Digital Library of the Caribbean Protecting Haitian Patrimony Initiative Existing Relationships Lead to Important Assistance

Laura K. Probst

, Dean, FIU Libraries

Gayle Williams

, Latin American and Caribbean Information Services Librarian

Brooke Wooldridge

, dLOC Project Coordinator Thursday, April 15, 2010

The PHP Initiative Goals

 Encourage communication across institutions working to assist Haiti’s libraries.

 Coordinate technical and in-kind assistance for Haiti’s libraries.

 Raise money to support specific collection/archival recovery and preservation projects in Haiti

Bibliothèque haïtienne des Frères de l’Instruction Chrétienne Brooke Wooldridge, dLOC and Patrick Tardieu, Curator, BHPSE M. Jean Wilfrid Bertrand Director, National Archives of Haiti Staff of the National Library of Haiti February 15, 2010

Images of the National Library Courtesy of the National Library of Haiti

Saint Martial Photos

Curator, Patrick Tardieu Books were saved, but library collapsed.

Photo taken March 10, 2010 by D. Simon Entrance of the building that housed the library February, 2010 Courtesy of Dominique Simon

One - Protect After the earthquake, the libraries and archives entered into this phase focusing on protecting public and private collections from the elements

Two - Preserve Collections that were put in regular standard cardboard boxes will need to be properly preserved after repairing the current facilities or at an alternative location

Three - Perpetuate A special emphasis on reinforcing the local institutions will ensure that these collections become better protected and more accessible for future generations of patrons

Ideas for Assistance from Academic Libraries

 Strengthen Integrated Library System (ILS)  Adopt a Library – in conjunction with ALA  Digitization of Haitian Content in Collections outside of Haiti  Public Events/Fundraising  Blue Shield or the dLOC Protecting Patrimony Initiative Travel to Haiti.