A Digital Bridge Between Latin America and the World Latin
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LAPTOC Makes Latin American site, so users will have a window into the systems,” says Knapp. “With this project, I’m Journals Accessible past long after the sites have been updated or striving to update this research and relate it http://lanic.utexas.edu/larrp/laptoc.html have disappeared from the live Web. Capture to broader themes in sustainable mountain The Latin American Periodicals Tables of Con- of sites began on multiple dates in 2005 development, both in the Andes and else- tents (LAPTOC) is a searchable Web database and 2006, and will continue with regu- where. Usually, mountains are seen as that provides access to the tables of contents larly scheduled captures approximately marginal environments with no future of more than 800 journals from 29 countries every quarter. in the global economy except for sites in Latin America and the Caribbean, includ- The archive includes not only the full- for tourism. I suspect the Andes have ing bibliographic references to over 250,000 text versions of official documents, but a more vibrant future.” articles in the major languages of the region. also original video and audio recordings Knapp worked with local partners to The journals, examples being Arqueología y of key regional leaders. Archive contents conduct field study and interviews and sociedad or Cuadernos de economia, are pri- include thousands of annual and “state of to analyze data. In the summer, Maria marily in the humanities and social sciences the nation” reports; plans and programs; Belén Noroña Salcedo, a LLILAS graduate LANIC: A Digital Bridge between development agenda, LANIC is involved in and are published in Latin America. Currently, and speeches by presidents and government student, joined the team. Knapp also worked Latin America and the World several projects that seek to develop inno- 53 libraries participate in the Latin Ameri- ministers. Content can be accessed via full-text with Manuel Peralvo, a doctoral candidate http://lanic.utexas.edu/ vative approaches using new information canist Research Resources Project (LARRP), search, or by browsing by country or by spe- in geography at UT, who was conducting Google any topic related to Latin America and communication technologies to access, which sponsors the project. The libraries have cialized sample collection, such as “Presidential research in Oyacachi, an important site for and you’re sure to find results from LANIC— collect, organize, preserve, and disseminate divided the task of collecting and cataloging Messages” or “Ministerial Documents.” Brazilian works from 1965 to 1998. She is Quito’s water supply. “I have also benefited the Latin American Network Information information from and about Latin America the journals included in the database. For LAGDA is a true example of partnership known internationally as a Brazilian expert from my colleagues at the Ministry of Agri- Center—at the top of your list. LANIC was to the broadest possible audience. each issue, a library enters its journals’ tables in action. The archive was developed by and also has written pieces about Mexico, culture, the Pontifical Catholic University of developed by LLILAS to provide Latin Ameri- of contents into the database and provides LANIC (Latin American Network Information Guatemala, and Latin American business. Ecuador (Quito), the University of Otavalo, can users with access to academic databases Latin American Open Archives document delivery when users request spe- Center), using the Internet Archive’s Archive- Her book Subject Guide to Statistics in the the National Institute for Cultural Patrimony, and information services throughout the Portal (LAOAP): Providing Access cific articles from those journals. LANIC is the It service, soon joined by the University of Presidential Reports of the Brazilian Provinces, and the National Polytechnic University,” Internet, and to provide Latin Americanists to Latin American Research technical partner on the project and manages Texas Libraries and the Nettie Lee Benson 1830–1889 made a major contribution to the Knapp said. around the world with access to information Materials database development. Latin American Collection. Latin American preservation of important Brazilian govern- One of Knapp’s biggest challenges was the on and from Latin America. http://lanic.utexas.edu/project/laoap/ bibliographer Don Gibbs and Fred Heath, Vice ment papers by making them much more unstable political environment as the Ecua- LANIC acts as a portal or directory to both LAOAP is a portal service providing access LAGDA Web Archive Lets Users Provost of the University of Texas Libraries, accessible to researchers. dorian elections approached. “The country local and off-site information, and content to social sciences grey literature produced Browse the Past both lent their expertise and support to was convulsed by various political groups links are organized both by country and by in Latin America by research institutes, non- http://lanic.utexas.edu/project/archives/lagda/ further develop the project. As LANIC Analyzing the Andes—Professor jockeying for position in the elections,” he subject. LANIC also governmental organizations, and peripheral One of the advantages of a Web site is that Project Director Carolyn Palaima describes Knapp Uses Fulbright-Hays to said. “Tactics included strikes and shutdowns LANIC Stats hosts a number of agencies. It encompasses working documents, it can be changed frequently—but that flex- it, “LAGDA is structured for comprehensive Study Sustainable Development of the transportation system.” As an American 42 other informational pre-prints, research papers, statistical docu- ibility presents a challenge to archivists and capture of Web sites based on the collecting In April 2005, Professor Gregory Knapp doing research, Knapp was in an especially Number of resources includ- ments, and other difficult-to-access materials scholars. Now, LLILAS and the University of needs of libraries. The service provides for the of UT’s Department of Geography and the sensitive position due to the negotiations for country pages ing joint projects, that are not controlled by commercial pub- Texas Libraries have joined forces to create systematic capture of documents and other Environment was awarded a nine-month a free trade agreement, which some criticize 74 d at ab ase s, and lishers. It utilizes the Open Archives Initiative an archive containing copies of approximately primary source material that are increasingly research grant from the Fulbright-Hays Fac- in terms of its potential effect on local indig- Number of electronic publica- Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH) 300 Web sites from Latin American govern- available on the Web only. We capture not ulty Research Abroad Fellowship Program to enous agriculture. subject pages tions. With links to as a low-barrier solution to disseminate and ment ministries and presidencies. only the documents, but also the supporting study “Water Management, Livelihoods, and After his analysis is completed, Knapp will 300 content in Spanish, share digital resources originating in Latin The Latin American Government Docu- context in which they were written.” Landscapes in the Andes.” publish the results of his work in Ecuador in Average number English, Portuguese, America to bring more visibility and access ments Archive (LAGDA) was developed This was the second time Knapp received Spanish. Knapp says, “My previous work is still of e-mail inqui- and indigenous to research in the region. to preserve and facilitate access to a wide Ann Hartness Receives Brazil’s the highly competitive Fulbright-Hays grant available in Ecuadorian bookstores.” ✹ ries, comments, languages, the site Current institutional partners include range of ministerial and presidential docu- Order of the Southern Cross from the U.S. Department of Education, and suggestions is used by people FLACSO Chile, CIRMA Guatemala, Universidad ments from 18 Latin American and Caribbean As head librarian for the Nettie Lee Benson and he was one of only 27 faculty members LANIC receives from all over the Torcuato Di Tella, Consejo Latinoamericano de countries. The archived versions typically Latin American Collection, Ann Hartness has nationwide selected for the 2005–2006 aca- each month world in academic, Ciencias Sociales, Instituto de Estudios Peru- incorporate all the functionality of the live done much to further the world’s knowledge demic year. Awardees are selected based on 12,000 governmental, and anos, Centro Iberoamericano de Formación, and understanding of Latin America. In April the originality, significance, and theoreti- Number of unique business pursuits. Guatemala, and the Inter-American Develop- 2003, the Brazilian government honored her cal importance of their research, as well as URLs in the The LANIC Gopher ment Bank. When fully up and running, these for this work with the National Order of the their qualifications for carrying it out and LANIC directories server was launched partners will collectively provide approximately Southern Cross (Ordem Nacional do Cruzeiro their impact on transforming area studies 87,000 in 1992—provid- 13,500 full-text items, with a range of 5,000 to do Sul). This prestigious award is presented programs. Number of Web ing the first public 100 per individual institution. The premise of by the Brazilian government to outstanding Following up his previous research on the sites containing information service the partnerships is to build institutional capacity foreigners. Rubens Antônio Barbosa,