Jesse Shera in Brazil? contributions to Brazilian librarianship in the 1950s

ABSTRACT This study presents the contributions of Jesse Hauk Shera to the configuration of Librarianship in the Brazilian scenario from the 1950s, focusing on the analysis of the content and ideals disseminated in the course taught in Brazil. The research is characterized as historical-documentary, thus, institutions responsible for keeping the memory of Brazilian Librarianship were contacted in order to obtain primary sources, including periodicals from the 1950s. In the set of secondary sources are scientific works of observers of Brazilian Librarianship and participants of this historical moment, which provided information to reconstitute the period. As a result it can be stated that Jesse Shera acted in the knowledge and librarianship of the 1950s through discussions and productions around the librarianship field. His influence is evidenced in the education of librarians, in arguments of dilemmas and studies in the epistemology of librarianship. We conclude that Shera was and still is an exponent of this science and his contribution in Brazil was significant for a theory and practice with North American biases of pragmatism and social interaction. His bibliographic production is open to investigations on this theoretician and on the path of Librarianship in the country.