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IFLA/FAIFE Report on Cuba / September 1999 Annex 1 Updated English version of the background information on the Independent Libraries in Cuba Project. The original Spanish text is written by Berta Mexidor and published by CubaNet at: http://www.cubanet.org/bibliotecas/proyecto.htm |
Independent Libraries in Cuba Project
When Fidel Castro stated at the International Book Fair, celebrated in Havana in February of 1998 that: "In Cuba there are no prohibited books, only those we do not have the money to buy ", Berta del Carmen Mexidor Vázquez, an economist in the province of Tunas saw the opportunity to begin a project of forming independent libraries where Cuban readers would have unrestricted access to books, magazines, documents, and other publications vetoed by state run institutions. The principal objectives are to open a neutral enlightening space, dedicated to literature, debate, the investigation and analysis of diverse materials, and to expand the cultural and investigative horizons of all interested people.
Due to official censorship, the population has been forced for a long period of time to satisfy its intellectual and professional curiosity via clandestine and illegal means, going to the black market in search of alternative publications. Only in this way have certain books, magazines, documents, catalogues, and articles representing parallel sources of information, which have always been illegal and their possession open to legal sanction, been able to circulate in the country for the general population.
This situation has worsened with the arrival of massive tourism to Cuba. The direct contact with foreigners has increased curiosity about the outside world. On this point, the information options of the Cuban people, still limited by ideological official censorship that eliminates "taboo" subjects are not capable of satisfying the interests of the citizenry. With the hope of converting them into real cultural centers without restrictions te project was initiated with the foundation of the first independent library "Félix Varela", on March 13, 1998 in Las Tunas under the supervision of Berta Mexidor. In just 9 months the number of independent libraries increased from 1 to 13. Today there are in existence 15 libraries functioning throughout te length of the island, the last one being the "Martin Luther King Jr. Independent Library" ["Biblioteca Independiente Martin Luther King"] of Victoria de las Tunas on February 7, 1999.
The principal intention in creating this center consists, according to its founders, "to promote reading not as a mere act of receiving understanding, but to form an opinion which is individually arrived at without censorship nor obligation to one belief." This project brings together sectors of the population traditionally not involved with opposition activities. In this sense, the primarily civic nature of the project needs to be pointed out, given its objective of creating permanent institutions that promote a revitalization of the growing civil society in Cuba.
We should also add that the Cuban regime itself has taken upon itself to ratify the success of this project. On October 15, 1998 just a few months after the creation of the first independent library, the government felt obliged to counter the popularity of this new center of reading, opening a new library, [Casa Biblioteca] in Las Tunas, the city in which te independent library "Félix Varela" is based.
Born of an initiative of Cuban civil society this project represents a new form of resistance facing the monolithic will of the government. It constitutes a clear demonstration of the popular will to create neutral spaces, without ideologies, where one can define the cultural formation of a person. Therefore, the project of Independent Libraries can be considered a Non-profit and NGO.
Authors:
Professor Berta del Carmen Mexidor Vázquez and Dr. Ramón Humberto Colás Castillo.
Participants:
Agencia de Prensa Libertad, Las Tunas, Partido Solidaridad Democrática, Partido Cubano de Renovación Ortodoxa, Agencia de Prensa Libre Oriental y Buró de Prensa Independiente de Cuba.
Director:
Berta del Carmen Mexidor Vázquez.
Summary:
Fidel Castro statements, made during the recently finished International Book Fair, which took place in the city of Havana in the month of February, where he stated that: "In Cuba there are no prohibited books, only those we do not have the money to buy", triggered cultural and research motivations in this project's author in the means of materializing an independent library which would grant te possibility of having access to books, magazines, documents and other publications to which there is no access in state institutions due to the fact of being considered enemy propaganda and stereotyped as a crime against the powers of the state.
These libraries will offer more room in the supposed flexibility granted by Mr. Castro in the areas of reading, debate, research and analysis of diverse materials that would broaden the cultural and investigative horizons of all the people who could become interested in such project, with the aspiration that they would eventually become cultural centers that would offer information, and would enrich interpersonal communication and human growth.
Fundamentals:
Project Title:
Independent Libraries
Background:
Official censorship to several publications of broad interest for the common citizen, has inspired curiosity among readers, whom avidly seeking current and diverse information, have seen their cultural and professional interests mutilated, and reduced solely to the directives that the state stipulates. In a clandestine way, several books, magazines, documents, catalogs, articles, etc, have circulated throughout the country, which have facilitated parallel levels of information that have increased the reader needs to satiate their ever-increasing thirst with readings about varied and useful topics. These range from the fields of politics, economy, sociology, psychology, literature, religion, medical science, and even speeches, conferences, agreements and current events of all kinds. The pursuit of knowledge requires the universal, free and unencumbered exchange of all published matter in te whole world, notwithstanding its content. Only the creative nature and human benefit to be derived for mankind be the sole consideration.
States should not interfere in its citizen aspirations; on the contrary, they should facilitate the means to consummate and ease the free flow of information and knowledge between people. A truly democratic state needs highly knowledgeable and cult citizens in order to face the new challenges of science. Censorship derived from the ideological excesses of a political system, has shut out in Cuba the most varied stirrings of curiosity among its readers. Not only in the political arena, but also in music, cinema, radio, printed and audio-visual media and others, forcing people to channel their interest outside of the established framework and creating an exchange of prohibited material deemed illegal by the laws of the "revolutionary" state.Cuba has a great variety of important authors and universally transcendental literature which is unknown to the new generations. These internationally renowned celebrities of Cuban culture have not concurred with the current political process, leading to the silencing and a criminal and painful neglect and dismissal of their works and events surrounding their lives, even being coined with degrading epithets. However, outside of Cuba they have reached pinnacles denied in their own country. Authors like Levi Marrero, Gastón Baquero, Guillermo Cabrera Infante, Carlos Alberto Montaner among others, will remain for posterity.
The lack of a sustainable cultural ethic has discouraged stimulation of reading for the younger generations of Cubans. In one hand the lack of authors and books capable of reaching their inner human sensibilities, and in the other hand the forced re-telling of a revolutionary epic has shied readers away from libraries. Together with the recent increase in the cost of books and the few editions within the Cuban people's reach.
The economic crisis and the citizen insertion into the most varied means of survival is also a decisive factor in the absence of good reading habits. In addition to lack of motivation, interest and apathy, if it's taken into consideration that reading is a pleasurable activity and a source of spiritual enjoyment, only possible to a great measure when basic human needs are met.
Considerations about the type of reading material that may be of interest to each reader and the possibilities of having within reach the object of information that arises one's curiosity it's an ongoing difficulty because those factors analyzed above about censorship preclude the bibliographic options and constrain its outlets.
It's important to take into consideration this background, due to the real existence of a potential reading public of good quality books and of any type of informative matter regardless its source.
The economic aperture that's taking place in the country, the influence of the tourism industry and the ease that many people have to travel abroad and establish links with foreigners, has awaken a great deal of curiosity towards all kinds of information, unencumbered with ideology; that together with te gradual development of a specialized sector within the internal dissidence has stimulated all sorts of information knowledge that has spawned the idea of creating the independent libraries as a project of extension of human reach, that breaks the traditional mold of cultural stewardship by the Cuban state towards readers on the island.
The government political directives are currently promoting a national program to stimulate reading habits. The participants in the independent libraries project consider that the official promulgation by the state's cultural hierarchy is full of good intention and we are not asking our readers to become part of a creed, but to simply read, as supposedly te Cuban government has declared.
This autonomous cultural project could render universal bibliographic contributions that would bolster the achieving of this goal. It's of the outmost interest to take advantage of this independent space to delve into scientific research, taking advantage of the inherent potential available among those professionals participating under different categories. And with the scientific tutoring of those willing to contribute in this effort in order to render concrete results within the territory of the participating library or the nation at large.
Literary creation has had ample development in this province and country in the last few years. Writers and poets rise with a great deal of quality and artistic transparency and without abject obedience to the official view, establishing an assimilated and carefully pondered expression by that part of the population that's aware of their works. These are the opportunities that the independent library project would like to take advantage of in order to sustain a cultural ethic. In addition to raising the cultural level of our fellow countrymen, it would also set the foundations of a more humane and pluralistic society, inserted into the information and cultural globalization age.
The existing libraries and those to be born will seek, within the boundaries of a noble and just aim, to promote not only reading and information, but also to pry open a new forum for public debate- between the open pages for all those willing to raise their cultural patrimony.
Objectives:
General
To promote, within a legal framework, an independent and sustainable intellectual behavior that would encourage in practice the development of a civil society without ideological constraints that would reach for its true and just worth based on legitimacy, self-respect and authority. And where the principle of free information exchange lies in the foundation of a human project of cultural and universal extension and reach.
Specifics
Project Outline:
Methodology:
This project began with one library in the province of Las Tunas and they now number eighteen throughout the country. Each library that opens will be included in the Project with the same objectives and rights of those in existence. Each one of the libraries will have independent planning to carry out to a happy conclusion those objectives for which they were created, taking into consideration those specific characteristics within the boundaries of the territory where its activities take place.
The integrity of the Project will be reached by means of a centralized administration with functional structure that must interact with the different BI in joint working sessions and co-ordination visits. Administrative Structure of the Project
Director: Berta Mexidor Vazquez
Public Relations: Ramón Humberto Colás
Treasurer: Magdelivia Hidalgo González
Secretary: Juan Basulto Morel
Coordinator: Armando Peña Guzmán
Libraries Structural Hierarchy
Director
Secretary
Assistant
This structure may change according to each site characteristics, availability of bibliographic material and logistics.
Summary and location of each independent library:
"Felix Varela " Library
Edificio No. 62 Apto. B-3
Reparto Santos, Las Tunas
Directora: Berta Mexidor Vazquez
Coordinating phone: (31) 4 2875
This library takes the name of Felix Varela, Pioneer of Cuban culture and the first Cuban philosopher and thinker, according to the opinion of José de la Luz y Caballero.
Varela taught intellectuals of his era and future generations how they should not isolate themselves inside the ivory towers of their literary, artistic or scientific speculations. And precisely those intellectual inclinations should be able to make them more aware of their enlightening and guidance duties towards their people.
That's why some of the participants in this project are intellectuals interested in offering diverse texts and materials that will promote reading not as a mere act of receiving knowledge, but of materializing and shaping free individual opinion devoid of censorship or obligations towards any creed. According to Varela, "let each one shape the judgment that his reading may suggest".
"Eduardo René Chibás"
Ave. Capitán Castillo 29
Reparto Santa María
Santiago de Cuba
Director: Mirna Riverón Guerrero
Phone: (226) 2 1107.
Among the objectives of this library, besides those of a general nature, are to gather and divulge the life story and work of the Orthodox leader Eduardo René Chibás, and of all those martyrs from Santiago de Cuba like Frank País, Otto Parellada, etc.
"Pedro Luis Boitel" Library
Gallo 314 entre Habana y Trinidad
Santiago de Cuba
Director: Rolando Bestart Favart
Phone: (226) 2 0835"Mahatma Gandhi" Library
Calixto García 216
Entre Cayamo y Cisneros
Palma Soriano, provincia Santiago de Cuba
Director: Dr. Rafael Ibañez Isaac
Phone: (225) 3124"Frank País García" Library
Callejón de América 25
Entre Barnadas y San Agustín
Santiago de Cuba
Director: Alfredo Dennis Camps
Phone: (226) 5 3942"José Maceo Grajales" Library
Edificio 15 Escalera D, Apto 6
Micro-3 Reparto Abel Santamaría
Santiago de Cuba
Director: Xiomara Evelia Blanco"Cucalambé" Library
Martí 92
Puerto Padre, Las Tunas
Director: Eva Facunda González RicardoPinar del Río Library
Calle # 2, Edificio 22, apto 9
Código Postal 24500.
Herradura, Pinar del Río.
Director: Lázaro Raúl González Gómez"José María Heredia" Library
Calle 38 # 46, entre 25 y 27,
Reparto Fernando Betancourt.
Las Tunas, Las Tunas
Phone: (31) 48709
Director: Manuel de Jesús Infante Rodriguez."José Martí" Library
Calle 84 # 64,
Reparto Vietnam.
Jobabo, Las Tunas.
Director: Angel Cantero Castellanos"Martin Luther King" Library
Calle Israel Marrero, Apto. 68A.J
Reparto La Victoria,
Tunas, Las Tunas.
Director: Angel Cantero Castellanos"Juana Alonso Rodríguez" Library
Calle Falguera 324 Altos
Entre San Pedro y Domínguez.
El Cerro, Ciudad Habana
Phone: (7) 78 4010.
Director: Rogelio Travesio Pérez."20 de Octubre" Library
Entronque de Bueycito,
Bayamo, Granma,
Director: Juvencio Corrales."José Antonio Saco" Library
Calle 11 # 708 entre 42 y 44.
Reparto Camilo Cienfuegos,
Bayamo, Granma.
Director: Manuel Jerez."El Cucalambé" Library
Cooperativa Progreso I.
Bejuquera de Filipinas,
Niceto Pérez, Guantánamo
Director: Zenia Hernández Rielo."Ismaelillo" Library
Calle Ramón Mendoza 20.
Reparto La Victoria,
Tunas, Las Tunas.
Director: Rigoberto Díaz Cutiño."Pablo Morales" Library
Calle Julián Grimau # 12.
Vázquez, Puerto Padre
Las Tunas.
Director: Juan Téllez Rodríguez.
Phone: (31) 591-63
Juridical basis of this project:
This project does not violate any of the laws or dispositions established by the Cuban government.
It's sheltered within the legal framework of a cultural initiative for te benefit of the people. All requirements to be registered under the National Register of Associations will be fulfilled and any measures taken against its creation and functioning will be appealed before the proper legal authorities.
The Independent libraries joint project can be considered as a non-profit non-governmental organization.
Any person interested in the same should get in touch with its founders, whom are the only ones with the appropriate authority for its expansion and promotion inside the nation. Abroad the duly appointed representative will only hold that authority.
Biography of participants:
Professor Berta Mexidor Vázquez
Edificio 62 Apto. B-3
Reparto Santos
Las Tunas
Bachelor in Economics at the University of Oriente, 1985. Specialist in Accounting and Finance of the Provincial Food Distribution Dept. from 1985 to 1988. Assistant professor at the Las Tunas University Center from 1988 to 1997.
She has taken and taught several courses of professional proficiency enhancement in the fields of accounting, business administration, commerce society accounting, analysis and interpretation of marketing and financial statement, among others. She has completed several research projects in quality control analysis, legal consulting, economic evaluation of animal feed variables. Because of her ideas and political opinion she was expelled from her professorship at the University of Tunas, when she was working on her doctoral dissertation with the title of "Competitive strategy for the sugar industry collateral product derivatives in Las Tunas province".
She has participated in degree awarding juries at the graduate level and has been tutor and consultant in several university students graduate thesis.
She has also been a participant in several national and international events, and published several works about economy in the provincial newspaper, as well as several teaching aid brochures.
She is the director of the press agency "Liberty" in Las Tunas province as well as a distinguished activist for democracy in Cuba.
Dr. Ramón Humberto Colás Castillo
Edificio 62 Apto. B-3
Reparto Santos
Las Tunas
Dr. Colás graduated in Psychology in the University of Las Villas in 1985. He worked as a psychologist at the Pediatric Hospital of Las Tunas; directed the handicapped and mental health center in the capital of the province and in the Las Tunas Psychiatric Hospital, from which he was expelled for his ideas and political opinion. He is an active member of the opposition, he was a founding member of the Los Pinos Nuevos Party, and secretary of Science, Health and Education of the Democratic Solidarity Party as well as its Provincial Delegate in the Las Tunas province. He writes poetry, essays and newspaper articles. He has an extensive record of denouncing human rights violations.
Magdelivia Hidalgo González
Ramón Mendoza # 20
Reparto La Victoria
Las Tunas
Phone: (31) 4 5190
Accounting technician, with several years of experience in the sugar industry where he managed maintenance units. She is the news correspondent of the Democratic Solidarity Party in Las Tunas and Independent Press journalist of the Liberty press agency.
Juan Tellez Rodríguez
Julián Grimau # 12
Puerto Padre, Las Tunas
Phone: (42) 5 9202 and 5 9163
B.A. in Education, specialty Geography. He has a wide experience in the fjeld of Education, where he worked as a researcher and teacher for several years. His sharp analysis of the current Cuban reality has earned him a great deal of prestige within the dissidence in Las Tunas Province and throughout the nation.
Due to the expression of his ideas and opinions he has suffered numerous arrests by the repressive forces of the Cuban government, and his house has been vandalized by unknown persons. She is a member of Democratic Solidarity Party as well as its news correspondent for the northern area of the Las Tunas province.
Eva González Ricardo
Martí # 92
Puerto Padre, Las Tunas
Phones: (42) 5 9202 and 5 9163
Transport development technician. Delegate of the Democratic Solidarity Party from the municipality of Puerto Padre. Deemed by the government as "not trustworthy" and "dangerous" barring her from working in state departments.
María Elena Riverón Guerrero
Capitán Castillo 29
Reparto Santa María
Santiago de Cuba
Phone: (226) 4 3861
Legal assistant and independent journalist. Public Relations secretary of the Cuban Party of Orthodox Renovation, with a broad experience as a pro-democracy political activist in Cuba.
Pedro Almeida Pusidó
Lucas Ortiz 334 Apto. 2
Entre Tte. Rey y Mártires de Barbados
Las Tunas 75100
Phone: (31) 4 4620
Thermo-electric engineer.
Mirna Riverón Guerrero
Capitán Castillo 29
Reparto Santa María
Santiago de Cuba
Phone: (226) 2 1107
Legal assistant in labor law. She worked for twenty-five years at te University of Oriente; she has been acting as an independent journalist since 1996 in the Oriental Free Press Agency and is a member of the national executive of the Cuban Orthodox Renovation Party.
Manuel de Río Olivero
Capitán Castillo 29
Reparto Santa María
Santiago de Cuba
Phone: (226) 2 1107
B.A. in Economics. He worked for 30 years as an economist in the University of Oriente. He suffered several arrests and was removed from his position for dissenting with the current regime. He is a founder of the Cuban Orthodox Renovation Party and is currently its vice-president.
Miguel Angel García Puñales
Prensa 460 esq. Pizuela piso 1
Cerro, Ciudad Habana
Phone: (7) 78 4010
Sociologist. History professor. He taught History for 10 years and worked in the Statistics Department of the Ministry of Public Health. He is the information secretary of the Democratic Solidarity Party and has been arrested due to his political ideology. He is a published author and a respected analyst of the current Cuban political reality.
Rogelio Travieso Perez
Salguera 324 Altos
Entre San Pedro y Domínguez
Cerro, Ciudad de la Habana
Construccion worker. He's been unemployed due to political reasons since 1992 and served a year in prison for the same reasons. He is currently the Human Rights Secretary of the Democratic Solidarity Party, and has a broad record of participation as a claimant for civil rights in Cuba.
Fernando Sánchez López
Trocadero 414
Entre Galiano y San Nicolás
Centro Habana
Phone: (7) 63 4087
Artist. Singer and songwriter. Vice-president of the Democratic Solidarity Party. He's suffered arrests due to his political ideas and opinions. He has recorded a Long Playing record. During his singing years, he won the "Adolfo Guzmán " singing contest and has toured abroad with a very extensive participation in Cuban cultural life. He is a recognized analyst of the current Cuban political situation.
Adolfo Fernández Saínz
Belascoaín entre Salud y Zanja
Ciudad de la Habana.
Phone: (7) 61 0900
Language translator. International Relations Secretary of the Democratic Solidarity Party. He's suffered arrests due to his political viewpoints and has published several articles in international magazines and newspapers. He is a sharp and acute political critic.
Rolando Bestart Favart
Gallo 314 entre Habana y Trinidad
Santiago de Cuba
Phone: (226) 2 0835
Textile technician. Unemployed due to his political ideology. He is secretary of the "Gerardo González" political prisoners and ex-prisoners club.
Rigoberto Díaz Cutiño
Calle 25 Número 23 A
Entre Goicuría y 38
Reparto Fernando Betancourt
Las Tunas
University professor. B.A. in history and marxism, with 21 years of experience in adult education. Writer and poet. He's been awarded municipals prizes and two honorable mentions in the national contest "Cucalambé" in 1996 and 1997. He's been unemployed since 1992 due to political public dissent. He's been published several times, which include "National Antology of the Rhyme, 1995"; " The Inside Voice", municipal publication; and the " What's Up!" magazine, along with several poetry and short stories.
Dr. Rafael Ibañez Isaac
Calixto García 216
Entre Cayamo y Cisneros
Palma Soriano, Santiago de Cuba
Phone: (225) 3124
Medical doctor specialized in general practice. He's a composer of musical plays and a non-violent and avid fighter for democracy, for which he has been arrested numerous times. Currently he manages the "Paquito Borrego" independent library, located in his house.
Alfredo Dennis Camps
Callejón de América 25
Entre Barnadas y San Agustín
Santiago de Cuba
Phone: (226) 5 3942
English professor. He's the Provincial Coordinator of the Democratic Solidarity Party. He's suffered political prison and has been detained several times for his ideas and opinions. He works in creative writing.
Xiomara Evelia Blanco
Edificio 15 Escalera D Apto. 6
Micro 3, reparto Abel Santa María
Santiago de Cuba
Teacher. She's been a political prisoner and has been arrested several times for her ideology. She's currently unemployed and she's a provincial delegate of the Democratic Solidarity Party.
Required Financing
Due to the independent characteristic of this project and the lack of funding of its founders, it's been left up to the goodwill of people and institutions that may be interested in the donation of materials and funding for the purchase of books, periodicals, magazines, brochures, office supplies, videotapes and any other goods necessary for its development. Since one of its main priorities is the expansion of this project throughout the nation, it's of primordial importance to obtain the necessary funding for its promotion and coordination.
However, each library will plan for a budget that would guarantee the minimum necessary for its functioning and bare operations.
It's difficult to predict a cost-benefit analysis. Nevertheless, it's been taken into consideration the high socio-political repercussion of this project.
For further information, contact Magdelivia Hidalgo González o Mary Rodríguez at Phone #: (31) 4 2875
Donations can be sent to the addresses of the co-ordinators and its director.
Las Tunas, March 25th of 1998.
Founders
Professor Berta del Carmen Mexidor Vázquez
Dr. Ramón Humberto Colás Castillo
Project Director
Berta del Carmen Mexidor Vázquez
Participants
Agencia de Prensa Libertad. Las Tunas
Partido Solidaridad Democrática
Partido Cubano de Renovación Ortodoxa
Agencia de Prensa Libre Oriental
Buró de Prensa Independiente de Cuba
Agencia de Noticias Cubapress
Representation Abroad
Centro de Estudios para una Opción Nacional (CEON)
Juridical Basis of the Project
This project does not violate any of the laws or dispositions established by the Cuban government. It's sheltered within the legal framework of a cultural initiative for the benefit of the people. All requirements to be registered under the National Register of Associations will be fulfilled and any measures taken against its creation and functioning will be appealed before the appropriate legal authorities.
What can I do to help?
Helping independent libraries from abroad is very simple and can be done in several ways. Our initial suggestions are:
Most requested subject matter in the Independent Libraries in Cuba Project
- Universal literature
- Visual Arts
- Music
- Theatre
- Scientific and Technical literature
- Applied Sociology
- Medical and pharmacological literature
- Teenage and children literature
- Politics
- Religion
- General Sociology
- Metaphysics and Astrology
- Literature for handicapped people
- Magazines (Life, Newsweek, Reader's Digest-Selecciones, Vanidades,
- Panorama, Good Housekeeping)
- Astronomy
- Economics
- Business Administration
- Computer related literature
- History
- General Encyclopedias
- Acupuncture
- Meteorology and Environmental
- Architecture
- Biology
- Geography and Demographics
- Philosophy
- Bibles
- Family related literature
- Personal Improvement
- Grammar
- Human Sexuality
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