Understanding Mexican Libraries: A Contemporary Overview
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The document provides an overview of the Mexican library and information landscape, highlighting institutions, historical milestones, and current challenges. It outlines the roles of library schools, associations, and research centers while emphasizing opportunities for transborder cooperation, particularly with North America. Key points include the evolution of library systems, educational programs, and the need for modernization and collaboration in the face of budgetary and technological challenges.
Understanding Mexican Libraries: A Contemporary Overview
- 1. Understanding Mexican Libraries : A Contemporary Overview 12th Transborder Library Forum (México-USA- Canadá) “Information without borders” Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua March 9-11, 2005 Jesús Lau, Ph.D. Director, USBI VER Library, and Coordinator, UV Virtual Library Universidad Veracruzana /DGB Boca del Río, Veracruz, México jlau@uv.mx www.jesuslau.com www.uv.mx/usbi_ver / www.uv.mx/bvirtual
- 2. Objectives - Topics 1. Talk about institutions that shape the Mexican library and information world: Library schools Associations Vendors Serials Conferences Library research centers 2. Evaluate challenges and contributions 3. Discuss transborder cooperation potential 4. Provide subjective comments 5. Data comes from different sources 6. Handouts are drafts, corrections are welcome
- 3. DemographicsDemographics 14th in geographical size 7th in exports 3rd trade partner of the US Largest Spanish-speaking country 2nd economy in Latin America A middle income country Literacy 90% Ranks with some of the best libraries in Latin America
- 4. Library Historical Dates: 900 – 1700´s 1400 Amoxcalli – Aztec codex (Amoxtli) libraries 1511 First book to arrive in Mexico from Europe 1539 First Printing press 1555 First book published in Mexico - Alonso de Molina Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana 1788 Opening of the first public library – Turriana Library 1790 First Copyright law 1790 Foundation of the National Achives - Archivo General de la Nación (Original name: Archivo General de la Nueva España)
- 5. 1867 Decree to create the National Library – Biblioteca Nacional 1882 National Institute of Statistics, Geography, and Informatics (Originally as Dirección Geografía y Estadística, DGE) – Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas, Geografía e Informática 1921 First Department of Public Libraries, Ministry of Public Education - Dirección de Bibliotecas Populares 1922 First public library building - Biblioteca Publica Cervantes 1924/1954 Mexican Association of Librarians – Asociación Mexicana de Bibliotecarios, AC 1945 National School of Library and Archive Sciences – Escuela Nacional de Biblioteconomía y Archivonomía Library Historical Dates: 1800 - 1950
- 6. 1956 Opening of the UNAM Central Library Building - Biblioteca Central UNAM 1957 First National Library Conference - Jornadas Mexicanas de Biblioteconomía, organized annually since 1974 1970 Foundation National Council of Science and Technology (An early funding body for special and university libraries) – Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología 1972 Starts first library science Master´s Degree – UNAM 1975 First academic library building of a technological institute – IT Saltillo 1979 Foundation of the National Association of Professional Librarians - Colegio Nacional de Bibliotecarios, AC 1978 First Mexican integral (mainframe) library system – LIBRUNAM, UNAM Library Historical Dates:Library Historical Dates: 1950 - 19801950 - 1980
- 7. 1983 First release of library software SIABUC (Most popular free library software) – Universidad de Colima 1984 Foundation of the National Council for Academic Libraries – CONPAB-IES, Consejo Nacional de Asuntos Bibliotecarios de Instituciones de Educación Superior 1986 First librarian to get a Ph.D (from the US) - Jaime Pontigo 1999 UNAM Ph.D. Program opens - UNAM 2003 Mexican Information Literacy Standards - UACJ Library Historical Dates: 1990 - 2000
- 8. Library Statistics Type Centers Volumes School 4,689 17,162,907 Academic 1,133 16,422,598 Special 175 2,576,889 Public 5,313 27,067,572 National 1 1,250,000 Others 5 449,160 Total 11,315 64,179,126
- 9. Library Education 9 Library and information science schools 7 Undergraduate 4 Master´s programs 1 Ph.D 2 Two distance programs (One is web based) 1 Offers achives studies Mostly located in central México
- 10. LIS Schools Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua Escuela Nacional de Biblioteconomía y Archivonomía Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey El Colegio de México, AC Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara
- 11. Library Education - Comments Strengths: • Faculty (part-time) do their best • Qualified graduates in technical skills Challenges: 3. Full-time faculty 4. Professional competencies (English, management) 5. Do research
- 12. Library Associations AMBAC - Asociación Mexicana de Bibliotecarios, AC, 1924 www.ambac.org.mx CNB - Colegio Nacional de Bibliotecarios, AC (CNB), 1979 www.cnb.org.mx ASAR - Asociación de Administradores de Recursos Informativos, AC (Chihuahua), 1998 www.asar.org.mx BIBAC - Asociación de Bibliotecarios en Biomedicina, AC, 1976 www.difusion.com.mx/ proficsa/
- 13. Library Associations (2) ABJ - Asociación Jalisciense de Bibliotecarios, AC (AJBAC), 1979 www.ajbac.org/ ANBAGRO - Asociación Nacional de Bibliotecarios Agropecuarios, AC, 1983 AMABPAC - Asociación Mexicana de Archivos y Bibliotecas Privados, AC, 1994 www.amabpac.org.mx/ Other: Nuevo León, Baja California, Michoacán, Sonora
- 14. Associations - Comments Strengths: Do their best with low fees Hard work of leaders Challenges: Modernize their management Become economically self-sufficient Offer relevant services to membership
- 15. Research Centers Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Bibliotecológicas (UNAM) Centro de Investigaciones Bibliográficas, Biblioteca Nacional (UNAM)
- 16. Library Research - Comments CUIB: Good publishing output Cover different subjects One of the best centers, if not the best in Latin America (LA) A good source of written materiales for LA Publishes a leading library science journal Produce the LA library science database A good specialized library science library
- 17. Library Serials Biblioteca Universitaria: Boletín informativo - Dirección General de Bibliotecas (UNAM) Bibliotecas y Archivos (ENBA) Información, producción, comunicación y servicios (Infoconsultores) Investigación Bibliotecológica: archivonomía, bibliotecología e información (UNAM)
- 18. Library Serials LIBER: Revista de Bibliotecología (AMBAC) Noticiero (AMBAC) Boletín Informativo de ASAR Memorias- Jornadas Mexicanas de Biblioteconomía (AMBAC) Infobila – Bibliographic database (UNAM) Other: Conference Proceedings
- 19. Library Serials - Comments Strenghts: Good number of serials One is a journal Jornadas proceedings, an excellent source of monographic information Comments: Eager to get overseas paper contributions Need for more journal-type publications Create titles with best practices focus
- 20. General Library Conferences – Jornadas Mexicanas de Biblioteconomía, AMBAC, 1957- – Coloquio Internacional de Bibliotecarios, FIL- UDG, 1993?- – Reunión Celebración Biblioteca de Ciencia y Tecnología, IPN, 1999- – Reunión de bibliotecarios de la Península de Yucatán, UADY, 1995?-
- 21. Specialized Library Conferences Library Research – Coloquio Internacional de Investigación Bibliotecológica y de Información, CUIB, 1980- Information Literacy – Encuentro sobre Desarrollo de Habilidades Informativas, UACJ, 1998- (Bi-annual) Cooperation – Foro Transfronterizo de Bibliotecas, Host varies, 1990- (Bi-annual) – Amigos, UDLA, 2000- (Bi-annual)
- 22. Specialized Library Conferences (2) Automation / IT – Interfaces, UCOL, 1983- – Enlínea@2004, ITESM-CM, 1998- Academic Libraries – Conferencia Internacional sobre Bibliotecas Universitarias, UNAM, 2000- – Reunión Anual (de bibliotecas académicas), CONPAB, 19 Management – Coloquio sobre Capital humano y Liderazgo en Bibliotecas, UV, 2003-
- 23. Conferences - Comments Strengths: Good number of conference opportunities Participation of some Latin American professionals Some publish proceedings or best papers Comments: Prepare conference calls ahead of time Select theme and location with enough time Promote them beyond national borders Welcome speakers from abroad
- 24. Main International Vendors Brodart CSA EBSCO México Elsevier Grupo Difusión Científica (Thompson) Infoconsultores Infoestratégica (Dialog, EIU, BL) Información Científica Internacional (ICI) ISI Emerging Markets Infolatina) Proquest OCLC Swets Information Services
- 25. International Vendors - Comments Strenghts: Good presence in México Cover a good number of products Have gradually learned about the marked They chose the country for LA their operations Comments: Try to sell products the country does not need Use pricing schemes of information developed countries Need vision to create local products
- 26. Mexican Library Software Companies 1. Janium Technology (Janium) 2. Sistemas Lógicos (Logicat) 3. Universidad de Colima (SIABUC) Strengths and comments Strong library software presence of Mexico in Latin America Need to keep abreast of users´ needs
- 27. Publishing Strengths: Most big book publishers operate in country México is a leader in book printing in LA Children´s literature has a good output Comments: Bookstores are scarce, aproximate figures of all book outlets is 500
- 28. Book Fairs Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara (November) Feria del Libro de Minería (México City, March) Feria del Libro Infantil (November, México City) Feria Internacional del Libro Universitario (Veracruz, September) Fería del Libro de la Ciudad de Monterrey (September) Several smaller book fairs take place in the major cities
- 29. Universities with the best Libraries (Holdings, Buildings, Professional Librarians, National Visibility) COLMEX El Colegio de México ITESM Instituto Tec. de Estudios Sup. de Monterrey UACJ Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez UANL Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León UASLP Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí UCOL Universidad de Colima UDEM Universidad de Monterrey UDG Universidad de Guadalajara UDLA Universidad de las Américas UNAM Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México UV Universidad Veracruzana
- 30. Books Vendors CSI DOMEXSA Educomsa GlobalBook Grupo Difusión Científica Nye Omicron Somohano Express YBP
- 31. Transborder NAFTA Cooperation Relevant to Mexico Training Visiting professors to library schools Conference attendance Speaking at conferences Web information link exchange Librarians visits and stays Translation of library materiales/publications
- 32. Transborder NAFTA Cooperation Relevant to Mexico (2) Exhibiting in Mexican conferences Join library association memberships Collaborative preservation of special collections Exchange of best library practices Other: Joint digital proyects, joint borrowing agreements
- 33. Conclusions Important to know NAFTA neighbours, paves the way to cooperation Mexican library scene is shaped on North American practices Libraries date back to several centuries Good library development in recent decades
- 34. Conclusions (2) Current library challenges are: budgets, visibility, management and technology Mexican library market is still small There are opportunities for collaboration across borders Cooperation is permeated by organization culture, and socio-economic development