The UWI, Mona has learnt with sadness of the passing in October 2008 of Mr. Ownali Mohamedali, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Library and Information Studies.  He was a longstanding member of the teaching staff where he served from 1987 to 2008.  He taught the courses on management of libraries to many students over the years and was well loved by staff and students who appreciated his kindness and thoroughness.

Born in Wete, Pemba, Tanzania, Mr. Mohamedali studied in Africa the United Kingdom and the United States of America and held a Bachelor of Arts degree from Makerere University in Uganda, Master of Arts degree from the University of Sheffield and a Master of Science degree in Library Science from the Catholic University of America. 
He joined the staff at the University of the West Indies, Department of Library Studies in 1987 as a lecturer, and was granted tenure in 2004. His teaching responsibilities related to Management of Libraries which he taught to undergraduate and graduate students. He also supervised research in these areas.

He was always consistent with his research and publications and produced over thirty articles and research reports.  He developed an interest in information services to the disabled, and was awarded a Mona Research Fellowship for 2007-2008 to undertake research in this area. During this period he undertook "A Survey and Critical Evaluation of Education and Information Resources and Services for the Hearing and Visually Impaired in the Caribbean” and produced a report on his findings.

His research took him to several CARICOM countries where he studied the organizational structures and management practices in libraries, and he made his most recent research visit to Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados in August 2007.

During his time at the UWI, Mr. Mohamedali undertook several administrative and professional roles, and from 1998 - 2000 served as Head of Department. From 2007 - 2008 he also represented the Department on the Executive of the Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA)

In April of this year the Department said farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Mohamedali, when he retired from the UWI, just before they returned to his homeland in Tanzania.