To the staff, Board and ever vigilant blog visitors of this site (and my parents who may reasonably have imagined me hostaged or taken with the idea of joining the brave militants womaning the campsites on the streets of Mexico City as I write…)
This is delayed posting sent from Mexico. The Know How Conference was marvellous, affirming, life-changing and…fraught with technical difficulties. I had envisaged blogging a report each evening from our base in the Hotel Monte Real but the computers were down from Day 1 of the round tables.
Now, in the calm of the Casa Bugambilias in Oaxaca I can at last send some reminiscences.
Know How is the biggest gathering of professionals working at women’s information centres, libraries and archives. I was at the first in Amsterdam in 1998, its ripples of positive impact lasted for years, missed Kampala in 2002 (lack of resources) and was thrilled to be here in Mexico City for KnowHow#3. Over three hundred delegates joined Sue, Wendy and myself (the proud Scottish contingent from GWL) in what was a gathering to exceed even what Amsterdam had to offer.
The sheer brilliance and simplicity of the idea of a women’s library was brought back into my field of vision. What women in Venezuela, the Himalayas, Bolivia, South Africa, Belgium, Korea and Scotland need is accessible information, gathered with their needs uppermost, in a place that welcomes them in order for them to fully explore their opportunities, live their lives to the full, express themselves and be able to support those they love. This is a human right.
I have only twenty minutes on this computer so I will quickly Part 1 with a thank you to all the amazing friends we made in the process of conferencing, Lourdes and Viviana, Gen and Reiko, Tilly and Gisela, the Mexico contingent make me weep every time I think of their compassion and thoughtfulness, intelligence and wit. Thanks and thanks again.
I will be back in touch soon with a further installment,
Warm wishes from Mexico,
Adele
