La biblioteca del rector de la Universidad de Mérida doctor Agustín Chipía Landaeta

Abstract

espanolDurante la dominacion colonial espanola, Merida conto con centros de ensenanza eclesiastica pertenecientes a ordenes religiosas desde 1558 y a la diocesis establecida en 1777. Conventos y el Seminario Conciliar instaurado en 1785 como Casa de Educacion para formar curas cumplieron labores educativas dentro de las propias caracteristicas de esas instituciones y condiciones que ofrecia la ciudad. A esa realidad se sumo la fundacion de una Universidad en 1810, al iniciarse el proceso emancipador merideno. Esos centros de instruccion religiosa y civil poseyeron bibliotecas para sus respectivas actividades, lo cual le dio a Merida una particularidad educativa-cultural signifi cativa, si se le compara con otras ciudades venezolanas de entonces, con excepcion de Caracas. Ademas de esas librerias, miembros de la sociedad meridena tenian en sus casas libros para su lectura o ensenanza en el Seminario o en la Universidad, como es el caso del Rector Agustin Chipia Landaeta, quien incluyo en su testamento el inventario de su amplia biblioteca, como un bien cultural y economico. Asi, el proposito de este articulo es analizar las caracteristicas de la misma, considerandose tambien la actuacion profesional y universitaria de su propietario. EnglishDuring Spanish colonial domination, starting in 1558 and through 1777, Merida had ecclesiastic centers of learning belonging to religious orders and those established by the diocese. Convents and the Councilor Seminary established in 1785 as well as the House of Education to form priests fulfi lled their educational tasks under the conditions imposed by their religious orders and life in the city. Th e founding of a University in 1810 at the beginning of the independence process also contributed to the educational process. Th e centers of instruction and the University gave Merida a particular educational cultural signifi cance when compared to other Venezuelan cities with the exception of Caracas. In addition to these formal libraries, members of Merida society had private libraries that were used by the Seminary and the University, as is the case of the Rector Agustin Chipia Landaeta who included in his testament an inventory of his expansive library considering it a cultural and economic resource. The article seeks to analyze the characteristics of the library as well as the professional and academic role of its owner.