The Library Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT), in collaboration with EBSCO Information Services, is proud to announce that Ms. Shadé Francis, Librarian at the Point Fortin West Secondary School, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Allison Providence-Lange Sustainability in Libraries (APL SIL) Award.
This prestigious award, established in memory of Mrs. Allison Providence-Lange, honors her legacy by providing an early-career librarian or library and information science student with the opportunity to attend the ACURIL Conference—a key regional forum for professional development and collaboration.
About the Award
The 2025 APL SIL Award includes:
- Return airfare to the conference
- Hotel accommodation
- Conference registration fees
- Ground transportation between the airport and hotel
- A commemorative plaque
This year’s ACURIL Conference will be held in Curaçao, offering participants a vibrant platform for learning, networking, and exchange of best practices across the Caribbean.
Celebrating Ms. Shadé Francis
Ms. Francis was selected for her passionate commitment to transforming library services for secondary school students with special needs. Her professional interests center on promoting inclusivity within libraries by equipping librarians with the training and tools necessary to better support this often underrepresented demographic.
She aims to:
- Produce scholarly work on inclusive library practices
- Advocate for accessibility and equity in library services
- Align her efforts with UN Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities)
- Build partnerships with institutions and NGOs serving special needs communities
- Deliver targeted training sessions for librarians
- Create a digital repository of lesson plans, strategies, and success stories
Attending ACURIL 2025 is a strategic step in her journey to foster cross-sector collaboration, access mentorship, and promote systemic change within the Caribbean library landscape.
Congratulations and Looking Ahead
The Executive Board of LATT extends heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Francis and wishes her every success as she prepares to represent Trinidad and Tobago at ACURIL 2025. We look forward to her insights and knowledge-sharing with the wider LATT membership following the conference.
LATT also thanks all applicants for their submissions and encourages eligible candidates to apply for the 2026 APL SIL Award.
