael S. Hart.
It was a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works, as well as to encourage the creation and distribution of ebooks.
With support from Microsoft, a team of students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology recorded the ancient life and culture in this South Asian country and made 40,000 digital images available to the Bhutan National Archives. A copy of the picture book was donated to the Library of Congress.
Librarians used to have to learn a specific style of handwriting known as Librarian Hand.
The practice was prevalent in the late 1800s, when library pioneer Melvil Dewey — of the Dewey Decimal System fame — and other curators of early collections believed that legible handwriting was a must for card catalogs. The practice faded as typewriters grew in popularity.
Hundreds of thousands of Americans call a library their workplace. As of 2020, there were approximately 163, 810 librarians; 30, 810 library technicians; and 69, 650 library assistants working in the United States.
The Most Overdue Book was 122 Years Late. In 2011, the Camden School of Arts lending library in Australia had their book returned to them.
The book loaned was Charles Darwin's Insectivorous Plants. Interestingly, it was borrowed in 1889, breaking the record of the most overdue book in history with 122 years.