Dr. Sasekea Harris, Senior Librarian, Mona Library; Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Science and Technology, The University of  The West Indies, Mona was recently elected President, Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA), at its 76th Annual General Meeting, held February 6, 2026.

 

Dr. Harris named Sustainability (SDG13) as a Presidential Priority: "Libraries Co-Powering Sustainable Communities to Thrive in the Climate Change Era". Dr. Harris notes with concern that international libraries and library associations are already pursuing sustainability, and have been implementing a plethora of initiatives in this pursuit throughout Europe and USA; and is committed to ensuring LIAJA leads the mission, within SIDS, particularly post Melissa and its devastating impact on libraries, in St. James and St. Elizabeth.

 

Dr. Harris previously co-partnered with FST (through the then School of Engineering) co-leading project proposal securing funding of USD 13,000 from EBSCO, used to install solar panels on the roof of the Science & Engineering Branch Library (SEBL) and the Physics Lab, making UWI the first university outside the US to receive this award. To date, this has been the seminal evidence of sustainability in libraries in SIDS.Dr Harris served as Faculty Librarian bewteen 2012 and 2025. In this regard she provided STEM research support to faculty and students; developed and delivered STEM information literacy sessions; and lead the review of teaching/learning information resources/services for departmental quality reviews, accreditation and course reviews. During her tenure as Faculty Librarian she played a key role in the renovation and renaming of the Faculty library (Science & Engineering Branch Library [SEBL]), to give accent to Engineering. She also conceptualized and introduced an entire new reading/study floor, which allows bag, food & drink , which quickly became the most used space in the SEBL. Dr Harris currently lectures in the MSc Agricultural Entrepreneurship program, FST.

 

The Faculty wishes, Dr. Harris all the best with her new portfolio.