THE EDITOR, Sir:
WHOM SHOULD we believe, the Internet or the National Library of Jamaica? Which is the longest river in Jamaica? Where would you source the answer? Which information source/s will you choose to believe and why? I raise these questions because while on a recent group outing at one of our resorts the very exuberant and enthusiastic entertainment co-ordinator had a quiz competition going and he asked the group to guess the longest river in Jamaica. The answers were many and nobody won because the co-ordinator declared all answers incorrect.
When the group protested that the answer was not Rio Cobre as he had it, he proudly informed that he got the answer from the Internet. (And, by the way, it is not the Black River). If our entertainment co-ordinator had checked the resources at The National Library of Jamaica the answer he would have got is: The longest river in Jamaica is the Rio Minho. The co-ordinator's and far too many others' faith in the infallibility of the Internet is so strong and misplaced that I am compelled to use this medium to urge all persons who use the Internet as their only information source to at least apply the tried, tested and proven criteria that librarians apply to information sources, be they as old fashioned as print or as modern as the Internet.
Of their information sources librarians ask:
1. Who is the author and what is his authority to speak on the subject? The Statistical Yearbook of Jamaica published by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica is the source for the Rio Minho as the longest river in Jamaica. Further, the Yearbook identifies the source for its data which is none other than the venerable Department of Survey. Who are the authors of the Internet pages regarding the longest river in Jamaica and what is their claim to being authoritative?
2. What is the intent of the source, could there be any biases on the part of the author or publisher? Many of the Internet pages which spoke to the matter of the longest river had to do with the promotion of a commercial activity. Researchers using only the Internet should also keep in mind that material posted on the Internet, for the most part, does not have to satisfy an editorial board nor the stringent criteria librarians apply to potential information sources before those sources can be added to a Reference Collection. While the Internet can't be bettered as a source for current and otherwise difficult to access information the Internet is very inadequate for accurate information on Jamaica.
I am therefore appealing to all who would seek authentic information on matters relating to Jamaica to first check with The National Library of Jamaica. Questions can be sent via e-mail to nlj@infochan.com or telephoned to 967-2494 or taken in person to 12 East Street, Kingston or online at www.nlj.org.jm. While we can't now promise an instant response as the Internet can, we do promise you authenticity and accuracy.
I am, etc.,
WINSOME HUDSON (Mrs.)
Executive Director
The National Library of Jamaica
