From the Mailbox: Regional Librarians-Archivists Enhance Awareness of Intellectual Property Rights

Pictured, librarians and archivists from the region, including  Antigua and Barbuda’s Library Chief, Ryllis Mannix, fifth from left, and Chief Archivist Joseph Prosper, far left, posing with US Ambassador Linda Taglialatela, centre.

 

This one has come and gone but still good to know – especially as IPR protection is important to me, Joanne C. Hillhouse, as an artiste (and should be of interest to all of us) and as blogger on this site (from which both images and content have been lifted without permission). The training was US sponsored and the release was sent out by the U S Embassy based in Barbados on June 24th 2016. Posting late, because…life. Minor edits for time.

 

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A group of librarians and archivists from Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean [traveled] to the United States as participants in a U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) running from June 13 to July 1.  The 21-day program [was] designed to enhance participants’ knowledge and understanding of policies, best practices, and challenges for improving awareness and protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

Participants in the program [were] Ryllis Mannix, the Director of the National Public Library in Antigua; Joseph Prosper, the Acting Director of the National Archives of Antigua and Barbuda; Junior Browne, the Officer in Charge in the Faculty of Law Library located at the University of the West Indies’ Cave Hill Campus in Barbados; Grace Haynes, Coordinator, Government Department Libraries in Barbados; Vernanda Raymond, the Acting Chief Librarian at the National Documentation Center in Dominica; Claudette Bartholomew, the Court Administrator at the Supreme Court of Grenada; Donna Mason-McLean, the Librarian at the National Public Library in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Petrine Clarke-Whyte, teacher/librarian/library assistant within the Ministry of Education in St. Kitts; and Evauntay Bridgewater, Senior Library Technician within the Ministry of Education in St. Kitts.

This professional exchange program [was] titled “Librarians and Archivists as Defenders of Intellectual Property Rights.”  Through meetings and discussions with public and private sector professionals in the United States, participants [explored] a broad range of IPR issues, including copyrights, patents, and trademarks.  In addition, they [examined] the implementation and enforcement of IPR legislation. The role and impact of non-governmental organizations on IPR [was] also be explored, and the role of libraries in providing critical services and expanding access to intellectual property emphasized.

The program [began] in Washington, D.C., and [included] travel to Dallas, Texas, and Orlando, Florida, before concluding in Manchester, New Hampshire.

The IVLP is the Department of State’s premier, professional exchange program.  The program brings together emerging leaders in their respective professions to learn how U.S. experts in that profession operate and to share best practices with the other program participants who hail from the same region and across the globe.

Astrun

This release is courtesy the US Embassy based in Barbados. Oh and before you asked, I checked and there were no submissions from Antigua and Barbuda. What’s up with that? Come on, you know some of you have wanted to draw a super hero; in fact you probably already have a prototype squirreled away some where, so what gives? Okay, benefit of the doubt, maybe you didn’t know. They promoted it via their facebook, I’m informed, receiving submissions from Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and Barbados. You know me, I always want to see Antigua and Barbuda in the mix because as we’ve seen with Wadadli Pen over the years, we have no shortage of talent but we need to stretch toward the opportunities. I’ll do my best to keep you informed as I come across said opportunities and to remind you of deadlines, but you’ve got to do the stretching. So, I’ll keep an eye out for next time (while you keep creating). Meantime, here’s the information and congratulations to the winner.

PRESS RELEASE

Grenadian Alleyne Gulston traveled to the United States this month as the winner of U.S. Embassy Bridgetown’s Science Superhero Contest.

Gulston is the Creative Director at AllyDay Creative Projects in Grenada. As the grand prize winner he, and a guest, attended the 2015 Anime Midwest convention from July 3-5 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare and Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Last November, ahead of famed American astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson’s visit to Barbados to speak on the importance of a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, U.S. Embassy Bridgetown hosted a Science Superhero Design Competition. Entrants had to create eye-catching, original artwork, or animation reimagining Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson as a superhero. Entries were received from all across the Caribbean, and the winner was announced during Dr. Tyson’s first public lecture in Barbados.

Public Affairs Officer Yolonda Kerney said, “We were thrilled with the response to the science superhero contest, and the interest overall in our free lecture which was presented by Dr. Tyson. We recognize that the STEM fields are critical in the development of societies, as they drive economies and innovation. We are committed to promoting STEM education, as the Obama Administration has made the investment and promotion of STEM education a priority.”

U.S. Embassy hosts the Brent Birckhead Quartet in a four-nation Eastern Caribbean tour

Sorry I missed this. Looks like they had a pretty good turnout though. Here’s a report from the U.S. Embassy:

The U.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS hosted the Brent Birckhead Quartet in a four-nation Eastern Caribbean tour.  The quartet’s third stop was in Antigua on April 26, where the ensemble performed during a free public concert at the Multipurpose Cultural and Exhibition Center.  The U.S. Embassy presented the quartet in this series of public concerts to underscore the excellence and diversity of American music and as well highlight Jazz Appreciation Month. The Quartet’s Eastern Caribbean tour also included performances in Barbados, St. Lucia, and Dominica. 

The four award-winning Americans of the quartet include saxophonist Brent Birckhead, pianist, Mark Meadows; percussionist, Carroll Dashiell III; and bassist, Romeir Mendez. The ensemble thrilled the audience with a program of jazz standards and original compositions. Distinguished guests in attendance included Director of Culture, Vaughn Walter MBE.

When asked what he wanted audiences to remember about him, Birckhead said

“Music is a conversation and all students of jazz, myself included, have to learn the language of jazz.  It’s just like a child learning to talk.  You listened to your parents, your vocabulary grew, and eventually, you were able to express yourself.  Music is no different, and we’re here to have a conversation with our audience.” 

Yolonda Kerney, Embassy Bridgetown’s Public Affairs Officer and a former Library of Congress music historian, offered her assessment of the quartet:  “They are masterful, both technically and artistically, and they are the present and future of jazz.  Like so many great artists their music is a reflection of their personalities — individually and as a group.  The Birckhead Quartet is confidence without arrogance; commentary without hyperbole; expansion without excess.”   

VIEW Pictures from the Antigua concert here.

Poetry Night with Tina Chang

This just came in the mail..

Hello

The U.S. Embassy to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean has invited Brooklyn, New York’s Poet Laureate, Tina Chang, to host a series of public poetry readings in Antigua, Barbados, and St. Vincent and Grenadines on September 25, 26, and 27 respectively.  This program will showcase the diversity and modernity of American literature, as well as allow Ms. Chang to share her opinions on poetry’s relevance and insight on her creative process.

Please see attached flyer for the date and time she will be in Antigua, we would be happy if you join us at this free cultural event.

Feel free to pass along this flyer to your friends, family and contacts.

 

Subject: U.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS International Writing Program Fellowship Request for Proposals (RFP)

Dear Sir/Madam:  Please post the following message on your bulletin boards and share with your email list and social media contacts.

The Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy at Bridgetown is happy to announce that we are now accepting nominations from writers who are citizens of and who live in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines who would like to apply to participate in the ten-week International Writer’s Program (IWP) at the University of Iowa’s prestigious international residency program.

Program dates: The IWP is tentatively scheduled in Iowa City from August 23, 2014 to November 11, 2014.

Deadline and Writing Sample: Interested writers should send a curriculum vitae and a 10 to 15 page writing sample to bridgetownexchanges@state.gov by March 27, 2014. No applications will be accepted after this deadline.

Who should apply: The IWP program is designed for established and emerging creative writers in any genre including fiction, poetry, dramatists, screen writers are eligible for nomination. Literary translators and writers of creative non-fiction, e.g. feature journalism, cultural commentary, biography, etc. are also eligible to apply. Applicants must have published at least one book, or their works have appeared in significant publications over the past two years.  Please note that in order for writers to benefit fully from this residency, they will need to have the flexibility in their schedules to spend 10 weeks in the United States.

All applicants must be fluent in English (spoken and written), comfortable with cross-cultural dynamics, and interested in close interaction with other artists from a multiplicity of diverse cultures.

Program Description: IWP provides a unique inter-cultural experience for established writers who have achieved literary distinction in their own countries, as well as for rising stars who have demonstrated literary talent, broad appeal and/or an interest in contributing to the creative writing culture in their home countries.

The IWP brings together a wide range of international and U.S. writers to examine current trends in literature including fiction, drama, poetry, and screenwriting to explore the creative process involved in writing in a unique U.S. environment. The international writers will spend 10 weeks in residence at the University of Iowa in Iowa City presenting their work to local audiences, working with translators, and participating in university level classes and workshops.  This aspect of the program will help these participants bring their countries’ literary works to a wider audience and learn more about U.S. literature. The 2011 program will feature increased opportunities for writers to participate in optional collaborative projects with artists from other disciplines including theater and dance.  The residency will also include field trips to attend literary events.  Further details about the program are available on the IWP website http://iwp.uiowa.edu/.

Funding: Successful applicants will receive funding that will cover the costs of the writer participating in cultural exchange activities in the fields of writing, translation, and collaboration with artists from other artistic disciplines.

Housing and Family: Due to housing limitations at the University of Iowa, and the intense nature of this residency, family members are not permitted to accompany the writer(s) for the duration of the residency.

Further more information, please email bridgetownexchanges@state.gov

Sincerely

Juanita Lynch

Information Resource Associate

U.S. Embassy to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

Tel: +246 227 4102

Fax:246 429 5316