The Cabildo of Lanzarote has signed the letter of adhesion to the manifesto “Canary Islands Libraries for Equality”, thus joining this project of the Association of Librarians and Documentalists of the Canary Islands whose main objective is to apply the gender perspective and promote effective equality between men and women in the information units of the archipelago.
“Contributing to equality is a transversal task that concerns all institutions and society as a whole. And as experts in the collection, presentation, use and dissemination of information, libraries are one of the most suitable spaces to generate a transformative movement towards a fairer world,” says Myriam Barros, Minister of Education of the Cabildo of Lanzarote and responsible for the management of the Island Library.
In this regard, the institution's Equality Councillor also points out that “Law 5/2019, of April 9, on Reading and Libraries of the Canary Islands, declares libraries of universal public value and places equality among the principles that should govern their actions so that all users access library materials, facilities and services without discrimination based on origin, ethnicity, religion, ideology, gender and sexual orientation, age, disability, economic resources or any other personal or social circumstance.”
Commitments acquired
With its adherence to the manifesto “Canary Islands Libraries for Equality”, the Cabildo of Lanzarote assumes the commitment to "incorporate into the collections the intellectual production created or participated by women, with special attention to those of Canarian origin, as well as to create and energize spaces (physical and virtual) on equality and gender perspective in the Island Library of Lanzarote".
It must also carry out activities to promote reading, or any other type, on equality and gender perspective; promote the training of personnel attached to the Library in matters of equality and gender perspective; and promote the equal and active participation of women in the library field.
In addition, it will have to disseminate “Canary Islands Libraries for Equality” through the means it deems appropriate; involve other entities in participation in workshops, talks and forums within the framework of this project; and attend an annual coordination meeting.
For its part, Canary Islands Libraries for Equality undertakes to advise the Cabildo of Lanzarote on matters of gender perspective, making it a participant in all activities carried out within the project; to integrate the institution into the list of signatories of the manifesto, giving it the distinctive that identifies it as such; and to disseminate the activities it carries out.
