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

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

2. WDL AGREEMENT SIGNING 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 body’s official languages—Spanish, 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.”

3. OAS HISTORY AND OVERVIEW • The Organization of American States (OAS) is the world’s oldest regional organization, dating back to the First International Conference of American States, held in Washington, D.C. from October 1889 to April 1890.  • 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.

4. CML HISTORY 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. 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… COLUMBUS MEMORIAL LIBRARY

5. The Cornerstone of the Inter-American System COLUMBUS MEMORIAL LIBRARY

6. CML OVERVIEW • 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 1535. • 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.

7. Highlights of CML Collection The Library’s Collection contains hundreds of documents, photographs, maps, magazines and rare books from, or relating to, the Caribbean Region. COLUMBUS MEMORIAL LIBRARY

8. DOCUMENTS AND RARE BOOKS The CML Collection contains historical documents and rare books including: All Protocolary and Extraordinary Sessions 1968-2001 1968 • Visit of his Exc. Mr. Errol Walton Barrow, Prime Minister of Barbados (September 12th) OEA/Ser.G/II C-a-680 2001 • Visit of his Exc. Mr. Ralph E. Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (October 3rd) OEA/Ser.G CP/Act 1295/01 • 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 l’Amérique. By Jean Baptiste Dutertre (1654)

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

10. PHOTOGRAPHS cont.

11. EXAMPLES OF METADATA 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 other’s 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 Conferenceof American States. Photographer: Rudin, James R. Date Created: 1974 Place: Latin America & the Caribbean > Grenada Time: 1950 AD - 2010 AD Topic: Social sciences > Social problems & social services > Other social problems & services > Social sciences > Customs, etiquette & folklore Additional Subjects: Parades and processions ; Police Type of Item: Prints, Photographs Physical Description: 8 x 10; black & white photo Institution: Columbus Memorial Library, Organization of American States

12. EXAMPLES OF METADATA 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 other’s 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 1889-90. Date Created: 1985 Publication Information: Organization of American States, St. Lucia Place: Latin America and the Caribbean > Saint Lucia Time: 1950 AD - 2010 AD Topic: Technology > Home & family management > Housekeeping > History of North America Additional Subjects: Laundry ; Women Type of Item: Prints, Photographs Physical Description: 8 x 10 inches; black and white photograph

13. MAPS OF THE CARIBBEAN • 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, 1919. • The Countries of the Caribbean – including Mexico, Central America, the West Indies and the Panama Canal / National Geographic Society, 1922. • 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 Stieler’s Hand-Atlas, n.82, 1889 • West Indies – Island of Haiti with Windward and Mona Passages / US Navy Hydrographic Office 1915

14. MAPS OF THE CARIBBEAN cont. • West Indies – Island of Haiti - North Coast of Haiti and Santo Domingo / US Navy Hydrographic Office 1907 • West Indies – Island of Haiti - South Coast of Haiti and Dominican Republic / US Navy Hydrographic Office 1912 • West Indies – Island of Haiti - North Coast of Haiti and Dominican Republic/ Mont Christi to Tortuga Island - US Navy Hydrographic Office 1912 • Map of the Island of Haiti including the republics of Haiti and Santo Domingo US Army Mil. Intel.Division ca. 1921 • Mole St. Nicolas – Haiti and Santo Domingo / Second (Military Information) Division, General Staff. 1908 • Jeremie– Haiti and Santo Domingo / Second (Military Information) Division, General Staff. 1908 • Monte Christi– Haiti and Santo Domingo / Second (Military Information) Division, General Staff. 1907

15. Challenges in Digital Library Area • Problems Include: • Lack of Funds • Lack of Available Staff • CML Website • www.oas.org/columbus • Available information: • Online Catalogue • http://cmlcatalog.oas.org COLUMBUS MEMORIAL LIBRARY

16. Beverly Wharton-LakeChief Librarian COLUMBUS MEMORIAL LIBRARY