Elsevier’s “A Book in Your Name” Program: Helping Fill the Shelves of University Libraries Across the Developing World

Ylann Schemm, Communications Executive, Corporate Relations, Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Elsevier’s anniversary book donation program is well underway. "A Book in your Name" has donated collections of some 6,700 essential text and reference books to ten university libraries in the developing world. Each library has received a core collection of 670 books in disciplines such as medicine, nursing, allied health fields, life sciences, earth sciences and agriculture. Each Elsevier employee was invited to donate a book to one of these libraries in celebration of global library relationships and Elsevier’s own dual anniversary — the original House of Elzevir’s 425th anniversary and the 125th anniversary of the modern company.

After navigating an impressive journey, the first books are arriving at their destinations and stocking library shelves in Africa, Asia and South America. Tony McSeán, Elsevier Director of Library Relations and convener of the panel of independent librarian advisors said, “It’s the collaborative nature of this project which makes it so worthwhile. Books have been chosen by and for librarians. We wanted to be sure books went where they are most needed. The final selection was extremely difficult. In the end, the ten libraries chosen represent the spectrum of challenges faced by libraries in the developing world.”

Nance M’Jamtu-Sie, Medical Librarian for the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS) at the University of Sierra Leone shared her library’s struggle, saying, “Our library is the only medical library in Sierra Leone and it serves our entire healthcare community. We have not been able to order new books because civil war has devastated the economic base of our country. The library depends solely on donations. These books will make a positive impact on undergraduate studies and continuing professional development at COMAHS, truly enhancing our collection development. Elsevier has definitely contributed to the saving of lives in my country.”

In Guatemala, Grete Pasch, Director of Academic Information Resources at the Francisco Marroquin University described a different challenge: “Try to imagine a country without public or school libraries! That's Guatemala. Libraries are not a priority in our society. The government has more urgent issues: health, security, basic education. The majority of our population has never had the chance to use a library, exercise their critical skills and develop their imagination through reading.

“Elsevier's gift will be housed in our open shelf library. Anyone, including students from other universities, professors and practicing doctors will be able to search our Web catalog from wherever they are, visit the library and walk up to the books they wish to use. During September and October, the books will be on display in a special area of the library’s lobby so users will have immediate access to these new resources. A staff member will be on hand to answer users’ questions.

“One of our main challenges in acquiring books is the cost of transporting them to Guatemala — an average of $7 per volume. We would not be able to afford the many thousands of dollars this donation is worth. These books provide our users with access to information they could not get in any other way.”

As books arrive across the globe, “A Book in Your Name” has truly been the most rewarding anniversary gift of all — engaging not only Elsevier employees but a community of librarians in our common commitment to provide access to

peer-reviewed scientific research around the world. For more information visit www.elsevier.com/425-125

The Ten Library Beneficiaries

• Muhimbili University College Library of Health Sciences of the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
• Library of the Sciences of the University of Sierra Leone
• The College of Medicine Library of the University of Malawi
• University Library of Zambia
• University Library of Mali
• University Library Eduardo Mondlane in Mozambique
• Makerere University Library in Uganda
• Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador
• Universidad Francisco Marroquin in Guatemala
• The National Centre for Scientific and Technological Information (NACESTI) in Vietnam