Centro Mission Statement
The Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños/Center for
Puerto Rican Studies is a university-based research institute
whose mission consists of two components. One is to collect,
preserve and provide access to archival and library resources
documenting the history and culture of Puerto Ricans. The
other is to produce, facilitate, and disseminate interdisciplinary
research about the diasporic experiences of Puerto Ricans
and to link this scholarly inquiry to social action and policy
debates.
Library The Library collects in all
areas of Puerto Rican Studies and in all formats. The collection
is particularly strong in the areas of migration and the diasporic
experience. The following guidelines are intended to assist
in the process of collection development:
1. To acquire materials in all subject areas of Puerto
Rican studies regardless of language. Titles focusing on
the diaspora receive the highest priority.
2. Materials are acquired in all formats.
3. We collect newspapers and periodicals from Puerto Rico
as well as other Latino publications in the United States.
4. We also acquire materials in Latino Studies that document
the experiences of other Latino groups in the United States
using a comparative studies approach.
5. Materials are usually acquired through purchase and by
donation.
Archives
The Archives’ strengths are principally in the area
of social history, although there are also important holdings
in culture and the arts. The following are intended as guidelines
to help inform the process of collection development:
- Collections must relate to the mission, which is to document
all aspects of Puerto Rican history and culture of particular
significance to the diasporic experience-primarily in New
York but also throughout the U.S.
- Collections must be mostly original, authentic-that is,
not available anywhere else-and can be from any time period
related to the diaspora.
- Collections may be in all formats and may be created by
individuals as well as organizations.
Collections are generally received by donations, that is,
as gifts. Occasionally, exceptions are made to receive materials
on loan, which must be for at least a 25-year period. The
Centro has never purchased collections, but if in the future
a collection of great significance is offered for purchase,
funds could be found outside our budget, such as from an individual
donor. |
