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BOLIVIA
Sucre

A. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Name: Archivo y Biblioteca Nacional de Bolivia (Director: Rene Arze Aguirre)
2. Address: Calle Espana 43 Sucre Bolivia
   Mailing Address: Casilla 793 Sucre Bolivia
3. Hours: M-F 9:00-12:00 and 2:30-6:30; Sat. 10:00-12:00
4. Telephone: 011-591-64-21481
   Fax: 011-591-64-61208 (the 64 may have been dropped from fax numbers.)
5. E-mail: abnb@mara.scr.entelnet.bo
6. Access Procedures: Anyone who plans on working in the Archives extensively should write or fax the Director beforehand to let him know arrival dates and project. Make sure you bring credentials and at least a letter of introduction from your advisor and/or department if you are a grad. student. If you are an established academic, a business card is sufficient.

1. Contents: The ANB/BNB is the central depository for Bolivian governmental documents. It also houses the Gabriel Rene Moreno collection and a good supply of 19th century newspapers. The Rene Moreno collection is an excellent source for 19th-century pamphlets and broadsides. The ANB also has an excellent collection of colonial documents. I believe there is an article in Spanish which covers the holdings in detail.
2. Catalogues: For Colonial documents, most researchers rely on the carefully notated typed guides put together by the late Don Gunnar Mendoza. The 19th- and 20th-century documents are less organised but there very good card catalogues which list most holdings alphabetically and by publication date. The newspapers are cataloged separately by title. Government and Ministerial reports have their own typed catalogues, listed by Ministry and date only, indicating the Archive's holdings. The Archive is very well organised and the guides help a lot.
3. Procedures for Requesting Documents: Each investigator is given a sign-out sheet upon which one records date and topic. When you want to request a document, you record the #, date, call number, and sign your name. You then give the form to the person who is responsible for its submission. The document is found, noted as signed out, and given to you at your work station. When you are finished with it, you return it to the aforementioned staff member who makes a notation on the form that the item was returned. (They can be a little lax on this, so you can politely ask that they make the notation at the moment you are returning the document. This can be a bit difficult if they are busy and you are returning a mound of books or documents.) It is a fairly efficient system. A recent development is that the staff member responsible for sign outs and ins, is now to take any books from the Gabriel Rene Moreno collection you might be using and lock them up overnight. They are returned to you the next day. Concern about their collection may result in a staff member collecting your GRM stuff at the end of the day when you are still using it. It will be returned promptly to your table the next morning.
4. Searches by mail: I get the impression that if the director knows you and your request is not too extensive, it can be done. You can also authorise someone there to do do the research you need but you must request the forms from the Archive, fill them out, and return them, before this can happen. The Archive is pretty particular that researchers come and spend time in the archive doing their own research. Unless you have established a long-term working relationship with the Archive and Director, I would not expect a request to be approved.

1. Photocopying: The Archive has its own photocopiers and you can photocopy up to 20% of a document. Newspapers are restricted due to their length. The staff is very strict about this policy and many documents due to their physical state may not be copied. If it is something that you desperately need, you can appeal to the Director. Cost: Copies are very cheap, 20 centavos per page.
2. Microfilm: No facilities for microfilm.

1. Research Room:

   a. Academic researchers (nationals and foreigners) are kept separate from the general population. There is a reading room for library patrons (mostly school kids since the BNB was opened to the public in 1995). It is a large room with large wooden tables which are about 1-2" too high. This is important as after 8 hours of research, your back kills you, so invest in a pillow. You are assigned a spot where you may leave your supplies and books for the duration of your stay. If you intend to be absent from the archive for more than 3 days, you must inform the Archive staff who will pack up your stuff and you might be moved to another position if space is needed. The room is relatively quiet and silence is enforced, although short whispered conversations and consultations are tolerated. Generally, the Archive is a very formal place and the staff tries very hard to be professional, and with a good measure of success. While many might lack formal training, years of instruction and supervision by Don Gunnar Mendoza has instilled a high level of professionalism. One interesting aspect is tea break. You can bring in something to drink while you are working on your documents. There is a tea service that you can contract. It is especially nice in the winter when the building which lacks central heating is cold. A thermos usually works too.

   b. Staff: It is a very hierarchical and regimented system - a lot of division of labour. You can consult the staff who catalogue the documents but may not enter their workroom. You go to the door, knock, and request a consult. They will come to your station to help. This rule is strictly imposed. A general comment about the Archives - Bolivians can be very formal and you should always treat them professionally and with respect and professionally. A smile goes a long way. My time in the ANB/BNB has always been enjoyable and the staff very helpful.

2. Computer Access: You may use your laptop without much trouble. You will need to purchase a surge supressor with the appropriate voltage and an extension cord with the appropriate plug (all found very cheaply at local electric supply shops near the central market). Make sure your computer has a good voltage converter. The laptop ones get really hot after a few hours use and you may want to pay for a more heavy duty one for longer sessions.
3. Wheelchair Access: None that I know off - large flight of stairs to climb to enter the BNB and ANB. Staff will assist, however. Make sure you notify the director of any special attention you might need well in advance.
4. Toilet Facilities: One toilet for men in the research room and one for women in the front entrance. They are very clean - but make sure to bring tissue.

1. Public Transportation: Sucre is so small and lovely, there is no need, but taxis are cheap. The Archives are 1/2 block from central plaza and main hotels
2. Lodging: There are a number of options. Hostels are cheaper than hotels and often just as nice. I have stayed in the following and do not hesitate to recommend them:
   • Hostel Espana, Calle Espana
     
   • Hostel Sucre, Calle Bustillos, tel: 21411 - very lovely and popular
   • Hostel Libertad, Avenida Aniceto Arce 99, tel: 23101, fax: 591-30128 - modern amenities (tvs, bar fridges)
   • Grand Hotel, Avenida Aniceto Arce, tel: 22104 - declining somewhat but still kind of nice

   All but the Grand and Espana accept Visa and AMEX

3. Restaurants: Among my favorites:
   • Repizza, Calle Calvo 70, tel: 32246 - good and cheap almuerzos
   • Kactus, Calle Espana 7 (just down from Archive), tel: 22783 - open evenings
   • El German, Calle Camargo 574 (around corner from central market) - very good vegetarian and delicious baked goods. Cheap and delicious almuerzos. You can also pension out there and pay a set monthly price for lunch.

     There are a number of others in town which offer similar fare.

4. Other: If you are considering a longer stay (3 months or more) seriously consider renting an apartment or house. It is cheaper and you can cook for yourself. It may take a little leg work but inquire at the Archives as an increasing number of people have rented to researchers in the past and are interested in doing so again. Also write to the archive to find out if anyone is coming who might want to share lodgings or who is already there who might enjoy a room-mate. H-LATAM is a great way to set something up beforehand. Banking: The Banco de Santa Cruz on the corner of San Alberto and Espana, just 1/2 block from the Archives does Visa cash advances in bolivianos or dollars for a small fee. It only requires a passport and 10-15 minutes. There is also a new bank machine on the San Alberto side of the bank where you can get cash advances on your Visa card or access your US account for a 2$US fee which will show up on your credit statement later. Business cards are the key to everything in Bolivia, so take many.

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