68th IFLA General Conference and Council Glasgow, Scotland, UK August 19, 2002

1. MIGRATION OF MEXICANMIGRATION OF MEXICAN
LIBRARY MATERIALSLIBRARY MATERIALS
A Personal RecollectionA Personal Recollection
Jesús LauJesús Lau
jlau@uv.mxjlau@uv.mx // jlau@uajc.mxjlau@uajc.mx
Juárez University / MéxicoJuárez University / México
On sabbatical: Universidad VeracruzanaOn sabbatical: Universidad Veracruzana
““89. The Legal Challenges to the Repatriation of Cultural Materials89. The Legal Challenges to the Repatriation of Cultural Materials
(CLM)”(CLM)”
6868thth
. IFLA General Conference and Council, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. IFLA General Conference and Council, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
August 19, 2002August 19, 2002

2. Mexican Experience in BookMexican Experience in Book
RepatriationRepatriation
 Mexico’s experience in losing historical libraryMexico’s experience in losing historical library
materials is long and strikingmaterials is long and striking
 The worst experience was the SpanishThe worst experience was the Spanish
destruction of Indian printings in Amoxcallisdestruction of Indian printings in Amoxcallis
(Aztec Libraries) to wipe off the local religions(Aztec Libraries) to wipe off the local religions
 A less damaging experience was the export ofA less damaging experience was the export of
Mexican Codex to Spain and the rest of EuropeMexican Codex to Spain and the rest of Europe
 The Mexican experience is part of the historicalThe Mexican experience is part of the historical
conditions of the time, therefore, facts cannot beconditions of the time, therefore, facts cannot be
judged as good or badjudged as good or bad

3. Mexico’s Historical WealthMexico’s Historical Wealth
 Three thousands years of history enabled Mexico to be aThree thousands years of history enabled Mexico to be a
culturally rich countryculturally rich country
 A nation with one of the richest cultures in the AmericanA nation with one of the richest cultures in the American
ContinentContinent
 Libraries (Amoxcallis) existed before the EuropeanLibraries (Amoxcallis) existed before the European
arrivalarrival
 The first Western-type libraries in the Americas wereThe first Western-type libraries in the Americas were
first created in Mexicofirst created in Mexico
 The first European press was set up in Mexico, thereforeThe first European press was set up in Mexico, therefore
incunabula pre-dates any other Latin or North Americanincunabula pre-dates any other Latin or North American
nationnation

4. A 500-Years ExperienceA 500-Years Experience
 Three periods of book migration: ConquestThree periods of book migration: Conquest
(1600), Independence (1800) and the Revolution(1600), Independence (1800) and the Revolution
(1900)(1900)
 Originally, the country had no power to keep itsOriginally, the country had no power to keep its
own materialsown materials
 Later, it did not have the infra-structure toLater, it did not have the infra-structure to
preserve its materialspreserve its materials
 Contemporary times, Mexico lacked aContemporary times, Mexico lacked a
preservation culture up to the 1950’spreservation culture up to the 1950’s

5. European LibrariesEuropean Libraries
 Several codex were painted before or during theSeveral codex were painted before or during the
Spanish conquest of MexicoSpanish conquest of Mexico
 Mexican Indian codex contain graphicMexican Indian codex contain graphic
descriptions of pre-Hispanic Mexicodescriptions of pre-Hispanic Mexico
 They are of great artistic and historical value forThey are of great artistic and historical value for
the study of the countrythe study of the country
 Most Codex were taken to Spain and the rest ofMost Codex were taken to Spain and the rest of
Europe as presents to royal familiesEurope as presents to royal families
 Many of them are part of national libraryMany of them are part of national library
collections: London, Vienna, Pariscollections: London, Vienna, Paris
 The Mexican government has claimed themThe Mexican government has claimed them
back although no real strategy has been taken toback although no real strategy has been taken to
repatriate themrepatriate them

6. Our Northern NeighborOur Northern Neighbor
 Several collections and library items have been taken toSeveral collections and library items have been taken to
the USthe US
 The budget of US libraries enables them to acquireThe budget of US libraries enables them to acquire
Mexican materials of historical valueMexican materials of historical value
 Latin American collections in the US have some of theLatin American collections in the US have some of the
best Mexican library materialsbest Mexican library materials
 However, American libraries’ acquisition of foreignHowever, American libraries’ acquisition of foreign
materials contributed to the preservation of Mexicanmaterials contributed to the preservation of Mexican
titles in the country’s during turmoil timestitles in the country’s during turmoil times
 Difficult times, like the independence and the revolution,Difficult times, like the independence and the revolution,
proved to be good periods for book “migration” to the USproved to be good periods for book “migration” to the US

7. The French CaseThe French Case
 A Mexican doing research at the NationalA Mexican doing research at the National
Library of France took back a Codex in theLibrary of France took back a Codex in the
1980’s1980’s
 There was a diplomatic and internationalThere was a diplomatic and international
media upheaval about who was the ownermedia upheaval about who was the owner
 This was a test case that motivatedThis was a test case that motivated
government to create legislation togovernment to create legislation to
preserve and claim back local materialspreserve and claim back local materials
 The Mexican government decided to keepThe Mexican government decided to keep
the codex in the countrythe codex in the country

8. Book Stealing: A CaseBook Stealing: A Case
 A Latin American researcher spent years doingA Latin American researcher spent years doing
research in Mexican librariesresearch in Mexican libraries
 Little by little he stole hundreds of books fromLittle by little he stole hundreds of books from
several librariesseveral libraries
 The books were taken to his home countryThe books were taken to his home country
 Now these books lay on the shelves of theNow these books lay on the shelves of the
special collections area of a foreign nationalspecial collections area of a foreign national
librarylibrary
 The collection proudly bears the name of theThe collection proudly bears the name of the
researcherresearcher

9. Legal FrameworkLegal Framework
 First steps to create a legal framework forFirst steps to create a legal framework for
materials preservation began in the 1960’smaterials preservation began in the 1960’s
 Better and more detailed legislation was passedBetter and more detailed legislation was passed
in the 1970”sin the 1970”s
 States began passing local laws in the 1980’sStates began passing local laws in the 1980’s
 Several states still lack proper legislationSeveral states still lack proper legislation
 Chihuahua, my home state, passed the first lawChihuahua, my home state, passed the first law
to protect bibliographic materials until 1999to protect bibliographic materials until 1999

10. **
HistoryHistory
is history unless we can correct it…is history unless we can correct it…
THANKS!THANKS!