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HOW DID WE GET HERE?: AN EXAMINATION OF THE COLLECTION OF CONTEMPORARY CARIBBEAN JUVENILE LITERATURE IN THE CHILDREN’S LIBRARY OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO AND TRINIDADIAN CHILDREN’S RESPONSES TO SELECTED TITLES BY SUJIN HUGGINS DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Library and Information Science in the Graduate College of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2012 Urbana, Illinois Doctoral Committee: Associate Professor Christine Jenkins, Chair and Director of Research Professor Violet Harris Professor Linda Smith Assistant Lecturer Louis Regis, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine ABSTRACT This study investigates the West Indian Juvenile collection of Caribbean children's literature housed at the Port of Spain Children's Library of the National Library of Trinidad and Tobago to determine its characteristics and contents, and to elicit the responses of a group of children, aged 11 to 13, to selected works from the collection. A variety of qualitative data collection techniques were employed including document analysis, direct observation, interviews with staff, and focus group discussions with student participants. Through collection analysis, ethnographic content analysis and interview analysis, patterns in the literature and the responses received were extracted in an effort to construct and offer a 'holistic' view of the state of the literature and its influence, and suggest clear implications for its future development and use with children in and out of libraries throughout the region. ii For my grandmother Earline DuFour-Herbert (1917-2007), my eternal inspiration, and my daughter, Jasmine, my constant motivation. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To adequately thank all of the wonderful people who have made the successful completion of this dissertation possible would require another dissertation-length document. First and foremost, I must thank my advisor and director of research, Dr. Christine Jenkins, whose patience, guidance, and brilliant insights kept me moving steadily towards completion during some of the most turbulent times of my life. No less instrumental were the other members of my committee: Prof. Linda Smith, Prof, Violet Harris, and Dr. Louis Regis; all of whom willingly offered words of support, sage advice, and kindly accommodated my restricted schedule. I am thankful too to my former advisor, Prof. Emerita, Betsy Hearne, who encouraged me to pursue the doctoral degree and supplied valuable feedback at key moments. To quote Carl Jung: “One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings.” I will always look back with both appreciation and gratitude to them all. I am also eternally grateful to the deans and administrative staff at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois for the financial and other tangible means of support throughout my studies there. This process would have been considerably more difficult without the sheer genius of Valerie Youngen, Kathy Painter, Sally Eakin, and other members of staff that keep the GSLIS ship afloat; as well as my RA and TA supervisors over the years: Assistant Dean Rae-Anne Montague, LAMP Coordinator, Amani Ayad, and Prof. Ann Bishop. I would be remiss not to mention my Champaign-based friends, in and out of GSLIS: Dr. Hayden Noel who put me up in his home, and put up with me during periods of meltdowns, time after time; his fantastic mother, Ms. Mona Noel who took care of my daughter while I defended my dissertation; my buddy Eric Sizemore, who transported books for me to and from iv Champaign; his parents, C.J. and Sharon Sizemore, who have been my cheerleaders since 2002 when I started the Masters program; and my current and former fellow doctoral students Ingbert, Aiko, Minjie, Ellen, Karla, Yeo Joo, Karen, (and so many others) for just being brilliant and perfect in every way . Next, I must thank my dean at Dominican University, Prof. Susan Roman, for her faith in my ability to complete the dissertation while teaching full-time and for the continuous support and concessions she provided. I am also indebted to my colleagues, Dr. Janice Del Negro, Dr. Tonyia Tidline, Dr. Don Hamerly, and Thom Barthelmess, who always listened to my weary cries, provided feedback during moments of confusion, and constantly reminded me that there was a light at the end of this very long tunnel. Special mention must made of my friend and colleague, Ms. Talonda Davis, who not only supplied much needed spiritual support throughout the process, but took the time to help with the drudgery of reference checking the day before the draft was due; proving that there is much truth to the cliché of being a friend indeed to a friend in need. Also, my heartfelt appreciation to the staff of the Rebecca Crown Library; especially the amazing head of circulation, Ms. Kitty Rhoades. Thirdly, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my family in Trinidad where my research was based: my uncle Baba Sule, who wore multiple hats (designated reader, research assistant, chauffeur, etc.) and provided constructive and critical input at every stage of the research and writing process; his fabulous wife, my aunt Jenny who motivates me with her drive and determination; my aunt, Leanora Huggins, who, in her capacity as a prime candidate for sainthood, fed me, housed me, encouraged, and most importantly, looked after my daughter during the long days and nights of data collection. My cousin, Warren, who selflessly transported v me to and from the research site; and my father, Glenford Huggins, step-mother, Michelle, sisters, cousins, and countless others, who formed the constant chorus: “You can do it!” Also in Trinidad, I will never have enough words to thank my former colleagues and life- long friends at the Port of Spain Children’s Library, in particular: Georgegina, Jamaal, Candice, Paula, Monique, and Gail, who always found the time to help me in any and every way they could; Mrs. Annette Wallace, the former Executive Director of the NALIS, who served as my mentor in the profession and my advocate during the research process; the principals and teachers who agreed to assist with recruitment and transportation of the children to and from the library; and the children themselves who so willingly and enthusiastically agreed to participate in the study. To my U.K. based relatives, I will forever sing and dance in your honor: Dr. Tao Sule- DuFour, a gifted scholar and my ‘little’ cousin, who provided an empathetic ear as we went through the doctoral process together oceans apart; and my uncle Kenny and cousins Pat, Lisa, and Dwayne who were happy to accommodate me whenever my research or conference presentations took me to that part of the world. To my U.S. based relatives: my mother, brothers, sisters, cousins—especially cousin Janette who believed in me when my faith was shaken—and my surrogate family in Illinois: Aunty Esla and Uncle Kenny (now sadly deceased); Ken and Orella Warner; and the irrepressible, Australyn John, who always had a kind word and a prayer to keep my spirits up. Last, but not least, there is one very special person that came into my life like an angel from heaven. She was my neighbor, my instant friend, a surrogate mother, and a breath of fresh air. She was feisty, outspoken, fun, and someone whose love and concern infused every day of my life and spurred me through every step of the process. She listened with an attentiveness that vi was incomparable and reminded me to have “courage, strength, and perseverance” in spite of doubt and distress. Her name is Arlette Contento, and sadly she passed away 40 days after my successful defense at the age of 83. Her death was sudden and devastating to me, but her life and the brief time I knew her will forever be a blessing and inspiration to me. In light of my failed attempt at brevity, I will end here. I humbly and deeply apologize in advance to anyone I may have missed or failed to mention by name (I blame my post-dissertation brain). Please know that you are in my heart and that heart is filled with gratitude. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 2: THE CONTEXT ......................................................................................................... 38 CHAPTER 3: THE COLLECTION: CHARACTERISTICS ........................................................... 62 CHAPTER 4: THE COLLECTION: CONTENTS ........................................................................... 95 CHAPTER 5: THE READERS ........................................................................................................ 142 CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................... 194 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................. 204 APPENDIX A: MAP OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO ....................................................................... 209 APPENDIX B: LETTER TO PRINCIPALS ................................................................................... 210 APPENDIX C: LETTER OF CONSENT TO PARENTS .............................................................. 212 APPENDIX D: INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR PRACTITIONERS ........................................ 214 APPENDIX