The Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL) is a Caribbean library organization founded in 1969. It is based in the José M. Lázaro Library of the University of Puerto Rico.
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About ACURIL
The Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries was first created in 1969 at a conference sponsored by the Association of Caribbean Universities and the University of Puerto Rico's Institute of Caribbean Studies. The first leaders of the organization were: President Dr. Alma Theodora Jordan, Vice President Dr. Albertina Perez de Rosa, and Secretary/Treasurer Dr. Luisa Vigo-Cepeda. The ACURIL supports collaboration between university and research libraries.They believe in embracing different libraries who encompass research including public libraries and special libraries. ACURIL has been essential to professional inspiration for many librarians in the Caribbean region, providing them with continuing educational opportunities and creating a conducive environment for collaboration with other professionals. Growth of regional bodies of international associations such as ACURIL has been attributed to greater international awareness after the Second World War and to the regular and affordable air transportation. Its name was changed to the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries in 1976.
Goals
The mission of the ACURIL is to "facilitate development and use of libraries, archives, and information services and the identification, collection and preservation of information resources in support of the whole range of intellectual and educational endeavors throughout the Caribbean area". Furthermore, the ACUIRL is determined to establish a distinct and effective organization of qualified individuals in the fields of archival and library science as well as to sustain an enduring presence within the Caribbean region with a unification of information professionals.
Membership
Any type of library, archive, organization or individual in a country that borders the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean is eligible for membership in the ACURIL organization. There are four types of membership: institutional, organizational, personal and associate. Institutional membership includes libraries, archives and schools of library and information. Organizational membership includes national, regional and other special library organizations and associations. Personal membership is for practicing information professionals, students who are enrolled in information courses of study, non salaried librarians including retired and unemployed, and honorary members. Any individuals or organizations outside of the Caribbean and borders of the Gulf of Mexico are eligible for an associate membership. The main official languages of ACURIL members include English, Spanish, Dutch, and French and encompass 26 different nations.
Conferences
ACURIL 2015-Suriname
ACURIL 2014 - Bahamas
ACURIL 2013 - Puerto Rico
ACURIL 2012 - Haiti
ACURIL 2011 - Tampa, Florida, USA
ACURIL 2010-Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
ACURIL 2009-Guadeloupe
ACURIL 2008-Montego Bay, Jamaica
ACURIL 2007-San Juan, Puerto Rico
ACURIL 1997- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
ACURIL 1992-Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
ACURIL, 1987- Miami, Florida, USA.
Awards
Since 2000, ACURIL has given awards to three areas: institutions, information professionals, and the Caribbean information professional of the year. Each area encompasses several awards, which are given annually at ACURIL conferences.
Institutions
The Stephney Ferguson Library Programmes for Special Information Needs
2014 Winner: Elizabeth Estates Public Library, Prince Dr., Nassau, Bahamas
The OCLC Recognition for Promoting the OCLC Cooperative in the Caribbean
2014 Winners: The Alma Jordan Library at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad & Tobago: Elmelinda Lara
Leadership in the Use of New Information Technologies to Expand and Facilitate Access to Electronic Content
2014 Winners: The College of the Bahamas Libraries and Instructional Media Services (LIMS)
Innovative and Effective Information Services with the Application of Information Technologies
2014 Winner: Calvin McKain Library, University of Technology, Jamaica
Leadership in the Organization and Retrieval of Information with an Automation Program
2014 Winner: The Belize National Library Service and Information System (BNLSIS)
Leadership in the Development of Research Solutions that Connect People
2014 Winners: Sistema de Bibliotecas de la Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM)
The Albertina Pérez de Rosa Information Units Alliances and Collaborative Projects in the Caribbean
2014 Winner: The Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC)
2013 Winner: National Library of Aruba
Information Professionals
Excellence in Information Literacy
2014 Winners: Penelope Nottage, Bahamas Library Service
Excellence in Research and Publications
2014 Winners: Carmen Margarita Santos-Corrada, Special Libraries Collection, Conrado J. Asenjo Library, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Library
Caribbean Information Professional of the Year
Honors the individual commitment, excellence in performance, and outstanding professional achievement of an information specialist (librarian, archivists, documentalists, etc.) in the Caribbean, members of ACURIL (in any of the linguistic areas: English, French or Dutch and Spanish).
2014 Winner: Judith V. Rogers, Director of Libraries, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas
Achievements
ACURIL's achievements include grouping together regional projects that work towards improving the retrieval of information that is created in the region.
Contact Information
The General Headquarters of the Association is in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and physically located at the Caribbean Regional Library and Latin American Studies, within the José M. Lázaro Library of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. Its mailing address is P.O. Box 23317, UPR Station, San Juan, PR 00931-3317. Tel (787)790-8054; Fax (787)790-8054