ht. Libr. Rev. (1987) 19, 105-l 11

Libraries in the Shadow of History: the Dominican Republic

BARBARA FOSTER*

“Behold the island of Hispanola-the most beautiful land human eyes have ever seen,” wrote Christopher Columbus on 5 December 1492. The navigator’s joy in discovery has been echoed by contingents of devoted visitors to the Dominican Republic-joined like a Siamese twin to Haiti. During the great age of exploration, the New World’s first hospital, university and cathedral were constructed on Dominican soil. Santo Domingo, which has been home port to famous swashbucklers such as Francis Drake, Hernan Cortes and Ponce de Leon, is still steeped in its colonial past.

I decided to undertake my own exploration of Santo Domingo’s libraries while on academic leave from Hunter College Library, New York. Intent to discover whether adequate facilities were available to researchers and students, I began to investigate the extent and variety of local library services. Furthermore, I was curious to ascertain how the Dominican Republic’s political heritage has influenced its attitude toward books and libraries.

Santo Domingo, the bustling capital, has one-and-a-half million inhabitants. A stroll down cobblestone streets in the colonial sector of town is an excursion into the sixteenth century, complete with court- yards, tranquil fountains, refurbished monasteries and austere chapels. Here one gets slight sense of the Dominican Republic’s turbulent history. Since they declared independence from Spain in 1844, Domi- nicans have endured alternating interludes of dictatorship and revo- lutionary activity. In 1916 and 1965, the United States intervened with troops in the island’s affairs. Though there had been no major upheavals in several years, recently riots over financial austerities declared by the government, and imposed upon it by the International Monetary Fund, have upset the smooth course of development. Ironi- cally, democracy has made great strides in this land where the dictator Rafael Trujillo once ruled with an iron hand.

Modern Santo Domingo possesses all the amenities of a cosmopolitan city. The National Library, founded in 1971, is part of a new cultural

* 62 Barrow Street, No. 1, New York, New York 10014, USA.

002C-7837/87/020105+07 $03.00/O 0 1987 Academic Press Inc. (London) Limited

106 B. FOSTER

complex which includes museums devoted to local history, art, anthro- pology and folklore. The four-storey library building, an imposing white structure, attracts the attention of passersby. The lobby has a bust of Cicero, plus large space which is devoted to exhibitions on Dominican culture. During my several visits, there was a show high- lighting various poets who had contributed to their country’s literary heritage.

MS Nilda Andino de Rodriguez, the Librarian of the National Library, explained that the facility was created to collect biblio- graphical materials worldwide on the Dominican Republic. They buy whatever is printed locally and strive to obtain, by use of catalogs, agents, etc., that which comes out elsewhere. The designation National Library, which is the collection’s focus, does not really indicate its multiplicity of functions. People from all walks of life use this non- circulating collection. Since there is no effective public library, high school students deluge the facilities. They are attempting to fulfill school assignments and enjoy studying in the attractive building. Engineers, doctors and office workers also come here to consult more specialized materials. The library hours are from 8 a.m.-g.30 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8.30 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturdays.

The Librarian receives up-to-date reports on all titles published locally. The National Library publishes an acquisitions list which informs interested individuals and organizations of their recent purchases. For the last few years, they have begun to buy books in the medical and engineering fields in order to satisfy many requests in these areas. Their readers are on the young side, since senior citizens do not usually avail themselves of the collection. This could be due to the fact that, according to official sources, up to the late 1960s nearly two- thirds of the population were illiterate. Though these statistics have considerably improved, many in the older generation were unlikely to develop the reading habit. Photocopy machines are available at the National Library, but phonograph records and microfilm are not features of the collection.

The National Library contains approximately 25 000 volumes. They are cataloged by the Dewey system with a dictionary card catalog available. Theft has been a recent problem which causes consternation among the library administration. To counter this menace, security has been tightened. A guard is now on duty in the lobby to examine readers’ briefcases and parcels. The library has set up an attractive browsing room as well as a respectable reference section which contains standard Spanish encyclopedias and dictionaries. A few works in English, for example The Oxford English Dictionary, are included.

The National Librarv has amassed an extensive collection of Domi-

LIBRARIES IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 107

nican materials, some dating as far back as the early 1800s. Several rare works on Columbus and the discovery and exploration of the Caribbean are part of a special collection which is being augmented constantly. The Librarian has noted an ever-increasing number of requests for works concerned with Dominican history, politics and literary figures. There has been scant interest in the women’s liberation movement.

The periodical collection is an important research tool. The library buys all local magazines, plus American ones such as Time and Newsweek. The collection is rich in local journals dating back to the nineteenth century. They get many requests from users who require esoteric information available only in these specialized sources. The National Library collects maps-both antique and modern-on the Dominican Republic. Those which cover the greater Caribbean area are also acquired. Newspapers, though included in the collection, are all in the Spanish language. Computers are yet to enter the library portals, but they are used in government and passport control.

The National Library is operated by sixteen staff members, none of whom is a professional librarian. There is no graduate library science program in the country and those wishing professional credentials usually attend universities in Colombia or Puerto Rico. In 1974 Domi- nican librarians formed their own organization to address themselves to matters ofstatus and salary. They meet regularly and plan workshops for inservice training of librarians. Aware that they cannot afford to be isolated from library trends outside the Dominican Republic, the librarians are structuring exchanges and study programs with other countries. The Librarian feels a deep responsibility to her readers. She wants them to become library conscious, a difficult achievement in a land with uneven levels of literacy and pockets of dire poverty.

The Lincoln Library, sponsored by the United States Information Service, is less than twenty years old. It is part of a large complex where classes, exhibitions and lectures are held. The library branches onto a rectangular courtyard designed in Japanese style complete with a rock garden and sliding panels. Readers may sit in the garden to enjoy the year-round balmy weather. This attractive facility is very popular with foreigners and Dominicans who keep coming back for a variety of services. Library hours are from Monday to Friday 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 3-7 p.m.

The librarian of the Lincoln Library, MS Leida Rosa Gonzalez, is a fully accredited professional. In addition to a few technical courses given on the island a number of students have gone abroad to study library science. There are nine librarians with master’s degrees in the Dominican Republic and all are employed at the national university. Those who do acquire professional credentials get a generous salary

108 B. FOSTER

equivalent to that of a high executive. A professional librarian’s exper- tise is highly respected in the Dominican Republic, and MS Gonzalez must employ every aspect of her skills to cope with a demanding and eager public.

The high usage of the Lincoln Library is related to Santa Domingo’s lack of a viable public library system. The Librarian, in common with her colleagues at the National Library, must serve inquirers who normally would have been served by their local branch library. Unfor- tunately, the government cannot yet afford to fund a proper system to serve the needs of Dominicans. However, the overall situation has improved since Trujillo’s reign, when the yearly budget for education was one-quarter that for military and police services. Towns have local cultural clubs which attempt to fill the book gap, but they do not substitute for organized large scale efforts.

The Lincoln Library encourages Dominicans and foreigners to take out books. Potential borrowers must produce an ID card and proof of address. Their card allows them to borrow four books for two weeks. The Lincoln Library is the only one in the country that also lends old issues of periodicals. They currently subscribe to seventy titles. The library suffers a mere 2% loss rate and finds that borrowers show commendable honesty about returning items. Since the dropout rate is substantial in high school, many former students use the Lincoln Library as a substitute for higher education.

The Lincoln Library houses about 5800 books. Approximately 60% of the titles are in English, 40% in Spanish. There are about 500 reference books to help the Librarian answer the myriad of questions addressed to her. The patrons are often doing research for school assignments-from grade school to college. There are constant requests for information on Juan Pablo Duarte, the European educated patriot who, in 1844, liberated the Dominican Republic from the Spaniards. On 26 January each year, the populace celebrates Duarte day and everyone turns out to honor the great liberator.

The Lincoln Library is heavily specialized in the social sciences. Fiction is also much in evidence, especially titles by Hemingway, Faulk- ner and Norman Mailer-authors who do not stay long on the shelves. American writers past and present are in great demand. A considerable number of Dominicans wish to emigrate to the United States to better their economic opportunities; therefore they come to the Lincoln for background on American life. For the last two years, the Librarian has been building a computer science collection. She senses that these technological advances are the wave of the future and is doing her utmost to supply readers with information on them. The Librarian herself plays a significant role in the book selection process; meanwhile,

LIBRARIES IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 109

she prods her public to suggest titles of interest to them. The patrons appreciate being considered and feel a very personal attachment to this library where their educational preferences are taken into account.

Buying books in the Dominican Republic is not a cut-and-dried matter. Recently its peso has oscillated wildly, making it difficulty for the Librarian to figure her budget from week to week. Book costs, already high due to inflation, have become exorbitant as the peso falls to record lows. Meanwhile, bookstores in Santo Domingo charge unrealistic prices, making it virtually impossible for the average person to afford books. Luckily, the Librarian has monetary flexibility and can acquire what she needs in various countries, shopping around for bargains to make her budget stretch. Occasionally, she buys in Mexico, Venezuela and other Caribbean countries. Her most reliable source for English titles has been Baker and Taylor in the United States. However, certain book publishers have refused to send books to the Dominican Republic because they fear book pirates who copy their imprints with no regard for copyright laws.

The books at the Lincoln Library are readily accessible to users via a dictionary card catalog and are shelved by a Dewey system. Both English and Spanish subject headings are included in the card catalog. Fortunately, a patron at the Lincoln Library can expect service above and beyond the strictly bibliographic. Though MS Gonzalez is the single professional, she manages to provide business information and to collect catalogs of companies in the import-export field. She also pro- vides unofficial educational counselling to students planning to study in the United States. Meanwhile, she has gathered a collection ofcollege catalogs which do not circulate. In addition, she keeps a sampling of foreign phonebooks for reference. When there is a seminar on a topic, such as Teaching English as a Second Language, the Librarian buys related tools to supplement the given program.

Recently, the Librarian has put a “Table of Contents” program into operation. She sends the photocopied table of contents from periodicals to professional people so that they can select articles they wish to read. The project has mushroomed beyond anyone’s expectations. Pro- fessionals in both the private and public sector are taking advantage of this service to enhance their familiarity with their own and related fields. Interestingly, a number ofsubscribers are requesting information not related to their careers, for they wish to broaden their horizons generally. MS Gonzalez has substantial hopes for this and other out- reach programs which will make the Lincoln Library even more the research center chosen by Dominicans and foreigners alike.

The Enrique Apolinar Henriquez Library, run by Nidia de Leon, is P private facility. It is located in Santo Domingo’s historic section on

110 B. FOSTER

the Street of the Women, which also contains the Hostal Nicholas de Ovando-a quaint hotel once the residence of the commander of Hispanola. The Library is housed in a two-storey colonial structure which, in accord with Spanish tradition, has a flower-filled courtyard. Library hours are from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Library was begun in 1978 by the Society of Dominican Bibliophiles, many of them women, who revere the printed word. They have decided to devote their attentions exclusively to materials on the Dominican Republic, as well as the Caribbean, especially in the fields of history and economics. In addition, their 3000 volume collection is strong in literature by and about Dominicans. A broad cross-section of Santo Domingans use the facilities. The titles are available by means of a dictionary card catalog, and the classification system is by Dewey. Someday the Librarian hopes to computerize the card catalog.

Maps and newspapers are collected sporadically. There are a few periodicals, but back issues are not accumulated. However, the Librarian clips any articles she finds in newspapers and magazines that are of relevance to Dominican studies. The Bibliophiles have been reprinting rare materials in substantial, reasonably priced editions. The Librarian is the single salaried employee, while she supervises numbers of volunteers who work long hours. The Society members involve themselves with book acquisitions. They consult bibliographies put out by the National Library and gather requests from Society members and readers. Many Bibliophiles donate materials and raise funds for needed items. One designated member consults foreign catalogs and orders relevant books. The members are attempting to perform a service for all Dominicans now and in future generations. Currently, the Society has 2250 members, drawn from the United States and Europe as well as locally.

Various levels of Dominican society are apt to use the Enrique Apo- linar Henriquez Library. University students are especially frequent since they find materials to help them fulfill assignments on their coun- try’s political history. By far the most requested subject is ,the late dictator Rafael Trujillo. High school students, too young to have experi- enced the strong man’s excesses, are also fascinated by Trujillo and his times. The “America collection” does have considerable factual information on the personally austere autocrat who wielded absolute power for three decades. There are also many requests for materials on Juan Bosch and Joaquin Balaguer, more recent presidents who were both active in the literary field. No books leave the library, nor is a photocopy machine available on the premises.

The librarian has instituted a telephone reference service which is used frequently by businessmen too busy to come to the premises. She

LIBRARIES IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 111

does all the cataloging herself in addition to carrying on an informal inter-library loan system. Mercifully, the rate of theft is low. Publicity is a top priority. Since it is distant from the city’s new cultural complex and located in a quiet street in the colonial sector, many Dominicans are unaware of the facility’s potential.

The Society of Bibliophiles also supports a pilot children’s library. In 1979 volunteers began to set up a collection aimed at children from five to fourteen years old, an original concept here. This pilot endeavor has shown the members what a strong need exists for collections devoted to children. They have begun with ninety youths but plan to serve a much wider public as soon as possible. They now offer story hours and Sunday programs, one of which dramatized the life of Simon Bolivar, the liberator of South America. A course in the Japanese art of Origami was extremely popular. During summers, the library becomes a remedial center for students who failed in gradework. The founders of the children’s project plan to offer a course in the merengue, to promote this traditional dance among the younger set.

These days libraries in the Dominican Republic are being nurtured by an optimistic political climate. The grim past, when Trujillo stymied intellectual freedom, when revolt was followed by military intervention, is becoming the stuff of history books and newspaper files. Censorship is no more and publishing flourishes. Under democratic conditions, libraries are prospering along with other educational institutions.

On the debit side, the duly elected government has been undergoing a financial crisis similar to that in other Latin countries. Riots have broken out and been suppressed. However, as far as libraries are con- cerned, a foundation has been laid which is solid enough to survive temporary shocks. Nowadays students and researchers can trust that, in a variety of fields, their needs will be met. Dominican librarians have the will to work against past neglect and bring their facilities up to high standards. Though often short of funds, they have begun to mine a vein of gold which promises future riches.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Beaudiquez, M. (1977). Bibliographical scrviccs in the Dominican Republic. In Biblio- graphical Services throughout the World 1970-74, pp. 137.. 138. UNESCO.

Perez, C. F. (1971). Inaugracion de1 Edificio de la Biblioteca National. Reuista Znter- Americana de Bibliograjia 21, 357-358.

Prcmios Nacionales. Revista InterAmerirana de Bibliograja (1977) 27, 137-138.