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Additional Hosting Information

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Introduction

The purpose of this page is to give you more information about the Mortenson Associates Host Program.

The goal of the Host Program is two-fold.  First, we want to give our international colleagues the opportunity to observe first-hand the day-to-day operations of libraries in the U.S. Second, our international colleagues are eager to share their stories about libraries in their countries, and this experience will give them a chance to do so.

Placement

Our Associate groups from the past have included librarians from Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, South Korea, Tanzania, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and many other countries.  In choosing host libraries, the goal is to try to match closely the interests of the librarians with a specific library.

Each group of international librarians is very diverse with different types of librarians from all parts of the world with a wide-range of interests. To assist our international colleagues, the Mortenson Center has arranged a variety of seminars, visits, and workshops: the Host Program being just one of these.

The international librarians are always very interested about the Host Program and eager to communicate with their hosts. Once host assignments have been made available to them, the Mortenson Center will ask the international librarians to make e-mail contact with their hosts as soon as they have established an e-mail account.

When you agree to participate in the Host Program, you will be given information about the international librarian you are going to host. When all host assignments have been made, the final list of the participating international librarians and hosts will be emailed to you. If you are interested in initiating contact with your visiting librarian or any of the other libraries also participating in the Host Program, please feel free to do so at anytime.

Suggestions for Activities

The international librarians are here to learn about U.S. libraries and are very curious about many aspects of librarianship.  We are sure that you have many excellent ideas for their stay at your library, but here are a few additional suggestions:

• Ask the international librarian to give a brown-bag talk to your staff about libraries in his/her country;
• Review your library budget with the visitor and discuss any fundraising strategies that you use in your library;
• Have the librarian job-shadow your department managers, spending a couple of hours in each department;
• Share with the visitor your library's policies and procedures for your library;
• Have the librarian spend some time with your IT staff. Discuss the use of the internet in your library;
• Discuss any recent problems you have had in your library and your strategies for resolving the problems (issues such as: building problems, challenged books, security incidents, difficult patrons, etc.);
• Have the librarian visit the community (tour the city or campus). Make sure that they understand whom you are serving;
• Have the librarian meet local government officials, library trustees, or University faculty and officials to discuss the role of the library in your community.
• Invite the librarian to attend any staff meetings;
• Do not feel that you have to schedule an activity for each hour of the day. Let the librarian roam the library, look at the collection and databases, and observe patron behavior.

Contact with the Media

At the Mortenson Center, we have observed that hosting international visitors can generate good press for the library.  We suggest that you contact your local media to let them know that the international librarian is coming.  They may be willing to send a photographer during the visit.

For comments on this page contact: Mortenson Center

Last modified by: Sara Thompson on 3/13/09