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Dear Colleagues,
More valuable information about the situation forwarded to me by a friend
and colleague in the States.
I have no direct link with the individuals and orgnaisations mentioned. To
those who request
whether the email and its appeals can be forwarded please do so as that is
the intention of the sender.
Thanks,
Rosemary Seton,
29, Gresley Road,
London N19 3LA
---------- Forwarded Message -----------
From: James Rovira <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:26:37 -0500
Subject: Update on Libraries in Haiti
I received several off-list responses to my previous email about the
situation of libraries in Haiti and what we can do to support them. I'm
very grateful for them. The email pasted below is from the person who seems
to be most involved with coordinating efforts and provides an update. Just
by way of a little more background for my last email, I copied it from the
FICINO list and passed it along to C18L and NASSR-L. I have no direct
involvement in or knowledge of these efforts beyond the emails that I pass
along. Also, these initiatives originated with librarians in the US, I
think.
James Rovira
Tiffin University
*****
Dear friends
As you know, we are currently working on an emergency plan to save archives
and old books of haitian libraries collapsed. This mail attempt to make a
synthesis of last days mobilization. Bibliothèques Sans Frontières/Libraries
Without Borders offer its help to the BlueShield for the urgent actions and
call for your support for middle and long term reconstruction.
First of all, we thank you for your messages and support.
1/ Nixon Calixte, from the University of State of Haiti's Library is
currently assessing the situation of libraries and archives centres in Port
au Prince. He should send us a report by sunday if he can find an internet
connexion. In this, we should have a more complete brief of the situation at
the beginning of next week. For the moment you can read (only in french for
the moment unfortunately, please feel free to translate it) the brief report
attached to this mail.
2/ For the moment we have targeted 2 libraries that need urgent
intervention: The library of Saint Martial College (Bibliothèque des pères
du Saint Esprit) and the Library of Saint Louis de Gonzague (you can see on
this videos the dramatic situation of the building:
http://affinitiz.com/space/unpetitcabanon/content/une-des-plus-riches-bibliotheques-
haitiennes-detruite_0919BFBE-9455-F491-9773-39F54230E663).
Both libraries host very ancient funds (from 16th century) that must be
preserved. Both libraries have been through severe damages.
3/ Yesterday, an emergency meeting with notably the French Blue Shield
committee, the french ministry of culture representatives, UNESCO, the
french national library and Bibliothèques Sans Frontières / Libraries
Without Borders agreed to advise in short term to cover the building. We
call for any person already in Haïti to act in this way if possible. BSF
team cannot be on the field for the moment as it is very difficult for us to
enter in the country (feel free to inform us about way to enter with some
equipment). Volunteers from Libraries Without Borders (from France and the
US) should go to Haïti in february/March to help the Blue shield committee
for the assessment of the situation. Moreover, we already prepare the middle
and long term program for cultural infrastructure reconstruction. We'll have
a more detailed plan in the next few days based on our experiences and
ongoing programs before the last week event.
For information, Patrick Tardieu, director of the Peres du Saint Esprit
Library, is in canada for the moment and will flight for the US next week.
Concerning the several messages of support and help proposition we receive,
we can tell you that for the moment, we act and we welcome your help on 3
levels :
*
*
*1/ International mobilisation*
Please, feel free to forward this email and call for mobilization and
fundraising. Every help will be decisive.
*
*
*2/ Volunteers *
Many of you want to be volunteers and propose to go on the field; for the
moment, we advise you to volunteer online for the blushield operation on :
http://haiti2010.blueshield-international.org/
*
*
*3/ Fundraising campaign:*
You can help us by giving or raising money for the cause (emergency action
and middle term reconstruction program):
*
*
*In France or europe*: please connect on our website
www.bibliosanfrontieres.org. You can make a donation through our paypal
facility or send a cheque to (tax deductible) :
Bibliothèques Sans Frontières,
69 rue Armand Carrel, 75019 Paris
*In the US (+rest of the world): *a special website will be online next week
to raise awareness. Though, you already can make donation through the
Libraries Without Borders Website (www.librarieswithoutborders.org) (501C
tax deductible association) or by cheque to : Libraries Without Borders, PO
Box 21161, Brooklyn, NY 11202
*On facebook*: please join the BSF/LWB facebook cause and donate through the
secure online donation: www.causes.com/bibliosansfrontieres
Thanks for your support and your help.
You'll find attached to this document a first assessment of the situation
updated on 21st of January.
Please do not hesitate to share any information you have to help coordinate
the initiative.
Best
Jérémy
Bibliothèques Sans Frontières
To contact us in the US: Catherine: [log in to unmask]
Jérémy Lachal
Directeur - BSF
[log in to unmask]
+33.(0)6.58.43.85.56 - +33.(0)1.43.25.75.61
------------------------------
------------------------
Bibliothèques Sans Frontières
69 rue Armand Carrel, 75019 Paris
www.bibliosansfrontieres.org
URGENCE HAÏTI : DONNEZ SUR www.bibliosansfrontieres.org
Rejoignez la cause BSF sur facebook: www.causes.com/bibliosansfrontieres
Vous aussi, soutenez Bibliothèques Sans Frontières gratuitement à chacun de
vos achats sur Internet: www.doneo.org
------- End of Forwarded Message -------
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