Mexico’s photographic patrimony: A librarian’s responsibility

Abstract

THE IMAGES CREATED BY HUMAN BEINGS IN RELATION WITH THEIR OWN EXISTENCE MUST BE UNDERSTOOD AS A CULTURAL POSSESSION. THE PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES OF YESTERDAY AND TODAY ARE A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF THE CULTURAL PATRIMONY OF A PEOPLE, AND ITS GUARENTEE THE ACCESS TO THE COLECTIVE MEMORY. THE GREATEST CHALLENGES WHICH FACE THE ENORMOUS FRAGILITY OF THE MATERIAL IMMANENT TO THE PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE CONSIDERED AS A DOCUMENT (REPRESENTING OBJECTS AND HAPPENINGS) AND AS AN OBJECT IN ITSELF, ARE TO PRESERVE THE MEDIUM ITSELF AND TO DECIPHER ITS CONTENTS. MEXICO HAS A PHOTOGRAPHIC PATRIMONY OF ENORMOUS VALUE AND FORTUNATELY SOME COLLECTIONS HAVE RECEIVED GOVERNMENTAL SUPPOR, LIKE CASASOLA'S, BUT OTHERS FACE OBLIVION. THE PAPER STATE THAT LIBRARIES (WHOSE PRESENCE IS ALMOST NULL IN THE GREAT PHOTO LIBRARIES) SHOULD TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN ALL THESE TASKS AND PROPITIATE A NATIONAL NORMATIVITY WHICH COULD AND SHOULD GIVE PLACE TO A NATIONAL REGISTER FOR MEXICO'S PHOTOGRAPHIC PATRIMONY. SOME PROPOSALS ARE PUT TO DISCUSSION.