03.31.26
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Libraries in the Middle East, UAE and Arabian Gulf

By: Natalia Devlin

We are pleased to share one more amazing presentation on libraries around the world. Presented by Ibrahim Ali Mohamed, a new member here at ILCE, this presentation explores the library landscape of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the broader Arabian Gulf region. It highlights a significant shift from traditional reading rooms to modern “Knowledge Hubs” and “third spaces,” exemplified by the Mohammed bin Rashid Library, currently the largest in the Middle East. The UAE faces unique challenges, including heavy reliance on expatriate library staff due to a lack of locally accredited degree programs and the need to navigate regional cultural and political sensitivities in collection development. Despite these tensions, the region remains a vibrant hub for professionals, supported by substantial government investment in diverse library networks and e-resources.

Ibrahim shared this valuable information in our March 2026 meeting. Some of the Q&A discussion afterwards focused on challenges of sourcing materials for Arabic language library collections, finding Arabic speaking librarians, and many more fascinating aspects of international librarianship.

Please check out Ibrahim’s slides over here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BGPtySf42k0uELgzO3jmyrZrOsAOEnnQ/view?usp=sharing

03.17.26
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Librarianship in China

By: Natalia Devlin

At the January 2026 meeting of ILCE, our new member Heather Wright, shared a general overview of what libraries in China look like today. Heather started with some background on public libraries, including the growth of modern public libraries in big cities, many with dramatic architecture. While there has been growth, public library accessibility is still a big issue in smaller cities and rural areas of the country. In very rural areas, charities have focused on building libraries in schools and community centers. Public schools do have libraries, but their functionality and accessibility also varies widely by location and funding, with some providing access to interesting books and comfortable reading/studying areas, while others may have limited collections or only provide study space. 

Most of the presentation focused on international and private school libraries and their unique role. These libraries serve multilingual, highly mobile communities and serve both Chinese and foreign students. They often function as literacy hubs, inquiry spaces, and places of belonging for students navigating multiple cultures and education systems. Efforts are made to promote bilingual reading, and in many schools, collections will also reflect the major languages spoken in the school community. While many will resemble school libraries we see in the US, spaces, collections and staffing are highly varied based on school funding and perceived value of libraries. Many private schools and school leadership do value libraries and provide access to vibrant collections, comfortable spaces, and teacher librarians who provide research lessons, especially those with International Baccalaureate accreditation.

Heather also discussed some of the real challenges librarians face in this context, such as collection constraints and balancing global values with local regulations. Librarian training in China focuses on preparation for academic librarianship, revealing a need for local professional development for librarians working in schools. International/foreign trained librarians often work side by side with Chinese librarians in private schools, and regional professional development chat groups/meetings/conferences provide learning opportunities for all.

For further details and to review Heather’s slides, please follow this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18BoQW0nwgH4AKg7p68lkWOjjKXU4tnl_/view?usp=sharing

01.06.26
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IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2025

By: Shannon Brennan

At our final ILCE Meeting of 2025, Natalia Devlin, an ILCE Steering Committee Member, shared a presentation on her trip to the IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2025 over the summer. Here is what she shared:

In August 2025, Natalia Devlin represented Colorado and Arapahoe Libraries at IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2025 (IFLA WLIC) in Astana, Kazakhstan, with poster presentation “Leveraging Community Partnerships to Serve Immigrant And Multilingual Communities”.

IFLA WLIC is one of the world’s largest and most diverse library conferences. This year the conference welcomed 160 delegates from 110 countries with largest delegations representing the US, Kazakhstan, and China. 

Recurring themes in presentations included AI, Technology, Digital Future of Libraries, Media Behavior of Information Users, Issues with Misinformation and Fake News, as well as challenges related to Equality & Inclusion. 

The host country of Kazakhstan did a fantastic job welcoming delegates from around the world and introducing them to Kazakh culture, Kazakhstan’s history and modernity, and especially to Kazakhstan’s libraries. 

In conversations with local librarians, Natalia learned that many Kazakhstan libraries created “American Corners” – spaces for cultural exchange and learning with books, programs, and activities, that introduced Kazakhstan youth to American culture. With the US Department of State sunsetting the funding for this program, Kazakhstan’s public libraries are concerned about the future of cultural exchange through libraries between our nations.

Nevertheless, Kazakhstan’s librarians and communities continue to maintain relationships with other countries and cultures across the world. In a bookstore in Astana, one can find books in Kazakh, Russian, English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, German, French, and so on. Local youth seem excited about graphic novels, international bestsellers, and so on. But local academic and school librarians are concerned how the world of AI is changing what youth considers important when seeking out quality resources and texts – a global concern shared across many countries.

Check out Natalia’s photo report here.

Next year’s IFLA WLIC is taking place in Busan, South Korea in mid-August. 

09.06.25
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ILCE Grant 2025 Awardees

By: Shannon Brennan

We were excited to receive numerous applications over the summer and were able to finalize supporting four Colorado libraries with ILCE grant funding. The following are the recipients of a CAL ILCE Interest Group Grant for 2025:

  • Claudine Perrault, Director & Village Librarian, Estes Valley Library, in partnership with Estes Park Sister Cities Association and Sister Cities International, will further the development and enhancement of their Sister City library, Santa Elena Interactive Public Library in Costa Rica. The grant will be used to improve its library space, technology, and services.
  • Boulder Public Library District, in partnership with the Center for African American Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, will use the grant to celebrate their “Kwanzaa is for Everyone!” program.
  • Taylor Evans, Adult Services Librarian of Montrose Regional Library, in partnership with the Mexican American Development Association’s Hispanic Heritage and History Coalition, will develop a community-led walking tour of a historical Latinx neighborhood Tortilla Flats.
  • Poudre Libraries, in partnership with Fort Collins Museum Discovery, The Family Center– La Falia, Fuerza Latina, and Realities for Children, will celebrate a collaborative library program.

04.24.25
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Arapahoe Libraries “Stories of Welcoming” Program Highlights and List of Resources

By Shannon Brennan

Natalia Devlin, Language and Immigrant Services Coordinator of Arapahoe Libraries, recently shared about a project last summer and provided some excellent resources. In August 2024, Arapahoe Libraries offered the Stories of Welcoming Mini-Series focused on what makes a welcoming community:

  • August 14, in collaboration with Colorado Humanities and with Rachel Garcia (Mexican Cultural Center Denver) as facilitator, Arapahoe Libraries hosted a discussion panel of community members and experts on the topic of newcomers’ experiences.
  • August 21, in collaboration with 9News, Arapahoe Libraries screened the documentary ‘Una Vida Nueva’ / “A New Life” which featured stories of asylum seekers arriving to Colorado during Winter 2022-2023 and included a robust Q&A session with the journalist and filmmaker Angeline McCall at the end

Here are just some of the comments from participants:

  • “It was art. Everything about it was ordinarily extraordinary. I felt emotional like I had been at a live performance of an incredible show, but it isn’t art. It’s reality, and it’s so rare to be invited to view another person’s life like that… I’m so glad to have been there to witness how vibrant and strong this community is for each other.” – a community member
  • “It was so informative and moving at the same time. I am so glad I learned about this and was able to attend.” – a K-12 educator
  • “The event at the Arapahoe Library successfully brought together community members and newcomers, fostering a shared space for growth and connection.” – a former refugee and an activist
  • “It was great to experience stories without judgement. That doesn’t always happen in public spaces around the topic of immigration” – a community member
  • “This has been the most diverse panel I have ever been on” – a local nonprofit director

Here are a list of resources Natalia has generously provided for your library programming:

04.06.25
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Sister Libraries Toolkit

By Shannon Brennan and Kathleen Robertson

Ever wondered how to expand your library services abroad and connect with another country? CAL’s International Library & Cultural Exchange Interest Group has partnered with Sister Cities International to create a toolkit. In this toolkit, Sister Cities International (SCI) and Sister Libraries share best practices for developing long-lasting and successful relationships between libraries and Sister Cities. Check out this link to access the toolkit.

10.02.24
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Poudre Libraries International Partnership with Nicaragua

By Shannon Brennan and Kathleen Robertson

The last ILCE meeting included a presentation from Victor Zuniga, System Administrator at Poudre Libraries in Fort Collins. He described the library systems relationship with their sister library in San Juan Del Sur (SJDS) in Nicaragua. Their goal is to provide opportunities and information to the community. In considering these goals Victor’s empathic approach incorporating active listening and strong communication led to success of this collaboration. He saw there was a need for an integrated library system, Victor found the open source software Koha and, with SJDS, decided this was the best fit. Victor was able to customize the program and interface to match solutions to their workload. Their work together has blossomed into a 10 year partnership which has continued to expand services in many ways, including 3D printing projects for local high schoolers and entrepreneurs as well as establishing RACHEL – Remote Area Community Hotspot for Education and Learning, a portable battery powered device that contains copies of websites, available in offline format. Victor also noted key aspects that contribute to the longevity of this work which includes operationalizing the time he devotes to this and making sure there is a written agreement formalizing the arrangement.

For more information, check out this presentation.

08.28.24
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Alexandria Library Cultural Exchange

By Shannon Brennan and Kathleen Robertson

Diana Price, manager of the Charles E. Beatley, Jr., Central Library in Alexandria, Virginia, was a guest speaker at the May meeting of the CAL International Library and Cultural Exchange interest group. She described her positive experience with the International Sister Libraries program. Her library developed a new Sister Library partnership with a library in Dundee, Scotland, that enriches patrons in both countries. One popular program that has resulted from the partnership is an adult book club, in which patrons in both communities read a book and then gather together virtually for a rich discussion. This presentation explains the exchange in more depth.

08.28.24
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Grant Awarded

By Shannon Brennan and Kathleen Robertson

We hope you have had a wonderful summer full of amazing adventures and international travel! To recap, in the spring the CAL International Library and Cultural Exchange interest group posted an opportunity to apply for a grant. We are excited to announce that we have awarded the grant to Elektra Greer, director of the Nederland Community Library, for her Nederland Community Library International Sister Library Student Exchange Program. Students from the Nederland, Colorado, area worked with students in The Netherlands to develop skills to address the issue of climate change. The project concluded with student exchanges during July, when, first, Dutch students visited Nederland and then Colorado students visited The Netherlands. The communities on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean welcomed the visitors and shared their unique activities, food, and cultural events; it was an unforgettable international experiential learning opportunity for all. Congratulations to Elektra for the library’s involvement in spearheading such a program!

Update!  Elektra Greer let us know that the American Embassy in the Hague is going to give her program over $20,000 to help them do their International Student exchange again next year! This award is a great tribute to Elektra’s hard work and dedication to cultural collaboration.

Here is a link to the Nederland Community Library webpage highlighting the program: International Student Cultural Exchange.

Here is a program overview.