Janet Lee, a board member ILCE-IG since its inception in 2012, has been named the 2021 recipient of the American Library Association (ALA) International Relations Committee’s John Ames Humphry/OCLC/Forest Press Award, which is presented to a librarian or person who has made significant contributions to international librarianship.

The award, sponsored by OCLC/Forest Press, consists of $1,000 and a plaque was presented virtually (via Zoom) at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois, USA. OCLC/Forest Press donated the cash award.

The ALA Press Release (link following) chronicles her professional achievements, starting with her Peace Corps experience in southern Ethiopia and multiple return visits to set up libraries and conduct workshops.  It includes references to professional organizations such as the Colorado Association of Libraries, the American Library Association, and the International Federation of Libraries and Institutions.  Her accomplishments include serving on numerous committees, delivering multiple presentations, editing several journals and newsletters (both print and electronic), writing more than a few articles, being awarded some small grants, and monitoring related social media.

In her acceptance speech, she acknowledged the great impact that her Peace Corps Ethiopia experience and multiple trips back “home” to Ethiopia had on her.  She dedicated the award to “the students of Axum” where she lived for nearly a year as a Fulbright Scholar.  She intends to use the monetary award for further projects in libraries and literacy in Axum.

Click for full press release

The latest issue of IRRT’s International Leads 202106-rv-resz.pdf (ala.org) has published two articles of special significance to members of the ILCE-IG:

“Serving People with Special Needs During COVID-19: Stories from Around the World” by Nancy Bolt, Chair, IFLA Section: Library Service to People with Special Needs and Chair, International Library and Cultural Exchange Interest Group, and Aly Velji, Adult Services Manager, Toronto Public Library, Canada.  In this lead article, the authors discuss the results of a survey LSN conducted in the fall of 2020 to find examples of how libraries were reaching out to marginalized populations to continue services during the pandemic. Although most responses Most responses indicated libraries were simply making their resources available online, some were making more intense efforts to serve marginalized populations. The article gives examples of how libraries were providing services to children with disabilities, people with dyslexia and visual disabilities, refugees and immigrants, those with visual and print disabilities, older adults and seniors, and services in prisons.

The second article announces the 2021 IRRT Awards Mission Enhancement Grant winner: 3D printing technology training, Nicaragua.  The grant was awarded to Hester J Hodgdon Libraries for All foundation founded by ILCE-IG board member, Jane Mirandette.  This project provides training for library staff and local educators in operating 3D printers at the San Juan del Sur Biblioteca in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Check out these and other articles of interest to international librarianship. 

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.com/wp-content/uploads/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.com/wp-content/uploads/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.com/wp-content/uploads/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