Established some forty plus years ago, the Main Library at Cave Hill fosters intellectual growth and provides the information resources needed to support the teaching, learning and research activities of the following faculties:
Humanities and Education
Medicine
Pure and Applied Sciences
The Social Sciences.
The wealth of the Main Library’s resources is based on a collection of almost 200,000 book titles, hundreds of print-based journal subscriptions and a growing collection of eResources – books, journals and databases. The West Indian Collection, which consists of items written by West Indians, or about the West Indies by others, is one of the particular strengths of the Main Library’s resources. In addition, there are a number of other special collections such as the Nita Barrow Collection, which is a fonds of the papers, artifacts, books and other media which were owned by the late Dame Nita Barrow, the first female Governor-General of Barbados. This fonds was listed in UNESCO’s prestigious Memory of the World International Register in 2009.
In addition to the print and digital resources that are available through the Main Library, there is also on campus a growing collection of audio-visual resources which support the academic programming on campus. This collection is currently housed in the Learning Resource Centre.
Mission Statement
The Main Library aligns itself with the strategic objectives of the UWI which seeks to be known as an institution of excellence, embracing traditional and emerging values of higher education. Through its collections and services the Main Library supports teaching, learning, research and knowledge creation that seeks to advance the region’s developmental thrusts. Specifically, the Main Library through its services and resources will foster the development of information literacy, IT skills, innovation, entrepreneurship and life-long learning.
Vision Statement
The Main Library will continue to be an intellectual hub in the regional academic community and a vital force in the creation, development and dissemination of information services and products with particular emphasis on Caribbeana. It will provide an atmosphere in which patrons, using a multiplicity of formats, are encouraged to learn, share knowledge and advance.