JLS Fostering Literacy and Cultural Pride

For more than 78 years, the Jamaica Library Service (JLS) has continued to stand as a pillar of national development, fostering literacy, cultural pride and lifelong learning across the island.

The entity has provided Jamaicans with access to information, educational programmes and recreational services through an extensive network of 85 parish and branch libraries, 334 mobile stops, with additional oversight of 898 government school libraries.

At the heart of this mission is the National Reading Competition (NRC), introduced in 1988 to mark the JLS’s 40th anniversary.

Now in its 38th year, the competition has become the flagship programme of the JLS, shaping generations by encouraging a culture of reading. Over the years, more than 135,000 Jamaicans have been inspired to embrace lifelong learning, proving the adage that “readers become leaders”.

The 2026 competition season was launched in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, which devastated sections of western Jamaica.

Senior Director of the JLS, Kishma Simpson, told JIS News, that reading provided psychosocial support and strengthened recovery in affected communities.

“The competition became a rallying point for resilience, encouraging families and communities to rebuild together through the power of books,” she said. She also disclosed that participation in this year’s competition exceeded expectations, with more than 7,000 entrants across five age categories, surpassing the target of 6,000.

Children ages six to eight accounted for nearly 30 percent of participants, while strong engagement was also recorded among the nine to eleven age group. In addition, adult engagement also expanded, with close to 500 individuals aged 21 and over entering the competition.

“Reading is not only fundamental to education, but also serves as a form of bibliotherapy, helping children and adults alike to build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and develop cultural pride,” Ms. Simpson stated.

NRC champion, 15–20 age category for 2025, 17-year-old Sherene Ramdon, a student at St. Mary’s High School in St. Mary, recalled that her journey into the world of reading began at home.

“I grew up in a household that encourages reading from a very young age,” she said, noting that her teacher later recognised her fluency and introduced her to the competition in grade three.

Though her first attempts were met with setbacks, she remained undeterred, entering year after year until she secured parish success in grade five, later becoming a national winner in 2024 and champion in the 15–20 category in 2025.

“The competition reignited my love for reading. It allowed me to broaden my list of books, spend more time analysing them, and improve my literacy skills,” she explained.

She noted that Caribbean centred literature made the experience relatable and culturally enriching, citing one of her favourite books being ‘Sweetness in the Skin’ by Ishi Robinson. Now, she is encouraging her younger brother, aged 14, to enter the competition, hoping he too will develop a love for reading.

“It’s a wonderful competition, and it is something I would encourage every Jamaican to join. Reading maketh a man and therefore, I think it is a very good competition,” she said.

A standout in the JLS National Reading Competition over the years is the St. Mary Parish Library Network, which has long distinguished itself as producing champions within the Jamaica Library Service’s National Reading Competition. Senior Librarian, Kereen Burton affirmed this proud tradition, noting that “our staff members generally use the six-month competition period to connect closely with schools, students, and the wider community. It is a time of energy, collaboration, and growth.”

Sherene Ramdon’s triumph in the 15–20 age category in 2025, to earlier victories in younger divisions, the parish has consistently produced winners who embody the spirit of literacy and perseverance.

“These achievements are not accidental but the result of deep-rooted community bonds. Parents work alongside their children, make sacrifices, and sometimes even enter the competition themselves. This is about family bonding as much as it is about literacy,” she said.

Annually, the competition begins with parish-level preliminaries and culminates in August with a nationally televised final, where five champions are crowned. The event concludes with a prestigious award ceremony, recognising intellectual achievement and celebrating Jamaica’s reading culture. A highlight of the 2026 NRC is the partnership that the JLS has forged with Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2025 and JLS Reading Ambassador, Brithney Clarke, to advance literacy and youth development under the banner “Read. Speak. Lead.”

Miss Clarke is spearheading a national outreach initiative that will see libraries across Jamaica transformed into hubs of inspiration and empowerment.

She will host reading, public speaking, and debating workshops and competitions designed to encourage young people to develop confidence in reading, strengthen communication skills, and build leadership capacity. The Senior Director told JIS News that “beyond the competition, the JLS has been expanding its reach by increasing access to digital devices and free internet services, ensuring that patrons can engage with both print and digital resources.” In addition, through partnerships with e-Learning Jamaica, libraries now provide desktops, laptops, tablets, and Wi-Fi access, bridging the digital divide and empowering citizens to thrive in a knowledge-based society.

The JLS also offers digital literacy training for all age groups, including seniors, ensuring that every Jamaican can participate fully in the digital era. Jamaicans are being encouraged to become members of their local library, registering online or in person, free of cost.