The International Library and Cultural Exchange Interest Group of the Colorado Association of Libraries is pleased to announce that the “3D Printing Technology Training in the San Juan del Sur Nicaragua Public Library” project is this year’s recipient of the American Library Association’s International Relations Round Table (IRRT) Mission Enhancement Grant. 

Funds from the IRRT Mission Enhancement Grant will provide training manuals and workbooks, printer supplies, software, and maintenance tools, and trainer costs.

The International Relations Round Table Endowment fund was established in 2016. Interest from the Endowment is used to fund member-initiated proposals for international activities and initiatives which contribute to ALA’s role in international librarianship.  Goals for the funding are to provide support for international projects or partnerships; promote a global dialogue about librarianship; increase visibility of international opportunities for U.S. and international librarians, and encourage international collaboration in librarianship.  Information about the grant may be found at http://www.ala.org/rt/irrt-mission-enhancement-grant.

This year’s project was submitted by ILCE-IG Board member member Jane C. Mirandette, President,Treasurer of the Hester J.Hodgdon Libraries for All Program and Director of the San Juan del Sur Biblioteca in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.  HJH Libraries for All Program is headquartered in Loveland. CO.

This project provides training—for library staff and local educators—in operating 3D printers at the San Juan del Sur Nicaragua Library. The library obtained the printers in 2019 through a donation from the Hester J. Hodgdon Libraries for All Foundation, and put them to preliminary use in 2020 making face shields for the Covid-19 pandemic.

The project expands the use of the 3D printers with a week-long training event—by a professional 3D printer trainer in Managua—for library staff members and local high school educators, in both the use and maintenance of the printers. They, in turn, will train local high school students, as part of the library’s cooperation with local schools in promoting innovative technology and entrepreneurship.

 Press release: http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2021/05/nicaragua-3d-printing-project-wins-2021-international-relations-round-table

A panel representing past awardees of the ILCE-IG Grant and members of the ILCE-IG presented on the ILCE-IG grant on September 10 during the CALCON 2020 annual conference.

Program Description:

Inspired by international librarianship? Are you working on an international or multi-cultural project that could use a little boost? Since 2016, the International Library & Cultural Exchange-Interest Group (ILCE-IG) has awarded small grants that have helped fund projects such as first language children’s book publishing, conferences and workshops, exhibits, and multi-cultural festivals. Past awardees with projects in Africa, Central America, and within Colorado will present on their projects with focus on a successful application and the outcomes of their projects. Steering committee members will be available to discuss the timeline and brainstorm projects that might be considered for the grant.

Presentation Video 

For those unable to attend, please find a link to the session on YouTube:

PowerPoints

Nancy Bolt

Nancy Bolt: Introduction

Karen Kllanxhja

Karen Kllanxhja: Mesa County Libraries Culture Fest 

Janet Lee

Janet Lee: African Storybook (ASb) in Ethiopia

Jane Mirandette

Jane Mirandette: Childhood Literacy Workshop in Granada Nicaragua

Sue Keefer

Sue Keefer: The Grant Process

Laptops to Lesotho (L2L) successfully held its first Paint & Sip Fundraiser to benefit the L2L program for the Kokobe Primary School located in the lowlands of Lesotho, Africa.  Kokobe Primary School serves 200 students in seven grade levels within three separate classrooms.

L2L Board Chair, Kathy Plath, states that the event raised over $1600, the proceeds which will go to the purchase of Kindle Fires. 

For more information about the project, check out the latest issue of The Navigator https://ilceig.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/ilce-ig-newsletter-issue-11.pdf

Please check out the L2L website if you are interested in making a further donation:  https://www.laptopstolesotho.org/

Fun was had by all!

Join ILCE-IG in promoting an international library event.  Panel includes ILCE-IG board member and Dean Emerita, Janet Lee:

Click link for full brochure and biographies of the speakers:

IRRT_webinar-Transcending Borders – Final

View of the library/classroom building at the Kokobe Primary School in Lesotho, Africa

The latest issue of Navigator: Colorado Libraries and the World has been published.  Check out to read the progress of the Laptops to Lesotho (L2L) project at the Kokobe Primary School in Lesotho.  Get an update on the activities of the San Juan del Sur Biblioteca in Nicaragua as the library responds to COVID-19 in San Juan del Sur and the surrounding areas.  Discover the Plaza program at the Denver Public Library as it was featured in an IFLA news release for World Refugee Day.  Finally, Save the Date for the ILCE-IG presentation “Show me the Money: the ILCE-IG Grant explained” at the CALCON 2020 Virtual conference on September 10, 2020. Click on this link:  https://ilceig.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/ilce-ig-newsletter-issue-11.pdf

20 June is World Refugee Day, designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. This year’s theme is ‘Every Action Counts’.

Nancy Bolt and Despina Gerasimidou (Denver Public Library) provide an update on IFLA activities and the role of libraries in serving immigrants and refugees.

At the global level, the IFLA Section on Library services to people with Special Needs (LSN), for which Nancy is chair, is working on its International Guidelines for Library Services to Refugees, Immigrants, Migrants, and Asylum Seekers.

For more information read “IFLA celebrates World Refugee Day“.

Issue number 10 of the ILCE-IG newsletter, the Navigator has been published.  Read about the recent ILCE-IG grant projects.  Check out 3D printing in Nicaragua.  Get an update on an IFLA section: Library Services to People with Special Needs.

Click on the following link: https://ilceig.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/ilce-ig-newsletter-issue-10.pdf

The International Library and Cultural Exchange-Interest Group has had a busy year.  Click on the link to discover all of our various activities and travels.

Annual Report of ILCE-IG 2019

Culture Fest 2019 – Report to CAL ILCE-IG Grant

submitted by Karen Kllanxhja, Mesa County Libraries

The 2019 Culture Fest poster featured flowers from different continents.

Culture Fest 2019 began on Friday evening, November 1 as part of Grand Junction’s First Friday ( a monthly event featuring new exhibits at the Art Center and downtown galleries). A reception honoring the participants in the Culture Fest Art Exhibition took place in the Central Library’s Community Rooms. Music was provided by Earth Studio’s Thea & Eric. Appetizers were provided along with a tasting of the Library Foundation’s signature wines, Well Read and Grape Gatsby.

Megan Bissonnette, Assistant Professor of Art History and Art Gallery Director at Colorado Mesa University, served as juror. Thirty works of art by twenty-two local artists were selected for the exhibition. Three received honoraria and two were recognized as honorable mention.

On Saturday, November 2, from 11 am – 3pm individuals from 17 different countries manned tables displaying artwork, food, and information throughout the library. Among the countries represented were Italy, Peru, Mexico, and Nepal.

Saturday’s entertainment included performances by Nueva Generacion, the Colorado West Celtic Dancers, Sultan’s Pride, Monumental Movement, Dancing Arts Ballet, and Nine Province Kung Fu.

Five crafting stations were set up in the Youth Services Center. Children and their parents made Japanese Fish Kites, Llama finger puppets (Peru) and Nesting Cats (Russia). Also in the Youth Services Center, children had their photos taken and made passports to mark their travels throughout the library.

Over 2,100 individuals attended the event and 39 volunteers assisted staff with hosting.

Funding from the CAL-ILCE IG grant was used for event supplies, marketing, and publicity.

Library Services to Refugees and Immigrant Populations

Thursday, September 19, 2019
2:30-3:30 p.m.

The inscription on the Statue of Liberty reads: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” Providing services to refugee and immigrant populations are both challenging and fulfilling, yet a vital part of the everyday services of libraries and librarians. Come listen to our distinguished panelists and discover what makes this population so unique and why providing this service is fulfilling. This presentation is sponsored by the International Library and Cultural Exchange Interest Group.

Speakers:

Marina Valenzuela is a Language Librarian for Arapahoe Libraries who works with diverse language communities in Arapahoe County to connect them with resources for language learning, continuing education, and social support. She is also part of the internal team at Arapahoe Libraries charged with supporting and crafting learning opportunities for staff around equity, diversity, and inclusivity.
Marina knows that it takes organizational patience and a familiar face to build bridges to communities and encourage everyone to take an interest in what the library can be for them. Marina holds a Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Denver.

Daniyom Bekele is one of the Reference Librarians who works for the Schlessman Family Branch of the Denver Public Library. At the branch, Daniyom provides services to immigrants and refugees through the Plaza program. Daniyom is also part of DPL’s Services to Immigrants and Refugees (STIR) committee helping diversify programming throughout the system, creating welcoming events/space for customers, and providing assistance in designing culturally sensitive and appropriate staff training.

International Library & Cultural Exchange Reception

Please join us for an international libraries reception Thursday, September 19 at 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. location to be announced. We will be featuring international refreshments from around the world.

Support the ILCE-IG through International Jewelry Purchases

Stop by Nancy Bolt’s booth in the exhibit area. A percent of all sales is donated to the ILCE-IG to be used for grants and programs.

For more information contact:

Nancy Bolt, nancybolt@earthlink.net
Jen Yadav, jyadav@dclibraries.org
Janet Lee, janet.lee35@gmail.com
Barb Thorne, BarbThorne@aol.com
Jane Mirandette, janem101@aol.com
Kathy Plath, plathkathy@gmail.com
Sue Keefer, stlreadn@gmail.com
Shannon Brennan, sbrennan@littletongov.org