Posted: Jun. 11, 2010.
ALA has been working closely with the National Library of Haiti and other librarians to identify rebuilding and expansion projects in the wake of the January 2010 eathquake. You can make a personal impact on efforts to bring libraries to the people of Haiti by donating $10.00 through to ALA Haiti Library Relief Fund by text message.
It takes two minutes for you to donate $10 to help rebuild libraries in Haiti.
To donate simply text “alahaiti” to 20222, and a $10 one-time tax-deductible donation will be added to your mobile phone bill.
Ten public and community libraries were destroyed, and many others damaged. Major academic and research libraries/archives housing the cultural patrimony of Haiti also collapsed, or suffered major structural damage.
Funds raised by ALA will be used to rebuild three libraries in Haiti destroyed during the earthquake in January. They are the Petit Goave Public Library, the Centre Culturel Pyepoudre Community Library, and the Bibliothèque haïtienne des Pères du Saint-Esprit which was founded in 1873 and holds resources documenting the history of Haiti, French colonization, slavery and emancipation.
Thanks to a generous donation from Sirsi/Dynix and hundreds of library supporters, $18,000 has been raised so far, but much more is needed.
ALA is pleased to announce that our Haitian colleagues will be attending the ALA Annual Conference, including leaders of the three libraries ALA is adopting: Françoise Beaulieu-Thybulle, Director-General of the Bibliotheque Nationale D’haiti; Library Patrick Tardieu, Head Archivist, Bibliothèque Haïtienne des Pères du Saint-Esprit; and Elizabeth Pierre-Louise of the Fondation Connaissance Et Liberte (FOKAL).
