Developing your Library Association

8 August 2012

Léonie Boerkamp and Astrid Britten,

Board members of the Dutch Caribbean Library Association

History of Aruba I

History of Aruba II

Located in the southern Caribbean 100.000 inhabitants, 96 different

nationalities Various ancestries: Caquetio Indian, African

and European roots Tourism is the main pillar of the economy Spoken languages: Dutch, Papiamento,

English and Spanish Since 1986 an autonomous country within

the Dutch kingdom (Status Aparte)

Status Aparte and the Aruba National Library August 20, 1949: Opening of Aruba’s

first public library Opening occurred later than in the rest

of the Antilles March 3, 1986: “Biblioteca Publico

Aruba” renamed as “Biblioteca Nacional Aruba”

Library University of Aruba

Opened in 1988 Books, journals and publications from

different fields: Law Economics and Finance Hospitality and Tourism Management Arts and Sciences

Dutch Caribbean Library Association (DCLA) Dutch Caribbean Libraries is a growing

network of libraries and information professionals on the six islands of the Dutch Caribbean and Surinam

“Resolution of the Cola Creek” Fourth seminar of DCLA was held in

Paramaribo, Surinam

Caribbean flavor

Marketing

First Face-to-face Boardmeeting

Our goals

To promote the use of the libraries and information centers by building on the strategic capacity of the libraries in the Dutch Caribbean;

To develop professional skills. To transform the profile and standing of the profession;

To protect, preserve and document written and printed cultural heritage.

The association goals are carried by national, public, special collection and university libraries from private and the government sector

Our challenges

Achievement to reach commitment for cooperation is an important milestone in for libraries and information services sector;

Enhances the accessibility to information between libraries in the Dutch Caribbean. Also in between the local and international community;

Our opportunities

Continuing developing our library association;

Partnership External communications; Advocacy for libraries

Our joint projects

Shared library automation program “ABCD”;

Digitalization of our cultural heritage; Professional development; Promotion of the libraries in the Dutch

Caribbean; The library and the information institutions

of the Dutch Caribbean can play a key role as institution for investigations about our colonial past;

Organizations involved

DCLA has reached partnership with Dutch institutions such as Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (Royal Tropical Institute) and the Koninklijk Instituut voor Talen- Land en Volkenkunde (KITLV);

NVB; FOBID-Netherlands Library Forum; Future partners:

IFLA ACURIL

Key benefits

Information literacy and working cooperatively on awareness and professional development

Joint marketing of our libraries Continuing in developing of our association Improving our infrastructure for cooperation Share knowledge in the area of

digitalization, ICT and negotiations with publishers

Questions?

Food for thought

Statement: Information literacy and digitalization: key elements for a sustainable society.

Question: How can stakeholders (education, policy makers, ICT) explore new perspectives for cooperation?

The end

Masha danki Thank you Bedankt