Information Services

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (Court of Appeal) Library is a research and reference library, established to meet the information needs of the Chief Justice and other members of the Judiciary, through the collection of resources in both print and electronic formats. It houses a collection of legal materials relating to various jurisdictions, aimed at encouraging research, and supporting the Court’s activities.

The collection is comprised of both primary and secondary legal materials, and includes journals, legislation, law reports and unreported ECSC judgments. There is a small collection of text books relating to various areas of law.

The range of services provided for the users include: ready reference queries, print and online information search, current awareness, loan, photocopying and document delivery.

Mission
The ECSC Library’s mission is to provide integrated library and information services geared to:

• meeting the information needs of the Chief Justice and the judges of the Court of Appeal;
• providing research assistance to all the judges of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court;
• facilitating the wider legal community and the general public, within reasonable limits, with improved access to legal and law-related information.

Paying due regard to the need for cost effectiveness, the Library will continue to be responsive to user demands and be proactive in the development of services and use of new technology.

Library Regulations

• Loan facilities are only available to officers of the ECSC.
• The library may however be used for reference purposes by other judicial and legal personnel, members of academic institutions and by the general public.
• Items are loaned with the understanding that they may be recalled if urgently needed by another user.
• Items must not be taken from the library without the loan being recorded
• Any library material, which is lost, destroyed or damaged in any way, must be reported to the Librarian/Information Services Manager or her designate.
• The entire library is a quiet zone; loud conversation is inappropriate and disruptive. The purpose of the library is for research and as such any conduct inconsistent with this purpose, or detrimental to its pursuit by others constitutes a breach of these rules.
• Food or drink may not be consumed in the library.

Hours
Library services are available to staff and patrons:

Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

However in the event that use of the library resources is required outside of the designated hours, the library staff will endeavour to facilitate … if at all possible

Location
The library is located at the headquarters of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, 2nd Floor, Heraldine Rock Building, Waterfront, Castries, Saint Lucia.

The Records Management Unit of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court was established to facilitate the prudent management of records and information (regardless of format) created by, for and about the Court – thus ensuring that all intellectual assets are organized, protected and preserved in order to satisfy requisite informational needs in a timely manner.

This is done through the systematic conduct of the following:

• Receiving, recording and distributing incoming and internally created documents of all kinds (such as letters, memoranda and faxes).

• Opening and indexing files.

• Routing correspondence to relevant officer(s) for action.

• Procuring and securing all official correspondence and other documentation, so that they can be produced quickly by means of effective indexing, classifying and tracking procedures.

• Knowing the location of all official records and being able to produce them quickly, by means of effective indexing, classification and tracking procedures.

• Recording and arranging all correspondence (both internal and external) for their efficient and timely despatch.

The Statistics Unit of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court forms part of the Information Services Department. This Unit was established in July 2003, and currently functions with one person - the Statistician.

In general, the role of the Statistics Unit is to serve as the impetus through which the Court can measure its efficiency, effectiveness, timeliness and accountability.

The main objectives of the Unit are to:
• Provide information to improve the decision making capacity of the Court and to assist in the Court’s forward planning ability.

• Serve as the critical element in the improvement of the capacity to administer the Court in a manner that facilitates accountability.

The main functions of the Unit are:
• Provide advice and support in matters relating to statistical information that reflects the Court’s operations.

• Build and maintain an efficient judicial statistical system using appropriate technology.

• Monitor and report on the Court’s performance through data collection and statistical analysis.

• Provide ad hoc statistical data and information as requested.

• Provide statistical support to all programmes of the ECSC.

• Develop indicators using baseline data to measure productivity, efficiency and timeliness of the Court’s operations.