LATIN AMERICA.
The continuous social and political unrest and the upheavals that have marked the course of affairs in the Latin American countries have had an injurious effect upon the development of libraries. Prior to the establishment of the various states, the only collections were in the religious institutions. These, however, in most cases were of minor importance, and during the 19th century were allowed to decline or were merged with the public collections. In a few of the more progressive states, such as Argen tina and Mexico, provision was made for na tional libraries in the middle of the last cen tury. As early as 1867 a national library was instituted in Mexico and in 1873 the librarian of the Argentine National Library, V. G. Que. sada, made a trip to Europe in order to study its famous libraries, which resulted in an elab orate work entitled (Las Bibliotecas Europas y algunas de la America Latina) (Buenos Aires 1877).
Mexico.— In 1913 there were about 150 li braries in Mexico, of which the most important is Biblioteca Nacional. This was formed from the collections of the various religious and edu cational institutions that came into control of the state when the Liberal party came into power. It was opened to the public in 1884.. Its collections number about 200,000 volumes.
Central Several of the Central American states have libraries, the majority, however, being relatively unimportant, that of Costa Rica, at San Jose, being housed in a new building with a system of arrangement, cata loguing, etc.
Cuba.-- One of the most active and date libraries of Latin America is the B. Na cional at Havana, Cuba, founded in 1901.
South With the exception of Argentina, Brazil and Chile there are very few collections of great importance in South Amer ica. Colombia has a national library at Bo gota, Bolivia has a number of small collec tions, as has Peru at Lima, while Paraguay es tablished a Biblioteca Nacional in 1915.
Brazil.— The largest and perhaps the best equipped library in South America is the Bib liotheca Publica Nacional at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This was founded in 1810 and its collec tions of over 330,000 volumes and 500,000 man uscripts, etc., are housed in a splendid new building completed in 1910 at a cost of $1,500, 000. The most modern methods are in use here and in other libraries in the country.
The interest in libraries is more active and widespread in Argentina than any other South American state. There are fully 200 libraries of all types, the most im portant, of course, being the Biblioteca National at Buenos Aires. This was founded in 1810 by Dr. Mariano Moreno, the first collections being derived from the library of the bishop of Bue nos Aires. The collections now number about 300,000 and contain some interesting manu scripts relative to the early Spanish period.