July 2008 Archives

Building and managing library collections is not an easy task but no one can deny that is rewarding. Librarians get really proud when they see everything organized and beautifully displayed either online or in physical spaces. Then, that picky user comes and requests exactly that item the library does not hold. How come in the middle of so many titles the user chooses the one the library does not have? It seems frustrating, isn't it? It shouldn't because somewhere near the item is available for use by other users. The magic word is: sharing. However, sharing does not always mean to look at overseas resources. Brazil is such a huge country with a large number of libraries with interesting holdings. How about Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, and other South American countries? Each country with its peculiarity and richness in bibliographic content that can navigate throughout the continent in a fabulous dance called cooperation. Resource sharing is an activity that enriches the library role and group efforts save time and money. Could you imagine the results of South American libraries increasing cooperation among them?

If you know some examples of library cooperation in South America (among countries), please, send a comment. Let's share here (in Spanish, English, or Portuguese)!

Por que Cooperar?

Construir e gerenciar coleções de biblioteca não é uma tarefa fácil, mas ninguém pode negar que seja gratificante. Os bibliotecários ficam realmente orgulhosos quando vêem tudo organizado e exibido bem bonito seja on-line ou em espaços físicos. Daí, aquele usuário exigente vem e pede exatamente aquele item que a biblioteca não possui no acervo. Como pode no meio de tantos títulos o usuário escolher aquele que a biblioteca não tem? Parece frustrante, não é? Não deveria porque em algum lugar próximo o item está disponível para uso de outros usuários. A palavra mágica é: compartilhar. Entretanto, compartilhar não significa sempre olhar para recursos do outro lado do oceano. Brasil é um país enorme com um número grande de bibliotecas com acervos interessantes. E sobre o Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, e outros países na América do Sul? Cada país com sua peculiaridade e riqueza em conteúdo bibliográfico que pode navegar através do continente em uma dança fabulosa chamada cooperação. Compartilhamento de recursos é uma atividade que enriquece o papel da biblioteca e esforços em grupo economizam tempo e dinheiro. Você pode imaginar os resultados de bibliotecas da América do Sul aumentando a cooperação entre elas?

Se você sabe de exemplos de cooperação entre bibliotecas na América do Sul (entre países), por favor, envie seu comentário. Vamos compartilhar aqui (em espanhol, inglês, ou português)!

¿Por qué Cooperar?

Construir y gerenciar las colecciones de la biblioteca no es una tarea fácil pero nadie pueden negar que eso recompensa. Los bibliotecarios quedan realmente orgullosos cuando ellos ven todo ordenado y hermosamente exhibido o en línea o en espacios físicos. Entonces, ese usuario exigente viene y solicita exactamente el ítem que la biblioteca no posee. ¿Cómo entre tantos títulos el usuario escoge el uno que la biblioteca no tiene? ¿Parece frustrar, no es? No deberia pues en algún lugar cerca el ítem está disponible para el uso por otros usuarios. La palabra mágica es: compartir. Sin embargo, compartir no siempre significa para mirar los recursos del otro lado del océano. Brasil es un país tan inmenso con muchas bibliotecas con colecciones interesantes. ¿Que tal Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Perú, y otro países sudamericanos? Cada país con su peculiaridad y riqueza en el contenido bibliográfico que puede navegar a través del continente en un fabuloso baile llamado la cooperación. Compartir recurso es una actividad que enriquece el papel de la biblioteca y los esfuerzos del grupo economizan tiempo y dinero. ¿Podría imaginarse usted los resultados de las bibliotecas sudamericanas al aumentar la cooperación entre ellos?

Si usted sabe algunos ejemplos de la cooperación de bibliotecas en Sudamérica (entre países), por favor, envía un comentario. ¡Permítanos compartir aquí (en español, inglés, o portugués)!

 

Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango in Colombia is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The library is named after the general manager of Banco de la República de Colombia who envisioned the project in 1956 but didn't live to see its inauguration two years later. The library which now represents a network of libraries throughout the country is part of Banco de la República along with the Museo del Oro , and its main building is located in the historical center of Bogotá. The services offered today range from bibliographic services to activities related to music, arts, and workshops. More than a place for reading, Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango is an example of a space where the users can combine the library with concerts, courses, exhibitions, and other cultural activities.

Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango is also responsible for the preservation of the cultural heritage of Colombia with a large printed collection from the 18th century and maps from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Similarly to other South American countries, Colombia holds rare European publications dated as of the 15th century, and some of these materials are part of the holdings of this library. In order to celebrate its anniversary, the library launched an online exhibition that can be accessed on its virtual library. The libraries in South America are currently discussing about Open Access projects and ways of furthering information to users in the region in a process of enhancing the role of libraries in South American communities. This library, for example, allows easy access to full-text documents related to the Colombian culture through its virtual library.

 

 

Elisangela Alves, who is a librarian at Fundação Abrinq in the fast-paced city of São Paulo and was one of the 2007 OCLC/IFLA Fellows, is higly involved with the promotion of the program Biblioteca Viva in Brazil. This program that was launched in 1995 by the non-profit organization Fundação Abrinq is comprised of 26 institutions that are engaged in disseminating and facilitating the reading habit among Brazilian children and adolescents from low-income families. Elisangela with another 11 contributors created the online space Rede de Leitura Biblioteca Viva for discussions, suggestions, proposals, and more in order to increase the awareness and reach of this important program. Bringing kids and adolescents to the reading world helps to keep the local culture alive and improve communities. Two thumbs up!

On July 9, 1816 Argentina signed its declaration of independence from Spain at the town of San Miguel de Tucuman , six years after the first independence battle. The site of the signing is now a museum called Casa Historica de la Independencia that holds the Declaration of Independence besides of other related documents. Argentina inspired other countries in South America to seek independence and today is the second country in the continent to have a female as president for the first time, Cristina F. Kirchner .

The Argentinean National Library has initiated a series of projects for the bicentennial of the first independence battles which will be celebrated in 2010. Among the projects is the creation of a digital library of books and fundamental documents related to the Argentinean independence process and make the materials easily available to researchers, students, and the general public. Good stuff!

Happy Independence Day Argentina!

Sources: http://www.britannica.com/
http://www.bn.gov.ar/

The National Library of Chile has a fun page for kids to learn about the history of the country and its important figures such as Pablo Neruda and Gabriela Mistral. The activities range from games to contests and the option to be part of the club besides of links of interest for this audience. The design is kid friendly and this is a very smart idea for getting kids engaged in libraries. Even though the target audience is the Chilean kids, any kid that would like to have some fun while practicing Spanish and learning about this beautiful country is invited to check out this page.

Photo: The National Library of Chile (Santiago)

Brasilia, the charming capital of Brazil, is hosting the II Seminario da Informacao na Internet from 07/27 to 07/30 where panelists from different parts of the world (including myself) will discuss about digital inclusion besides of the Web 2.0 and its implications for the library market. The event is organized by IBICT and the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology. The internet usage in Brazil is growing steadily and the Brazilian libraries want to be up-to-date to better serve their users. A good event not only for Brazilian librarians but for the neighbors South American librarians as well. Mainly now with the new law that no longer requires passports among South American countries.