Library Map of the World

ASCUBI objectives are to contribute to the enrichment of culture, reading and the increase of national consciousness about the role of libraries as fundamental elements for the development of the person, the community and the people in general. It has more than 3200 members. Its main activities are the celebration of professional events, activities, courses, professional development workshops and professional work meetings. The areas of concern are aimed at achieving a united library sector, the promotion and defence of the profession, as well as contribution to the UN 2030 agenda and the National Development Plan.

SOCICT is a technical-professional society of national character, with legal personality and its own patrimony that brings together professionals, technicians and students linked to the Information Sciences.

The National Library of Cuba José Martí as depository of the documentary, bibliographic, artistic, and sound treasure of the country, a patrimony of the most representative of the universal culture. It conserves bibliographic heritage, makes the national bibliographic control, is an official representative of the public libraries system. The National Library preserves scientific, cultural, educational, and social achievements of Cuba; it is a sustainable space for reading, teaching, and learning; provides free access to information and knowledge; and serves as a platform for dissemination of national culture and representation of all artistic manifestations.

The National Library oversees 399 public libraries around the country which are part of the National System of Cuban Public Libraries.

The Ministry of Culture is in charge of directing, orienting, controlling and executing the cultural policy of the country as well as guaranteeing the safeguarding, preservation and enrichment of the cultural heritage of the nation.

National Library of Cuba José Martí, as an administrative structure of the Ministry of Culture, is in charge of policies and legislation in the field of libraries and proposes guidelines, strategies and general state policies ensuring functioning of libraries. The National Library supervises the National Program for Reading.

The purpose of a national information policy is the access and optimal use of specialized and professional knowledge, scientific, technical, social and economic information, and techniques developed or available in the country, as a resource to solve development problems in all sectors of the society. The set of guidelines and guidelines that guide the preparation of planned actions, aimed at guaranteeing universal access to information for the realization of all kinds of activities (social, economic and political), arose in Cuba in the 1960s. Cuban libraries are part of the national information policy as holders and providers of information for free to all the population, they are one of the main institutions offering information, together with the archives and other institutions.

The Decree-Law establishes the fundamental principles that govern the library activity of the Cuban State, strengthening the role that libraries play in the fulfilment of the constitutional right of citizens to access education, history, culture, and science in all its manifestations, as well as regulating the functions of the National Library of Cuba José Martí. The law defines all library systems of the country and defines concepts specific to the library sector, the principles and the scope and functions of all Cuban libraries.

Materials covered include works published in the country, as well as those related to it or by Cuban authors that are published abroad. It covers books and other printed works, maps, printed musical works, sound recordings, graphic works, microfiches, digital publications on a hard medium) and videos.  
It is up to the person responsible for publication to send copies of works to the National Library of Cuba and to the Elvira Cape Library in the city of Santiago de Cuba as the second depository act. Copies should also be sent to the local public libraries. When works are published abroad, it is their distributor in Cuba who is responsible to sending copies to the library.  
The National Library is then responsible for maintaining the national bibliography. The documents are lent to the public in the library, in cases where there is only one the consultation is digital.

The copyright law of the Republic of Cuba dates back to 1977. Despite its age, it favours to a certain extent the libraries in the realization of their information services to be able to make use of works in their collections, in in printed and digital format, under the protection of articles 38 and 39.

The law allows libraries to make photographic means (or similar) in general, as long as this is for non-profit purposes and that the number of copies is limited to the necessary. There are also wider exceptions for quotation, teaching, and works in public places, and it is possible to carry out the above by translating works into Spanish. These uses can be made without the author's consent and without remuneration, but with obligatory reference to the author.

There are also broad compulsory licensing measures to support education and science.

To work in libraries in Cuba it is necessary to have a technical or university qualification granted by the Technological Schools of the Middle Level or by the University. On the other hand, specialists from related professions can also occupy librarian positions, receiving a special training course.

In Cuba there are 4 levels of professional training that are Technical Level Professional, Bachelor of Information Sciences, Master of Library Science and Information Sciences and Doctorate in Information Sciences. The average level is offered at the municipal polytechnic schools, and the degree is offered at the Universities of Havana, Las Villas, Holguín and Camagüey. The master's degree and the doctorate exclusively at the University of Havana, but all those interested in the country have access to it.

This is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes research and review articles in the area of Information Sciences. It is published every six months in printed and electronic format by the National Library of Cuba "José Martí", offering open access to all its contents.

This is a Cuban scientific publication certified by the Ministry of Science Technology and Environment (CITMA). Scientific journal edited by the Institute of Scientific and Technological Information (IDICT), in coordination with the Cuban Society of Information Sciences (SOCICT).

National Bibliothecological Scientific Meeting of the Library Association of Cuba, created in 2003, is held every year in February during the celebration of the International Book Fair of Havana. It is a professional space with international character where librarians of the country and foreign colleagues who participate, present their research on current issues of librarianship development. There are also lectures, exhibitions, poster exhibitions, workshops, and professional seminars.

Meeting that is held every two years. It is a national meeting where librarians of all information systems present practical experiences and theoretical works that favour the promotion of reading in library institutions. Conferences are offered and the best activities are rewarded that, with their impact, add readers.

This international congress is held every two years sponsored by the Institute of Scientific and Technological Information (IDICT), the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment of the Republic of Cuba (CITMA), the Library of the House of the Americas and the National Library of Cuba José Martí (BNCJM). Its main objective is to present results related to information science and librarianship. Exhibitions, conferences, workshops, and symposia are part of the event.

Cuban Librarian's Day is celebrated every year on 7th June since 1950.

This day is celebrated in homage to the birth of Antonio Bachiller y Morales (7 June 1812), one of the most distinguished Cuban intellectuals: prolific journalist, historian, lawyer and bibliographer, considered the father of the Cuban bibliography.

The annual celebration of the anniversary not only honours the writers and editors, but also recognizes the work of all those who today give the best of themselves. Since 1995, the Cuban Association of Librarians (ASCUBI), in coordination with the Cuban Society of Information Sciences (SOCICT), awards the Commemorative Seal "Antonio Bachiller y Morales" to professionals and library institutions that have maintained an outstanding performance.