Barbara J. Ford
Director, Mortenson Center for International Library Programs
Review of 2005 Calendar Year Goals
***Develop programs to meet requirements of IMLS grant with the Illinois State
Library and possible Carnegie grant (notice of grant should be received in March)
***Submit report on first MacArthur grant and, if invited, prepare second grant for
the MacArthur Foundation
Much of the work of the Mortenson Center during 2005 was focused on grants. We
were able to hire another librarian with grant funds and this has been very helpful in
moving our work on the grants forward.
The first Thinking Outside the Borders leadership institute funded by IMLS was held
in September at the Illinois State Library with Mortenson Associates and Illinois
librarians participating. The evaluations were positive. The planning for
preconferences for ALA Annual in New Orleans, the ILA conference in Chicago in
fall 2006, and the second full institute to be held in November 2006 at the Allerton
Conference Center began.
A Carnegie grant for $500,000 to work with universities in Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania
and Uganda was received. The universities were visited by a team that provided staff
training in May and then again in October 2005. Librarians from the universities will
be at the Mortenson Center for training in April and May 2006.
The MacArthur report was submitted and a second grant was invited, written and
funded for $300,000 to work with university libraries in Nigeria. Planning was
completed for a visit by a team that provided staff training in February 2006.
Librarians from the universities will be at the Mortenson Center for training in April
and May 2006.
***Continue to provide quality educational programs for Mortenson Associates fall
program
The fall Mortenson Associates program is one of the signature programs of the
Mortenson Center. 14 associates from 7 countries participated in the 8 week 2005 fall
program which included seminars, lectures, tours, conference participation and other
activities. A number of UIUC library faculty served as instructors and friends for the
visiting librarians. The evaluation of the program was positive. Participation by
librarians from a number of countries and libraries makes the program unique and
very useful for participants.
***Maintain and continue to enhance current Mortenson Center Partnerships
Working with partners including library associations and libraries continues to be one
of the most effective ways to move the work of the Mortenson Center forward.
Partnerships continue with a number of library associations and libraries. A new
partnership with the Japan Association of National University Libraries was initiated
and will begin in 2006. Librarians from several partner organizations were part of the
fall Associates program and one participated in the IMLS grant institute as a trainer.
The 2005 Mortenson Distinguished Lecture featured the leader of a partner
organization, Jorge Orlando Melo, director of public libraries in Bogota, Colombia.
***Work collaboratively with other library and campus units on international
strategies
***Provide input and leadership on international issues in the University Library
Mortenson Center staff serve on a number of library and campus committees where
they work with colleagues on a range of issues. The Center Director worked with
other international programs on campus on advisory boards and strategic planning
issues. A paper written with other UIUC librarians was published in College and
Research Libraries News on UIUC library international strategies. The UIUC and
University of Toronto library partnerships continued with coordination by the Center
Director. The UIUC University Librarian went with Mortenson Center staff to South
Africa and made several presentations at university libraries enhancing our
partnerships. Planning began to have several UIUC librarians participate in the work
of the Carnegie and MacArthur grants in Africa.
***Continue to collaborate with library development office to identify and encourage
donors for the Mortenson Center
***Continue to communicate about Center activities with the library world
Fund raising from individuals for the work of the Center continues. Two gifts were
received from previous donors for existing Mortenson Center funds. Center staff
visited with the Mortenson Center family in New York.
Press releases about grants received provided publicity for the work of the Mortenson
Center and articles were included in UIUC publications about the work of the Center.
Mortenson Associates presented programs at ILA and Center staff gave presentations
at ALA and IFLA.
***Continue professional involvement and leadership in the American Library
Association and International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
The Center Director was elected to the IFLA Governing Board and continues to serve
on the IFLA University and Other General Research Libraries Standing Committee as
well as a number of committees in the American Library Association.
March 2006