PUERTO RICO – Nestled in the warm, ecologically rich island of Puerto Rico, the International Institute of Tropical Forestry Library has been serving as a hub for tropical and neotropical ecosystem data for 85 years.

The International Institute of Tropical Forestry, previously called the Tropical Forest Experiment Station (1939-1992), established their library for the first time in 1939. The station's library specializes in tropical forestry around the world and has been collecting, organizing and delivering the best science available to local, national and international audiences.

“We are part of the National Forest Service Library, our biggest contribution, as the USDA Forest Service’s Institute specialized in tropical forestry, is to serve our colleagues and to conserve the historically unique collections that have been growing since 1939, representing the Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgins Islands landscape,” said Yariliz Quiles Martínez, IITF Library branch director.  

Libraries are dynamic hubs of learning, creativity and community engagement that provide access to information, offering educational programs and serving as safe spaces for individuals of all ages. The IITF Library is home to a vast collection of both Research and Development and State, Private, and Tribal Forestry publications. SP&TF products are focused on urban forest sustainability, mapping canopy forestry, green infrastructure with the purpose to advance public benefits, protect forests from harm and sustain Caribbean landscapes for multiple values and uses. 

This year, the Institute celebrated 85 years of service to the USDA Forest Service, the scientific community and the public. As one of the three branches of the National Forest Service Library, the IITF Library honors the branch, librarians and collaborators who are committed to serving Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.  

“We honor the Institute’s collaborative accomplishment. Their efforts allowed knowledge to be publicly available for Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and nationwide partners and expand information accessibility” expressed Magaly Figueroa, program manager of the State, Private, and Tribal Forestry unit at the Institute.  

The IITF Library expansion over the years has paved the way for innovative scientific discoveries, bringing cultural competence services and worldwide solutions to the scientific problems on tropical ecosystems. The IITF Library team, composed of IITF Library Branch Director Yariliz R. Quiles Martínez, Library Technician Evelyn Pagán Fernandez and Sylvia Zavala, library volunteer and retired librarian, serve the present and future generations of environmental professionals.

You can get in touch with the IITF Library team at SM.FS.IITFLibrary@usda.gov.