Bibliotecas del CRUCH debaten sobre Ciencia Abierta, Inteligencia Artificial y Salud Mental - Consejo de Rectoras y Rectores de las Universidades Chilenas

Libraries Commission

At the CABID meeting at Arturo Prat University, Rector Alberto Martínez praised the strategic role that libraries play in university life and highlighted the importance of the areas that CRUCH libraries are currently focused on.

The directors analyzed the Sustainable Development Goals in CRUCH Libraries, which will guide library work towards the principles of sustainability, inclusion and university social responsibility, among other topics.

The Library Commission of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CABID-CRUCH) met on November 5 and 6 at the Arturo Prat University (UNAP), in Iquique, with the purpose of consolidating common proposals in the face of the challenges of the Chilean university system and projecting strategic lines aimed at strengthening the role of libraries in digital transformation, comprehensive training and the link with society.

At the opening session, the rector of the host university, Dr. Alberto Martínez, praised the strategic role that libraries play in university life and highlighted the importance of

the areas that CRUCH libraries are currently addressing. “I was pleasantly surprised to learn that you are working on such relevant topics as digital transformation, university library standards, artificial intelligence, academic integrity, the Sustainable Development Goals, Open Science, inclusion policies, mental health, and university life. There is no doubt that these are crucial issues for universities, and your involvement in this is extremely important to me.”.

The rector also emphasized the cultural and territorial impact of the collaboration between universities. “In our country, cultural education is difficult, and in regions like ours, it's even more so. Without this collaborative network of libraries, it would be much more complex. Therefore, I want to sincerely thank you for what you do, for the network you have built, and for the commitment you demonstrate every day.”.

For her part, Karen Jara, president of the CABID Commission and director of the Library System at the University of Concepción (UdeC), emphasized the challenges of the new digital ecosystem and the coordinating role of CRUCH (Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities). “We are actively collaborating with the National Access Infrastructure on Open Science issues. This allows us to move towards a more equitable, transparent, and sustainable research system that benefits both universities and the public. In this sense, the joint work with ANID (National Research and Development Agency) and CINCEL (Consortium for Access to Electronic Scientific Information) reflects CABID's commitment to Open Science,” she stated.

Furthermore, she mentioned the challenges libraries face “with the access that artificial intelligence and technologies offer today. In that sense, as CABID we have the mandate to update our “Guide for Chilean University Libraries of the CRUCH” to maintain equivalent services in all libraries across the country,” she pointed out.

Commission Agenda

One of the highlights of the meeting was the panel “Contribution of University Libraries to the Mental Health and University Coexistence Strategy,” in which the University of O'Higgins (UOH), the Catholic University of the North (UCN), and the University of Concepción (UdeC) participated. The institutions shared experiences and best practices regarding the commitment of libraries to the overall well-being of academic communities.

Another milestone was the presentation of the document “Sustainable Development Goals in CRUCH Libraries”, which will guide library work towards the principles of sustainability, inclusion and university social responsibility.

In addition, the results of the BEIC-Leiden consultancy, promoted by ANID and CINCEL, which seeks to establish the foundations for a national open access infrastructure, were reviewed. Furthermore, the progress of the InES Open Science CABID Technical Working Group was presented, which focuses on developing indicators and guidelines for implementing open science policies in the country's universities.

During the meeting, progress reports were also shared from the Subcommittees on Information Resources; Statutes; Communications, Digital Competencies; and Research. In addition, the CABID Yearbook, which summarizes the main activities carried out during the period, was presented.