Joyce Robinson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joyce Lilieth Robinson OJ CD MBE (née Lawson; 2 July 1925 – 12 May 2013) was a Jamaican public servant best known for her work as a librarian. She served for lengthy periods as director of the Jamaica Library Service (1957–1976) and chair of the National Library of Jamaica (1979–1996), and was also briefly general manager of the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (1981–1982).
Robinson was born in Saint James Parish. She was orphaned at the age of six, and initially raised by her maternal grandmother before later being adopted by other relatives. Her adoptive mother was a schoolteacher in Black River, where she received her early education. Robinson moved to Kingston at the age of 12, after winning a scholarship to attend St. Simon's College. She began working as a pupil-teacher when she was 16, and later returned to Black River to work at the local high school, eventually becoming principal.[1] She married mathematics professor Leslie Robinson in 1957, with whom she had two children, Leslie Jr. and Ann.[2]