The Inter-American Division (IAD) launched its newly rebranded Adventist Virtual Library for hundreds of schools and universities throughout its educational system during a live online ceremony held from Alajuela, Costa Rica, on Mar. 4, 2024. Dozens of students, teachers, educators, church leaders, and administrators gathered at Central American Adventist University to witness the new interface, brand, and resources available.
IAD’s Adventist Virtual Library, which is a service tool led by the education department, was first established in 2007 to support library resources, enhance a culture of research study and reading for students of all ages enrolled at the 13 universities, two seminaries, and hundreds of primary schools across the 24 unions, or major church regions, in the territory.
New website, new design, new logo
With its new website, new design, new logo, and new navigation tools, the Adventist Virtual Library (BiVA) provides access to hundreds of thousands of books, textbooks, encyclopedias, articles, and magazines in all areas of study, educators said.
“This inaugural launch represents more than just a simple program, for it embodies the aspirations of a whole community anxious to embrace the power of education and knowledge,” said Pastor Elie Henry, president of the IAD, as he addressed the group at the campus library. “Libraries are beacons and wells of knowledge that offer unlimited opportunities so that persons can explore, discover and grow,” he added. “May this large space be accessible at any time, be useful and enrich many lives and communities.”
The occasion marks the culmination of the dedication of so many who contributed to the growth of the virtual library, said Pastor Henry. He thanked Evelyn Velazquez, former director of the Adventist Virtual Library, Dr. Moisés Velázquez, former education director of the IAD, for their vision and efforts in establishing the virtual library, and Pastors Israel Leito and Filiberto Verduzco, former president, and treasurer of the IAD, respectively, for their leadership and support.
Pastor Henry vowed to continue supporting, along with his fellow administrators, the virtual library and its valuable impact on students, persons, and families throughout the IAD. “I hope that you are witnesses of the positive influence that BiVA will have and may the spirit of discovery and illumination impregnate each aspect in this new journey to inspire minds and transform lives.”
An Invaluable Tool for Adventist Education
Dr. Faye Patterson, education director of the IAD, echoed her appreciation to IAD leaders and administrators for bestowing the church with such an invaluable tool for the Adventist education system in the territory.
“In a world that changes at an accelerated rhythm, the ability to continuous learning has turned into an essential ability, turning virtual libraries into fundamental pillars of the educational process,” said Dr. Patterson. “This tool not only simplifies access to a broad range of information but also enriches the educational experience of its users and promotes academic and professional development. Thus, virtual libraries emerge as essential tools to those who want to expand their knowledge and explore new learning areas to perfect their abilities.”
Thanks to the virtual tool, children and young people in remote places have access to relevant information, which is crucial in society today, she said. “In addition, many schools that lack physical libraries can do research, answering an imperative need in this contemporary world,” Patterson said.
The extensive virtual library is also an important accreditation requirement for K-12 educational institutions as well as higher education, not only for the Adventist educational system in Inter-America but also for governments in each country, Dr. Patterson said.
Progress of the virtual library since 2007
The virtual library has been offering resources since 2007, and it took some work to upgrade its functionality and expand its resources in English, Spanish and French, said Dr. Yanet Cima, assistant education director for the IAD. Dr. Cima, who was tasked to direct the Adventist Virtual Library in 2021, said she worked tirelessly with a team of experts, professionals, and volunteers to do the rebranding, find easy-to-use modules, expand its encyclopedia resources, textbooks, and everything related to managing and featuring new subscriptions to the virtual library, among others.
Available to its primary, secondary, university and seminary students, professors, educators, and leaders, BiVA’s resources can be accessible with access login and code provided to each union and each educational institution across the IAD educational system. The virtual library also features theological repositories available from several IAD universities and seminaries.
Inter-America’s BiVA runs thanks to the financial support of the 24 unions, Adventist universities, and the IAD, stated Cima.
“It is such a plus to have this virtual library close to our schools which helps motivate students to read more and dig further in their research investigations,” said Cima. Since last year, she has been training teachers and professors on its use and promoting the library’s functionality and data resources for primary, secondary, and university institutions.
Over 3.3 million pages in BiVA were consulted last year, reported Cima. They expect more resources will be reached this year, she added. The virtual library features resources in Spanish, English and articles in French as well as French translation options.
Plans ahead for BiVA
Inter-American Division’s Adventist Virtual Library is unique among other virtual libraries around the world church, said Cima.
Dr. Cima, along with Heidi Baez, librarian of Linda Vista University and now also BiVA librarian, unveiled the new virtual library’s portal, toured its pages, and led a Q&A session during the live program.
“You have seen its beginning, where we are now and we want to share with you our current plans to expand BiVA,” said Cima. Plans are underway to launch the BiVA App giving more accessibility, a reading program for K-12 to follow with specific digital books, and expand BiVA’s use across all the educational institutions in the IAD.
The live online program also featured a video report of the background work for the new rebranding and design, how the virtual library began, as well as testimonials of students and teachers who have been utilizing the virtual library. BiVA also features a series of videos on how to navigate and make the best use of digital resources.
Dr. Xenia Gamboa de Burgos, principal of the Adventist Education Center in Hatillo, Costa Rica — the largest bilingual K-12 school in the IAD — said she didn’t want to miss attending the relaunch of the virtual library.
“I believe that the rebranding of the [virtual] library was very necessary because it required a more modern and dynamic image and I know that the difference in its use it’s going to depend on the teachers navigating and enjoying the benefits of the platform so they can share with their students,” said Dr. Burgos. For the school it means that the 87 teachers and staff will have to get their more than 1,000 students engaged in the Adventist Virtual Library, a plan she will begin to implement in the coming days.
“There are other similar tools available to our students, but our Adventist Virtual Library protects our students from finding information that could affected them such as inappropriate websites,” said Dr. Burgos.
A tool to continue fulfilling the mission
BiVA was created to facilitate access to various databases and links in several languages and diverse educational disciplines that complement teaching-learning and investigative process in all the Adventist educational institutions that are part of the IAD, reaffirmed Cima.
“Our BiVA is more alive, beautiful and ready to continue fulfilling the mission with excellence and we commit during this program our commitment of service to God and thank Him and everyone who has made it possible for the new rebranding,” Dr. Cima said.
This article was provided by the Inter-American Division.
