On November 25, 2024, the Ministry of Health Library celebrated 71 years of work on behalf of public health with a special ceremony in Brasilia. The event brought together authorities, professionals and partners who have helped consolidate the institution as a reference in the dissemination of technical and scientific information on public health in Brazil.
The ceremony highlighted the contributions of leading professionals who have played important roles in the Library’s trajectory. In addition to the individual tributes, BIREME was also recognized for its historic partnership with the Ministry of Health, represented by Director João Paulo Souza and librarian Joanita de Barros.
For Director João Paulo Souza, the tribute reinforces the importance of the joint work between the institutions. “The Library of the Ministry of Health and BIREME share a trajectory that has transformed access to public health information in Brazil and in the region. This recognition not only values the past but renews our commitment to continue democratizing knowledge in order to strengthen health policies and services,” he stated.
Program and tributes
The ceremony included speeches by authorities such as the executive secretary of the Ministry of Health, Swedenberger do Nascimento Barbosa, and the general coordinator of Documentation and Information at the Ministry of Health, Eva Patricia Alvares Lopes. The tributes recognized personalities who have marked the Library’s history and reinforced impactful institutional partnerships.
During the ceremony, professionals who have marked the history of the Ministry of Health Library for their significant contributions were highlighted. Among those honored was Antônio Agenor Briquet de Lemos, a pioneer in the management of the Library’s collection and responsible for innovative initiatives such as the Informação para Saúde newsletter. Also recognized was Marcia Rollemberg, creator of the General Coordination of Documentation and Information, who played a key role in setting up the Virtual Health Library Network at the Ministry of Health.
Another highlight was Eliane Santos, whose technical leadership was recognized as essential to the development of the Ministry of Health’s Virtual Health Library (MoH’s VHL). She currently works as a regional advisor on knowledge management at PAHO/WHO. Finally, Shirlei Corrêa Rodrigues was honored for her dedication as the Library’s manager and for important initiatives such as the creation of the BiblioSUS Network and the enhancement of the institution’s cultural heritage.
In addition to the honored people, BIREME was recognized with a commemorative plaque, celebrating its historic contribution to strengthening the MoH’s VHL and other projects that expand access to public health information.
The program also included a round table discussion on the Library’s history. During the debate, experiences on health information and communication management were shared, highlighting BIREME’s strategic role in regional and global projects.
For Director João Paulo Souza, this was a moment to celebrate the Library as an entity that contributes decisively to the materialization of the ideals of the SUS, while at the same time celebrating “our shared mission to democratize access to health information in order to strengthen our system and services”.
Commitment to the future
The celebration of the 71st anniversary of the MS Library was not only a retrospective, but also a milestone to reinforce the commitment to innovation and expanding access to health knowledge. “Health information is an essential pillar for promoting equity, and the partnership between BIREME and the Ministry of Health Library will continue to generate positive impacts for society as a whole,” concluded João Paulo Souza.