Libraries Commission
During its second annual meeting in Antofagasta, the CRUCH Libraries and Documentation Commission reaffirmed its role as a key player in strengthening the Chilean university system and elected its board for the 2025-2026 period.
In its work plan, CABID plans to promote the creation of a national repository of good practices in open science; implement cooperative digitization models; and strengthen cooperation with international library networks.
Digital transformation, the strengthening of open science and the need to consolidate links with international networks were the main topics of the second annual meeting of the Commission of Libraries and Documentation (CABID) of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH), which took place between November 13 and 15 in Antofagasta.
In the session, organized by the Catholic University of the North (UCN) and the University of Antofagasta (UA), the board of directors of the commission for the period 2025-2026 was also elected, which will be chaired for the second time by the Director of Libraries of the U. of Concepción (UdeC), Karen Jara; and by the Head of the Library Unit of the University of O´Higgins (UOH), Bernardo Rojas, who will assume the vice-presidency.
At the start of the day, the Rector of the University of Antofagasta (UA), Marcos Cikutovic, welcomed attendees and highlighted the collaborative work of the CRUCH universities. “The exchange of ideas and collaboration among our universities are essential to strengthening higher education in Chile. From Antofagasta, we reaffirm our commitment to academic, cultural, and ethical development,” he stated.
For his part, the academic vice-rector of UCN, Nelson Fernández, emphasized the impact of libraries on universities. “Libraries are fundamental for student education and for the generation of new knowledge. This collaborative work between institutions is key to facing the challenges of the future.”.
Regarding the development of the meeting, the rector of the Catholic University of Temuco (UCT) and head of the commission, Aliro Bórquez, pointed out that “we addressed issues that not only affect our libraries, but also have direct implications for the quality and accessibility of the higher education we offer as a university system.”
Challenges 2023-2025
A highlight was the election of the board for the next two years, which will be made up of five directors: Karen Jara Maricic (UdeC) as president; Bernardo Rojas (UOH) as vice president; Claudia Chau (UCT) as secretary; Pedro Robles (UCN) as subcommittee coordinator; and Héctor García (U. de La Serena) will serve as the commission's communications coordinator.
Karen Jara, while thanking the directors for their trust in this new phase, stated that “university libraries face crucial challenges, such as defining the role they will adopt in relation to Generative Artificial Intelligence, strengthening ties with foreign institutions, and enhancing our work in the area of open science, for example, in the role we will assume in the allocation of metadata,” the president pointed out.
The re-elected president added that “from CABID we will work to ensure that these advances have a positive impact on Chilean higher education, always aligned with the strategic objectives of CRUCH.”.
In this vein, the rector in charge of the commission, Aliro Bórquez, praised CABID's decision to create an Open Science subcommittee. “This is a fundamental step in aligning our universities' policies with the global principles that promote free and equitable access to knowledge. The National Open Access Policy presents us with significant challenges, but also unique opportunities. We need to build internal capacity within our institutions for the proper implementation of open repositories, raise awareness among the academic community about the importance of open access, and ensure that these policies respect the diversity and needs of each institution.”.
Bórquez stated that “Open Science is not just a technical objective, but also a cultural shift. It's about moving towards a model of shared knowledge, where not only publication is valued, but also the data, processes, and results of research in an open and transparent manner. In this sense, our libraries, as knowledge managers, are key players.”
CABID's work plan for 2025-2026 includes various initiatives, such as the creation of a national repository of good practices in open science; the implementation of cooperative digitization models; and the strengthening of international cooperation with networks such as REBIUN (Network of Spanish University and Scientific Libraries) and ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries).
Regional perspective
The head of the UA Library Service, Loretto Ibarra, expressed her satisfaction with the organization of the event. “This meeting has been an enriching experience, not only because of the topics discussed, but also because of the opportunity to strengthen networks between our institutions. These spaces allow us to reflect on the impact of libraries on the academic and cultural development of the country.”.
The director of the UCN Library, Pedro Robles, highlighted the day's discussions. "Academic integrity and the ethical use of artificial intelligence are priorities that we address collaboratively, anticipating the needs of academic communities," he stated.
The meeting also strengthened the connection between libraries and the cultural heritage of northern Chile. Participants took part in cultural activities, such as visits to the former Chacabuco Saltpeter Works and the Huanchaca Ruins Museum, activities that underscored the role of libraries as agents of historical preservation and territorial connection.
Information courtesy of UCN and UA
Photographs: Courtesy of UCN and UA
Edition: CRUCH Communications
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