Author Archives: loidagarciafebo

Presenting the e-book “Beyond Virtual and Hybrid Programs: How Libraries Recreated a Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic” by The REFORMA Northeast Chapter Leadership Institute

By Loida Garcia-Febo, CPDWL Advisor, International Library Consultant

The COVID-19 Pandemic ushered in new ways of providing library services. Libraries around the world continue to innovate to serve communities deeply impacted by the pandemic. On this blog post, I am sharing information about a new e-book featuring eleven of these new services hoping it is useful to many libraries worldwide. The e-book was developed by the Northeast Chapter of REFORMA, The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking.

The REFORMA Northeast Chapter Leadership Institute announced the publication of the eBook “Beyond Virtual and Hybrid Programs: How Libraries Recreated a Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic” edited by Adriana Blancarte-Hayward, Manuel Figueroa and Fred Gitner, with original cover art designed by Ariana Rivera Goldberg. The RNE Leadership Institute is Chaired by Mary Marques.

“Librarians around the world were challenged during the hard months of the pandemic on how to provide library services and resources to patrons of all ages. We had to experiment, create, and adapt! We navigated from in-person and face-to-face meetings to the anonymity of the virtual world. We put in practice our creativity and delivered services to our community.”

“Beyond Virtual and Hybrid Programs” includes eleven programs created during the global health emergency of the pandemic:

  • Smoking Ballerinas and Red-Hot Bolsheviks: Making the Artwork of Frances Lichten
  • Accessible Prof Talks
  • YA Comics Chat
  • The Class
  • Virtual Tech Tuesdays
  • Santa Rosa Zine Fest
  • Queens Memory COVID-19 Project
  • Write Now! A Writer’s Collective
  • Library and Student Support Services Virtual Summer Bridge Program
  • We Need to Talk: Conversations About Racism for a More Resilient Las Vegas
  • Senior Art During the Pandemic by Evelyn Ray

This project was developed by the REFORMA Northeast Chapter Leadership Institute with support from the REFORMA National Grant 2022.

To download the free PDF copy of this eBook and to access the webinar recording session of the eBook launch presentation, visit https://tinyurl.com/BeyondVirtualandHybridPrograms.

Thank you on behalf of the REFORMA Northeast Chapter Leadership Institute Team!

 

REFORMA Northeast Chapter represents the following states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. The chapter advocates for the improvement of library and information services for Spanish speakers and people of Hispanic/Latino origin in the six-state area at the local, regional, and national levels.

REFORMA Established in 1971 as an affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA), REFORMA has actively sought to promote the development of library collections to include Spanish language and Latino oriented materials; the recruitment of more bilingual and bicultural library professionals and support staff; the development of library services and programs that meet the needs of the Latino community; the establishment of a national information and support network among individuals who share our goals; the education of the U.S. Latino population in regards to the availability and types of library services; and lobbying efforts to preserve existing library resources centers serving the interest of Latinos.

Brazil’s Library Advocacy for the Win

On November 29, Dr. Jorge Moisés Kroll do Prado, President of the Brazilian Federation of Associations of Librarians, Information Scientists and Institutions (FEBAB), spoke in support of librarians and the 60th anniversary of the regulation of the library profession in Brazil at the Chamber of Deputies of the National Congress of Brazil in Brasilia, the country’s capital.

Few librarians have been able to advocate for libraries in their country’s Congress. This is a huge win for libraries and librarians in Brazil and globally. I’ve collaborated with Dr. Prado for a long time and interviewed him about this achievement. I hope his answers help build strategies to advocate for libraries in countries around the world.

What was the purpose of your library advocacy at the National Congress of Brazil?

I went to the Chamber of Deputies of the National Congress of Brazil in Brasilia, invited by the Federal Council of Librarianship. The Chamber of Deputies is a federal legislative body and the lower house of the National Congress of Brazil.

We had two activities: on Monday, November 28, I spoke at a public hearing for the universalization law for school libraries and on Tuesday, November 29, I spoke at the solemn session for the 60th anniversary of the regulation of the librarian profession in Brazil.

The law for university libraries is now 12 years old and still unfulfilled. We only have 36.5% of Brazilian schools with libraries, which does not mean a librarian is in these spaces. The public hearing on November 28 outlined the next steps in fulfilling this law. I was joined by Prof. Dr. Maria das Graças Castro Monteiro, chair of the Brazilian School Libraries Commission of FEBAB. A national campaign (#SouBibliotecaEscolar in Portuguese, #IamSchoolLibrary) has mobilized associations, regional councils, society, and the government in the Brazilian states to carry out regional articulations. Our country is vast, and each state has a different socioeconomic and political particularity.

The solemn session on November 29 for the 60 years of regulation of our profession is an outstanding achievement. The law was created by librarian Laura Russo, FEBAB’s first president. In Brazil, we only have 69 regulated professions and this context, in a way, makes it easier for us to guarantee a speaking slot in Congress.

For a few years now, FEBAB has been increasing close collaborations with other librarian entities in Brazil, which is fundamental. Despite being a big country, librarians are a small group. Therefore, every union and collective effort is essential.

How were you able to secure such opportunities?

The Federal Deputy Fernanda Melchionna and the Federal Council of Librarianship invited me to speak. Melchionna, the first librarian elected deputy in our country, is one of the leaders of the Parliamentary Group for Books, Reading and Writing launched in 2019 with the support of 220 deputies.

FEBAB has continuously collaborated with Melchionna securing her support. Additionally, we collaborate with other library entities in Brazil. Our delegation was strong, reflecting our work in unity. The presidents of the regional library councils, a representative of the National Fund for the Development of Education, and the federal deputies Fernanda Melchionna and Erika Kokay (FEBAB’s partner in several initiatives) were all present with us in Congress. From FEBAB, at the public hearing on school libraries on November 28, I was joined by Prof. Dr. Maria das Graças Monteiro Castro, chair of the Brazilian Commission on School Libraries of FEBAB. At the solemn session on November 29, I was the only speaker representing libraries.

What did you speak about?

During the solemn session, I spoke about the hard work of Laura Russo. She was a very important librarian who worked hard for the development of our profession in Brazil. She was the first president of FEBAB in 1959 and the first president of the Federal Council of Librarianship in 1966. The law that regulates the profession was created due to her work. I also mentioned that the achievements from these six decades result from the advocacy of our associations, regional councils, and unions. It is of fundamental importance that librarians continue to engage and support this movement so that we may have new achievements in the next 60 years.

I brought some specific data about the situation during the public hearing on school libraries. In Brazil, according to preliminary data from the Library Census that FEBAB has been carrying out since April of this year, only 13% of the professionals are working in schools. It is necessary to increase the number of people trained in the courses but in line with the required profile of the school librarian that we need to build. I also mentioned that our fight cannot be only about access to books but information as a whole, and this happens in a space with adequate and accessible infrastructure and with a dedicated librarian. We need financial investment, guidelines, and models for school library networks, and we need to design the library according to the learning level of the students.

What would you recommend to librarians that would like to have an appointment at such an important and visible forum in their countries?

The first thing I recommend is to engage with the profession’s different groups and entities. They continuously follow up and work closely with local and federal governments, universities, and other organizations. They continuously carry out projects in different areas that need the support of professionals. You may not be available to participate in the management team, but it is essential to cooperate with their actions.

IFLA has produced relevant materials: the 10 Minutes International Librarian action tips, which are advocacy tips that you can practice in any library. Here in Brazil, in partnership with SP Leituras, we translate it into Portuguese and publish it on FEBAB’s social media. These materials can be adapted regionally or even translated into languages other than the official IFLA languages.

By Loida Garcia-Febo, International Library Consultant and CPDWL Advisor

Digital Transformation and the Libraries in Extraordinary Circumstances

Digital Transformation and the Libraries in Extraordinary Circumstances

By Loida Garcia-Febo, ALA President 2018-2019, International Library Consultant, CPDWL Advisor

The Croatian Library Association, the National and University Library in Zagreb, and the University Library of Rijeka are hosting the first hybrid library conference I’ve attended since the pandemic. The theme is Digital Transformation and the Libraries in Extraordinary Circumstances. The hosts and the librarians are visionaries stepping up to provide a quality event to discuss a timely topic impacting everyone and everything on our planet.

The Croatian Ministry of Culture, the Director of the National and University Library, the President of the Croatian Library Council, and the President of the Croatian Library Association- all welcomed attendees expressing their joy and support of the event.  Everyone is thrilled about this opportunity!

This extraordinary effort showcases the determination of librarians to implement strategies to keep attendees secure while attending an in-person event, and strategies to use the latest technology to broadcast an event to benefit the continuing professional development of library workers nationally.

The theme of my opening keynote built on my speech for the 2019 Austrian Library Association Conference on “Artificial Intelligence in Libraries” was “Libraries and digital transformation: supersonic library services in the 2020s.”

The pandemic ushered libraries into full digital transformation. To meet the needs of library users and researchers accessing services only online, libraries faced a steep learning curve to implement elements of automation, AI, and machine learning. While libraries have been discussing and exploring digital transformation for years, the pandemic accelerated the process.

Our world and the global information environment were and are still being transformed by the profound impact of COVID-19 on people, society, and the planet. We are living in the era of digital transformation for the people. Digital transformation is a priority in the world, and it is people-centered.

My talk will be available on the Croatian Library Association website soon, but for now I will share an overview of salient points:

I also delved into:

  • what we have learned during the pandemic on our way to digital transformation,
  • explained how libraries can sustain these changes,
  • went over areas of concern,
  • the new requirements for successful librarians in this field,
  • what are the social, sustainability, and wellness implications for libraries/librarians,
  • how we are creating the future today by forecasting, and
  • what we need to do to achieve full digital transformation

Overall, I emphasized, technologies alone do not determine results. They must be adopted embedding our professional values and in particular, social, economic, and political contexts that influence their development and use.

The social inclusion of the community is the consolidation of democracy. All of these will help us to rebuild a just and equitable society transformed by technologies.

—-

Useful logistics for this successful and secure conference that might help you to develop your next hybrid library event:

The conference, attended by 100 librarians on site, started with a large number of attendees, including myself, traveling by bus from Croatia’s capital, Zagreb to the beautiful coastal city of Lovran. Everyone on the bus wore masks and followed security and physical distance protocols.

At the conference, attendees must wear masks at all times as well, screen themselves to check their temperature, and use hand sanitizer when entering the meeting rooms. Virtual attendees participate in an engaging event featuring speakers and PPT slides on the same screen and opportunities to engage in various meeting rooms according to themes.

The conference name tags include a QR code for contactless information about all things conference-related. Bonus applause for beautiful conference bags and an exhibits room featuring prominent library vendors.

It is amazing to see how in-person attendees have big smiles as they greet one and another after so long without in-person conferences. For clarity, big smiling eyes when wearing masks are lovely. Big smiles at mealtimes when masks are removed are like the sun shining on us.

Recognition to an incredible national library team:

  • Dijana Machala, President of the Croatian Library Association
  • Ivanka Stričević, Director National and University Library of Croatia
  • Jelena Glavić-Perčin, delegate of the Minister of Culture and Media
  • Dejana Golenko, President of Law Libraries Section, Croatian Library Association
  • Lea Lazzarich, Director of Libraries for the University of Rikeja
  • Tatjana Aparac Jelušic, President of the Croatian Library Council

Open Access and libraries: Lessons from COVID-19 and our path towards the future

This is the second of three blog posts based on webinars presented by CPDWL

Libraries as we knew them were forever changed by COVID-19. The pandemic brought up an opportunity to re-envision libraries to provide services in a way that reflects specific needs from communities deeply affected by it. This global situation also taught us to prioritize and shone a light on inequalities. How to start addressing all of these to create the libraries we deserve?

Recently, I coordinated and moderated an online event part of IFLA CPDWL and New Professionals webinar series with ALA entitled “Open Access and libraries: Lessons from COVID-19 and our path towards the future.” This event also highlighted advocacy efforts from IFLA which are guiding and supporting the path of libraries as we move towards the future, post-COVID-19, its aftershocks, and beyond.

Open Access and libraries: Lessons from COVID-19 and our path towards the future

This webinar presented on January 12 spoke to the challenges of accessing information brought up by the pandemic. IFLA has affirmed that comprehensive open access to scholarly literature and research documentation is vital to the understanding of our world and to the identification of solutions to global challenges and particularly the reduction of information inequality.  

IFLA has also championed the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for a long time and see that “There is an obvious link between Open Access (OA) and access to information, and therefore between open access and the SDGs. Open access is key to ensuring that society benefits from scientific knowledge, by informing further research in the area or simply the end user.”

Coalition S which is hosted by the European Science Foundation, has stated that full and immediate Open Access to research results can provide fast answers to protect lives and curb disasters. European organizations such as Open-Access-Büro Berlin are actively collaborating with libraries in Germany.

On its website, MIT libraries states that in the face of unprecedented global challenges, the need for open, equitable digital access to information has never been more critical or more compelling. Because this crisis demands an accelerated transformation of their library into a platform for the creation, discovery, use, dissemination, and preservation of knowledge that is fully open and equitably accessible. They are working on the basis that Now and always, the MIT Libraries will support, equip, and inspire each other and the MIT community to solve complex problems in the service of humankind.

Open Access carries the promise of moving knowledge from the closed doors of privileged universities to professionals and anyone interested to reporters and public policy makers (Willinsky 2006). The benefit and value of academia can extend beyond the walls of the University and fulfill our hope of benefiting the public good. The open academy / Open scholarship invites submissions from * everyone * so that we have a more informed and participatory society. Therefore it is also important that these jobs available through open access are also easy to find.

The Berkeley Library at the University of California in its toolkit: “Social Welfare Research Toolkit: Open Access” tells us that Open Access – which as we know is digital, online and free for users – is also a public good. Academics want their publications to be read by other researchers in their fields, by academics, by public policy makers. They contribute their time for free as authors, editors, peer reviewers, and the University buys the content they have given away.

Inefuku and Roth (2016) tell us that diversity in perspective, based on race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, socioeconomic status or disciplinary study, can transform academic communications – these that we also publish in Open Access.

The transformation that many are calling for in the production and consumption of these publications requires sustained commitment. We can be agents of change in all stages of academic communications, from research to consumption (2016). Then, we need to ask ourselves How can we encourage and support marginalized voices in the open access publishing conversation?

SPARC has said that Ensuring immediate, free open access to research results is vital to accelerating the global research community’s progress towards COVID-19 testing, treatments and vaccines. Therefore, SPARC fight for Open Access has intensified as policymakers, funders, university leaders—and increasingly, the general public—recognize that eliminating unnecessary barriers to scientific research is critical for societal health.

UNESCO is promoting and supporting the online availability of scholarly information to everyone, free of most licensing and copyright barriers—for the benefit of global knowledge flow, innovation and socio-economic development. 

All the actions and collaborations I have mentioned are very inspiring and support pronouncements from global bodies stating that full and immediate Open Access to research results can provide fast answers to protect lives and curb disasters. We have come a long way and still need to continue working on finding solutions to these complex matters.

Therefore, it is time to make full use of that potential for other global crises that are threatening us. Partnering with different stakeholders will strengthen libraries to provide services to communities at academic, public, school and all types of libraries deeply impacted by COVID-19. It is crucial that we continue strengthening these types of partnerships to impact change and policies to guide works in countries around the world.

I encourage everyone to continue collaborating together to bring the change we need to this area for more open access to help libraries serve communities deeply impacted by COVID19. Let’s continue building strong communities because libraries=strong communities; libraries=hope!

Webinar information:

“Open Access and libraries: Lessons from COVID-19 and our path towards the future”

January 12, 2021.

Moderator: Loida Garcia-Febo

Speakers:

Chris Bourg, Director, MIT Libraries

Stephen Wyber, IFLA Manager, Policy and Advocacy

Nick Shockey,  Director of Programs & Engagement, SPARC

Agnieszka Zofia, Open-Access-Büro Berlin, Open-Access-Referentin im Projekt open-access.network

CPDWL has presented webinars for the global library community since 2012 when I together with CPDWL and IFLA New Professionals established the “New Professionals Global Connection: Best practices, models and recommendations” webinar series. Over the years we have collaborated with other IFLA Sections to present webinars in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. See available recordings on the CPDWL YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj-wuXjzoITokcO5qr0R4xA/videos  and on the IFLA New Professionals website: https://npsig.wordpress.com/webinars-2/

Cited works:

Inefuku, Harrison W. and Roh, Charlotte, “Agents of Diversity and Social Justice: Librarians and Scholarly Communication” (2016). Digital Scholarship and Initiatives Publications. 5. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/digirep_pubs/5

Willinsky, J. (2006). The access principle : The case for open access to research and scholarship. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.

IFLA, Advocacy, and Communities: Championing Broadband in COVID-19 times

By Loida Garcia-Febo, CPDWL Consultant, International Library Consultant

Libraries as we knew them were forever changed by COVID-19. The pandemic brought up an opportunity to re-envision libraries to provide services in a way that reflects specific needs from communities deeply affected by it. This global situation also taught us to prioritize and shone a light on inequalities. How to start addressing all of these to create the libraries we deserve?

Recently, I coordinated and moderated an online event part of IFLA CPDWL and New Professionals webinar series with ALA entitled “Librarians supporting universal broadband to continue providing essential services to communities everywhere.” This event also highlighted advocacy efforts of IFLA which are guiding and supporting the path of libraries as we move towards the future, post-COVID-19, its aftershocks, and beyond.

This webinar spoke to the value of libraries and to the fact that as librarians we strive to work towards providing access to information to all. IFLA has championed the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for a long time. As we know, library services include providing access to the Internet through computers and wifi to library users that would have access to information that might help them to prevent health conditions such as COVID-19, better their education and overall prospects in life.

These are areas that are intrinsically related to the achievement of development as it is contemplated in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Advocacy towards universal broadband can change our world! Librarians working together in concerted action with different stakeholders can secure actions from governments to ensure that all citizens have access to the internet.

All of this is supported by the 59th session of the United Nations’ Commission on Social Development currently in session in New York and online and until 17 February and its priority theme: socially just transition towards sustainable development: the role of digital technologies on social development and well-being of all. 

Remarkably, and as per IFLA’s recent communication, the United Nations has underlined the role of libraries in extending connectivity and building skills, ahead of discussions (taking place during this 59th session) about how digital technologies can advance social development.

IFLA continues to lead the way in these advocacy efforts with submissions  to the Commission stressing that  it remains a priority to overcome the digital divide and allow more people to benefit from the possibilities that digital technologies can bring.

Another successful advocacy initiative from IFLA is the launching of a Library Pledge to Promote Digital Inclusion and access to information during COVID-19 and beyond. This is an advocacy tool to collect signatures and “demonstrate to decision-makers the commitment of libraries to do all in their power to ensure that everyone, especially during COVID-19, has the possibility and skills to access and use information effectively.”

 Global organizations such as UNESCO have indicated that broadband is “the missing link” in global access to education. But as we know, COVID-19 propelled a massive shift to digital which made evident the reality of inequality of access to the Internet which also plays into the mission and operation of libraries.

IFLA’s pledge speaks to pronouncements from UNESCO and also from the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) which recently called attention to the Internet as a vehicle for human resilience and solidarity. The IGF have stated that inclusion achieved by access to the Internet is a key contributor towards a stronger economy and enhanced economic development through shared wealth, shared employment, and equal opportunity for all. Additionally, the IGF has said that the Internet is an enabler towards the fulfillment of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A Library Pledge to promote digital inclusion and access to information during COVID-19 and beyond is an advocacy effort highly visible in the global arena.

Empowered by these actions from IFLA, library associations are developing advocacy efforts to support broadband and digital inclusion at national and local levels. Therefore, IFLA is positively impacting advocacy efforts towards universal broadband and digital literacy in nations worldwide. For instance, advocacy efforts by the American Library Association (ALA), state that broadband in libraries is needed by patrons to access devices, collections and information, and a myriad of services. It is also used by librarians to create and develop content accessed by patrons and provide access to transformative resources to better the education and lifelong learning of communities deeply impacted by COVID-19 in all regions of the world.

Furthermore, during ALA’s Midwinter Meeting this past January 2021, the ALA Council passed a Resolution in Support of Broadband as a human right which resolved that ALA, on behalf of its members:

  1. affirms universal access to affordable high-capacity broadband is as essential as electricity and therefore a basic right for all; and,
  2. advocates for legislative and regulatory policies through which libraries can affect positive change toward such universal access.

This resolution would be used by library advocates to support efforts towards universal broadband in their local areas. These actions can take various shapes at national and local levels. For instance, the ALA is a sponsor of an upcoming webinar by the Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) entitled “Biden and Broadband” featuring former advisors to US President Biden which explores what comes next in the areas of prospects of legislation, the U.S. Federal Communication Commission, and other aspects within and during the US President Biden administration.

Additionally, I am happy to share that the ALA’s UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Task Force which I Chair is coordinating a webinar to support universal broadband as essential for development.

I would like to encourage everyone to pay close attention to all these advocacy developments to support libraries. Continuing to work together in concerted action with cohesive leadership will ensure that we reach stakeholders and partner with key agencies and organizations to bring the change we need to help communities deeply impacted by COVID-19, the aftershocks and beyond. With IFLA leading, Together, we can!

 ——

Webinar information:

“Librarians supporting universal broadband to continue providing essential services to communities everywhere”

I was honored to moderate the webinar featuring library leaders from IFLA, UNESCO Media and Information Literacy (MIL), and libraries in different regions sharing considerations on how to move forward towards this urgent goal. Speakers included: 

  • Dr. Jesus Lau, Co-Chair UNESCO Global Alliance for Partnerships on Media and Information Literacy (GAPMIL)
  • Catharina Isberg, Library Director Helsingborg City Libraries, IFLA Governing Board Member;
  • Sanjay Kumar Bihani, IFLA Governing Board Member, Library and Information Officer at the Ministry of External Affairs, Patiala House Annexe, Tilak Marg, New Delhi, India. 

CPDWL has presented webinars for the global library community since 2012 when I, together with CPDWL and IFLA New Professionals, established the “New Professionals Global Connection: Best practices, models and recommendations” webinar series. Over the years we have collaborated with other IFLA Sections such as the Latin America & Caribbean Section to present webinars in Portuguese and Spanish besides English. See available recordings on the CPDWL YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj-wuXjzoITokcO5qr0R4xA/videos and on the IFLA New Professionals website: https://npsig.wordpress.com/webinars-2/

Resources from Latin America & the Caribbean libraries in the face of COVID-19 / Bibliotecas de América Latina y el Caribe ante el COVID-19: Recursos

COVID-19 has forever changed our world including our libraries. Now more than ever we need to work united to continue providing access to information during and after the pandemic. We need to start working on our future, today.

IFLA, librarians and library associations from all regions of the globe have developed resources to guide changes including shifting from in-person services to online services, copyright matters, online programming from all types of libraries, e-resources, and wellness for library workers. These are some of the areas mentioned by librarians from Latin America participating in an online series, “Loida, Bibliotecas Live,” I started last March to help each other en Español.

On this blog, I am going to highlight a selection of online events and resources from my beloved Latin America and Caribbean region (LAC) and others serving people from the region. I hope they are useful and inspiring to all. Colleagues reading this blog post can feel free to share events from their regions on the comments section.

I would like to invite everyone to visit a page that IFLA as the global voice of libraries developed including a myriad of resources related to libraries and COVID19.  It also includes actions and resources by library associations, national libraries, and library partners from all regions of the world responding to the Corona virus pandemic.

Special highlights for this blog post are the actions from library associations from LAC included on the IFLA page such as Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, and the National Libraries of Argentina and Aruba, and the Library of Congress of Argentina. All available here:  https://www.ifla.org/covid-19-and-libraries#actions

Here is a selection of online events and resources from Latin America & the Caribbean:

Argentina

ABGRA, Asociacion de Bibliotecarios Graduados de la Republica de Argentina—Informe: Bibliotecas argentinas ante el aislamiento social y obligatorio por COVID 19 / Report: Argentine Libraries Faced with Social and Mandatory Isolation by COVID 19

Biblioteca del Congreso  junto a la Oficina de IFLA LAC – Conversatorio: Bibliotecas y comunidad en el context del aislamiento social preventivo: Imaginando el future  / Conversation: Libraries and community in the context of preventive social isolation: Imagining the future)

Brazil

FEBAB, Federação Brasileira de Associações de Bibliotecários, Cientistas da Informação e Instituições / Brazilian Federation of Associations of Librarians, Information Scientists and Institutions – Resource page

Dominican Republic

Biblioteca Juan Bosch – Dialogo de Bibliotecas en Cuarentena /Dialogue: Libraries in Quarantine

Puerto Rico

Sociedad de Bibliotecarios de Puerto Rico /Library Society of Puerto Rico – Multiple on their YouTube Channel

Mexico

AMBAC,  Asociacion Mexicana de Bibliotecarios/ Mexican Library Association– Serie acerca de Covid y Bibliotecas / Covid and Libraries series

Lineamientos para la reapertura de bibliotecas ante la emergencia sanitaria por COVID-19/ Guidelines for the reopening of libraries in the face of the health emergency due to COVID-19

CNB, Colegio Nacional de Bibliotecarios/ National Library College – Bibliotecas mexicanas ante el COVID19: Experiencias y retos / Mexican libraries in the face of COVID19: challenges and experiences

IIBIs, Instituto de Investigaciones Bibliotecologicas y de la Investigacion / Institute for Library Research and Investigation– Investigar, ensenar y aprender en tiempos de COVID / Research, Research, Teach and Learn in Times of COVID

Associations

ACURIL, Asociacion de Bibliotecas Universitarias, de Investigacion e Institucionales del Caribe / Asociation of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries – Conversatorio: Voces bilbiotecarias ante la crisis: Al mal tiempo buena cara /Conversation: Librarian voices in the face of the crisis: Good face in bad weather

REFORMA, La Asociación Nacional para Promover Servicios de Bibliotecas e Información a Latinos e Hispanohablantes / National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking – Serving Spanish Speakers in COVID-19 Times

Bibliotecas de América Latina y el Caribe ante el COVID-19: Recursos

COVID-19 ha cambiado para siempre nuestro mundo, incluidas nuestras bibliotecas. Ahora más que nunca necesitamos trabajar unidos para continuar brindando acceso a la información durante y después de la pandemia. Necesitamos comenzar a trabajar en nuestro futuro, hoy.

La IFLA, bibliotecarios y asociaciones de bibliotecas de todas las regiones del mundo han desarrollado recursos para guiar los cambios, incluido el cambio de servicios en persona a servicios en línea, asuntos de derechos de autor, programación en línea de todo tipo de bibliotecas, recursos electrónicos y bienestar para los trabajadores de las bibliotecas. Estas son algunas de las áreas mencionadas por bibliotecarios de América Latina que participan en una serie en línea en español, “Loida, Bibliotecas Live”, que comencé en marzo pasado para ayudarnos unos a otros.

En este blog, voy a destacar una selección de eventos y recursos en línea de mi querida región de América Latina y el Caribe (LAC) y otros que sirven a personas de la región. Espero que sean útiles e inspiradores para todos. Me gustaría invitar a los colegas que leen esta publicación de blog a compartir eventos de sus regiones en la sección de comentarios.

Me gustaría invitar a todos a visitar una magnifica página desarrollada por la IFLA como voz global de las bibliotecas, que incluye una gran cantidad de recursos relacionados con las bibliotecas y COVID19. También incluye acciones y recursos de asociaciones de bibliotecas, bibliotecas nacionales y asociadas a bibliotecas de todas las regiones del mundo que responden a la pandemia del virus Corona.

Destacan especialmente las acciones de asociaciones bibliotecarias de LAC incluidas en la página de la IFLA como Argentina, Brasil, México y Puerto Rico, y las Bibliotecas Nacionales de Argentina y Aruba, y la Biblioteca del Congreso de Argentina. Todos disponibles aquí: https://www.ifla.org/covid-19-and-libraries#actions

Aquí esta una selección de eventos y recursos en línea de América Latina y el Caribe:

Argentina

ABGRA, Asociacion de Bibliotecarios Graduados de la Republica de Argentina—Informe: Bibliotecas argentinas ante el aislamiento social y obligatorio por COVID 19

Biblioteca del Congreso  junto a la Oficina de IFLA LAC – Conversatorio: Bibliotecas y comunidad en el context del aislamiento social preventivo: Imaginando el future

Brazil

FEBAB, Federação Brasileira de Associações de Bibliotecários, Cientistas da Informação e Instituições – Página recurso

Dominican Republic

Biblioteca Juan Bosch – Dialogo de Bibliotecas en Cuarentena

Puerto Rico

Sociedad de Bibliotecarios de Puerto Rico – Multiple on their YouTube Channel

Mexico

AMBAC, Asociacion  Mexicana de Bibliotecarios – Serie virtual acerca de Covid y Bibliotecas

Lineamientos para la reapertura de bibliotecas ante la emergencia sanitaria por COVID-19

CNB, Colegio Nacional de Bibliotecarios – Bibliotecas mexicanas ante el COVID19: Experiencias y retos

IIBIs, Instituto de Investigaciones Bibliotecologicas y de la Investigacion– Investigar, ensenar y aprender en tiempos de COVID / Research

Asociaciones

ACURIL, Asociacion de Bibliotecas Universitarias, de Investigacion e Institucionales del Caribe – Conversatorio: Voces bilbiotecarias ante la crisis: Al mal tiempo buena cara

REFORMA, La Asociación Nacional para Promover Servicios de Bibliotecas e Información a Latinos e Hispanohablantes – Serving Spanish Speakers in COVID-19 Times

REFORMA Children in Crisis Project: Librarians bringing hope to unaccompanied children

By Loida Garcia-Febo, International Library Consultant, CPDWL Consultant, ALA President 2018-2019

Librarians are bravely going above and beyond to bring books and hope to unaccompanied children kept in custody in the U.S. after crossing the border into the country. Children as young as toddlers are separated from their parents and spend long periods of time by themselves waiting to be assigned a sponsor.

For years, the Children in Crisis Project from REFORMA, The National Library Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking, has worked extremely hard to bring hope to unaccompanied children in custody.

As per a Fact Sheet from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in the U.S., an operational division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), reported that there were about 820 unaccompanied children in HHS care on August 11, 2020. This agency defines unaccompanied children as “a child who has no lawful immigration status in the United States; has not attained 18 years of age; and, with respect to whom, there is no parent or legal guardian in the United States, or no parent or legal guardian in the United States available to provide care and physical custody.” Tragically, according to their most recent data from June 2020, the average time children spend in custody is 193 days.

Patrick Sullivan, one of the Children in Crisis Task Force Co-Chair along with Oralia Garza de Córtes, shared with me that the group continues working to bring books to the children in the shelters and those awaiting their case reviews at the border in Matamoros and Tijuana.  Due to complex processes, it can take a long time to bring the books to children at the centers. For instance, it has been slower with the closing of the border and lower numbers of children in the shelters, but the librarians are still receiving donations of funds and books when things do open up. Ady Huertas, a librarian very active within the group, continues to work with Southwest Key shelters in San Diego. Since the main library is closed at the moment, due to COVID-19, she’s not able to do the library visits that they were doing on a regular basis.

The librarians carrying out this incredible work deserve to be highlighted and I thought of sharing with the library world a general overview of what they do. Their work is not something we usually learn in library school or as part of continuing education. But it is part of librarianship’s principle of providing access to information.  It is a labor of love. It takes a long time for the paperwork and permits to be processed and approved. There are specific instructions about the materials that can be brought in. At times, the librarians do not see the children to which they bring books. They leave the books with authorities that will give them to the children. Yet, the librarians work tirelessly coordinating donations from publishing houses and authors that connect with them to bring hope to unaccompanied children. My respect to them!

For donations, go to: https://refugeechildren.wixsite.com/refugee-children/donate

For books, they accept Spanish or bilingual Spanish/English children’s books and it is best if you email cic@reforma.org to receive specifics about where to send any books.