Library Boy: International Federation of Library Associations Helps Preserve Haitian Archives and Libraries

IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) and the Amsterdam-based Prince Claus Fund for Culture & Development are cooperating on a major initiative to help save Haiti's vulnerable archives and important library collections that were damaged in the powerful January 2010 earthquake that killed a quarter of a million people on the Caribbean island.

The Prince Claus Fund will provide approximately $333,000 (CDN) to set up a treatment centre to restore documents.

According to IFLA:

"The centre will be staffed by an all-volunteer team of approximately 300 national and 700 international experts. These experts will in turn help train and support local professionals in a variety of restoration techniques, skills, and best practices. Once they have been treated, the documents will be stored in acclimatized containers where they will be kept safely until they are to be transferred to a permanent place. The trained staff will thus not only be taking part in the safeguarding of Haiti's cultural heritage, but also contributing to the professionalisation of the Haitian Library sector."

"Through the re-establishment of archival and historical library collections, Haitians will be able to rebuild the community that existed before this devastating earthquake. The preservation of material history is an essential step in the process of re-establishing a foundation for Haiti's cultural identity. The project also ensures that library collections and archives can be made open to the public again, giving Haitians the opportunity to better draw on important information and knowledge. Having access to this collection will eventually contribute to a sustainable reconstruction of the country"

Earlier Library Boy posts about Haiti reconstruction efforts include: