Panama

Directory Information

 Formal Name:           Biblioteca Nacional
 Name of Librarian:    Edgar Urriola Espino
 Address:                   Ernesto J. Castillero R., Apdo 2444, Panama

History & Collections

 A decree of January 31, 1942, authorized the establishment of the National Library of Panama. With initial holdings of
10,000 volumes originally at the Colon Library, which had been donated by the Municipal Council of the Ministry of  Education, it was founded on July 11, 1942.  The Colon Library of the Municipality of Panama, dating from October 12, 1892. was discontinued in 1941 by disposition of the District Council. The National Library serves as a repository of the
nation's bibliographic production, including all the literature  relating  to  the  history  of  Panama.  Its newspaper section contains the most complete collection of the dailies of the country. The collection totals 200,000 volumes.


Sources:

World guide to libraries. New York: Saur, 1998.
World encyclopedia of library and information services. 3rd ed. Chicago: American Library Association,c1993.