This is the first of a series of profiles of Latinos making a difference in this country. I hope you enjoy it. Know of someone with Latin American heritage making a difference in your community? Share their story with other Hispanic Trending readers.
June 22, 2007
Ms. Elvira Muñoz is a Venezuelan citizen. She has an undergraduate degree in Architecture from the Central University of Venezuela; a graduate degree in Housing, Planning & Building (Diploma) from Bow Centrum International Education, Rotterdam, Holland; and another degree in Library & Information Studies (M.L.I.S.) from the California University, Berkley, international consultant in the planning of library buildings USA.
She is a specialist in library space planning and interior design, actually the only one in Venezuela with such unique background. Her experience combines the practice of both Architecture & Interior Design with Library Building Planning & the Science of Library Information, She is the master mind behind the Venezuelan National Library, where she created a Architectural space planning department, where she was known as an outside comprehensively practicing architect as well as a consultant on a term commitment basis.
In 1979, the Venezuelan national library authority became so involved in the architectural project that enlisted the expertise of Expert Frazer G. Poole, an American library scientist and recognized international consultant in the planning of library buildings. This engagement lasted ten (10) years and Mr. Poole always had Ms. Muñoz as his counterpart. The new Venezuelan national library building is unique in terms of type of Construction and area of the building: (860,215 sq ft.)
Ms Muñoz has been a leader of the team in charge of monitoring the construction process of the new Venezuelan national library building. At the same time she has led the interior design project and furnishing (which implies heavy selecting and purchasing responsibilities.) The designing and construction process allowed her to participate in joint studies, becoming the only expert capable of offering optional solutions for which often there were no references in Venezuela. Because of her duties she has developed strong inter personal and communication skills: she regularly deals with International area experts as well as architects, engineers, technicians, clerks, unqualified workers, but also senior library officials and government officials.
She has learned from studying, from experience, and from very useful contacts in her travel abroad. However, it was Mr. Poole, her mentor and dear friend, whom she learned more from. Ms Muñoz is a recognized specialist in the area of library architecture in the region. She has worked as a consultant for almost every country in Latin America, such as: Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Ecuador, and has been invited to expose her knowledge in several International Events such as the IFLA Conference (Turkish and Holland).
Ms. Muñoz’s work as a consultant has spanned a broad spectrum of activities: programming, space planning, and interior design. Her projects have included feasibility plans, new buildings, additions to existing structures, and renovations for a variety of library building types in the Venezuelan government, academic, and private sectors (also abroad.) She is a problem solver. Since 1984 until 2006 the architect Elvira Muñoz has worked in more than 25 architectural projects, which involved: remodeling, new design projects and consultant projects. Her activities include almost all the main universities and colleges in Venezuela.
The most important and complete architectural project she has done, after the participation in the Venezuela National Library building, is the Panama Library Building Project, which covers 500 square feet in total. The process consisted in: Evaluation, preparing the architectural program, the architectural building project, the interior design project, the sign system design project, and recommendation for operating the building and conservation of the collections.
She was recently one of a handful selected as the head Architect/Designer of the “Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas” (Central University of Venezuela) Library Building renovation and Recovering Project, this project is especially crucial because it was just declared “World Heritage” by the UNESCO because it’s a masterpiece of modern city planning, architecture and art, created by the Venezuelan architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva and a group of distinguished avant-garde artists.
Ms. Muñoz has received several acknowledgments and recognition for her labor, some of which are:
Republic of Venezuela Medal
Order to the Merit for the Work in the Second Class, The Autonomous Institute of the Venezuelan National Library grants her a “SILVER LOGO”
“Personal Acknowledge”
ABINIA, Association of National Libraries of Iberoamerica grants her for her extraordinary participation in the process of Planning Project and Construction of the Venezuelan National Library new building.
“Special Recognition”
ANABISAI, Directors National Association of Libraries, Nets and Services of Information of the Academic, University Sector and of Investigation, grants her for her extraordinary input to the development of the libraries in Venezuela.
Ms. Muñoz is a member in good standing of the Venezuelan College of Engineers (C.I.V.) -whereby she is a licensed Architect in the whole Republic of Venezuela–the Venezuelan College of Architects (C.A.V.) and the American Library Association (A.L.A.) Within A.L.A. she is a member of the Library Administration and Management Association, appearing in the Library Building Consultant List.
“The combination of Elvira’s extensive academic education as an architect and as a librarian makes her unique in Latin America and numerous parts of the world.”
– Frazer G. Poole (international consultant in the planning of library buildings)
Download a brief essay by Ms. Muñoz titled, "KEYS TO CONSIDER IN PLANING AND BUILDING SUCCESSFUL LIBRARY BUILDINGS"
