Library Juice 3:4 Cuba Supplement - Library Juice is now a book and a blog

Library Juice 3:4 Cuba Supplement - January 26, 2000 Contents: 1. SRRT Resolution on Cuban Libraries 2. Letter from Ann Sparanese to IFLA Journal editor, and discussion 3. "Friends" versus supporters of Cuban libraries 4. Letter from ASCUBI President to John Pateman 5. Cuba SI 6. CUBACIENCIA 7. PDR's for Cuba 8. Cuban Libraries: Creating Partnerships ___________________________________________________________________________top 1. SRRT Resolution on Cuban Libraries Whereas, the United States has engaged in a documented forty-year war of invasion, assassination attempts, propaganda and economic blockade against Cuba, which has contributed to the limitation of the democratic rights of the Cuban people; and Whereas this policy has also restricted the democratic rights of the U.S. people, whose access to information has been limited and whose right to travel freely to Cuba has been denied; and Whereas, we, as librarians, do not condone the restriction of free expression anywhere in the world -- including Cuba and the United States -- but we believe that, as U.S. citizens, the best way to support the extension of democracy in both countries is to end the economic blockade against Cuba and to normalize relations between the two countries; and Whereas, in October 1999, the FAIFE committee of IFLA published a report concerning the alleged intimidation of individuals in Cuba calling themselves "independent librarians," based on information provided by a group calling itself the "Friends of Cuban Libraries;" and a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-supported Florida website called CubaNet; and Whereas, the purpose of USAID is to advance the foreign policy interests of the United States; and Whereas, the co-chairman of the "Friends of Cuban Libraries" is a Cuban expatriat economist, who also works for the US goverment's Radio Marti; and Whereas, this group of "independent librarians" are not librarians, but political dissidents of various professions apparently establishing centers of information in their homes or storefronts, and supported by funds and materials from such organizations as Freedom House, which is subsidized by the U.S. government; and Whereas, any U.S.-based organization calling itself "Friends of Cuban Libraries" which does not forthrightly call for an end to the U.S. blockade against Cuba, is no friend of libraries, freedom of expression or democratic rights; Therefore, be it resolved that (1) The Social Responsibilities Round Table of ALA rejects the program and position advocated by the "Friends of Cuban Libraries" as an instrument of the continuing propaganda campaign being waged against Cuba by right-wing Cuban extremists in the U.S. and financed by U.S. goverment agencies; (2) SRRT supports an increase of exchanges between U.S. librarians and Cuban librarians; (3) SRRT joins the British organization, Cuban Libraries Support Group which advocates a positive program of interaction with, and support for, libraries and librarians in Cuba; (4) SRRT calls for an immediate end to the travel ban, which restricts the right of all but "licensed" U.S. citizens to see Cuba for themselves. (5) SRRT calls for an immediate end to the blockade against Cuba as the best way to support the rights of all people in Cuba to free expression and self-determination, rights which are best exercised in a state of peace, not war; (6) SRRT further calls for the complete normalization of diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries as the best way to promote the exercise of democracy and free expression in both countries. ___________________________________________________________________________top 2. Letter from Ann Sparanese to IFLA Journal editor, and discussion Excellent letter by Ann Sparanese on Cuba to IFLA. Mark R. From: ACS20[at]aol.com Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 11:26:42 EST Subject: Cuba Letter to IFLA Editor To: carol.henry[at]ifla.nl Dear Ms. Henry, Here is a letter to the editor for your next issue of the IFLA journal. I hope it makes you deadline of December 15. You haven't yet told me about the deadline and word count for a longer piece on that subject for the special July issue Please inform. thanks, Ann Sparanese To the Editor: I have followed and participated in the worldwide "virtual" debate on the issue of the so-called "Cuban Independent Libraries." Given the information widely available about the founders of the so-called "Friends of Cuban Libraries," the funders of Mr. Robert Kent's trips to Cuba, the identities of the "independent librarians," and the clear ideological nature of their activities, I was surprised and disappointed to read the FAIFE statement published in this issue. This statement, based on insufficient investigation and understanding of the issues involved, reveals that IFLA-FAIFE has easily become an instrument in the unmitigated campaign of war and provocation being waged against Cuba by the United States for 40 years. Librarians worldwide have a commitment to freedom of expression and intellectual freedom. These basic principles are being violated in every country on the face of the earth, Cuba included. FAIFE could easily write resolutions condemning the violations - some involving long imprisonment, torture, murder and the death penalty - perpetrated against free expression around the world. And yet the two resolutions that have so-far been passed by FAIFE include the one on Cuba - where at worst, individuals have been "intimidated" for seeking outlets for political expression - and Iran, in which the individuals involved were actually murdered for free expression. As a citizen of the United States, I am acutely aware of the state of siege which has been imposed on Cuba and codified into our own legal system through the Torricelli and Helms Burton Acts. These laws actually make it incumbent upon the United States government to fund such activities as those in which Mr. Kent and Jorge Sanguinetty, his non-librarian co-chair, engage. Mr. Kent's trips to Cuba are financed by the Freedom House, an organization presented with a large check by President Clinton several years ago with the express purpose of funding such activities in Cuba. Mr. Sanguinetty, an ex-patriot economist dedicated to the return of free markets to Cuba, is also an employee of Radio Marti. The "librarians" they champions are not librarians at all, but political dissidents who turn their houses or storefronts into what _they_ call "libraries" but may in fact be as limited in their range of materials as they claim Cuban public libraries are. For FAIFE to champion their dubious and hypocritical cause trivializes the potential power of a FAIFE resolution. It makes FAIFE look oblivious to reality, and to the orchestrated machinations of ideological warfare. Mr. Kent and Mr. Sanguinetty have used the best instincts of librarians against us. It was smart, I admit, but unfortunate. I am a librarian who attended the IFLA conference in Havana, met real librarians and visited real libraries. I don't think Mr. Kent was there. Mr. Kent was not on the plane which was turned back to Miami because of bomb threats. This plane was carrying the former president of ALA who became frightened and canceled her attendance at the conference. Would FAIFE call this intimidation? Ordinary U.S. citizens, librarians and otherwise, are threatened by the US government with hefty fines and jail terms for visiting Cuba without a "license." Mr. Kent is evidently exempt from these because he makes his trips on _behalf_ of the right-wing Cuban network and U.S. government policy. Will FAIFE make a statement about this? Will FAIFE call on the U.S. government to immediately end the travel ban that intimidates, harasses and threatens to punish U.S. citizens for wanting to travel freely? How about ending the blockade which has created the state of siege which in itself - as in all times of warfare in all countries - inhibits the exercise of full freedom of expression? At the very least, let's have some scale and balance here. It is truly pathetic that one of FAIFE's first actions is to condemn a country which exceeds many worldwide in the area of literacy and educational rights for all. And all on the say-so of scurrilous characters with an agenda that has nothing to do with "free expression" for Cubans, except perhaps for those living in Miami. Ann C. Sparanese, MLS Head of Adult & Young Adult Services Englewood Public Library Home Address:E-mail: sparanese[at]bccls.org or acs20[at]aol.com 146 St. Nicholas Ave. Englewood, NJ 07631 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. From: c.atton[at]napier.ac.uk Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 11:04:31 +0000 To: Mark Rosenzweig <iskra[at]earthlink.net>, plgnet-l[at]listproc.sjsu.edu, srrtac-l[at]ala.org Subject: Re: Cuba Letter to IFLA Editor I think that 'excellent' here is hyberbolic. I recall that dissidents in Eastern Europe were never vilified for turning their homes into 'libraries' and distribution centres - remember samizdat? Or are we hung up on the fact that none of these people are 'proper' librarians? Or doe we have a case of 'our enemy's enemy is our friend'? I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Chris Atton .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 22:19:36 -0500 To: SRRT Action Council <srrtac-l[at]ala.org> From: Mark Rosenzweig <iskra[at]earthlink.net> Subject: Re: Cuba Letter to IFLA Editor Reply-To: srrtac-l[at]ala.org Sender: owner-srrtac-l[at]ala.org Reply to Chris Atton re: Cuba Chris, It seems to me - although it may, understandably, not be obvious to other people, and may, in fact, be off the mark - that to compare the "independent libraries" in Cuba to the samizdat in the former Soviet Union is not exactly fair. Why? Because we had reason to believe, except where it was otherwise shown not to be the case in particular instances, that the widespread and diverse Soviet samizdat were, no matter what you thought of their content, independent (if sometimes misguided) initiatives, with, for one reason or the other, no direct ties to US intelligence, propaganda, or foreign policy agenicies, nor direct ties to Western anti-Soviet emigre groups. That's, perhaps, what made it so unique and powerful. These "independent libraries" in Cuba, on the contrary, have every appearance of being entirely dependent on resources and support, delivered both overtly and covertly, by agencies and emigre groups of an overwhelmingly powerful and unremittingly hostile "neighbor", if not entirely the creation of those forces. The most outspoken supporter of the ostensible "independents" is Robert Kent's "Friends of Cuban Libraries", which purports, quite dishonestly, to itself being "independent", and which, despite its name, isn't even really concerned with Cuban libraries or involved in any dialogue with the broader library community there. More disturbingly, Kent's group doesn't, in its independence, recognize any of the highly significant gains of the revolution for the Cuban people, nor that the US itself has created a virtual four-decades-long state-of-siege against Cuba, which has hardly contributed to an atmosphere conducive to the development of free-wheeling democracy. Nor does Kent even make the pretense of a call for the end of the embargo, which could have the most profound effect on the loosening up of Cuba's unfortunately understandable self-protective vigilance. I wonder, Chris, if you personally, have any reason to believe in the good intentions of Robert Kent or in the validity of what seems to me to be the gossip and rumor he spreads? Would you yourself honestly care to actually join the "Friends of Cuban Libraries"? Somehow, I think not. Let us know. And, if not, why not? I'm not saying there is not very likely to be a basis for some of their allegations, and I myself wouldn't paint an entirely rosy picture of the state of intellectual freedom there, nor would I say that I don't consider it a mistake on the part of the Cuban government to often needlessly impose restrictions of various kind and carry out harassment of various degrees. But, for a US citizen, given the history of US/Cuban relations, Cuba is one of the LAST places a person of good will should be initiating an "intellectual freedom" campaign - first because it's very, very, very far from the top of the list of countries (many of whom are our allies or assets) in which there are abuses of these rights, and secondly, because Kent's own country, the USA, has contributed so mightily to creating, provoking quite consciously, the very situation he so high-mindedly deplores. his country, my country, which has, furthermore, shown no respect for the rule of law with respect to Cuba or of Cuba's sovereignty & right to self-determination, or even of its basic economic right to survive, which has been so seriously undermined by the anti-humanitarian US embargo/attempted blockade. I suspect I really need not remind you of the fact that the US was, after all, THE imperialist (pardon the expression) country whose politicians and gangster class supported the brutal regime of the dictator Fulgencio Batista (which had to be overthrown by a revolution),Batista, who ruled the island largely for the benfit of US based "interests" (including the Mafia). Since Batista's overthrow, the US has mounted an heroically thwarted invasion, provocatively spied on Cuba and carried out countless dirty tricks and covert actions, tried MANY times - by its own admission - with its most sophisticated resources, to assasinate Fidel Castro, relentlessly and powerfully beamed propaganda by reactionary, US-based emigres to exacerbate as many problems as possible, and imposed an extremely destructive 40 year-old embargo which continues to this day, Why should the US government and the emigre opponents of Castro NOT use, as a potentially effective way of isolating Cuba from the international community which has, so importantly, materially supported Cuba in its plight, the moving cause of poor, beleaguered "independent libraries" which they themselves have created for this purpose? Why, on the other hand, should the Cuban government not be somewhat alarmed at a group which is trying to cut off its lifeline to outside support? I have no hesitancy to state that the harassment of these self-proclaimed "independent librarians", if it is true, is extremely counterproductive, and, what's more, lands the government precisely in the trap which they set for it. I also believe it is wrong in principle. But that doesn't mean I sympathize with this new tactic in the war against the Cuban revolution by the US.I will not feel I have the right to aggressively criticize the Cubans until we in the USA have stopped the blockade. With respect to the "friends of Cuban Libraries", I find Kent's motives highly suspect, his sources of dubious reliability, his independence a joke, his modus operandi provocative and characteristic of ill-intentioned, revanchist participants in the long campaign against Castro, You ask, rhetorically, whether you should laugh or cry. Perhaps both. But also, I would expect some recognition that Cuba is, quite doggedly and admirably, operating in the menacing shadow of a hostile giant, a giant with a big vendetta and the means to back it up. Perhaps, while you laugh and cry, you should also ask "cui bono?" and admit, at least, that there is reason to believe this "library" issue has little to do with "libraries" or "intellectual freedom" and much to do with the latest chapter of US hegemonism, tainted by the single-minded framework of a Cold War which is supposedly over. Comradely regards, Mark ___________________________________________________________________________top 3. "Friends" versus supporters of Cuban libraries John Pateman, _Information for Social Change_ #10, Winter 1999-2000 On 15 June 1999 an organisation calling itself the "Friends of Cuban Libraries" issued a press release on the Internet alleging that "independent librarians" were being arrested in Cuba and their "libraries" were being confiscated. The "Friends" claim to be an "independent, nonpartisan, non-profit organisation which supports intellectual freedom and Cuba's independent library movement". The founders of the organisation are Jorge Sanguinetty and Robert Kent. Jorge Sanguinetty resides in Miami. He was head of Cuba's Department of National Investment Planning before he left the country in 1967. He is also a newspaper columnist and a commentator on Radio Marti, a US government funded radio station which broadcasts anti-Cuban programmes. This station illegally invades Cuban air space and adds insult to injury by using the name of the Cuban national hero. Robert Kent is a librarian who lives in New York City. On four occasions he has taken books and pamphlets to Cuba for Freedom House and the Centre for a Free Cuba, both of which are funded by the US Agency for International Development. On three occasions his travel expenses were paid by Freedom House or the Centre for a Free Cuba. Freedom House is an anti-Castro organisation which has received $500,000 (from USAID and the US Information Agency) in US government funding. The Centre for a Free Cuba has received $400,000. These grants form part of the $3.1m in payment to organisations that are committed to the overthrow of the Cuban government. The funding springs from Track 2 of the Torricelli Act. Track 1 is dedicated to tightening the illegal 40 year US blockade of Cuba ; Track 2 provides for US government support to non-governmental organisations in Cuba, including "dissidents" and "independent librarians". But, as Ann Sparanese, a New Jersey public librarian, points out : "Not one of these so-called libraries is a library, and not one of the allegedly repressed librarians is, or ever was, a professional librarian. They are professional dissidents. There are many US visitors to Cuba who travel there mainly for the purposes of searching for "dissidents" and Mr Kent, who describes himself as "no friend" of the Cuban government is among these." In his determination to champion the political freedoms of "dissidents" in Cuba, Mr Kent does not concern himself with the fact that other US citizens, unless they receive a "licence" from the US government are prohibited from travelling and spending money in Cuba at risk of jail or fines. For every "independent librarian" who has been harassed and arrested in Cuba, hundreds of US citizens (on trips NOT approved by the US government as was Mr Kent's) returning from Cuba have been harassed at customs ; had their belongings, Cuban materials and passports confiscated ; have been threatened with fines and jail terms ; have had the FBI hound them at home and work. They have also been the subjects of Senate hearings and had their names and addresses published in the hearing reports. These violations of the rights of US citizens do not concern Mr Kent who could travel to Cuba without such threats over his head. Clearly he was doing the work of the US government in Cuba and financed by them. His freedom of travel and expression are guaranteed even promoted. What books did he take into Cuba and which "dissident" groups did he help to fund ? If a foreigner or foreign government did that in the US, this would be illegal. Imagine if the activities of the Cuba Solidarity movement in the US were bankrolled by the Cuban government. It would not only be scandalous, but unless those people had declared themselves to be the "agents of a foreign power" they would go to jail. But the US Interests Section in Havana regularly funnels money to "dissident" groups in Cuba. The kind of thing that used to be done covertly by the CIA is now being done openly by the type of groups that Mr Kent represents. Mr Kent is also silent on the countless attempts by his government to overthrow the Castro regime. These include assassination attempts on Cuban leaders, invasions, the introduction of biological warfare, the destruction of factories, the financing of terrorism and the use of the Guantanamo base to initiate provocations. This state sponsored terror has gone on for over 40 years and has led to the death and injury of over 5500 Cuban civilians. Cubanet The "Friends" get most of their information from Cubanet, the main promoter of the "Independent Libraries Project in Cuba". Cubanet is based in Coral Gables, Florida, and financed by the following : National Endowment for Democracy, which supports a number of anti-Cuban government enterprises emanating from such places as the National Republican Institute, Ronald Reagan's creation ; the Open Society, funded by George Soros ; USAID, dedicated to advancing the "political and economic interests of the United States" ; private donors, including members of the Cuban American National Foundation, a violently anti Castro organisation. The "Friends of Cuban Libraries" do not appear to have many supporters. Ralph Papakhian, a music librarian at Indiana University, commented, "Unfortunately for Kent, the USAID and the CIA have already established well known terrorist track records as regards their activities in Cuba". Joe Grant, another US librarian, makes a similar point : "If they are getting money from the US Agency for International Development, I question their objectivity and their ability to state that they are independent and non partisan". Mark Rosenzweig, editor of the "Progressive Librarian", was even more explicit : "Mr Kent and his colleagues have shown no interest in working to lift the blockade which has crippled the material basis for cultural development in Cuba, effecting its libraries as well as many other more fundamental sectors of Cuban society. He has never contacted the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association about our efforts to help lift the blockade, nor has he been interested in our programming which has involved Cuban librarians". Mr Kent says that his organisation takes no position on the US blockade against Cuba. This is surprising given that the "Friends" are supposed to support human rights and the UN has defined the provision of information as a human right. The blockade also applies to food and medicine, another violation of human rights which Kent ignores. The "Friends" claim to be neutral on the blockade yet Jorge Sanguinetty is a very prominent spokesman in favour of the blockade, as any search of the WWW with his name will show. A recent speech of his at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies was avidly against the lifting of the blockade. Ann Sparanese sees the "Friends" group as an opportunity rather than a threat : "Perhaps we should thank the so-called "Friends of Cuban Libraries" for reminding us to strengthen our opposition to the blockade and to do more to assist the Cuban people to get rid of it, once and for all". Cuban Libraries Support Group On 1 July 1999 the Cuban Libraries Support Group (CLSG) was established. The objectives of the CLSG are to support : Cuban libraries, librarians, library and information workers and the Cuban Library Association (ASCUBI) ; Cuba's free and comprehensive education system and high literacy levels ; and the Cuban people's right to self determination and to chose the social, political and economic systems which support their library service. The CLSG will work in partnership with four organisations : Information for Social Change, a progressive librarian's network ; the Library Association, which passed a motion in favour of Cuban libraries at its AGM ; Book Aid International, which sends books to Cuban libraries ; and the Cuba Solidarity Campaign. Joe Grant welcomed the CLSG : "Cuba's libraries and librarians are dear to members of this family and we try to provide support in a number of ways. We really want more information". Mark Rosenzweig also offered his support : "I have no problem with the outline and goals of the Cuban Library Support Group and will be glad to promote it among the Progressive Librarians Guild. I will publish the statement in the next possible issue of Progressive Librarian". Mark went on to make another very important point : "You must remember, that we in the US bear a special responsibility for the situation of the Cuban people, that we are the "Great Power" in the hemisphere, that our country is consciously trying to strangle Cuba economically, and that it is incumbent upon our activists here, therefore, to be especially concerned". Mark is proposing to members of the Progressive Librarians Guild that PLG becomes an official endorser of the CSLG. He is presently polling "the interested members and the response is very positive". Also, at the next American Library Association (ALA) conference a resolution on the CSLG will be put before the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) asking them to formally endorse it. A resolution on Cuba, including support for CSLG, will also be taken to the ALA Council. Ann Sparanese agrees "that SRRT should take an official position on this and support and participate in the program outlined by the Cuban Libraries Support Group". The debate between the "Friends" and supporters of Cuban libraries continues on the Internet. The balance of contributions are overwhelmingly in favour of the CLSG. Here is a flavour of what people are saying. Elaine Harger thinks that "Robert Kent's group bears all the hallmarks of being one cog in the US machine of US "public diplomacy" that works quite successfully to undermine attempts of people to establish within their own countries alternatives to the inequalities and injustices on which capitalism depends and thrives". "Keep in mind that the maintenance of those inequalities and injustices requires its own brand of censorship, and the US has a rich history of imprisoning, deporting, blacklisting and killing the advocates of civil rights, labour rights and human rights. The Robert Kents of the US do not necessarily have a commitment to freedom, equality and peace. Many Robert Kents come from a tradition of bashing skulls of striking workers, stealing land from native inhabitants, exploiting the natural resources of foreign countries, and smashing the presses of abolitionists,anarchists and other opponents of unjust status quos". For more information about the Cuban Libraries Support Group contact john.pateman[at]merton.gov.uk. ___________________________________________________________________________top 4. Letter from ASCUBI President to John Pateman From: Maria Aurora Soto Balbón To: john.pateman[at]merton.gov.uk Cc: eliadesa[at]jm.lib.cult.cu; luis[at]ceisic.cult.cu Subject: Cuba - FAIFE Date: 25 November 1999 15:27 Ciudad de La Habana. November 21, 1999 Mr. John Pateman Merton Council Head of Libraries Merton Civic Centre London e/mail: john.pateman[at]merton.gov.uk Dear colleague Last Tuesday, November 16, the Asociacion Cubana de Bibliotecarios (ASCUBI). held its annual national council. Lic. Eliades Acosta, Director of the National Library Jose Marti, attended as a special guest during the afternoon session. Lic. Acosta handled us the different documents you and your Cuban Libraries Support Group have issued in support of Cuban libraries and librarians The National Council colleagues and myself reacted with happines and gratefulness since we have not heard of any other expressions from other colleagues to help us with their solidarity. Many librarians over the world know the reality and truth of the work of Cuban library professionals. We have struggled very hard to assure libraries services for our people, we have helped in the international arena to the understanding of Third World needs in information and libraries services we have helped, for many years the institutional work of IFLA. Our work and our honesty has been ignored, our message and our truth has not been answered. What happens to FAIFE? I am a regular member and nobody has endorsed any official answer or message to our ASCUBI official statement neither to me as a member. Please, be sure that the Cuban library comunity has not had any other news about those "independent libraries" than those that have circulated in INTERNET. We do not know those persons, they are not graduated of any of our different library professional schools and they are not members of any of our Association branches. The ASCUBI National Council expressed a vote of thanks for you and all colleagues that are supporting us . We are having our Second National Congress on November, next year. Do you think will it be a good opportunity to get together and share our experiences? Let us work on it. We hope that we can develop much better relations of solidarity and exchange from now on Yours very truly Marta Terry President Asociacion Cubana de Bibliotecarios PS.Our addresses Asociacion Cubana de Bibliotecarios Calle 34 No.513 Miramar, Playa Ciudad de La Habana Cuba e.mail: ascubi[at]fcom.uh.cu martat[at]fcom.uh.cu ___________________________________________________________________________top 5. Cuba SI http://www.egroups.com/group/cubasi/ Imperialism NO! Venceramos! Information and discussion about Cuba. Discussion of the path of Ernesto Che Guevara. ___________________________________________________________________________top 6. CUBACIENCIA The Cuban Center for Electronic Information Exchange (CENIAI) network is pleased to promote its services: toll free information search through electronic service with CUBACIENCIA database for promotional purposes. The service provided is basically in Spanish. CUBACIENCIA is concerned with the processing of scientific and technological literature in * Medical and Biological Sciences * Agriculltural and Cattle raising Sciences * Exact and Technical Sciences This database contains over 6300 references from Cuban Journal articles covering as back as from 1987. It wile soon include scientific dissertations, Cuban software, non published documents, standards, patents, books, and brochures and other documents. To use our service please send your information request, from whatever network you are linked to, to the electronic address: cubacien[at]ceniai.cu, and in a real short lapse of time you will find in your own mail box your request and the result of the search. Every record includes the bibliographic description of the document and the author's abstract. The information search may be performed by author, title, topic, source, etc. CUBACIENCIA lets you know the topics processed in Cuba, which institution are involved, the authors and the sources for publication. Other additional information is the authors' afiliations and if you so desire, we may arrange the contacts with any institution of your interest. Our address is: Dpto. Sistemas Automatizados CENIAI Prado y San Jose, Aptdo. 2069, Habana 10200 Tel.: 620436 Tlx.: (28)511203 idict cu Fax: 53-7-338212, 53-7-338213 Don't hesitate to contact us Fernando Martinez Dpto. Sistemas Automatizados Mail: cubacien[at]ceniai.cu ___________________________________________________________________________top 7. PDR's for Cuba List members -- If your library is discarding the current PDR when the new one comes in, Cuban hospitals and doctors can make good use of them. You can send it to me at my library: Ann Sparanese Englewood Library 31 Engle St. Englewood, NJ 07631 I will make sure it gets down there with Pastors for Peace or others traveling there. Thanks, Ann ___________________________________________________________________________top 8. Cuban Libraries: Creating Partnerships [Note - This trip may be full, but contact the organizers if you are interested in future trips. -Ed.] Join two University of California Librarians on a special, Global Exchange Reality Tour to Cuba., May 19 to 28, 2000 The Purpose of this Trip: Cuban Libraries: Creating Partnerships promises to provide insight into libraries, research institutes and the culture of our neighbor island. Particpants will visit libraries, archives, universities, and other places of historical and cultural significance and dialogue with staff, faculty, and librarians at these institutions. This trip will highlight the trends in libraries, from local to academic to specialized. It will provide a venue for exploring issues of mutual interest in Cuban and U.S. libraries such as preservation, access, cataloguing, digitizing, collection building, and reference and sharing expertise and practices in both settings. It will be invaluable at setting up contacts for information, networking with fellow workers, and facilitating a real people-to-people exchange. Upon return, participants will continue contacts and share their experiences with others in their institutions or community. Program Highlights: Meet with librarians and library workers of the University of Havana Library, Academy of Sciences Library, National Jose Marti Library, and other local community libraries and share issues, knowledge, and practices. A special U.S./Cuban digitizing project for posters and other ephemera exists at Jose Marti Library. Talk with the President, Marta Terry of the Asociacion Cubana de Bibliotecarios (Cuban Librarians Association) about setting up a professional Documentation Centre and library. Ms. Terry will also set up discussion groups for librarians and library workers. Learn about training for librarians and library workers. Visit the Instituto Cubano del Libro (Cuban Book Institute); a publishing house. Meet with physicians and organizers of the Infomed project. Infomed was started by two former Reality Tour participants to send computers to medical researchers and physicians in Cuba. The network now spans the island updating Cubanas with the latest medical news. Meet with specialists on gender, race, class, and sexuality issues. Tour by bike or bus the historical sites of Havana: La Plaza de la Revolucion, el Gran Teatro, La Catedral de San Cristobal, El Museo de la Revolucion, etc. Experience interactive Cuban dance performances, from folkloric to modern forms and music, such as a salsa dance class with Dulce Maria. Possible side trips to Pinar del Rio, the community development project of Las Terrazas; to Matanzas and Varadero Beach; to Regla and its local church for Santeria (the African religion) and museum. Also visits in Havana to the museum, Casa De Africa, publishers, bookstores, and artists studios in old town. Price: $1600 includes round-trip airfare from a designated location, all transportation within Cuba, accomodation in a 3 star hotel, translation of all programs, three meals daily, visas and program fees and qualified trip leaders. Global Exchange and your leaders can arrange personal meetings to suit your particular interests. Single rooms may be available for an additional cost. Contacts: Jacquelyn Marie, Women's Studies/Reference Librarian, UC Santa Cruz, Tel: 831/459-3255, jamarie[at]cats.ucsc.edu Beth Sibley, Social Science Librarian, UC Berkeley, Tel: 510/643-0880, esibley[at]library.berkeley.edu This trip is open to anyone interested in libraries and/or presently working in libraries and their friends and families. Contact librarian leaders or Global Exchange, 415/255-7296 for flyers and applications. ___________________________________________________________________________top L I B R A R Y J U I C E | http://libr.org/Juice/ | | Library Juice is supported by a voluntary subscription | fee of $10 per year, variable based on ability and | desire to pay. You may send a check payable in US funds | to Rory Litwin, at PO Box 720511, San Jose, CA 95172 | | Original material and added value in Library Juice | is copyright-free; beyond that the publisher makes | no guarantees. Library Juice is a free weekly | publication edited and published by Rory Litwin. | Original senders are credited wherever possible; | opinions are theirs. If you are the author of some | email in Library Juice which you want removed from | the web, please write to me and I will remove it. | | Your comments and suggestions are welcome. | | Rory[at]libr.org This page was created by SimpleText2Html 1.0.3 on 25-Jan-100.