Laura Russo

Laura Garcia Moreno Russo (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, February 20, 1915 − São Paulo, SP, Brazil, April 30, 2001) was a Brazilian librarian who had a fundamental role in the creation and approval of organizations and legislation that would regulate the practice of librarianship in Brazil.

Laura Russo was one of the people responsible for the regulation of the librarian profession. She was the founder and first president of the Federação Brasileira de Associações de Bibliotecários (FEBAB) and of the Conselho Federal de Biblioteconomia (CFB). As a librarian, she worked at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, at the Academia Paulista de Letras, at the Biblioteca Mário de Andrade, among other institutions.

In 1958 she got a master's degree in Library and Archival Science from the National Library of Spain.

Career Russo worked as a librarian at Santa Casa from 1942 to 1950, working specifically at the First Surgical Clinic for Women from 1950 to 1952. In 1947 she received an award from the Associação Paulista de Bibliotecários for her work with hospital libraries. In 1951, she founded the circulating library Prof. Celestino Bourroul for the hospital patients.

Russo worked as editor of FEBAB's bulletin from 1961 to 1970, and as editor for the Revista Brasileira de Biblioteconomia e Documentação from 1973 to 1977.

In 1966, Russo participated in the creation of the Conselho Federal de Biblioteconomia (CFB) and the Regional Councils (Conselhos Regionais). She was elected as CFB's first president.

Legislation and regulation of the profession With the assistance of Maria Helena Brandão, Russo wrote the document that would become the Law 4.084 of 1962, defining the profession of the librarian and regulating its exercise.

Ultimately, the goal of the legislation was to create a market reserve for librarians, guaranteeing that only those with a bachelor's in Library Science could practice the profession. It was believed that this would bring greater visibility and respect for the profession. achieving legal status in 1966 and falling under the responsibility of CFB.

Laura Russo Award As a tribute to her professional work, the Regional Council of Librarianship of the State of São Paulo (CRB-8) created the Laura Russo Prize in 1998, that aims to recognize cultural initiatives and encourage the use of the library and library services.

Notable publications

RUSSO, Laura Garcia Moreno. A biblioteconomia brasileira, 1915-1965. Instituto National do Livro, 1966.