The historical libraries of Arequipa, Peru have survived for the last 400 years, but their future is now at risk. Earthquakes and volcanic dust are a part of life and the rare books and timeless library rooms are in need of physical care and protective measures.

Fortunately, preservation actions are underway.

The Preservation of Historical Libraries of Arequipa Project is providing both guidance and production needed to protect the collections. With enthusiastic cooperation of local library officials, conservators and bookbinders from universities in the United States are working with local authorities in Arequipa, including Helen Ryan, Librarian and Director of Catalog Processing and Alvaro Meneses, Director of INLIBRI (Institute of the Book) and Bibliographer. Resources of INLIBRI, a non-governmental organization for the study and preservation of the book in Arequipa, and the cooperating US universities are exceptionally complementary.  INLIBRI provides local project authorization and funding, expert historical and linguistic perspective and collection knowledge. The US universities provide preservation and conservation expertise, opportunities for advanced book studies and book arts education and materials and technology support.

Arequipa is in the southern region of Peru near the boarder with Chile.  With a population of one million it is the second largest city. The city is forty miles from the coast and surrounded by volcanoes and expansive canyon lands. The region has had long pre-Incan settlement with an archeological record of more than 6,000 years. The Incan intrusion began in the 14th century. Spanish settlement was established in 1539.

Libraries for the education of clerics were founded beginning in the mid 17th century. Subsequent acquisition programs have continued to build the collections bringing together printed books imported to Peru as well as those printed in Peru over a period of five centuries. The genres collected include civil and cannon law, theology, ecclesiastic history, philosophy, sociology, and linguistics. The church libraries have also served as repositories for local newspapers and regional imprints of various kinds.

Over generations the function of these libraries has changed from specialized training of missionaries to more general education in Peruvian history and culture.  Future roles are also emerging including tourist interest and renewed educational and craft interest in historical book production. The historical libraries themselves offer perspectives and contrasts in a changing environment of globalism and digital connectivity. These new roles only add to the significance of the historical libraries of Arequipa.