AcknowledgementsFrom late January through early November of 1994, nine trips took me to six countries in Latin America (Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Argentina). While each country faces different problems in improving library and information services, to try to discover common threads in the situations of nations which vary in size, history, and current socio–economic conditions presents a challenge. However, the observations which follow are simply a brief, informal chronicle of my experiences rather than in–depth reports on meetings or on institutions which I visited or advised.
My round of activities began in Nicaragua, where I spoke at a conference on “Libraries and the New Information Technology,” held on the campus of the Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) for about 20 participants. My presentations tried to focus on problems of collection development as they interface with “the new technology.” The UCA library needs larger and more adequate quarters, but a final decision on a new building has not yet been made by the University. Despite the country’s pressing economic problems, both UCA and the National Library (Biblioteca Nacional Rubén Darío) continue to make progress, the latter assisted for the past several years by the Swedish International Development Agency (ASDI).
From Managua I flew to Guatemala City to take part in a regional conference, sponsored by the Organization of American States (OAS), on CD–ROM technology, and to continue work as library adviser to the Universidad Francisco Marroquín (UFM). One of the most interesting developments in Guatemala is the on–going work being done by CCEBU, the consortium of the country’ s five university libraries; it is currently engaged in preparing a union list of their serial holdings.
Two trips in February carried me to Mexico City and to Santo Domingo. In Mexico, an innovative partnership program between the Dirección General de Bibliotecas and individual cities and states has resulted in greatly increasing the number of public libraries. I met with the administration of the Biblioteca de México, the country’s foremost public library, about plans for its future services. On the campus of the national university (UNAM) a library research center is flourishing, sponsoring special studies and expanding its documentation center and publication program.
The Dominican Republic is one of the few Latin American republics still without a library school. (Most of the country’s librarians were trained either at the Inter–American Library School in Colombia, or at U.S. institutions.) For some time the Technological Institute (INTEC), with the collaboration of members of the Association of Dominican University Libraries (ABUD), has been making plans to establish a school; several years ago a Fulbright lecturer made recommendations on curriculum, and library leaders have participated in regional and inter–American meetings on training. I met with interested persons on possible further steps, but the largest obstacle is the need for supplementary funding for the initial period of a school’s operation; attempts to secure a grant have so far been unsuccessful.
In March I returned to Central America for further consultation on plans for improving services and collections at the Francisco Marroquin University, and for a planning visit in El Salvador. The U.S. Information Service (USIS) in San Salvador, recognizing the importance of information services, wanted me to return for a longer stay in May, so I visited a number of institutions to get an overview of the current library situation. Six weeks later, I was back to advise on several matters. One of them concerned library education, because of the key role that trained personnel must play in improving library and information service. The present program at the national university (UES), established in 1973, offers a certificate at the end of three years of study. I worked with the program in planning for curricular development, for faculty improvement and, especially, for expanding and updating holdings in its professional library. The University had just opened its new central library building, constructed with the help of the Spanish government; the rector is extremely “library minded.” A second major activity was to plan and hold a workshop for university presidents, provosts, and librarians on the role of the library in the University. I gave the keynote address on the importance of collections in libraries. We were all delighted by the enthusiastic response of the 20 invited participants; several presidents wanted to begin plans for improving their library service immediately. The National Library, whose new quarters in a former bank I visited, was unable to accomplish much during the civil war, but has now embarked upon a program of modernization. The best collection of Salvadoran imprints is at the privately supported Biblioteca Gallardo in suburban Santa Tecla, which fortunately suffered no damage in the war. It is undertaking the compilation of a retrospective national bibliography, following the model of Nicaragua. While the project is moving forward, it is too early to have an estimated date of completion.
In June I went back again to Guatemala to participate, as an observer, in the fourth meeting of directors of Central American national libraries. (Three previous meetings had taken place in Managua.) As these libraries face similar problems, the sessions provided a good forum to exchange views and to report on recent programs. In September I made a second trip to Mexico City to work with the Biblioteca de México on plans for automation and for publishing a catalog of its rare book holdings. There are two programs of library education in Mexico City: one operates at UNAM and the other is the independent national school (ENBA). On this trip I inspected ENBA’s new quarters, with generous provision for classrooms, offices, administration, and a professional library. While in Mexico, I had a wide–ranging discussion with the director of the Benjamin Franklin Library (the oldest USIS operation, opened in 1942) on all aspects of U.S.–Mexican library relations.
Early in October I returned to El Salvador for the third time. This period was devoted to working with the national university (UES) as well as with two private institutions — Don Bosco University and Dr. José Matías Delgado University — all of them anxious to improve library holdings and services. At Don Bosco there is an attractive library building, but collections and services need improvement. The Matías Delgado will not open its library building until late 1995, but there were several planning sessions with the architect and others. Due to limited funding the new facility will be smaller than we would all like, but the university will reserve the land adjacent to its site to provide for future expansion. At both private institutions I encouraged staff to prepare a library development plan for the years 1995–2000 and to submit it to the administration for approval. I am optimistic about all three institutions, in large part because the university authorities realize that good library service is essential to strong academic programs.
During all of my stays in El Salvador I talked to many people — librarians, educators, and others—about ways to rebuild and expand library and information services after 12 years of civil war. These exchanges were helpful in preparing recommendations for USIS. We were all encouraged when the Agency for International Development (AID) agreed to provide scholarship assistance for persons wanting to study for the master’s degree in American library schools, and the first recipient enrolled in Rosary College in September. It is also hoped that a distinct but parallel training program, planned in collaboration with the library association (ABES), will come into being for persons who cannot meet admission requirements for graduate study or who lack the time necessary for a degree program.
Leaving El Salvador, I again spent a few days at the Universidad Francisco Marroquín in Guatemala. With its on–line catalog fully operational and with the retirement of the director, a new era has begun. The future appears bright, because the library rests on a firm professional foundation; its building continues to rank as the most handsome and functional in Central America.
My final 1994 trip took me to Argentina early in November. At the invitation of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the Universidad de Buenos Aires, I gave two lectures entitled “The New York Public Library after One Hundred Years“ — perhaps the first Latin American recognition of the centennial of the founding (1895) of one of the greatest libraries in the U.S. There was also time for discussion and debate on library education with colleagues and friends in Buenos Aires, especially those at the University’s library school and library research center. I paid my first visit to the new building of the Biblioteca Nacional de la República Argentina, opened in 1992 after years of struggle to obtain funding for its completion. The main reading room has a commanding view of the Rio de la Plata estuary. The library now faces the challenge of re–organizing collections and services within its spacious new quarters.
By the end of the year, I could look back on professional experiences in two large countries (Argentina and Mexico), in three republics of Central America, and in one Caribbean nation. There are problems, to be sure, but I remain optimistic that 1995 will bring further progress.
TWL’s Associate Editor has had more than three decades of experience with libraries and library schools in Latin America. In 1994 he was especially active in the region, and presents here a summary of what he saw and did. Periodic reports of this kind are anticipated. For further information on Latin American librarianship, readers may wish to consult TWL 3–1 (Fall 1992), the special issue edited by Jackson, at http://www.worlib.org/vol03no1/index.shtml.
William V. Jackson is Associate Editor of Third World Libraries, and a Senior Fellow at Rosary College.
©1995 William V. Jackson.
Citation
Jackson, William V. “Report on Latin America,” Third World Libraries, Volume 5, Number 2 (Fall 1995).