iWorld

Archives

iWorld Events from previous years...

Panel on International Careers in Information Science

International Careers Panel Audio MP3 from January 26, 2010

PANEL PARTICIPANTS:
Darren Hoerner: Darren Hoerner is a program officer in the Global Libraries (GL) initiative at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In this role, Darren spearheads the exploration of opportunities for partnerships in Africa and the Middle East. He also manages a current grant in Botswana to improve people’s lives through increasing access to information technology in public libraries. Darren is also working on numerous grants to support and encourage young leaders, innovation, and training of librarians in the information professions internationally. Darren joined the foundation in 1997 to provide research and analysis for a program that connected 11,000 public libraries in the United States to the Internet. He holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Washington.

Ricardo Gomez: Ricardo Gomez is Assistant Professor at University of Washington's Information School. He specializes in the social impacts of communication technologies, especially in community development settings. He is also interested in qualitative research methods, and in group facilitation and process design. He seeks creative ways to communicate complex ideas and research results in everyday language. He has worked with private, public and non-profit sectors around the world, with a particular focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. Before joining the University of Washington he worked with Microsoft Community Affairs, and with the International Development Research Center in Canada. He holds an MA from Université du Québec à Montréal (1992) and a Ph.D. from Cornell University (1997).

Valerie Wonder: Valerie Wonder is a librarian at The Seattle Public Library with many years of experience working with immigrants and refugees in Washington State. Valerie spent three years as Immigrant and Refugee Program Manager at the library, prior to which she worked as Community Programs Manager at the International Rescue Committee. Valerie has done capacity building and training in libraries throughout the United States and Africa, first as a trainer for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, later as a volunteer for the World Library Partnership and the Peace Corps, and most recently as a consultant for U.S. Embassies in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania. Valerie received her masters degrees in Library and Information Science and Public Administration from the University of Washington.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What:iWorld Movie Night - The Lost Boys of Sudan
When: Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009, 7pm

We'll be watching The Lost Boys of Sudan, an acclaimed documentary that follows two Sudanese refugees on an extraordinary journey from Africa to America. This film won an Independent Spirit Award. If you're interested, check out this 40 minute lecture by the author of The Lost Boys of Sudan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What: iWorld Conversation with Sara Mitha, Visiting Librarian from South Africa
When: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 5:30-6:30 pm
Where: 5th Floor Suzzallo Conference Room West, Suzzallo Library

Sara Mitha, Subject Librarian at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa will share her perspectives on librarianship and her experience at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Libraries during an informal conversation. Ms. Mitha is one of eight South African librarians who has been selected to participate in a six-week internship program divided between the Mortenson Center at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and eight major research libraries in the United States. The South African librarians’ visit is funded by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What:iWorld Student Librarian Panel featuring four current MLIS students who have worked or volunteered in libraries abroad

When:Friday, February 13, 2009 - 5-6:30 pm

Audio File (1 hour, 32.66MB)
13 Feb 09 event notes

Please join us to hear about the experiences of fellow MLIS students who have worked and volunteered in libraries in Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Mexico and Nicaragua. Tips, advice, stories and slides from fearless MLISers who have more to show for their experiences than stamps in their passports.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What:iWorld Forum: How Current Intellectual Property Laws Fail to Protect Traditional Cultural Expressions

When: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - 5-6pm
Jonathan Franklin's slides (PPTX)
28 Oct 08 event notes

How do we protect one culture's traditional dance from being used in commercial advertising? How do we balance cultural sensitivity and free speech?

Jonathan Franklin, Associate Law Librarian at the UW Gallagher Law Library, will discuss such issues in a talk about how current copyright and intellectual property laws fail to protect traditional cultural expressions, knowledge, and genetic material. He will present some examples and share the complexities of identifying and protecting traditional knowledge and expressions. Being involved in a global effort to create better protections, he will also explain the work currently being done in this arena.

As globalization connects us at an ever-increasing pace, it is crucial for information professionals and those interested in protecting traditional cultures to understand these issues.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What: iWorld Forum: Computers, Libraries and Sustainable Development: An Informal Discussion with Michael Chertok

When: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 4-5pm
12 May 08 event notes

Around the world, initiatives in developing and transitioning countries have sought to bring broader access to computers and the Internet. What are some of the lessons being learned? What are some of the ongoing challenges? How are these efforts making a difference in people's lives? And what is the role of libraries in this work? Michael Chertok will share some observations and discuss these issues with iWorld.

Michael Chertok is a program officer in the Global Libraries initiative at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he is exploring opportunities to develop partnerships that increase public access to information technology in South and Southeast Asia. Previously, he was a Reuters Digital Vision Fellow at Stanford University and started a media services company to create jobs and build skills among youth in Sri Lanka. Michael co-founded Digital Divide Data, an IT services social enterprise that employs disadvantaged young adults in Cambodia and Laos, and served as managing director of Global Catalyst Foundation, which improves peoples' lives through the effective application of information technologies. Michael also helped start Schools Online, a nonprofit organization to enable students around the world to gain access to the Internet. Michael holds a BA in Russian and East European studies from Yale University and an MBA and a certificate in public management from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What: International Collection Development in Libraries

When: Tuesday, April 16, 2008 - 5-6pm

Judith Henchy - UW Southeast Asia Librarian

Judith will talk about the challenges of building a collection from scratch, and acquiring materials from a region of the world where the book trade is not well developed, or from countries that are diplomatically isolated, such as Burma. She will discuss her involvement with the LC Southeast Asia Program, and with the Southeast Asia Microforms (SEAM) program of CRL. She will also mention attempts at consortial agreements, and the challenges of meeting the needs of the evolving Southeast Asia program.

Linda DiBiase - UW Fund Manager for International Studies, Collection Development Librarian, and Latin American Studies Librarian

Linda will talk about overall collection development issues, including the various IS collections in the Libraries and the fact that they vary in terms of history -- that is, the Chinese collection is well established (for instance), whereas the Southeast Asia collection is much newer. Linda can also talk about our cooperative agreements, for instance our membership of the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), and its importance for international materials, as well as an overview of our participation in the Library of Congress (LC) Participants Program for various regions of the world; particularly her own involvement with the LC Brazil Program, and how it serves the Latin American Studies Program on campus.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What: iWorld Event: Language, Text and Knowledge Organization: One Native American Story

When: Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - 4:30-5:30pm
09 April 08 event notes

The Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center (MPMRC), which includes two research libraries and the tribal archives, represents an innovation in the creation of Native American research centers. The value and power of the multi-disciplinary approach which shaped the Museum's development will be examined. Information School Professor Cheryl Metoyer, who served as the Chief Academic Affairs Officer for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, will discuss the ways in which Native American knowledge was organized and language was used to inform text within the Museum.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What: Cross-Cultural Communication Skills Workshop

When: Wednesday, March 5, 2008 - 4-5pm
Audio File (1 hour, 13.65 MB)
05 March 08 event notes

Join iWorld and participate in a cross-cultural communication skills workshop. There will be an activity and discussion related to libraries and cross-cultural exchange. We'll also provide resources for further exploration of workshop themes.

The session will be led by Elisabeth Mitchell, current Director of Leadership Initiatives/Population Leadership Program at the Evans School of Public Affairs. She has extensive international and cross-cultural experience and has also worked in several Washington public library systems.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What: iWorld Forum: Literacy, ESL and World Languages Librarian Panel

When: Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 5-6pm
Audio File (1 hour, 15.1 MB)
28 February 08 event notes

In your career as librarian or information professional, how will you approach the challenges of working with patrons and clients from diverse cultures, language backgrounds and literacy levels? What do you need to know to effectively create collections and design programs that serve specific cultural audiences? What skills should you be cultivating in order to land a job working with cultural communities?

Hear answers to these questions plus insights, tips, and personal experiences from a panel of librarians working at Seattle Public Library's Literacy, ESL and World Languages (LEW) department. Bring both your broad and specific questions - the shape and direction of the discussion will draw largely from students' interests, so this is your open opportunity to pick the minds of these seasoned professionals:

Marcela Calderon-Vodall, Spanish Librarian
Leszek Chudzinski, Russian Librarian
Thom Probst, Outreach and Literacy Coordinator
Mary Turla, ESL Coordinator

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What: iWorld Forum: Lisa Keller from the Ethiopia Reads project

When: Monday, December 3, 2007 - 6-7pm
03 December 07 event notes

Please come join us to hear Lisa Keller talk about her work with the Ethiopia Reads project.

Lisa Keller is the head librarian at the Bush School (K-12) in Seattle, and a graduate of the iSchool in 2001. Last summer Lisa traveled to Ethiopia for two weeks to attend a training session about literacy training in the libraries of Addis Ababa. She also did some site visits, assessing the skill levels and interests of the library employees. Lisa’s interest lies in the basic training of library workers and the sustainability of library projects, as well as raising awareness of what a library really is.

She is planning to return to Ethiopia this summer to conduct a training seminar for library workers in basic library skills in order to look at issues and questions such as: What is a library? How is a library different from a roomful of books? What are core collections and collection development? How do you organize the library? What is a librarian? What role does technology play in a library? What role do libraries play in enhancing literacy? How do you creating your own network of librarians?

For more information on Ethiopia Reads: http://www.ethiopiareads.org/
Good Housekeeping article on Ethiopia Reads

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What: First iWorld Gathering of the year

When: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 - 5-6pm
23 October 07 meeting minutes

Do topics such as the digital divide, global libraries, international employment, literacy projects, ICT technology in developing countries, and culturally diverse library services tickle your toes? Interested in what other cultures have to teach us about librarianship in a global community? If so, please join us at our first iWorld Gathering of the year to discuss these and other fascinating topics.

We would like our first gathering to be an informal, get-to-know-each-other affair. We want to know what interests you, whatever international perspectives you offer and any personal stories and experiences you would like to share.

For those who can attend: We'll meet at the College Inn Pub on October 23 from 5-6pm (information above). We'll be sitting at a big table near the back. How to recognize us when you arrive? Well, other than the fact that you will be unconsciously drawn toward the group of people most like yourself (that would be: urbane, nifty, worldly, effortlessly cool...etc.), we will have an "iWorld" table tent on the table to help guide your radar.

For Distance Students and others unable to attend the meeting: we will post notes from the gathering on our website and you are of course always welcome to share your perspectives on the listserv.

We look forward to seeing you at the gathering or having you participate virtually!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What: Talk by Angeline Djampou: United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

When: Tuesday, September 25, 2007, 3-5pm

In 1994, the world watched in horror as Rwandans killed Rwandans. In response to this , the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) was established. The ICTR along with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (CTY) have pioneered the process and proceedings of international criminal justice and continues today gathering evidence and trying genocide perpetrators.

In this talk, Angeline Djampou, Chief Librarian for the tribunal will address these and take your questions regarding the situation in Rwanda:

- How will the ICTR preserve and disseminate the information it has produced? - What has the tribunal contributed to international criminal law? - How is it possible to reconstruct and train an entirely new Rwandan judicial sector? - Finally, how can lessons learned from the Rwanda experience contribute to preventing future genocides in Rwanda and other parts of the world?

Angeline is an engaging and knowledgeable speaker with a tremendous amount of experience with libraries, information, and international humanitarian efforts. If you ever wondered how this could have happened or how we could stop it from happening again, come by.