Madrid. – The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and the National Library of Spain (BNE) have signed a general framework agreement aimed at developing joint initiatives for the preservation, access, and dissemination of bibliographic and documentary heritage, with special emphasis on the history of Ibero-America and the Dominican Republic.
The agreement was signed by the President of GFDD and former President of the Dominican Republic, Dr. Leonel Fernández Reyna, and the Director of the National Library of Spain, Óscar Arroyo Ortega, in a ceremony that reaffirmed the commitment of both institutions to strengthen cultural, academic, and documentary cooperation between the Dominican Republic, Spain, and the broader Ibero-American space.
The protocol establishes collaboration in access to documents and manuscripts relevant to Ibero-American and Dominican history, the development of research supported by the BNE, the exchange of best practices in library management and technical advisory services, as well as the exchange of publications issued by both institutions.
During his remarks, Dr. Leonel Fernández stated:
“Today we take a significant step in strengthening cultural ties between Ibero-America and Spain with the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and the National Library of Spain.
This framework opens new opportunities for the promotion of books and reading, as well as the preservation, access, and dissemination of bibliographic and documentary heritage, fostering research and knowledge exchange for the benefit of our societies.
As part of this effort, the Juan Bosch Library has donated various publications from the GFDD Publishing House, which now includes 243 titles—works that reflect the plural thinking, academic rigor, and commitment to research that characterize our institution.
With this initiative, we reaffirm our vocation to contribute to cultural dialogue, the strengthening of historical memory, and the international projection of Dominican thought.”
The document recognizes GFDD as an international institution committed to research, culture, and academic cooperation, as well as to strengthening cultural and educational ties between the Dominican Republic, Spain, the United States, and the countries of Ibero-America.
It also highlights the role of the GFDD Juan Bosch Library as a specialized center for social sciences, regional documentation, and Ibero-American thought, called to actively participate in the initiatives developed under this cooperation framework.
The protocol will have an initial duration of four years, renewable for an additional period, and includes the creation of a joint monitoring committee composed of representatives from both institutions.
With this signing, GFDD and the National Library of Spain open a new stage of institutional collaboration that will contribute to preserving documentary memory, promoting research, and projecting Dominican thought within the Ibero-American sphere.
