BETTER TOGETHER: The Power of Global Library Connections–Biographies
March 6, Virtual Conference 8 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (US)
Keynote
A leader and spokesperson for information literacy, Jesús Lau, PhD, currently is a Professor at Universidad Veracruzana, and Co-Chair of UNESCO MIL Alliance on Media and Information Literacy. He has a Law Degree, Universidad Autonoma de Sinaloa, Mexico; Master´s Degree in Library Science, Denver University, USA; and Ph.D. in Information Science, Sheffield University, England. He is the author of more than 200 papers and articles and 20 monographs, including: IFLA Information Literacy Guidelines (translated into 12 languages), and author/researcher of UNESCO MIL Global Assessment Framework, among other UNESCO publications. Dr. Lau is the recipient of numerous awards, such as BRLA Librarian of the Year (El Paso, TX, USA), and FIL-Guadalajara Librarian of the Year (Guadalajara, Mexico); IFLA Medal (Hague, The Netherlands); the SLA Cotton Dana award (DC, USA); the UNESCO Global MIL Award (France), and Faculty of Excellence in Ibero-America (Miami, FL, USA).
9:00 a.m. Stem Partnership: China University of Mining & Technology and the Colorado School of Mines. Panel
Emily Bongiovanni (she/her) is a Liaison Librarian at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). At CMU, Emily supports the teaching and research needs of Psychology students and faculty, as well as supports Open Science and Open Educational Resources activities across campus. Before joining CMU, Emily was the Scholarly Communications Librarian at Colorado School of Mines, where she supported faculty and students throughout the research lifecycle and promoted Open Science. She went to Denison University for her undergraduate degree and earned her Master of Library and Information Science at the University of Denver.
Xinyu Wang, Ph.D., Professor, is currently the University Librarian of China University of Mining and Technology Library and was previously the Vice Dean of the School of Economics and Management. Research interests include management science, big data management and application.
Xu Shujuan Librarian/Director of the library circulation department, China University of Mining and Technology Library. Xu Shujuan conducts reading promotion work, such as the college student reading festival and is exploring the practice of learning support service in the circulation department. Professionally, Xu Shujuan was a visiting library scholar at the Colorado School of Mines Arthur Lakes Library in 2019 and is a member of Jiangsu Provincial Library Association.
Jie Bao is the Associate Research Librarian of China University of Mining and Technology Library. She is the director of the Technical Support Department in the library. Her research areas include construction of the smart library, big data analysis and application.
Brianna Buljung is the Teaching and Learning Librarian at the Colorado School of Mines. She collaborates with disciplinary faculty to incorporate information literacy throughout the curriculum, leads program development and mentors teaching librarians. Prior to joining Mines in 2016, she served as the Engineering and Computer Science Librarian at the US Naval Academy and as a contract Reference Librarian at the National Defense University. She received her MLIS from the University of Denver in 2011. In 2021, she served as a US Fulbright Scholar at Tunghai University in Taiwan.
Carol E. Smith, University Librarian, Colorado School of Mines Carol Smith is a dedicated adherent to and practitioner of Dr. R. David Lankes’ model of New Librarianship. This new disciplinary framework reconceptualizes the mission of libraries as “improving society through facilitating knowledge creation in their communities” and is the innovative and inspirational lens through which she approaches all aspects of library leadership. Librarianship was a midcareer change for Carol, following several positions of leadership in both the oil industry and information services profession. Prior to her role as University Librarian at the Colorado School of Mines, Carol served as Library Director at Adams State University in Alamosa, CO (2013-2016). At the University of Central Missouri (2006-2013), she was a tenured Associate Professor of Library Services, serving as both a Business Librarian (2006-2010) and Technology Initiatives Librarian (2010-2013).
10:00 a.m. Nazarbayev University and Partnerships with Foreign Libraries
Tolkyn Jangulova is the Head of the Digital Office at Nazarbayev University. She has a Bachelors in Librarianship and Bibliography and Masters Degree from the Chelyabinsk State University, Russia. She led the development of Nazarbayev University’s Institutional Repository. In 2014, she received an internship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s iSchool to learn about digital collections management, and in 2019 received a scholarship to attend the International Summer School 2019 at Stuttgart Media University in Germany. Tolkyn is focused on learning about libraries as learning spaces and smart libraries and leads regional training for local librarians. She also plays an active role in the organization of the Eurasian Academic Libraries Conference every year.
10:45 a.m. A Sister Library Legacy of a 10th Mountain Division Veteran and Gurkah Soldiers Connection: Park City Utah and Bimal Library in Dharan, Nepal
Linda Tillson is the Director of the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library in Flagstaff, AZ. She is the past District Director for the Eagle Valley Library District in Eagle, CO and was the Library Director for the Park City Public Library in Utah. She received her Master of Library Science degree from the University of Arizona in Tucson and worked for the Phoenix Public Library for 14 years. Linda also served as President of the Utah Library Association in 2010 and was the Utah Chapter Councilor to ALA for two terms. She has been a Rotary President in Park City and later in Eagle, CO. She became interested in international connections when a sister library program began between Park City and Dharan, Nepal and when she attended Rotary International in Salt Lake City and later, IFLA in Columbus, OH.
Kate Mapp is the Adult Services Librarian for the Park City Library in Park City, Utah. Skiing and hiking brought Mapp to the mountains of Utah. Prior to becoming a Librarian, Mapp was a ski patroller during the winter and a wilderness ranger during the summer. Mapp’s love for public spaces manifested into exploring public libraries and the decision to become a librarian. In 2013 she earned her MLS from the University of North Texas. Mapp has found creative ways to weave her passion of the environment, outdoor recreation, and public stewardship into the library profession. For over 7 years, Mapp has served on the National Outdoor Book Award judging committee.
Rohi Rai served on the Bimal Library Board in Dharan, Nepal. During the early years of the Sister Library Program with Park City he traveled to the U.S. and completed an internship to learn about the operations of the Park City Library. He later served as a guide and host to Park City Library Director, Linda Tillson and her husband when they did a site visit to the Bimal Library in 2008. He currently resides in Hong Kong.
11:30 a.m. Sister Cities/Sister Libraries: Working in Tandem to Promote Cooperation & Understanding
Leroy R. Allala is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Sister Cities International. Founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, Sister Cities International serves as the national organization overseeing sister city partnerships in over 1,800 communities in 138 countries. Sister Cities International’s mission is to promote peace and understanding through programs and projects focusing on arts and culture, youth and education, economic and sustainable development, and humanitarian assistance. Mr. Allala is a globally recognized civic, business and community leader with a depth of executive leadership and expertise in corporate, international and governmental relations, board development and program management.
Prior to joining Sister Cities International, Mr. Allala served as Executive Vice President of World Business Chicago, the economic development engine for the city of Chicago. In addition, he served as Executive Director of Chicago Sister Cities International, where he was a member of the city of Chicago’s global strategy team. Mr. Allala worked under three Chicago mayors, where he helped build the nation’s largest sister city program with 29 sister city partnerships and over 600 Mayoral appointed volunteers.
From 1994 to 2008, Mr. Allala served as Executive Director of the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, Mid-America Chapter, a bi-national business association with offices in 19 cities whose mission is to promote trade and investment in both the United States and Mexico.
Mr. Allala previously served as a senior consultant to The Mid-America Committee for International Business and Government Cooperation, Inc., a Chicago-based international organization whose membership comprises the CEOs of leading multinational corporations.
Mr. Allala earned his B.A. from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He is a fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago and the BMW Foundation.
Diana Price is the Central Library Manager at Alexandria Library in Alexandria, Virginia and co-chair of the IRRT Sister Libraries Committee. She also serves on Alexandria City’s Sister Cities Committee and has begun a Sister Libraries partnership with the public library of Dundee, Scotland, one of Alexandria’s Sister Cities.
March 7 – In Person Conference 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (US) Reception 4:00 p.m.
Ben H. Parker Student Center, Ballrooms D/E
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado
Keynote
Jesús Lau, PhD A leader and spokesperson for information literacy, Jesús Lau, PhD, currently is a Professor at Universidad Veracruzana, and Co-Chair of UNESCO MIL Alliance on Media and Information Literacy. He has a Law Degree, Universidad Autonoma de Sinaloa, Mexico; Master´s Degree in Library Science, Denver University, USA; and Ph.D. in Information Science, Sheffield University, England. He is the author of more than 200 papers and articles and 20 monographs, including: IFLA Information Literacy Guidelines (translated into 12 languages), and author/researcher of UNESCO MIL Global Assessment Framework, among other UNESCO publications. Dr. Lau is the recipient of numerous awards, such as BRLA Librarian of the Year (El Paso, TX, USA), and FIL-Guadalajara Librarian of the Year (Guadalajara, Mexico); IFLA Medal (Hague, The Netherlands); the SLA Cotton Dana award (DC, USA); the UNESCO Global MIL Award (France), and Faculty of Excellence in Ibero-America (Miami, FL, USA).
11:00 a.m. Honoring a War Hero in Vietnam and Partnering through Technology in Nicaragua
Sherri Baca is the Executive Director of Pueblo City-County Library District. Sherri has served in executive leadership positions in nonprofit and public entities for the past 22 years. Ms. Baca holds a Master of Science in Library Science, a Master of Business Administration, and is a licensed certified public accountant.
Kristi Roque is the managing librarian at the Patrick Lucero Branch Library. Kristi has a human services background that lends itself well to public librarianship and the needs of a diverse community. Kristi holds a Master of Library Science degree.
Dustin Hodge is a documentary filmmaker and television producer who has led production in more than thirty countries. He is a member of the Television Academy (Emmys), has worked for the International Documentary Association, and was a producer for The Tight Rope podcast hosted by Cornel West. He is currently a producer for the NEH-funded podcast Lost Highways and serves as the Vice President for the Pueblo City-County Library District Board of Trustees. Dustin holds a Master of Fine Arts.
Victor Zuniga is the Integrated Library System Administrator at the Poudre River Public Library District in Fort Collins, CO. In addition to the Sierra Integrated Library System, Zuniga has gained familiarity with other systems such as Koha and Polaris. He has collaborated with academic, and public libraries at the state level as well as nationwide, including a partnership with PRPLD’s sister library in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua to setup an open-source library system (Koha) in 2014.
Prior to PRPLD, Zuniga worked at the Westerville Public Library (Westerville, OH) where he managed the Sierra system (Formerly known as Millennium) as well as providing primary tech support for the SearchOhio Central server, a consortium of 28 library systems across the state.
Zuniga is passionate about the library community and believes in its mission as a great resource to learn, contribute and collaborate with colleagues from all over the world.
Zuniga has served in the past as a Functional Expert, Member-at-Large and most recently, the Chair of the IUG Steering Committee (2018 – 2021). A community of 800+ librarians/catalogers/technical staff (IT) currently using the Sierra and/or Polaris Integrated Library System (ILS)
1:15 p.m. Partnering with the Library in Your City
Gayle Stallings is the Colorado State Representative for Sister Cities International. As State Representative, Gayle is responsible for growing the agencies in Colorado, holding an annual state conference, and attending Sister City International leadership meetings.
In 2019, the Ethiopian government reached out to Gayle, and she was appointed Honorary Consul for Ethiopia. Her goal is to promote Ethiopia to the people of Colorado as a tourist destination and an investment opportunity for Colorado businesses. As one of the world’s fastest growing economies, Ethiopia is a welcoming environment for international investment. She currently serves as Honorary Consul Emeritus.
Gayle Stallings is a Denver native and a graduate of the University of Colorado with a BA in History. She is the mother of three adult children and grandmother of five.
Gayle is an active volunteer for Denver Sister Cities International serving as Chair of the Axum, Ethiopia committee for many years and Board Chair for 6 years. Having served as both board secretary, and treasurer, she continues to participate in Sister City activities. Her goal is to help Denver Sister Cities become a premier resource to Denver as our city broadens its global outreach.
Gayle is a member of Sister Cities International’s Global Awareness Team (GAT) representing Ethiopia. U.S. city programs with sister city relationships in Ethiopia meet virtually and share ideas and information about their activities. The GAT has been particularly active during the pandemic with the Africa Region subcommittee leading the way.
2:10 p.m. Is a Fulbright in Your Future?
Brianna Buljung is the Teaching and Learning Librarian at the Colorado School of Mines. She collaborates with disciplinary faculty to incorporate information literacy throughout the curriculum, leads program development and mentors teaching librarians. Prior to joining Mines in 2016, she served as the Engineering and Computer Science Librarian at the US Naval Academy and as a contract Reference Librarian at the National Defense University. She received her MLIS from the University of Denver in 2011. In 2021, she served as a US Fulbright Scholar at Tunghai University in Taiwan.
Janet Lee is Dean Emerita at Regis University, where she served in multiple roles in her thirty-year tenure. She has a Master of Arts in Library Science and a Master in Business Administration. As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia, she has returned to Ethiopia multiple times for a variety of library and literacy projects, most recently as a US Fulbright Scholar at the University of Aksum in Axum, Ethiopia. While in Axum, she was awarded the ILCE-IG grant for the African Storybook Project, where she and African colleagues delivered numerous publishing workshops. She also was awarded the first ALA IRRT Mission Enhancement grant to establish a Chromebook lab in the Axumite Heritage Foundation Library. In 2021, she was awarded the John Ames Humphry/OCLC Forest Press Award.
2:50 p.m. From Curtains to Bridges
Jamie LaRue is the director of the Garfield County (Colorado) Public Library District. Author of “The New Inquisition: Understanding and Managing Intellectual Freedom Challenges” (Libraries Unlimited 2007) and the forthcoming “On Censorship” (Fulcrum, 2023), LaRue has been a public library director for many years, as well as a weekly newspaper columnist and cable TV host. From January of 2016 to November of 2018, he was director of the Freedom to Read Foundation, and ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. He has written, spoken, and consulted extensively on intellectual freedom issues, leadership and organizational development, community engagement, and the future of libraries.
International Library and Cultural Exchange Interest Group 