From Local to Global: How a Local Library Organization Can Impact International Librarianship

Abstract

The International Library and Cultural Exchange Interest Group (ILCE-IG) is an Interest Group of the Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) in the US. ILCE-IG has a robust and active program in promoting international librarianship and can be a model for other countries. ILCE-IG implements the following goals: 1) promoting cultural understanding among library users of different countries, and 2) promoting library service in Colorado to people of other countries. Our poster will demonstrate ILCE-IG accomplishments through photographs, quotes, and descriptions. ILCE’s successful accomplishments included will be cooperation with Sister Cities International (3 partnerships established); tours to visit libraries in other countries (1 completed, 1 planned); courses in international librarianship (1 completed, 1 proposed); articles about international library projects (numerous on five continents); grants to support cultural understanding among libraries in other countries and in the US (two will be granted this year); and programs at library conferences (10 in the last three years). Links will be provided to our website, Facebook page, and a blog that supports and publicizes our goals. We will also prepare a handout on how to start and maintain a local library association program such as we have developed in Colorado.