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.