The University of the West Indies Library of the Spoken Word Collection

This project will digitize a collection of audio visual material known as the Library of the Spoken Word (LSW) from the University of the West Indies (UWI). The collection dates from the 1950s, the early years of the UWI, when the University established a Radio Education Unit (REU). The REU produced radio programmes to be used in adult education which covered social, political, cultural, historical and academic topics. The programmes were mostly produced in Jamaica by staff of the University and distributed and aired within the wider Caribbean, especially in schools and teacher training colleges. In July 2013 when the REU ceased operations, this valuable collection was transferred to the UWI University Archives. The recorded material includes interviews, talks, instructional material, songs, poetry readings and plays addressing a broad range of themes: Children’s Programming, Health and Housing, Social Studies, Labour and Management.