Through a press release, the Association of Librarians of Peru rejected the choice of the sociologist Ezio Neyra Magagna as institutional head of the National Library of Peru (BNP), after the Minister of Culture, Sonia Guillén, did not respond to her request for Appoint a professional of the Library and Information Sciences degree.
‘The Association of Librarians of Peru rejects the decision of the minister. We are outraged by his contempt for meritocracy and request respect for the professional career of Library Science and Information Sciences reconsidering his decision, even more, when facing great challenges that the National Library of Peru will face, with a view to the Bicentennial’, the statement issued For the association.
A month ago, Library graduates sent a letter to Minister Guillen, asking that the next institutional head of BNP be a professional in her career. This request is because the previous steps were not optimal. Also, they considered that the National Library of Peru needs a well-developed culture plan for the promotion of reading and access to libraries. This request was supported by the College of Librarians of Peru.
CV
Ezio Neyra Magagna was born in Lima in 1980. He is a Bachelor in Sociology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP). Also, he obtained a master’s degree in Hispanic Studies and a Ph.D. in Hispanic American Literature from Brown University.
From 2015 to 2018 he served as director of the Directorate of Book and Reading of the Ministry of Culture. Neyra assumes the position of head of the National Library of Peru replacing María Elena del Carmen Córdova Burga, current vice-minister of Cultural Heritage and Cultural Industries of the same Peruvian ministry.
Declarations
Given the criticism, the new head of the BNP said they are welcome, especially if they aim to build. He added that he has already met, with different publishers and the Peruvian Chamber of the Book, and also with the association of librarians.
‘We are building a consensus, and for that, it is necessary to meet both those who were in favor of my designation and those who were against it. Proof of this is that the position of the communiqués of some institutions changed after talking’, he said.