Advocacy and the Advocacy and the Campaign for World´s Libraries in Campaign for World´s Libraries in

MexicoMexico

Jesús LauJesús LauJlau@uv.mx

Universidad Veracruzana / DGB / USBI VERAMBAC – Chair, International Relations Committee /

State of American Librarianship: Advocacy and Other IssuesALA, International Relations Round Table, Pre-Conference

University of Illinois at Chicago-West Campus, Student Center West (CIU), Room A 828

Chicago, IL, USAJune 24, 2005, Friday, 8:30-12:30

Topics

Mexico´s concept of advocacy ALA/Gates international contribution Mexico´s achievements Advocacy challenges

Mexican DemographicsMexican Demographics14th in geographical size7th in exports2nd trade partner of the USLargest Spanish-speaking country2nd Economy in Latin AmericaMiddle income countryLiteracy 90%Ranks with some of the best libraries in Latin

America

Library StatisticsLibrary StatisticsType 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

Advocacy Meaning in Mexico

Meaning is similar to US/ALA concept Strategies are different They normally take a low-profile or a very

active one Examples go from phone calls/emails to

marches, mainly at the national and state capitals

The library community normally opts for the low-profile

Factors that Influence Advocacy Tactics

The library community is small Associations, therefore, are also small Association budgets are, in general, limited Mexico´s democratic transition is an open

ground for library advocacy Internet is helping to get participacion from

librarians outside Mexico City

AMBACMexican Association of Librarians

Signed a cooperation agreement with ALA a couple years ago

@ your Library scheme was adopted Promoted among state associations and

libraries State association that have actively

campaigned are Jalisco and Chihuahua

National College of Librarians Advocacy

A professionals-only library association Right/Duty to advise government decisions Sends letters of support to influence decisions Advocay example: complaint for appointing non-

librarians to leadership posts A challenge: it is a small association Funding is again limited, dues are low

National Library Campaign

AMBAC organized with the National Council of Culture (Education Ministry) a library promotion campaign

The first lady, Martha Fox, kicked off the program

Great media coverage on TV and newspapers

Great ALA Support

A workshop has been organized at the MLA annual library conferences in the last few years

ALA has sent an instructor to facilitate the workshop

The champion-facilitor has been Carol Brey, the current ALA President

This support has made a positive impact among professionals even among those who did not attend the workshops

Gates Foundation Contribution Factor

The Gates Foundation has also contributed to Mexican libraries´visibility

Benefitted: More than one thousand public libraries have now computer equipment and greater Internet access

It has played an important role in giving a better stance to public libraries in government

Gates guidelines support greater role of libraries in society

Related Achievements

Current federal government has became more aware of libraries´s

Public Libraries have received more recognition A new main/central public library for Mexico city

is under construction It will also be a “mega”-public library for the rest

of the country

Mexico City´s “Mega-Library”

The architectural blueprints are the result of an international contest

It will be built in the former city´s railway station The building will be an avant gard masterpiece The funding has been a struggle between the

president and the Mexican congress The president´s commitment has been high, and

the community and the press has given good support to the project

Guadalajara´s Main Public Library

This second largest city will buid a new facility for its main public library

The library will be the center-piece of a cultural complex

The building will be one if not the largest in the country

An international call for the architectural design - 400 consulting firms took part

Helen Ladron is the Advocacy champion

Guadalajara – Mexico City Competition

Some of the big library consultants names have been hired

There is a competition with Mexico City´s library building

The national congress has been involved in the funding competition

The Universtity President, Raul Padilla has been a strong sopporter of the project

Academic Libraries CONPAB (Association) is the main university library voice University librarians have achieved greater roles and status

in recent years, examples: Juarez University (UACJ), the library department is in

charge of academic evaluation/accreditation of faculty programs – One of the top accredited state universities

University of Colima (UCOL), the librarian also is in charge of computing and telecommunications / information technology

National University (UNAM), a librarian is in charge of faculty development.

However, in some instances computer professionals have taken over libraries

National School of Librarianship

An example of sucessful advocacy New premises in the last decade Close collaboration with Department of

Universities / Ministry of Education Runs spots on national TV and newspapers about

librarians´ role and library education 60th Anniversary will be celebrated soon at Bellas

Artes/Fine Arts Palace, the most respected national “bel canto” theater

Our Advocacy Challenges

Get more social visibility among potential library users

Lobby for a more flexible copyright law Create library law at state levels Influence federal government to have a

national information development strategy (Create a national library plan)

Take a more active role at international bodies, like ISO, and UN related bodies

@ your Library Challenges

Promote adoption of the campaign at individual libraries

Adapt ALA World Campaign guidelines Create promotional materials Train library staff Promote professional involment in political

decisions

Associations

Associations (AMBAC and NCL) need a general advocacy plan

The advocacy role varies according to the association president´s priorities

Create training opportunities on advocacy for members

Conclusions

@ your Library has been a good promotional scheme to Mexico

AMBAC participation has benefitted the country The new major main national/state public libraries under construction are the product of advocacy The campaign, it is assumed, helped to raise

greater awareness of the value of libraries at the federal government

Some states also became more aware of libraries