Leonor Miller – Cuba Profile

Rubyliza Gaba – Cultural Heritage & Political Implications

Jessie Gillan – Jose Marti National Library & Other Institutions

•  1492 •  1886 •  1902 •  1953 •  1959

• Location

• Climate

• Natural Resources

• Size of the population

• Language

• Ethnicity

• Religion

  In 1961 the National Council for Culture was founded, as the first independent government institution responsible for cultural policy development in the country.

  Was created in 1976 to ensure the

protection and preservation of the cultural heritage of Cuba.

  One of their main goals is to promote a

broad social movement in the country.

  Established on January 28, 1840   Was once known as the General

Archive of the Royal Treasury   Is currently the fifth archives

institution in Latin America   The National Archives of Cuba is a

member of the International Council on Archives in Paris and the Latin American Association of Archives

  13,410 titles and approximately 695 periodicals, which specializes in the history of Cuba and other auxiliary

sciences.   The collections continue to grow through donations and

exchanges conducted by its staff and supporters.

“There are no prohibited books in Cuba, only lack of money to purchase them.”

  In 1998, Ramon Colas and Berta Mexidor, opened up their home library.

  Over 100 independent libraries, located

throughout Cuba.   No “real” librarians, not a “real” library.   Independent Librarians suffer

harassment and imprisonment by their government.

  All libraries have a right to exist, no

matter what any government may claim to the contrary

•  Over 400 Public Libraries in Cuba •  National Library founded in 1901 & in 1949 moved to the building shown. •  Goal of Complete Literacy and Education •  UNESCO 2006

• Youth 100% Literate • Adult 99.8% Literate

•  “The Cuban climate is the enemy of paper” – Eliades Acosta, director of the National Library •  15,000+ Cuban revolutionary posters being digitized & also sent to UCLA – Berkley

•  Restoring posters, acid-free sheets, and moving the posters to a safer environment

•  Established by National Library Director in 1962. •  Free Two Year Program

•  Not well funded – Old books, computers, yet tough program that focuses on the literacy & education mission.

•  National Aquarium of Cuba, •  Public Library •  Large multimedia collection •  Extensive YA/Children’s Collection

•  Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de la Habana

• Digital Preservation effort •  Art Restoration

  Questions?

Image Sources Slide 1 - http://www.j-archive.com/media/2008-02-19_J_16.jpg Slide 2 - http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/space/ Slide 4 - http://www.anythinganywhere.com/commerce/exo/cuba-rori32-1.jpg Slide 5 - http://www.elpais.com/recorte/20080501elpepueco_2/XLCO/Ies/multitud_Cuba.jpg slide 6 - http://www.min.cult.cu/pictures/mincultgate.jpg slide 7 - www.guije.com/cosas/cuba/archivo.jpg Slide 8, 12 – Images from: Ward, Laura Susan. "A Revolution in Preservation: digitizing political posters at the National

Library of Cuba." IFLA Journal 31, no. 3 (2005): 260-7. Library Lit & Inf Full Text, WilsonWeb (accessed April 5, 2009).

Slide 9 - http://www.friendsofcubanlibraries.org/ Slide 10 - http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/4459/fotos15edited8le.jpg Slide 11 – http://farm1.static.flickr.com/78/169935997_3f607ccceb_b.jpg Slide 13 – National Librarian Training School: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/give/bene56/cuba.html View inside of Jose Marti library: http://www.guije.com/public/carteles/3837/fuerza/index.html Slide 14 – Girl at the National Aquarium of Cuba: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1881404 Museo Nacional de Bella Artes de Habana: http://ellidavis.com/images/articles/cuba-outside-the-museo-nacional-de-bellas-artes.jpg