PUBLIC-LIBRARIES IN COSTA-RICA

The public library movement in Costa Rica dates back to the last decad e of the nineteenth century, when legislation was enacted providing fo r the establishment of official public libraries supported by the fede ral government. The movement was given impetus in the -.980's by legis lation which mandated that a semiofficial library be established in ea ch canton lacking an official public library, with support emanating f rom a formal agreement between a community development agency, a munic pality, and the federal government. Unfortunately, governmental suppo rt for public libraries has been minimal or nonexistent, and both the official and nonofficial libraries have had to depend on contributions from local agencies for survival. However, even though the public lib raries lack adequate funding and their collections are typically small , Costa Ricans staunchly support their continuation. They believe that education is essential to improve their status in life and public lib raries symbolize their hope for the future. In this article, the autho r discusses the origin, development, and present status of the public library movement in Costa Rica.