Artikel
Save the Portuguese General Directorate for Books and Libraries!
11 november 2010
We recently received this email from our Portugal domain partners, the DGLB (General Directorate for Books and Libraries):
Dear friends,
Some of you are already aware of the intention of the Portuguese government to merge the DGLB with the Portuguese National Library. From our point of view and based on the experience of a previous similar situation, this decision is not entirely suitable for the pursuing of the DGLB aims and we are apprehensive about the ability to maintain our activities and programs within this new projected reality.
By initiative of Giorgio de Marchis, an Italian translator who works with La Nuova Frontiera, Italian publisher that some of you may have the pleasure to know, there is an online petition running. We thank you in advance for being with us and passing the word on.
If you would like to help the DGLB, you can sign the online petition.
The translation into English of the petition text is as follows:
To: Dr. Gabriela Canavilhas
Minister of Culture, Portugal
We are aware of the Portuguese Government's project to eliminate the DGLB (General Directorate for Books and Libraries) through a merger with the National Library of Portugal, thus depriving the indispensible autonomous management of an institution that has always successfully performed the difficult and meritorious mission of promoting reading in Portugal and disseminating Portuguese literature throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
We would like to emphasise that the DGLB is a highly regarded institution among its fellow culture-related entities in Europe and it is with great trepidation and concern that we are addressing you with the hope of preventing a measure that could have negative consequences on the international projection of Portuguese language, literature and culture. The elimination of the DGLB would have a limiting impact on people such as editors, translators, educators, university researchers and students, and organisers of literary festivals and cultural events. Despite being far from Portugal, they have always put forth effort in the unending task of making the world aware of the vitality and richness of Portuguese literature. It is undeniable that without the support of the DGLB, much of what has been accomplished up to now would not have been possible, but it is also evident that without this support, everything that is about to be done will only be able to be accomplished to a lesser extent and with a lower impact.
Given that purely cultural interests in times of economic crisis are not considered pertinent or a priority for those who rule, we would like to bring to your attention the positive impact that, in economic terms, a clear and proficient cultural policy can have. We feel, for example, that the novels published and translated abroad may have contributed much more to the country's tourism industry than the advertising done in order to make potential tourists aware of Portugal's attractions. How many Portuguese writers would have never made it into the libraries of Europe without the support of the DGLB? How many literary festivals and university conferences would have had to do without the presence of Portuguese poets, essayists and novelists?
Obviously, we are aware of the fact that due to the current economic situation, painful sacrifices are necessary in all sectors. We feel, however, that an economic crisis is not resolved through cultural impoverishment, and we are convinced that the government has the duty to adopt more efficient measures than a simple, drastic and indiscriminate cut in public funding. The risk, in this case, is that an imprudent policy could make the country and its culture invisible.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
Dear friends,
Some of you are already aware of the intention of the Portuguese government to merge the DGLB with the Portuguese National Library. From our point of view and based on the experience of a previous similar situation, this decision is not entirely suitable for the pursuing of the DGLB aims and we are apprehensive about the ability to maintain our activities and programs within this new projected reality.
By initiative of Giorgio de Marchis, an Italian translator who works with La Nuova Frontiera, Italian publisher that some of you may have the pleasure to know, there is an online petition running. We thank you in advance for being with us and passing the word on.
If you would like to help the DGLB, you can sign the online petition.
The translation into English of the petition text is as follows:
To: Dr. Gabriela Canavilhas
Minister of Culture, Portugal
We are aware of the Portuguese Government's project to eliminate the DGLB (General Directorate for Books and Libraries) through a merger with the National Library of Portugal, thus depriving the indispensible autonomous management of an institution that has always successfully performed the difficult and meritorious mission of promoting reading in Portugal and disseminating Portuguese literature throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
We would like to emphasise that the DGLB is a highly regarded institution among its fellow culture-related entities in Europe and it is with great trepidation and concern that we are addressing you with the hope of preventing a measure that could have negative consequences on the international projection of Portuguese language, literature and culture. The elimination of the DGLB would have a limiting impact on people such as editors, translators, educators, university researchers and students, and organisers of literary festivals and cultural events. Despite being far from Portugal, they have always put forth effort in the unending task of making the world aware of the vitality and richness of Portuguese literature. It is undeniable that without the support of the DGLB, much of what has been accomplished up to now would not have been possible, but it is also evident that without this support, everything that is about to be done will only be able to be accomplished to a lesser extent and with a lower impact.
Given that purely cultural interests in times of economic crisis are not considered pertinent or a priority for those who rule, we would like to bring to your attention the positive impact that, in economic terms, a clear and proficient cultural policy can have. We feel, for example, that the novels published and translated abroad may have contributed much more to the country's tourism industry than the advertising done in order to make potential tourists aware of Portugal's attractions. How many Portuguese writers would have never made it into the libraries of Europe without the support of the DGLB? How many literary festivals and university conferences would have had to do without the presence of Portuguese poets, essayists and novelists?
Obviously, we are aware of the fact that due to the current economic situation, painful sacrifices are necessary in all sectors. We feel, however, that an economic crisis is not resolved through cultural impoverishment, and we are convinced that the government has the duty to adopt more efficient measures than a simple, drastic and indiscriminate cut in public funding. The risk, in this case, is that an imprudent policy could make the country and its culture invisible.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
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