Historical Overview of Public Library Network:

The Public Library Service now the Network was established through the joint responsibility of the British Council and the Government of Jamaica in 1948. The Service was and is still being administered at two levels through the central Library Board and local Library Committees in each Parish, as established by the Jamaica Library Service Law passed in November 1949. By 1955, the service was operated entirely by local staff and was wholly financed by the Government by 1960.

Since its inception the Network comprised parish and branch libraries, bookmobiles stops, and book centres. During the years 1948-1969, there existed 13 parish libraries, 46 Branch libraries, 64 bookmobile stops and 139 book centres.  However, before Jamaica Library Service began operations in 1948, free/public libraries had already existed in the parishes of Manchester (1938), St. Elizabeth and St. James (1944), Westmoreland (1946), and St. Ann (1947). Following were the opening of parish libraries in St. Thomas and St. Catherine.

• Initially the Free/ Public Libraries that were set up by individual parishes were ran by voluntary workers

Parish Libraries are located in the chief town/ capital of each parish, providing services to the public within the parish through the parish library, full-time and part-time branch libraries, bookmobile service, book centres and the postal service