El Comité del seminario web de la Mesa Redonda de Relaciones Internacionales (IRRT) de ALA llevó a cabo una serie de seminarios web gratuitos centrados en las perspectivas de las bibliotecas de todo el mundo que se ocupan de COVID-19 en el que el Dr. Juan Miguel Palma, representó el 04 de junio a la Sección de América Latina y el Caribe.

1. “Libraries and COVID-19:
cases and perspectives of
Latin America”
Juan Miguel Palma Peña
National Autonomus University of Mexico
Elected Member Standing Committee
Latin American & Caribbean Section , IFLA
4 June, 2020, Mexico City

2. Agenda
3. Final considerations
2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC
1. Context: Libraries of Latin American (LAC) and COVID-19

3. 1. Context: Libraries of LAC and COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic
responsible for COVID-19 manifests
informative actions.
COVID-19 opens up debate to
libraries to will carry out protect
their librarians and users.
Libraries of Latin America carry out
actions to re-opening

4. 1. Context: Libraries of LAC and COVID-19
Situations:
• Governments are taking different approaches.
• Restrict services or close a library is a difficult.
• School libraries in 177 countries are afected.
Entire public library systems being closed in LAC
National libraries of LAC too have closed to the public.
Libraries and their social mission.
Situation, actions and strategies in LAC to reopening.

5. 2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC
1. What are the
challenges or barriers in
reopening in your
community?
- How are you
addressing those
challenges?

6. 2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC
Libraries in
LAC have
following
challenges:
Start to make plans
Setting limits on numbers of
people using the library
Implementing regular cleaning
Ensuring that staff have the
equipment and training
Making clear
Promote online services and
resources
Communicate any new rules to
library users

7. 2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC
2. How is your library providing services during
the pandemic?
2. How is your library providing services during
the pandemic?
• Libraries of LAC: different situations and cases
• Limiting concentration of users
• Providing services remotely
• Available resources
Three actions for services

8. 2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC
Costa Rica:
Disclosure of
information
capsules.
Argentina:
Take extreme
care by
communicating
information
Mexico:
National University of Mexico:
- Open access services to collections
- Repositories
- Management OA
Mexican Librarians Association:
- Increase remote and non-contact
services
Colombia:
- All libraries are closed and
services are provided virtually
and remotely
- Cooperation

9. 2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC
3. What are the
risks associated
with our library
for reopening?
• Reopening of libraries are
increasingly on the agenda
• Decisions will need to be
based on overall
assessments of risk, and
approach nationally
There are suggests
about four stage:
1. Analysing risks
2. Close contacts
3. Use the libraries
4. Overall levels

10. 2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC
México:
UNAM:
- By contact with infected, but
asymptomatic people.
- Risks by interaction
Mexican Librarians Association:
- Increased risk of spread of
infection
- Lack of resources for sanitation
Chile:
• Risk of
contagion
• Materials
infected
• Contamination
risks
• Spread of the
virus by contact
• Contagion by
leading
ColombiaColombia
Argentina:
• Risk of
contagion
through the
social
circulation
El Salvador
•Safety conditions
•Health problems
•Users
•Handling of books
•cleaning and
disinfection
• Possible risks
associated to
the attention
of users
Costa Rica

11. 2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC
• 1. Handling
materials
• 2. Social
Distancing
• 3. Keeping
Staff Safe
Answers are
structured in
three parts
4. What protective
measures are using in
your library?
Users, Staff, Library
materials.

12. 2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC
1. Handling
materials
1. Handling
materials
will be
basic assess
risks
wait period
before
handling
returned
books
ensure staff
wear gloves
and masks
to disinfect
works,
using
isolation,
static
sterilisation

13. 2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC
Libraries LAC:
• National University of México:
• Three fields of action are
established
• Mexican Association of
Librarians :
• Disinfect books
• Costa Rica :
• cleaning and disinfection of
materials
• El Salvador:
• Diagnosis to identify risk areas
• Chile :
• A procedure to treat the
printed collection

14. 2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC
2. Social Distancing
• how to provide book
deliveries
• concerns associated
with deliveries
• installing screens
• need authorities and
experts know how
libraries work

15. Libraries LAC
2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC
Colombia:
library service is
not being provided
in its physical plant
Colombian Ministry
of Culture has
generated a
protocol
Chile
Limit face-to-face
services and
strengthen online
attention
Argentina
Protocols for both
internal work and
for users
Mexico
closed all activities
scholarlys, included
libraries (UNAM)
Set distance limits,
security notices
(AMBAC)

16. 3.
Keeping
Staff
Safe
A priority is to ensure
that staff are fit; be a
legal obligation
home working as far
as possible
regular handwashing
by staff continues to
be strongly
recommended
2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC

17. Mexico
•general plan for the UNAM Library System is being defined
•Provide security equipment
•Sanitization of all library spaces
•Implement new work plans (AMBAC)
Colombia
•biosafety strategies
El Salvador
•institutional committees
•plan to mitigate or eliminate the risks detected
Chile
•Protocol for the Safe Return to the Library
Argentina
•ABGRA survey contingency plan
Costa Rica
•Raise awareness
•Strengthening of cleaning measures
2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC
Libraries
LAC

18. 2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC
•What types of staff
training are needed or
have already been put in
place for your library?
5
• Institutions and associations
have set up pages with lists of
reliable sources and guidance
LAC

19. • Courses on online services and health topics (UNAM)
• Applying biosecurity measures that experts recommend (AMBAC)
Mexico
• Self-care protocols
• Biosafety protocols
Colombia
• develop preventive measures
• use of protection materials
• Attention and guidance for users
El Salvador
• Virus durability on paper / cardboard and other surfaces.
• Disinfection and cleaning methods.
• Procedures and guidelines
• Actions to follow when receiving books
Argentina
• First Aid Brigades
• Protocol for action and prevention
• material to disinfect
Costa Rica
2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC
Libraries
LAC

20. How are you
communicating
with library
staff?
6
2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC
A key way to keep
staff safe is to keep
them informed.
manage remote
working effectively

21. Argentina:
• WhatsApps, email, videoconferences
Chile
• Institutional email, Intranet, Meetings, Trainings
El Salvador
• Institutional email, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Google Meet, Zoom
Mexico
• Social networks, whatsapp, email, meetings via Zoom (UNAM)
• Social networks, whatsapp, email, video conferencing systems. (AMBAC)
Colombia
• Whatsapp, Teams, zoom, google hangout and email
Costa Rica
• Institutional mail, social networks, website
2. Questions and results of Libraries of LAC
Libraries
LAC
Libraries
LAC

22. Final considerations
•this contribution have
main to show a
radiographic libraries
in this region
•inspire, engage, enable
and connect the global
library field
•build a stronger field
powering literate,
informed and
participatory societies
into the future
Latin
American of
how libraries
are not just
reacting
Strategic Plan
to IFLA
FundamentalIFLA-LAC

23. Thank you!!!
jemajumi@hotmail.com
@IFLALAC @IFLALAC
http://www.ifla.org/lac

24. Sources
• IFLA. COVID-19 and the Global Library Field. Available in:
https://www.ifla.org/covid-19-and-libraries#reopening
• Reciaria. Protocolos y Recomendaciones Covid-19. Available in:
https://sites.google.com/site/reciariaorg/acceda-a/herramientas-y-buenas-
practicas/protocolos-y-recomendaciones-covid-19