Call for International Papers and Projects

The American Library Association’s International Papers Committee invites proposals for presentations to be made at the next ALA Conference in Chicago, IL. The theme for this year’s program is: Emerging Technologies, Emerging Economies: Transforming International Libraries.

Proposals should be submitted electronically (as a single Microsoft Word or PDF attachment to the International Relations Office via email to intl@ala.org with a copy to valegal@gmail.com and Buenaventura.basco@ucf.edu Deadline for submitting proposals is Friday, December 21, 2012. Guidelines for proposals may be found at: http://www.ala.org/offices/iro/iroactivities/papersession

Cycling for Libraries: Live Stream!

Two of my former students, Karen Holt and April Kessler, are part of the Cycling for Libraries team.

You can follow the live stream at: Cycling for Libraries

IRRT Chairs--thanks for your patience!

Chairs of IRRT Committees,

Thank you for your willingness to serve on an IRRT Committee!
I know that you've been asking for a way to communicate with each other.
I just set up an ALACommunity for IRRT Chairs. I sent each of you an invitation, using the email address that is associated with your ALA directory information. Delin Guerra has just followed up, letting me know that tomorrow (Thursday, 12 July) you will be added to a new electronic list for IRRT Committee Chairs, the IRRT Executive Board, and our IRRT ALA Counselor.

Please let me know how I as IRRT Chair can help you do your work! Remember that Carol Kem now has the responsibility to make new and renewed committee appointments.

Mahalo, thanks, and cheers,

Loriene

Thank you for considering an IRRT Committee Appointment. Part 2: Requesting an Appointment

This spring IRRT moved to a Drupal based appointment process. This vastly improves the appointment process. Thank you for your persistence in working with us through this migration!

How to use the IRRT Volunteer Form

About the Form

People interested in serving on an IRRT committee must now complete a special online form. The online volunteer form collects information about your background, the kind of work you would like to do, and the names of groups to which you would like an appointment.

Accessing the Form

• Go to the ALA web site (www.ala.org)

• Click on "Log In" in the upper right hand corner of the home page. Enter your ALA login and password. Please Note: you cannot access the form if your ALA membership is not current.

• Next, go to the Committee Volunteer form at:

Committee Volunteer Form

http://www.ala.org/CFApps/Committee/volunteerform/volunteerform.cfm

[Note: If you did not log in at ala.org, you'll first be taken to the generic ALA login screen before you can proceed to the Committee Volunteer Form.]

Completing the Form

• On the welcome screen will be a dropdown box. Make sure that you click on the box to open the dropdown menu.  Click on IRRT. Then click CONTINUE.

• Clicking CONTINUE gets you to the first page of the form. Fill out as much information as you can. Then scroll down to the bottom of the page.

• At the bottom of the first page is another selector drop down for locating the groups for which you want to volunteer. First select IRRT, then click CONTINUE. You will now see a listing of all IRRT Committees.

• Remember that you can have up to 3 ALA appointments a year.

• Select from 1 to 3 IRRT committees. After making your selections, click CONTINUE to access a review page to verify your selections

•         Clicking SUBMIT on the review page enters your form in the database and creates a final receipt page which details your volunteer requests through the most current session. You may want to print this page for your records.

        If this works, Dr. Carol Kem, 2012-2013 IRRT Chair-Elect can then go online to review your committee requests and to verify that there is an opening on the committee(s) you have selected. Later you will receive an email message inviting you to accept a specific appointment!

If you want a Committee Appointment. Part I

Thank you for considering an appointment—or a reappointment—to an IRRT Committee! Most of the work of IRRT is handled through a dozen committees. They are involved with planning programs at the ALA Annual Conference such as the international posters session, the international papers program, the Chair’s program, the international pre-conference, and the international orientation. They organize the on-site mentoring program and international visitors’ center as well as the international reception. They manage the IRRT awards and publications and help provide guidance on how to establish and continue Sister Libraries arrangements.

You might know which committee you would like to work with. Even so, it is a good idea to find out the committee’s charge and duties of its officers and members.

Check out the IRRT Officers Manual (http://www.ala.org/irrt/sites/ala.org.irrt/files/content/irrtcommittees/offmanual011609rev.pdf).

The Manual is linked from the IRRT Website.

• ·         Go to ala.org

• ·         Move your cursor to the ROUNDTABLES pull-down menu on the top

• ·         Click on IRRT

• ·         Click on ABOUT IRRT on the left

·         Scroll down this page to the ABOUT IRRT heading. Click on the .pdf document here!

Individual committees have their own areas on the website. Click on COMMITTEES on the left hand column of the ABOUT IRRT page. Scroll down the page and click on the link to the committee that interests you. This content will give you an idea of recent activities of the committees.

Next: how to let the IRRT Chair-Elect, Dr. Carol Kem, if you’re interested in a committee appointment.

Greetings from your new IRRT Chair!

Thank you, Eve Nyren, Immediate Past Chair for IRRT, for your excellent guidance and work over the past year. IRRT provided  a full range services and programs at the 2012 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim--from the IRRT Preconference, Orientation, posters, papers, Chair's program, awards, and the outstanding reception at the Muzeo. Dr. Carol Kem will now serve as your 2012-2013 IRRT Chair-Elect. One of her key responsibilities will be to make appointments to IRRT Committees. We welcome your willingness to contribute to the ongoing initiatives of IRRT.

I look forward to working with all of you this year as the 2012-2013 IRRT Chair. We invite
you to continue your support and also help us this year explore the place of Love & Forgiveness within the realm of international librarianship. 

IRRT Programs and Meetings at ALA Annual in Anaheim

FRIDAY, JUNE 22

Innovative Practices: Developing Sustainable Programs, Mobilizing Support for Your Library! - IRRT Preconference
8:30 am - 1:00 pm
Anaheim Convention Center - 201C

($75, followed by lunch, plan to stay until 3pm) –REGISTRATION STILL AVAILABLE ONSITE

Learn about & discuss four interesting case studies, featuring partnerships, teamwork, and collaborations with global perspectives:

» China and the United States: Playing a leadership role in International Collaboration –Experiences from a Grant Project, presented by Shuyong Jiang, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

» Kenya National Library Service and Maria’s Libraries: Notes from Kenya: testing innovative  approaches and leapfrogging technologies through a network of libraries, for the social, political, and economic development of communities in resource-poorsettings, presented by Ariel Schwartz, University of Texas at Austin; Eva Kaplan, Maria's Libraries, Kenya

» Nepal, India, Egypt, Guatemala and Tanzania and the United States: A Solution in Sight: A Global Partnership to Improve Access to Ophthalmic Information in Developing Countries, presented by Pamela Sieving, National Institutes of Health Library; Suzanne Gilbert, Seva Foundation; Bette Anton, University of California at Berkeley; Katherine Judson, Seva Foundation.

» Romania and the United States: Romania’s Impact Group A Success Story: Evaluating
IREX’s Biblionet Program and Seeking Sustainability, presented by Constantin Mituca,
Gorj County Public Library, Romania

»Participate in the workshop session, "Library Partnerships: What Benefits Your Users?" conducted by Susan Schnuer & Barbara Ford, the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs

» Examine how to identify, maintain, and assess partnerships that will support the mission of your library and meet the needs of your users.

International Librarians Orientation
2:30 – 4:00 pm
Hilton Anaheim-California B

Description: An introduction to the ALA Conference and the city of New Orleans, for International and other attendees from abroad. ALA members will provide an overview of the conference, including recommended programs and social activities. Learn about conference transportation, the ALA's Exhibit Hall and the meaning of the ALA's many acronyms. Meet your mentors and representatives from ALA's many divisions and round tables who will help international librarians get the most from the conference experience. (For International librarians outside the U.S.)

SATURDAY, JUNE 23

IRRT/IRC All Subcommittee Meeting

• 8:00- 9:00 am IRRT Chairs Meeting
• 9:00- 10:00am IRRT Subcommittee Meetings
• 8:00–11:00am IRC Committee Meetings
  Anaheim Marriott—Grand Salon F

International Paper Session
“Expecting the Unexpected: Libraries Respond to Profound Change” – 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Anaheim Convention Center—202B

Description: Increasingly, economic, political and human crises, along with natural disasters, constitute a recurrent reality around the world. The effect of large-scale disaster and economic disruption are being felt far and wide and impacting libraries in diverse ways. Libraries are casualties of natural disasters, from earthquakes to hurricanes, as well as civil unrest and wars. Sudden cuts in library budgets have resulted in severe staff reductions, privatization and even closures.

Four presenters from around the world will share their experiences about how they have prepared for or coped with profound change. Speakers: Carolyn Robertson, Christchurch City Libraries, New Zealand; Carol Brandenburg, Lincoln University, New Zealand; Megan Hodge, Chesterfield County (VA) Public Library, United States Presented: Michael R. Mabe; Beth Joy Patin and Maria Garrido, University of Washington; Carolyn F. Runyon and Meggan Houlihan, The American University in Cairo

SUNDAY, JUNE 24

IRRT Executive Board Meeting
8:00 am – 11:00 noon
Anaheim Marriott - Room 315

International Poster Session
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Anaheim Convention Center - Exhibit Floor

Description: This is a forum for librarians from around the world to highlight their libraries and to share their successful ideas with colleagues by presenting a research study, a practical problem-solving effort or an innovative library program.

MONDAY, JUNE 25

Of Mutual Benefit: The Sister Library Initiative and International Sustainable Library Development (ISLD)
10:30 am - 12:00 noon
Anaheim Convention Center –201C

Description: Sister Library partnerships provide a mutual source of pride, opportunity, and inspiration between two institutions. Come and listen to ALA librarians from academic and public libraries discuss their Sister Library partnerships with libraries from around the world and how these initiatives enhance global awareness, facilitate intercultural communication, and increase the sustainability of library programs and services.

Speakers/Partner Libraries: Carol Hodges, Tidewater Community College. Puerta Abierta Library, Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala; Jamie Larue, Douglas County Libraries, Colorado and Gina Millsap, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, Kansas. Bulgarian Library Project; John Boyd and Beth Cramer, Appalachian State University. La Biblioteca Th'uruchapitas, Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Mātauranga Māori in New Zealand Libraries: A presentation and workshop on Maori knowledge in New Zealand libraries-

IRRT Chair’s Program
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Anaheim Convention Center—205A

Description: Treaty of Waitangi settlements are enabling iwi/hapu (tribal) entities to build repositories to house their own taonga (treasures) and mātauranga (knowledge) which can affect mainstream libraries throughout Aotearoa (New Zealand) , as iwi contemplate repatriation of their iwi/hapu taonga. Te Ropu Whakahau (Māori in Libraries and Information Management) has developed a one-day workshop, Mātauranga Māori in New Zealand Libraries. This workshop provides a professional development opportunity for non-Māori librarians, on how to work with iwi/hapu through true partnership, by acknowledging the importance of Matauranga Māori values and practices.

This applies to the resources contained within the collections in which they work, as well as the customers they serve. This session showcases the structural framework of an indigenous model; allows participants to experience the content of the workshop; provides innovative ideas on workshop delivery (and the challenges of delivering in earthquake ravaged Christchurch, Kai Tahu, one of the richest iwi of Aotearoa); and includes participant attendance and feedback. This presentation serves as a model for information professionals who seek to be inclusive of indigenous culture and values within their organizations.

Speakers: Mereana Coleman, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi Library, Aotearoa New Zealand; Eddie Neha, Ngati Maniapoto Trust Board, Aotearoa New Zealand

International Librarians Reception
6:00 – 8:00 pm
MUZEO
241 S. Anaheim Blvd.

BUSES will depart from HILTON ANAHEIM HOTEL starting at 5:15pm

Description: Please join the International Relations Round Table (IRRT) in welcoming and celebrating with librarians from more than 80 countries at the ALA Annual Conference. Open to all conference attendees, this reception offers a unique opportunity to network with hundreds of information professionals from around the world. Join us for a mixing of culture and ideas, regional cuisine, hors d’oeuvres and open bar. Advance registration is required. Tickets: $45 (This event is free for international librarians)