Cross border Dialogue for Change: French-German Librarian Partnership

Abstract

The region where Germany, France and Switzerland have a common border is called: Dreieckland. Here German, French and Swiss libraries cooperate. The partnership between the library of Freiburg (Germany) and Mulhouse (France) exists since 1991. When the cooperation started it was local breaking news and seen as an active symbol of French-German friendship and reconciliation. Right from the start the objective was to give people of both countries a better chance for exchange and dialogue with each other. A visible symbol of this partnership is that the libraries exchange their mobile libraries regularly. This way citizens in Mulhouse can borrow German media and vice versa. The service finds a good reception at both sides of the border where we have many people, interested in the language and culture of their neighbors. Furthermore during big events in the cities of Mulhouse and Freiburg the libraries are invited to participate actively. Also the librarian staff interact with each other and exchange latest librarian developments. So librarians become promoters of cross border change and understanding, maybe even role-models for other librarians in the world. The poster informs about the goals of the initiative and illustrates the events in a lively manner.