Ms. Beverley Lashley, Head, UWI, Mona Science Branch Library and Coordinator of the Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN) was named the Caribbean Information Professional of the Year for 2011 by the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL).  The Award is made to a member of ACURIL who has demonstrated individual commitment, excellence in performance, and outstanding achievement as an information professional. It was presented at the recently held ACURIL’s XLI President’s Banquet in Florida where she was recognized for her contribution and excellent work at CARDIN.
 
 Ms. Lashley spearheaded the establishment of CARDIN in June 1999 to provide linkages with Caribbean disaster organizations, widen the scope of the collection of disaster related information and to ensure improved access to such material. CARDIN provides a gateway to other key national and Caribbean disaster management affiliates such Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Latin American Center for Disaster Medicine (CLAMED), Regional Disaster Information Center for Latin America & the Caribbean (CRID), The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The UWI Library has been selected as the focal point for disaster information in the Caribbean and the initial funding for the project was provided by the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO).
 
While in Tampa, Ms. Lashley also participated in the 2011 ACURIL Conference held under the theme, “The Role of Libraries and Archives in Disaster Preparedness, Response and Research. Renaissance.“ She presented as part of a panel on “Building Disaster Information Research Centres”.  Her paper described the experiences of CARDIN and its contribution to the international community by providing free online access to Caribbean disaster information.
ACURIL is an association with membership comprising several states and nations in the Caribbean bordering the Gulf of Mexico. It is designed to facilitate development and use of libraries, archives, and information services, and the identification, collection and preservation of information resources in support of the whole range of intellectual and educational endeavors throughout the Caribbean area. Additionally, it seeks to strengthen the archival, library and information professions and unite information workers and to promote cooperative activities in pursuit of these objectives. (http://guides.lib.usf.edu/ACURIL_2011)
 
For more information on CARDIN persons may visit the website at http://www.mona.uwi.edu/cardin/ .