Happy Easter - Order of Carmelites, India

“To add a library to a house is to give that house a soul.”
Marcus Tullius Cicero
Carmelite Librarian’s Association (CLA) Meeting in Prague 2012
For the second time, I represent the St.
Thomas Province in the Carmelite
librarian’s Association (CLA) meeting.
The first CLA meeting was in Rome in
January 2011. The second meeting took
place in Prague, the Czech Republic
from 24 July 27 July 2012 in which
there were 22 representatives from the
Carmelite libraries and archives around
the globe. It was a good experience
for me to see, hear and experience the
richness of Carmelite tradition kept
down the centuries through the various
precious manuscripts and books. As
part of the programme the group visited
many libraries, such as the Norbertine
library and the Archbishop’s library,
important Carmelites locations and the
city. Added to it, I got a chance to visit
the Polish Provincial House library
and the museum. The Polish province
has a big collection of manuscripts
and important Carmelite collections.
After this meeting, I sent a report of
the meeting to the Prior provincial and
councillors and all the priors. The report
consists of my own suggestions with
the inspirations I have imbibed from
this meeting, for the improvement of
our libraries in the province. It is also an
invitation to form and maintain a good
archive or archives in the province for
CARMEL DARSAN March 2013
the preservation of documents. Some of you might have
seen my report, but for the whole province I would like to
mention it again in this news bulletin.
Some Practical Points for Our Libraries and Communities
1. We have to encourage and maintain a culture of reading and
research among the friars.
2. It is also very important to maintain books and documents
for the province.
3. Prepare libraries and archives for future generation. We
cannot pass our memories and experiences unless and until they
are recorded in some form which is accessible to others.
4. Organise our libraries in a systematic way from the
beginning and in a professional way.
5. Ask for the books each library needs, only then the librarians
around the world can know which book we really need. It is
very expensive to send books, so you have to be precise in
your requests for books.
6. Carmelite library in Washington DC, USA is willing to share
digital copies of Carmelite books. Anyone who searches a
Carmelite book can contact Fr. Partric McMahon at his email:
patrickmcmahon1948@gmail.com.
I conclude this report with a quote from Ray Bradbury:
“Without libraries what have we? We have no past and no
future.”
Fr. Boby Tharakkunnel
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