Retired UWI Global Campus Librarian, recounts her “wonderful journey”

by GRACE FRANCIS

The library is one place in an educational institution where you can go and find some quiet; its a reader’s paradise. Patricia Baptiste-Sutherland spent over four decades in this kind of environment as the Librarian at the University of the West Indies Global Campus in St Vincent and the Grenadines, retiring on July, 31, 2025 after 41 years on the job.

PAT BAPTISTE helping a student at the University of the West Indies Global Campus in St Vincent and the Grenadines

Born in Sandy Bay, and raised by her grandparents, after secondary school Baptiste- Sutherland decided to do multiple short courses at the UWI. The retired Librarian, now 65- years old, told SEARCHLIGHT that her life can be described as from “rags to riches”, although she is not materially rich, but has come a long way and bettered her life. She spoke about completing her o’ levels, CPA course, and going on to pursue a degree in Library and Information Studies at the Masters level.

In 1984, she got her first contract to work as a Librarian at the then UWI Extra Mural Centre which later became known as the UWI Open Campus, and is now the University of the West Indies Global Campus, St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

Baptiste- Sutherland spoke about her “amazing experience” working at the library from the first day until the day of her retirement. “When I first got there, books were thrown down with broken shelves,” she recounted.

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