books of the brave
A University of Iowa Center for the Book team (Gary Frost, Joyce Miller and Bill Voss) has completed a project to install a 26 case comprehensive exhibit of the treasures of the Library of the Convent of the Recoleta in Arequipa Peru. This education exhibit depicts the amazing story of historical libraries in this highland colonial city. Brought together over four centuries and across three oceans, a jungle, an immense desert, and an eerie highland, these books introduced European learning into equally complex indigenous culture and so advanced dynamics of empire still in motion in the Americas.
The library of 22,000 volumes spanning the 16th to 19th centuries is rich in linguistics, history, sciences, arts and literature, religious doctrine and scripture, and philosophy. The library was founded in 1661. It features many early Peruvian imprints including unique copies.
Pisco, pre-Incan party goods, and the influential of Arequipa mixed with piped French classical music and Franciscan book iconography at the opening reception. The UICB team had center stage, but also kept the fire exits opened.
How did the books get to Arequipa?
Initially all the books came from European countries. Even after the introduction of printing into Mexico and Peru (a century earlier than the first printing in English colonies) the publications of the Americas remained a small and specialized portion of library collections here.
Fabulous voyages were required to bring books to Peru. Outward voyages went southward to the Canary Islands where the westward winds were encountered. A long Atlantic crossing brought the cargo to Hispañola in the Caribbean. Another voyage across pirate waters came finally to land at the isthmus of Panama. This overland crossing of swamp and mountains was no less difficult than the previous sailings. On the Pacific coast newly constructed ships began the long voyage down to Lima. Finally, books destine for Arequipa still required the long desolate crossing of the vast inland desert before the books reached the start of the highlands.
Why are the books worn out?
The books in the library of the Recoletas are not pristine. They were heavily used and the evidence of this is also evidence of their great meaning for readers. Just look at the repeated fingerings of this little catechism! Reading of it was a devotional and lively action.
Today we must discover new lively meanings of the library of the Recoleta. We must study and preserve the collections, but also need to appreciate the role of books as active companions in our life long learning.
Is the library just old books?
The Library of the Recoleta is more than old books. It is a place of meditation, understanding and insight. Here readers prepared their minds for great dramas of contact between cultures and great challenges of interaction. So the library is not just books but it is also a state of mind. At its best the library teaches us humility and confidence and a sense of the lessons of life.
Does the library of the Recoleta have any future?
Yes, we should read books, but books are a very small part of reading. More reading is accomplished by audio and visual literacy; listening to music and watching television is also literacy and now there is the internet and digital connectivity.
But just as the padres carried their Gospels, we carry our cell phones. Everyone wishes to possess the object that delivers a powerful connectivity. The future of the Recoleta library depends on the strength of our desire for more powerful connectivity. This library can teach us attentive and avid desire for knowledge and communion with wisdom.
books of the brave 2
“The real question — and the one that is generally not being addressed — is whether MFDs or SFDs (multiple or single function devices) are better for those just beginning their reading career: Do I want a 10-year-old to be exposed to the distractions of an MFD or focused on reading by using a SFD? How do we teach a child the love of reading? How do we teach a child reading for reading’s pleasure? Can a child learn to love reading when the lure of games and Internet surfing are just a screen touch away?” Teleread
Is it too brave a mention here that the paper book is an intensive SFD? The constraints of print are attributes.


