C.A. library chiefs meet in Belize
When we use the word “regional” at Channel Five it usually refers to the Caribbean, especially in the wake of our recent CARICOM Basketball Championship. But regional also means Central American and this week Belize’s librarians are hosting their colleagues from the Spanish speaking mainland. Arreini Palacio reports.
It’s hard to imagine libraries without thinking about books but according to Chief Librarian, Joy Ysaguirre, books are not the only things on the minds of Central American library service directors meeting for the next five days at the Radisson Fort George Hotel.
Joy Ysaguirre, Chief Librarian, Belize
“This meeting has four major objectives. The primary objective is to strengthen and integrate libraries within the region. The second objective is to coordinate, unify and standardize library systems for the exchange of information and for easier access to information. We will also look at the design and follow up of region projects and of course we will evaluate our achievements for the past year and strategize for the coming year.”
This is the first year the Belize National Library Service is hosting the Association of National Libraries of Central America. The conference, which is being funded by the Governments of Sweden and Belize, has the participation of six countries, all of whom share many similarities as well as problems.
Joy Ysaguirre
“It’s an association so each library will give a country report where we will look at the situation in regards to automization of our different libraries. We will also look at our buildings, where we are at in terms of developing our national library.”
Helen del Cid, Director, National Library Service, El Salvador
“We have serious problems in our country. We have management and staff problems, with our building as well as with the services we give. This meeting will help us know what these problems are and together we will help each other to solve our problems and also improve our services in our library.”
Hector Luna, Director, National Library Service, Honduras
“Almost every Central American country has similar library problems, especially monetary problems. Our culture is now a priority as much as education and health. We have very little funds being provided by the government so we have to look to international organizations for funds in order to improve our system and service to our community.”
Along with the eighth meeting of directors, the National Library Service is also having an exhibition to commemorate sixty-three years of services. The display includes old pictures and documents dating back to the day the Jubilee Library opened on North Front Street, on the second December 1935.
By the end of this eighth meeting of library services directors, the association will have reviewed the past year and come up with strategies to help solve the problems they anticipate in the future. Arreini Palacio for News Five.
The exhibition is open daily through July tenth at the Radisson’s Altun Ha meeting room.
