Bibliothèques sans Frontières sets up digital library for Haiti

A digital library project for Haiti is being supported by 23 international publishing partners. The project, being set up in Haiti by Bibliothèques sans Frontières (BSF) in partnership with the State University of Haiti (UEH), aims to provide researchers and students with immediate and easy access to electronic information resources as the country continues to rebuild itself following the 2010 earthquake that destroyed nine of Haiti’s 11 state university libraries.

‘The establishment of this academic structure aims to provide a quick and meaningful response to the lack of documentary infrastructures, in the aftermath of the disaster of January 12, 2010. But Bibliothèques Sans Frontières wants to deepen its collaboration with UEH: the ground for an international reference central academic library has already been prepared. We wish that, starting from 2012, a remote book loan service would be available to all the students of the UEH,’ said Patrick Weil, president of Bibliothèques Sans Frontières.

‘Bibliothèques sans Frontières should be highly commended for establishing this “pantheon” of science in Haiti, which will be of insurmountable value to all students, teachers, doctors, researchers and other academics in the whole country. We wish Haiti every future success in the rebuilding of their country,’ said Alan Harris, licensing manager, developing country initiatives at Springer, which is one of the publishers participating.