[Archport] Uncertainty for the archaeological Library, Archive and Publications of ex-IPA, presently IGESPAR, IP

["Rui Boaventura" <boaventura.rui@gmail.com>]

 

Dear Colleagues and Sympathizers for the Cause,

 

 

The declarations made by the Subdirector of IGESPAR, J.P. Cunha Ribeiro to the news agency Lusa (http://ww1.rtp.pt/noticias/index.php?article=349764&visual=26&tema=1na regarding the online petition (http://www.petitiononline.com/biblipa) demonstrates, if you read between the lines, that IGESPAR has found itself with its "hands tied" and that the question has to be resolved, rapidly, at the highest level."  Other members of the government involved in this situation, namely the Ministry of Economy, have to realize the gravity of this situation.  Therefore, the statements of the Subdirector were vague: little clarification and no progress towards any guarantees or clear deadlines regarding the destiny of the library and the archival collections from ex-IPA (Portuguese Institute of Archaeology) and only mentioned, in a non-comprehensive way, the future editorial policy of ex-IPA publications.

 

The petition headed by our colleague Prof. José d'Encarnação has already collected more than 1,100 signatures (http://www.petitiononline.com/biblipa), but more is needed.  In this way, we are proposing that everyone send an email with the below suggested comments to the attention of the Prime Minister with CC: to the other institutions listed below as well as others that you may deem appropriate. As citizens of a global community, we have the right and the duty to demand competent and transparent management of public assets: in this case, the library, archives and publication of ex-IPA (Revista Portuguesa de Arqueologia and Trabalhos de Arqueologia) in which millions of euros have been invested.

 

Please forward this message to friends and colleagues as well as divulge it in other websites and blogs.

 

Rui Boaventura

 

 

Entities to send emails with suggested text:

 

- Prime-Ministers Cabinet pm@pm.gov.pt

- Ministry of Culture infocultura@min-cultura.pt

- Minister of Economy and Innovation Cabinet gmei@mei.gov.pt

- German embassy in Portugal – website contact http://www.lissabon.diplo.de/Vertretung/lissabon/pt/Kontakt.html

- Director of the German Institute of Archaeology, Madrid marzoli@madrid.dainst.org

- Republic Assembly, President of the Commission for Education and Science jseguro@ps.parlamento.pt

 

 

 

«His Excellency the Prime Minister, José Socrates,

 

I am sending you this email to demonstrate my great and personal concern with the uncertain destiny regarding the "Library, Archives and Publications of the ex-IPA, nowadays IGESPAR, IP."

 

The Resolution of the Ministry Cabinet n.º 78/2008, (D.R. n.º 94, Série I de 15-05) which refers to the improvement and reconstruction of the river front of the city of Lisbon, foresees that in this area where the Library of Archaeology and the above mentioned archives are currently located, the construction of the new National Museum of Coaches will have to be initiated, during this year, in order for the work to conclude in time for the commemoration ceremonies for the first centennial since the implantation of the Republic in 2010. Unfortunately it did not consider the urgent transference and reinstallation of both the library and archives and this may be an infrigment of the agreement between the states of Portugal and Germany concerning the 1999 cession of the German Institute of Archaeology in Lisbon.

It is not enough to make declarations of intent or just to say that the Direction of IGESPAR is aware of the problem and accompanying the situation.  The library and its archives, as well as its users, need a clear and sound commitment from all the parties involved concerning a schedule for its transference and definite reinstalation of and access to this fundamental public asset.

 

Also I would like to refer to the importance of the permanent and necessary upkeep of the quantity of publications in this library that is basically guaranteed by the mutual exchange of publications, with hundreds of similar national and international institutions of archaeology, with its own edition of the "Revista Portuguesa de Arqueologia" and the monographic series "Trabalhos de Arqueologia". Such publications have played an essential role in the dispersion and dissemination of national archaeological activity over the last decade, which was impossible to achieve with the scarce funds available from IGESPAR.

 

Since there is no foreseen solution in respect to the installations and publications of ex-IPA, I am asking Your Excellency to resolve this subject to the satisfaction of all parties, since this is of interest to the scientific community as well as the general public.  This is confirmed by the online petition (http://www.petitiononline.com/biblipa) that contains more than 1,100 signatures comprised mainly of students, archaeologists, university professors both national and international.  It is the image and credibility of Portugal and its cultural and scientific community that are at stake.»

 

The undersigned

 

Place, day, month 2008