Lucía Abello is a Chilean librarian, naturalist and botanist. She has been in charge of exploring, researching, documenting and disseminating the native flora in her region and in her country, as well as its traditional uses through photography and bibliographic publications. She has also been in charge of promoting reading from the public library with a respect for the environment approach.
Libraries and environment
Lucía Abello is the Coordinator of the Los Rios Regional Public Library system. Before this position she was the Director of the Doñihue Municipal Public Library and the San Vicente Agricultural School Library.
Abello has pioneered a unique role within libraries that combines environmental conservation and information science. This is of particular importance in Chile and other parts of Latin America where education about biodiversity and the climate is transferred to learners through the act of reading. As library director at the Municipal Public Library in Doñihue, she created partnerships and educational programs between the library and Parque Safari. She has given several interviews and her work has been recognized by UNESCO's Regional Center for the promotion of books in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2012 she was chosen as the Outstanding Librarian of the Year, the highest honor bestowed by the Chilean National Library Association ().
Awards and distinctions
Merit Award. Illustrious Municipality of Doñihue for her outstanding professional work (1995). Learning Resource Center of the Claudio Arrau León de Doñihue High School: For her constant support to the students in their work as a librarian (2003). Scholarship for an internship at the Germán Sánchez Ruipérez Foundation, Salamanca, Spain granted by the Book Fund of the National Council of Culture and the Arts (2004). The Regional Council for Culture and the Arts pays tribute to the members of the Regional Directory, fundamental pillars of the new cultural institutionality (2007). Outstanding Librarian Award by the College of Librarians of Chile, 2012 San Vicente de Paul Agricultural School, Quimávida, Coltauco: For her valuable contribution to the education of our students (2013). Illustrious Municipality of Doñihue in Appreciation for her 20 years of work in the education of the commune (2014). College of Librarians of Peru. Incorporation as an Honorary Member (2014). Selected to integrate the International Training Program Network of Emerging Library Innovators (INELI- Iberoamérica), which was implemented in 10 Latin American countries by CERLALC, in association with the Germán Sánchez Ruipérez Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Selected by the College of Librarians of Chile to be a trainer for the International Advocacy Program (IAP - IFLA LAC - ODS and Agenda 2030 (2016). FILSA Award 2022 for promoting the readership