Historical background on the Chilean Library of Congress in it’s role as center of information and assistance in service of the republic

Authors

  • Felipe Vicencio Eyzaguirre Sociedad Chilena de Historia del Derecho y Derecho Romano

Abstract

An analysis is offered of the various initiatives that the Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile, founded in 1883, has developed throughout its history to satisfy the requirements of general as well as specialized information on the work of the Legislative Power, of according to the Constitution. A historical introduction to libraries and their missions –both in the past and today–, and a few brief notes on their establishment in the country, which contextualize the creation of this library, analyzes the evolution of the supply of services and products intended for to the so-called ‘parliamentary advice’. The range of the study extends from the beginning of the Library, until 1990 –in the beginning of the return to democracy–, although, to offer a broader panorama of the development of some projects, it sometimes reaches up to the beginning of the years 2000.

Keywords:

Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile, Parlamentary libraries, Parlamentary consultancies, Congreso Nacional de Chile, Organization of the Legislative Power, Legislative Function, Public Institutions, History of libraries