COLUMBUS MEMORIAL LIBRARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLD DIGITAL LIBRARY: CARIBBEAN COLLECTION

WDL AGREEMENT SIGNING PRESS RELEASE OAS JOINS WITH LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ON WORLD DIGITAL LIBRARY ENDEAVOR September 12, 2008 The Organization of American States (OAS) has agreed to join with the Library of Congress in developing the World Digital Library, which will open to the public at its formal launch in Paris next year. Secretary General José Miguel Insulza signed the Contributor Agreement with Librarian of Congress, Dr. James Billington, at an OAS headquarters ceremony Thursday. Under the agreement, the OAS Columbus Memorial Library will collaborate on the global library project, whose main objectives include promoting international and intercultural understanding and awareness; providing resources to educators; expanding non-English and non-Western content on the Internet; and contributing to scholarly research. Insulza welcomed the opportunity for OAS partnership in the historic venture, remarking: We are extremely proud that the Columbus Memorial Library will become a partner in this project, contributing unique materials from the Americas towards the objectives of the World Digital Library as it develops to promote international and inter cultural understanding and awareness.… Dr. Billington, meanwhile, welcomed the OAS important partnership that will contribute content representing 35 Member States. He also made special mention of the OAS contribution of language expertise to this endeavor that will operate in seven languages, including the Western Hemisphere bodys official languagesSpanish, French, Portuguese and English. Working with the OAS sends an important signal to cultural institutions in all the countries of the Western Hemisphere about cooperation in this project, the Librarian of Congress added, in outlining the history of the initiative which so far has enlisted a number of national libraries and cultural institutions worldwide. Billington said the World Digital Library seeks to bring people together by collecting information about different cultures, in a single global undertaking.

The Organization of American States (OAS) is the worlds oldest regional organization, dating back to the First International Conference of American States, held in Washington, D.C. from October 1889 to April The OAS was established to achieve among its member states, an order of peace and justice, to promote their solidarity, to strengthen their collaboration, and to defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity, and their independence. Today it comprises the 35 independent states of the Americas and has granted permanent observer status to 63 states, as well as to the European Union. The OAS uses a four-pronged approach to effectively implement its essential purposes, based on its pillars: democracy, human rights, security, and development. OAS HISTORY AND OVERVIEW OAS HISTORY AND OVERVIEW

Ambassador, Carlos Martinez Silva, Delegate from Colombia, suggested …the establishment in Washington of a memorial Library, to which each government could send, on its own account, the most complete collection possible of historical, literary and geographical works, laws, official reports, maps, etc., so that the results of intellectual and scientific labor in all America might be collected together under a single roof… On April 18, 1890 the delegates to the First International Conference of the American States determined a Library would be a fitting memorial of the first gathering of representatives from the American Nations. CML HISTORY

The Cornerstone of the Inter-American System COLUMBUS MEMORIAL LIBRARY

The Columbus Memorial Library houses the world's most complete collection of unique photographs, maps, commemorative stamps, archives, and records documenting the history of the Organization of American States from 1889 to the present. The extensive collection of books and periodicals date back to Today the CML is responsible for the Archives and Records Management Program of the OAS General Secretariat, and for preserving and indexing the OAS official documents, as well as carrying out the functions of a traditional library. The Columbus Memorial Library serves the staff of the OAS General Secretariat, Permanent Missions and Permanent Observer Missions to the OAS, Embassies and researchers throughout this hemisphere and the world. CML OVERVIEW

Highlights of CML Collection The Librarys Collection contains hundreds of documents, photographs, maps, magazines and rare books from, or relating to, the Caribbean Region.

DOCUMENTS AND RARE BOOKS All Protocolary and Extraordinary Sessions Visit of his Exc. Mr. Errol Walton Barrow, Prime Minister of Barbados (September 12 th ) OEA/Ser.G/II C-a Visit of his Exc. Mr. Ralph E. Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (October 3 rd ) OEA/Ser.G CP/Act 1295/01 The CML Collection contains historical documents and rare books including: The History, civil and commercial, of the British Colonies in the West Indies. By Bryan Edwards (1806) Historie Générale des Isles de S. Christophe, de la Gvadelovpe, de la Martinique, et avtres dans lAmérique. By Jean Baptiste Dutertre (1654)

PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION COUNTRIES INCLUDE: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA BAHAMAS BARBADOS DOMINICA GRENADA GUYANA HAITI JAMAICA SURINAME TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Photographs include panoramas, people, street scenes, parks and plazas, churches, monuments, education, topography, transportation, political leaders and much more.

PHOTOGRAPHS cont.

EXAMPLES OF METADATA EXAMPLES OF METADATA Photographer: Rudin, James R.Rudin, James R. Date Created: 1974 Place: Latin America & the Caribbean > GrenadaLatin America & the CaribbeanGrenada Time: 1950 AD AD1950 AD AD Topic: Social sciences > Social problems & social services > Other social problems & services > Social sciences > Customs, etiquette & folkloreSocial sciencesSocial problems & social servicesOther social problems & services Social sciencesCustoms, etiquette & folklore Additional Subjects: Parades and processions ; PoliceParades and processions Police Type of Item: Prints, PhotographsPrints, Photographs Physical Description: 8 x 10; black & white photo Institution: Columbus Memorial Library, Organization of American StatesColumbus Memorial Library, Organization of American States INDEPENDENCE DAY Title: INDEPENDENCE DAY Description: This photograph shows a parade of police in ceremonial dress on February 7, 1974, Grenada's Independence Day. The photograph is from the collection of the Columbus Memorial Library of the Organization of American States (OAS), which includes 45,000 photographs illustrative of life and culture in the Americas. Many of the photographs were taken by prominent photographers on OAS missions to member countries. The OAS was established in April 1948 when 21 countries of the western hemisphere adopted the OAS Charter, in which they reaffirmed their commitment to the pursuit of common goals and respect for each others sovereignty. Since then, the OAS has expanded to include the countries of the English-speaking Caribbean as well as Canada. The predecessor organization to the OAS was the Pan American Union, founded in 1910, which in turn grew out of the International Union of American Republics, established at the First International Conference of American States.

EXAMPLES OF METADATA EXAMPLES OF METADATA WOMEN DOING LAUNDRY Title: WOMEN DOING LAUNDRY Description: This photograph from St. Lucia shows an everyday scene with women and children. The photograph is from the collection of the Columbus Memorial Library of the Organization of American States (OAS), which includes 45,000 photographs illustrative of life and culture in the Americas. Many of the photographs were taken by prominent photographers on OAS missions to member countries. The OAS was established in April 1948 when 21 countries of the western hemisphere adopted the OAS Charter, in which they reaffirmed their commitment to the pursuit of common goals and respect for each others sovereignty. Since then, the OAS has expanded to include the countries of the English-speaking Caribbean as well as Canada. The predecessor organization to the OAS was the Pan American Union, founded in 1910, which in turn grew out of the International Union of American Republics, established at the First International Conference of American States in Date Created: 1985 Publication Information: Organization of American States, St. Lucia Place: Latin America and the Caribbean > Saint LuciaLatin America and the CaribbeanSaint Lucia Time: 1950 AD AD1950 AD AD Topic: Technology > Home & family management > Housekeeping > History of North AmericaTechnologyHome & family managementHousekeepingHistory of North America Additional Subjects: Laundry ; WomenLaundryWomen Type of Item: Prints, PhotographsPrints, Photographs Physical Description: 8 x 10 inches; black and white photograph

A small sample of the many maps that comprise the CML Collection: Map of the Caribbean Sea – including the North Coast of South America and the West Indies/ Richard Mayer, New York, The Countries of the Caribbean – including Mexico, Central America, the West Indies and the Panama Canal / National Geographic Society, West Indies Islands – and the approaches to the Panama Canal / George Philip and Son Ltd. The London Geographical Institute West Indies – showing sovereignty of the various islands/ Prepared by Military Intelligence Division, General Staff, US. Army West Indies, Central America / A. Petermann, Gotha, Justus Perthes, from Stielers Hand-Atlas, n.82, 1889 West Indies – Island of Haiti with Windward and Mona Passages / US Navy Hydrographic Office 1915 MAPS OF THE CARIBBEAN

MAPS OF THE CARIBBEAN cont. 8)West Indies – Island of Haiti - North Coast of Haiti and Santo Domingo / US Navy Hydrographic Office )West Indies – Island of Haiti - South Coast of Haiti and Dominican Republic / US Navy Hydrographic Office )West Indies – Island of Haiti - North Coast of Haiti and Dominican Republic/ Mont Christi to Tortuga Island - US Navy Hydrographic Office )Map of the Island of Haiti including the republics of Haiti and Santo Domingo US Army Mil. Intel.Division ca )Mole St. Nicolas – Haiti and Santo Domingo / Second (Military Information) Division, General Staff )Jeremie– Haiti and Santo Domingo / Second (Military Information) Division, General Staff )Monte Christi– Haiti and Santo Domingo / Second (Military Information) Division, General Staff. 1907

CML Website Available information: Online Catalogue Challenges in Digital Library Area Problems Include: Lack of Funds Lack of Available Staff

Beverly Wharton-Lake Beverly Wharton-Lake Chief Librarian