The American Library Association in Latin America: American Librarianship as a "Modern" Model during the Good Neighbor Policy Era

Abstract

Through ALA projects in Latin America, American librarianship progressed, step by step, from conceptualization to implementation as the model to be followed by the Latin American countries in modernizing not only their library practices but their societies in general. The development of library practices was fundamental to the pursuit of a modern society. In fighting fascist propaganda, the United States has portrayed itself at least since World War II as a modern model whose prosperity and economic growth were important achievements but achievable only in a democratic society.