Since the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs was founded in 1991, over 700
library professionals from 89 countries have participated in the Center's innovative programs. We
also work with our librarian colleagues in countries around the world.
Find out more
about us...
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s annual Access to Learning Award recognizes the innovative efforts of public libraries and similar institutions outside the United States to connect people to information and opportunities through free access to computers and the Internet. The award is given by Global Libraries, a special initiative of the foundation’s Global Development Program. The recipient of the Access to Learning Award will receive US$1 million.
Please visit http://www.gatesfoundation.org/ATLA for more information. Completed applications must be submitted by October 31, 2009.
The Elsevier Foundation is seeking new grant proposals for its 2009 Innovative Libraries in
Developing Countries and New Scholars programs. Sponsored by Elsevier, a leading global publisher
of scientific, technical and medical information, the new Foundation proposals are due by August
1st, 2009. The grants for the two programs will be awarded in December 2009 and provide one, two
and three year awards between US$5,000 to US$50,000 per year.
The External link Innovative Libraries in Developing Countries program supports the
efforts of libraries in developing countries to improve their ability to put scientific, technical
and medical information to work for those who need it. Past projects have included: expanding
library information resources through digitization and knowledge preservation; training and
education programs for librarians and researchers; developed-developing world partnerships to
provide longer term technical assistance and training.
For more information, please see http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/authored_newsitem.cws_home/companynews05_01183.
Who: You - A librarian in Illinois
What: Host an international librarian for a 1 to 3 day visit to your
library.
When: The first week of October 2009.
Where: The program starts with a half-day workshop at the University of
Illinois Library in Urbana-Champaign. The remainder of time is spent at your library.
How:
Click here to find out!
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has given a three-year grant for the Center to continue working with four university libraries in Nigeria ... "the Mortenson Center proposes to work with the librarians to implement the cataloging, online catalog, circulation, and website functions for the new library management system, to assist the university libraries in providing greater access to their electronic resources, and to further develop a network of libraries in Nigeria focused on cooperation, and the sharing of resources and expertise. "
The Carnegie Corporation of New York has provided funding for a three-year grant to work with seven university libraries in East and West Africa.
There are two goals for the project, they are:
Goal 1: Carnegie grantee librarians in Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda will fully
implement an automated library management system, which will better serve the research and learning
needs of the users.
Goal 2: All institutions will develop a team of librarians trained and able to manage
automation and automation-related projects in their libraries.
From the University Library press release:
"The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library has received a Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Grant for $499,582 from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)...
The “Think Globally, Act Globally” agreement establishes a cooperative and cultural exchange between American and Chinese librarians. Under the agreement, the Asian Library and the Mortenson Center from the University of Illinois will partner with the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA), and the Library Society of China. These organizations will work together on the implementation of a two-year pilot project to enhance communication and relations between American and Chinese librarians and to enrich the variety of information and services that U.S. librarians can offer their users. Activities will include training in the United States and the People’s Republic of China, and the development of a website for publicly available Chinese information resources for use in U.S. libraries."
"Think Globally, Act Globally" website
Looking for advice from professional library leaders? Download your own copy of Thinking Outside the Borders. This was a three-year project funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in partnership with Illinois State Library. Institutes for International Library Leadership were held with speakers and participants from all over the world. Feedback was collected at each institute and applied to the format and content of the program. The end result is this free publication, a guide for libraries to develop their own leadership institutes with an international perspective.
You can see more information about the book in our conference poster (PPT), presented at IFLA and ILA 2008.
University LibraryFor comments on this page contact: Mortenson Center
Last modified by: Sara Thompson on 6/22/09