Seguridad y preservación /Security and Preservation

One aspect of preservation we addressed in school was that of security of the collections. In library collections, this generally meant protecting circulating books from defacement and robbery. Obviously, in special collections and rare book/manuscript collections this meant guarding collections against theft and black market traders. In a museum context, this obviously means protecting collections against art theft.

And more specifically, in the context of this city/country/location this means protection against protests,riots and revolutions. Though La Paz has been very peaceful since 2005, the museum is located in a politically important location. The Plaza Murillo is the home to major government houses, and has seen many coupes d´etat (and some fairly grizzly stuff too, but you can look that up if you are interested). Because of the political symbolism of some of the collection, I feel that there is a real possibility that this museum might attract political looters. The museum staff was actually trapped inside of the building during the government protests of 2005. (again, do the research if you are interested -this is a blog about archiving and libraries-not politics). Interestingly though, because of the museum´s proximity to the government buildings, there is actually more security than normal in this area of the city. In addition to Paceño police, there are military guards nearby as well. On an institutional level, there is a police staff (no such thing as private security companies in a government institution) on guard at the museum plus a number of security measures similar to those in major museums in New York.

Hipster ghost hangout

There is no security, however, for the 3 ghosts (fantasmas!) who are said to haunt the museum, which was once a Colonial home to a Spanish aristocrat. I have not seen said ghosts yet, but here is a photo of the corner they are often spotted in!

Photos/ Fotografías of the National Museum of Art, La Paz

The National Museum of Art plus heavens above

Planta bajo/Colonial patio of museum

Information, Información y más información

Where do I even start? My first week at the museum has been extremely eventful. The learning has been two-fold because I am trying to absorb the newness of my work environment, my project and integrating Spanish into a professional archival setting. I will not lie-it is tough. Though I am proficient in Spanish on a practical level, it is entirely something else when I have to turn it out daily at a professional, polished level. Writing a billingual finding aid is one of the toughest work tasks that I have ever done! I guess what is even more frustrating is that I understand and can read at an extremely high level (thanks to AP Spanish plus an advanced Spanish reading course during undergrad at NYU) but my speaking is not equal to my comprehension.

Nonetheless, I know that my Spanish continues to improve everyday and I know that being able to write well in a foreign language, particularly Spanish is an extremely useful skill. Upon return to the USA, I feel confident that I would be able to catalog and archive in this language.

This Mission, Should You Choose to Accept it...

I am at the end of my first day of work. I tossed and turned the night before because I was frankly terrified about the prospect of working exclusively in Spanish. Well, at least I don´t have to answer the phones, right?

But after a day working here, I have come to accept that my working Spanish is sufficient. I am perhaps not the funniest conversationalist during the tea and cake break, but I am able to have pleasant chats and to do my job. Which leads to me to the job itself. Basically, the museum has been in existence since 1961 and there are extensive records of the museum´s formation. My job is to work with Reynaldo, the chief archivist and Valeria, the museum director to create an EAD, and a finding aid (known as lineamentos here, guidelines, literally) to help both outside researchers and the museum staff itself have a central record of its activities, exhibits, practices, staff, directors, art donations, official correspondences and holdings for both the public record and public memory.

Notably, the museum opened after the Revolution of 1952 and was created from the ashes of a national uprising. The works of art in this museum as well as its formation represent an important part of the formation of a national identity. The Museum is located in Plaza Murillo and is across the square from the Legislative Palace and the National Congress. Riots and protests happen here, and the Revolution of ´52 went down here as well. There were massive protests here in 2005. It is a location with the dust and blood of Bolivian poltical history. And there is an awesome salteñaría across the street. Just sayin´. Yum. Yup. President Evo and salteñas. I am satisfecho.

Photos of the Escape - non library related

View from Calacoto- where I am temporarily staying

Possible apartment- center of town, not M. proofed though.

Here are some non library-related photos of my journey so far.  Unfortunately, my husband (herein known as El Sueco, son will be known as M. like in Bond because of his affection for gadgetry, destruction, and scary multilingualism)

View from awesome apartment

The Great Escape

Unlike life itself, I am happy to report that my voyage from New York to Miami to La Paz was totally unevenful. Textbook, I'd say, except that I managed to escape the altitude sickness that knocks many travelers to La Paz sideways. 2 US Embassy escorts met me at El Alto airport at 5:20 AM and I was treated to a winding trip down through the Andes to Zona Sur, where I am staying at the home of a diplomat couple, their adorable son and their hilarious dog. I will soon be moving out of this lovely home once I find accomodation that suits my family, work schedule, and personal preferences. Notably, the housing market is NOTHING like the New York City housing market in terms of price!

I am currently at the Museo Nacional de Arte, where I have come for a casual meeting with the Director, the Administrative director and one of the conservators prior to my Tuesday start date. I am happy to report that in La Paz, the archives and conservation labs tend to be on the higher floors rather than in the basement, as they often are in New York. The office I will be working in has many windows, high ceilings and a charming Andes Colonial style. Interestingly, because of the very high altitude, there are many different rules and practices regarding paper preservation. I am looking forward to learning more about this.

Another interesting thing about my job is the SIESTA, though they are now calling it lunch, I guess, to be more modern? Yes, we get a break from 12 until 3 on our weekday working days. I plan to use this time to go home to my family and perhaps get a so-called disco nap! (To those uninitiated in slang a disco nap means a short nap). I am so not in New York anymore, Toto.

Arriving on High, literally

Note to reader: I'm pretty bad at writing about myself. I kept a diary for 27 years,  but the point of a diary is that it is private. I hope that I'll get less uptight as I get used to this.

Now with this incredible adventure ahead of me, I'm shaking off the shackles of self-scrutiny, and letting you the readers (all 3 of you- ha!) share my journey to La Paz, Bolivia. I'm trying to tie up my loose ends here, and prepare myself for the physical exertion of travel. And physical, it sure will be. I'm an experienced international traveler, but I've never been up so high above sea level before. La Paz's  El Alto airport (for non-Spanish speakers, that translates to the tall/high up) is at 13,000 feet above sea level. Arrival literally takes one's breath away. I'm taking the proper prophylaxis to prevent any kind of acute soroche attack (the Bolivians have a name for altitude sickness and it is soroche) but who's not a little afraid of the unknown, right?

The Bolivian folk remedy for soroche is to drink coca leaf tea (mate de coca). Yup, the leaves of the coca leaf plant. Yes coca = the basis (before much processing and additives) of fabled "Bolivian marching powder" and choice substance of abuse for many Bret Easton Ellis characters and glam, fast-lane party people. But coca leaf tea (steeped leaves) will not make automatically you a Lohan or a cast member from Rock of Love. Drinking coca leaf tea does not make you tweak or make you thin enough for sample size dresses (too bad). It does not even show up on drug tests (yes, I've asked, numerous times, I'm such a librarian). Many Bolivians customarily offer newcomers to their land a cup of coca leaf tea, and yes I will drink it. And yes, I will totally think of Nancy Reagan's War on Drugs when I do.