Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries


The Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries is a Caribbean library organization founded in 1969. It is based in the José M. Lázaro Library of the University of Puerto Rico.
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About ACURIL

The Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries was first created in 1969 at a conference sponsored by the Association of Caribbean Universities and the Institute of Caribbean Studies at University of Puerto Rico. The first leaders of the organization were: President Dr. Alma Theodora Jordan, Vice President Dr. Albertina Perez de Rosa, and Secretary/Treasurer Dr. Luisa Vigo-Cepeda.
ACURIL supports collaboration between university and research libraries. It believes in embracing different libraries which encompass research, including public libraries and special libraries. ACURIL has been essential to professional inspiration for many librarians in the Caribbean region, providing them with continuing educational opportunities and creating a conducive environment for collaboration with other professionals. Growth of regional bodies of international associations such as ACURIL has been attributed to greater international awareness after the Second World War and to the regular and affordable air transportation. Its name was changed to the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries in 1976.

Goals

The mission of ACURIL is to "facilitate development and use of libraries, archives, and information services and the identification, collection and preservation of information resources in support of the whole range of intellectual and educational endeavors throughout the Caribbean area". Furthermore, the ACUIRL is determined to establish a distinct and effective organization of qualified individuals in the fields of archival and library science as well as to sustain an enduring presence within the Caribbean region with a unification of information professionals.
ACURIL's achievements include grouping together regional projects that work towards improving the retrieval of information that is created in the region.

Membership

Any type of library, archive, organization or individual in a country that borders the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean is eligible for membership in the ACURIL organization. There are four types of membership: institutional, organizational, personal and associate. Institutional membership includes libraries, archives and schools of library and information. Organizational membership includes national, regional and other special library organizations and associations. Personal membership is for practicing information professionals, students who are enrolled in information courses of study, non salaried librarians including retired and unemployed, and honorary members. Any individuals or organizations outside of the Caribbean and borders of the Gulf of Mexico are eligible for an associate membership. The main official languages of ACURIL members include English, Spanish, Dutch, and French and encompass 26 nations.

Conferences

Awards

Since 2000, ACURIL has given awards to three areas: Institutions, Information professionals, and the Caribbean information professional of the year.

Each area encompasses several awards, which are given annually at ACURIL conferences.

Institutional awards

;ACURIL President's Award
  • Recognizes and distinguishes a school, public or national library in the Caribbean, which has demonstrated excellence of service providing a program to satisfy special community information needs. Established in 2000 by former Jamaican president Stephney Ferguson.
  • 2014 winner: Elizabeth Estates Public Library, Nassau, Bahamas
;OCLC Recognition for Promoting the OCLC Cooperative in the Caribbean
  • The OCLC Recognition award — recognizes institutions with librarians from the Caribbean library community for their commitment within the library cooperative and for their involvement in promoting cooperation in the region.
  • 2014 winners:
;Leadership in the Use of New Information Technologies to Expand and Facilitate Access to Electronic Content
  • EBSCO Information Services Award — recognizes and distinguishes a school, academic, public or national library for its innovative, creative and effective achievement in planning and implementing a program or service with electronic publications, using information technologies, for the benefit of its clientele.
  • 2014 winners:
;Innovative and Effective Information Services with the Application of Information Technologies
  • Systems Link International Award — recognizes and distinguishes a school, academic, public or national library for its innovative, creative and effective achievement in planning and implementing a program or service, for the benefit of its clientele, using information technologies.
  • 2014 winner: Calvin McKain Library, University of Technology, Jamaica
;Leadership in the Organization and Retrieval of Information with an Automation Program
  • Mandarin Library Automation Award — recognizes and distinguishes a school, academic, public or national library for its innovative, creative and effective achievement in the planning and development of the organization and retrieval of information, for the benefit of its clientele.
  • 2014 winner: The Belize National Library Service and Information System, Belize
;Leadership in the Development of Research Solutions that Connect People
  • ProQuest Award — recognizes and distinguishes a school, academic, public or national library for its innovative, creative and effective achievement in planning and implementing a program or service, for the benefit of its clientele, using information technologies.
  • 2014 winners:
;The Albertina Pérez de Rosa Information Units Alliances and Collaborative Projects in the Caribbean
  • ACURIL, Puerto Rico Chapter Award — recognizes and honors the excellent performance of alliance and collaborative efforts of local or regional information units and communities of practice, or by private enterprises, evidenced through the implementation of successful information projects for the benefit of their clienteles in the Caribbean.
  • 2013 winner: National Library of Aruba
  • 2014 winner: The Digital Library of the Caribbean

Information professionals awards

;Excellence in Information Literacy
  • University of Puerto Rico, Graduate School of Information Sciences and Technologies Award, recognizes and honors innovative approaches of programs and services or outstanding publication related to information literacy by a colleague in a library, archive, document center environment, in the last two years, evidenced by the significant learning perceived by and satisfaction deriv97hed from its clienteles.
  • 2014 winners:
;Excellence in Research and Publications
  • ACURIL Research Interest Group Award, recognizes and honors the individual commitment, excellence in performance, and outstanding achievement of an information professional, member of ACURIL.
  • 2014 winners:

Information Professional of the Year

The Information Professional of the Year award honors the individual commitment, excellence in performance, and outstanding professional achievement of an information specialist in the Caribbean, members of ACURIL.

Contact information

The General Headquarters of the Association is in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and physically located at the Caribbean Regional Library and Latin American Studies, within the José M. Lázaro Library of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. Its mailing address is P.O. Box 23317, UPR Station, San Juan, PR 00931–3317. Tel 790-8054; Fax 790-8054