News about the disastrous earthquake that devastated Haiti no longer occupies front pages of newspapers, but the earthquake‘s effects continue to disrupt everyday life of the Haitian people.
Haitian libraries were not spared by this natural disaster and many have sustained heavy damage.
LACUNY IRRT would like to express our deep concern and sympathy to Haitian librarians and encourage all CUNY librarians to support them by making a donation for the cause of rebuilding Haitian libraries
Please check the following links:
Libraries without borders: http://www.librarieswithoutborders.org/home.php
Libraries Without Borders is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in New York City. Its mission is to support education in developing and disaster affected areas by providing children, students and adults access to well-equipped, up-to-date and efficient libraries. Access to knowledge is a key factor in social and economic development. By facilitating the growth of libraries in Africa, Asia and the Americas, Libraries Without Borders aims to provide the knowledge that is the engine of human development. The organization is affiliated with Bibliothèques Sans Frontières.
ALA IRRT page: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/irrt/index.cfm
ALA Haiti fund: ALA established Library Relief Fund to help rebuild libraries and archives in Haiti. ALA, acting on a resolution adopted by its Council on Jan. 19 during the ALA’s Midwinter Meeting, has created the “Haiti Library Relief Fund” to collect monetary donations to help rebuild libraries and archives that were destroyed or damaged during the devastating earthquake on Jan. 12.
Donations can be made by credit card or check through www.ala.org/haiti.
ALA Haiti Library relief: http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/iro/iroactivities/haitirelieffund.cfm
Though there is a strong interest in donating books directly to Haiti immediately, but libraries in Haiti are not in a position to receive books until further notice.
Your books, however, can still help libraries in Haiti. Better World Books (BWB), an affinity partner of ALA, has set up a special program to receive and raise money for Haitian libraries from the books you donate. For more information on how to donate, please visit the Better World Books site (opens a new page).
ALA is a member of the U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield (USCBS), the organization that is the equivalent of the Red Cross for cultural heritage and preservation. The USCBS belongs to the larger Associations of National Committees of the Blue Shield (ANCBS).
The Blue Shield wants to support recovery, restoration and repair measures necessary to rebuild libraries, archives, museums, monuments and sites. Therefore it is calling upon archivists, restorers, curators, librarians, architects and other experts to register online as a volunteer.
If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the : http://haiti2010.blueshield-international.org/
ORGANIZATIONS working WITH LIBRARIES IN HAITI
• FOKAL (Foundation for Knowledge and Liberty) - an independent foundation in Haiti supported by the Open Society Institute and other international and local organizations. http://www.fokal-usa.org/index.htm
• Haiti Reads - Haiti Reads strives to make books available to all children and adults regardless of current enrollment in an educational institution. http://haitireads.org/default.aspx
• Libraries without borders - After the earthquake that struck the Port-au-Prince region on Tuesday, January 12, Libraries Without Borders affirms its solidarity with the people of Haiti. LWB and its French affiliate, Bibliothèques Sans Frontières, are involved in a number of projects in the capital and throughout the country
.• Haiti Soleil - Haiti Soleil is a nonprofit corporation based in Berkeley, California. Haiti Soleil is founded on the belief that to bring about social change in Haiti, the country needs to empower young people by giving them access to safe nurturing spaces, and providing them with opportunities for intellectual exchange and creative expression. http://haitisoleil.org/
IFLA: same as ALA works with Blue Shield organization
PSC CUNY wiki page devoted to HAITI relief: http://psccunyhaiti2010.pbworks.com/
LACUNY International Relations Round Table (IRRT)
