ACRL International Perspectives on Academic and Research Libraries Discussion Group

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Charge: The International Perspectives on Academic and Research Libraries Discussion Group serves to promote awareness and discussion of the international, transnational, and global dimensions of issues critical to the future of academic and research libraries, to promote comparative study of academic library trends, issues, and operations, and to promote collaboration between academic and research librarians on issues benefiting from an international perspective.


#ACRL Discussion and Interest Groups (Association of College and Research Libraries)

Notes - ACRL International Perspectives on Academic & Research Libraries DG - MIdWinter Chicago

  • 1.  Notes - ACRL International Perspectives on Academic & Research Libraries DG - MIdWinter Chicago

    Posted Feb 05, 2015 08:43 PM

    What:  ACRL International Perspectives on Academic & Research Libraries DG


    When:  Friday, January 30th from 1 - 2:30pm


    Where:  McCormick Place West - W186c


    Who:


     


    We had three very exciting speakers lined up for our DG this year; and had about 30 people who joined us for a wonderful discussion. 


     



    • Zachary Newell - Library Program Area Chair & Arts Librarian - Salem State University Library


      • As a librarian at Salem State University, Zach worked with a group of faculty to successfully write a grant to bring a group of Iraqi Fulbright Scholars to study at the University in the summer of 2014.  Working with the group, he identified effective teaching strategies related to diversity, multiculturalism and social justice. Zach will also address how a “Muslim Journeys” grant highlighted an international context that, combined with the work of the Fulbright Scholars, led to enduring collaborations with area groups.  Zach will also highlight how these initiatives align with the University’s mission and work to internationalize its campus.  

      • Started with a Fulbright scholarship experience in Alexandria, Egypt with the arts & multimedia library.  Brought in speakers to the library. 

      • Salem State University – State Run institution – revamped its learning outcomes for the university for general education. 


        • World Cultures

        • Information Literacy

        • Move to Internationalism & Globalism


      • When he returned from Egypt – NEH Bridging Cultures Award that he applied for to give them books on Muslim Journeys and POV’s. Grant wrapped up last year.


        • Programming around Islam, including lectures & discussions

        • They helped model the First year reading experience, including reading circles and master classes


          • Single reading/book for all first year students


        • Integrating dialogue into class – looking for teachable moments, research & resources


      • Friends Forever Program – Rotarian project


        • Build Peace

        • Bring Israeli/Palestinian Youth to the NH for cultural exchange

        • Muslim Journeys Dialogue


          • Symmetry with Programming



      • Decided to host visiting scholars from Iraq through Fulbright


        • Brought in a group of 8 Iraqi scholars.  All junior, many without PhD.  Taking ESL classes.  3 were Kurdish Scholars and 5 were Iraqi.

        • Teaching Critical Literacy & Information Literacy  - Creating Mutual Understanding (theme of the whole visit)

        • Building a mentorship program


          • Helping them understand multi-cultural experience

          • Applying to graduate programs – helping them understand the academic structure

          • Providing an initiation into the University and Research

          • Providing understanding of teaching and how they could bring it back to Iraq. 



      • Continued partnerships with area groups


        • Rotary Club of Marblehead


          • Guest speakers, many conversations throughout the library

          • Interested in establishing a rotary club in Iraq.


        • Continued programs with Friends Forever


          • Programming through the library – using a Muslim Journey discussion style.


        • Pax Populi


          • Brought many people how to help run many programs.



      • This led to the creation of a task force on Comprehensive Internationalization

      • Q&A


        • More detail about event put on using Muslim Journeys Funding?


          • Predominantly lectures




    • Olga Hart, Coordinator of Library Instruction & Rosemary Franklin, ESL Librarian - University of Cincinnati


      • Thanks to special grant funding made available to campus units through University of Cincinnati's five-year diversity plan, UC Libraries started special library programming for international students. Olga and Rosemary will discuss the identified areas of special service and programming as well as the diversity project's current success and future planning. 

      • Ohio is 8th in the nation in number of international students studying in post-secondary education and the state views education of these students as an investment in it’s economic future. 

      • Ohio has a globalization initiative

      • University of Cincinnati has international partners in Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East & Northern Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa.    

      • History of Library Involvement


        • General Orientation, course instruction within ESL and ELS (outsourced service) classes, and doing collection development around supporting the international student population. 

        • UC Libraries submitted a proposal that would focus on the international students body by building external and internal communities and raising cultural awareness of staff and students. 


      • Looked at other universities to see what they were doing well – from a pool of international universities.  Looked at UK, Canada, New Zealand, etc.

      • Hired an International Student to focus on international programming. Great insights into how to run the program, what life was like for kids in China growing up, and what life was like at UC. Helpful for designing programming that is relevant to students’ needs and level and suitable to their language proficiency level.

      • Orientation Conference with a formal presentation and an information poster session, some basic facts about plagiarism, general way for students to ask questions and learn more information about academics at UC, but also, how to talk to librarians despite language barriers.

      • Undergraduate Orientation – greeting by the members of the faculty & staff at UC in several languages , student-ledactivities , candy rewards, handouts.. 

      • After the session ended, everyone had a chance to affix a star on where they come from. 

      • Holidays around the world – library brought in ethnic holiday foods from students’ home countries, as well as traditional American thanksgiving foods. Presentation about holidays associated with harvest, Fall, family or giving thanks.

      • Not all fun – tried to bring in an academic emphasis through the monthly newsletter called the Library Lifesaver where they tell students about relevant resources and activities going on at the library. 

      • Designing online orientation, working more with the study abroad program, and a Lunar New Year event. 

      • Plans for the future will be focusing on academic aspects of student success as well as collaborating with campus initiatives toward building cultural competency. 

      • Q&A


        • In regards to the newsletter, are you using something fun like constant contact or graphic design, or just a plain text email?


          • Text email, possibly brand in the future.  They are also connecting via social media


        • How do you find the time to do all of this ON TOP of your regular duties as Instruction Coordinator?


          • Right now, she’s under a lot of stress.  She has a team of enthusiastic co-workers who help her.  No release time. 

          • Need to set priorities – Globalization is a big strategic initiative at the campus level. 


        • Could you clarify – how long is the orientation for international students and how long does the library have


          • 9am – 3:30pm for the Full-day conference.  Library has 1 hour session.  They conflicted last year with internships & fellowships.  Next year, the library orientation won’t conflict

          • Hour long window where students could access the open table.

          • 1 hour

          • Undergraduate orientation – an hour and a half is open to them, schedule of activities can be shared upon request.


        • Did you have to give Orientation to International Students on what a US Library is?  Is that an odd experience for those students?


          • Not that it ever came up, but they will be providing an basic introduction to American Libraries – even if its just a few sentences on the LibGuides.  




    • Laurie Kutner, Information & Instruction Librarian - University of Vermont Libraries


      • Laurie ran an ALA sponsored trip to Costa Rica in the summer of 2014.  The 13 librarians from all over the US worked on 3 different library projects in the Monteverde area of Costa Rica and contributed a total of 200 hours to these projects.  Laurie will talk about the experiences gained on this trip and the interest of librarians to engage in this kind of international travel and service.

      • UVM Libraries – combined educational travel with community library service component.  In Costa Rica for 9 days this summer

      • ALA International Relations Office and sponsorship by ALA

      • History of Library work in Menteverde, CR


        • Started with sabbatical work – worked with Monteverde Institute


          • Combining educational opportunities, international travel, and service 

          • Created digital collections of research materials during 2008 – 2012 through MLIS program at Syracuse

          • Because of this work, she wanted to start a program for current librarians – wrote the proposal as part of her sabbatical application. 

          • ALA office did logistical work, promotional work, and other assistance.

          • Had 30 applicants – wanted to take no more than 12 librarians at once.  They had 13 participants. 



      • Day 1 & 2 – Getting to know each other


        • People are coming from all over the country – travel gods smiled on them.  The group was all women

        • First day was set-up to get to know each other, food, etc.

        • Second day, went to an organic educational farm as a get to know you activity. 


      • Day 3 – 8


        • 4 hours of work, ecotorism, and lectures and learning opportunities. 

        • Monteverde is a cloud forest ecosystem/farming community founded by Quaker conscientious objectors from Alabama who left the US during the Vietnam war. 

        • 3 Projects for a combined 200 hours of volunteer work


          • San Luis Community Library project, San Luis School Activity, Area School Mobile Library Project


            • Worked out of the community health center because the community center was being used. 

            • Went out with someone who runs a book truck/lending library


          • Monteverde Friends community & school Library


            • Library in the Quaker community.  Primarily in English and built through donations.  Open 24/7.  The library is run by a member of the Quaker community with an MLS and runs it through a volunteer committee

            • Uses a card catalog.  The library purchased some ILS software to create a catalog that is also in use at the Monteverde Institute. 

            • The group was going to be adding content into the system.  Unfortunately, the server wasn’t working the week they were there, so they did organization and got it ready for ingestions. 


          • Third Group did more digitization work at the Instituto Monteverde – worked on getting data into ecology collection


            • Locally based research materials, community health & sustainable community development. 



        • Lots of tourist activities

        • Brought Spanish language books, library cards & book pockets etc. as donations. 


      • In the end, the opportunity to contribute service was the initial main appeal.  Participants appreciated the combination of education & tourist activities.  It was transformative, especially for early career librarians.  There is a demand for this type of international international travel.   

      • Q&A


        • Did you have a Spanish language requirement


          • Some kind of knowledge of Spanish was necessary in San Luis


        • Can you bring this back to UVM – we have nothing like this where questioner is and no sabbatical either.


          • The sabbatical application at her institution helped her craft this over time. 


        • As far as service/international travel – what’s the one main element to make that trip/planning that trip successful


          • Planning a really good itinerary, and having something solid to actually deliver, and then actually deliver what you’re saying to deliver.


        • What does ALA sponsorship mean?


          • ALA didn’t fund this at all.  People funded their own travel.  ALA fielded inquiries and promotion.  They also collected all the money, some of that money went to ALA.  They did logistical and financial transactions.


        • Have you talked to ALA about other intentional trips like this?


          • Not aware of any other projects.  Trouble is finding someone who can set up all the community service pieces. 


        • Do you know what ALA would be looking for as far as what ALA would be looking for?


          • Laurie approached them and ALA said we’d be interested. The process of getting through ALA is a bureaucratic one. 


        • The National Libraries of Costa Rica don’t lend, why?


          • It’s a question of availability of resources


        • Did you have more applicants than you were willing to take? How did that work if you had to reject folks


          • Preference was given to ALA members.  She didn’t have to cut anyone because people who wanted to bring spouses who weren’t ALA members just opted out.


        • What was the cost?


          • $1900 + airfare – all inclusive





    Speakers had about 25 minutes to present their topic, including Q&A.  Overall, this was a very successful program. Slides are attached.