Barbara J. Ford
Director, Mortenson Center for International Library Programs
Review of 2006 Calendar Year Goals
Grants
***Develop programs to meet requirements of IMLS grant with the Illinois State Library
and Carnegie and MacArthur grants for work with university libraries in Africa
Much of the work of the Mortenson Center during 2006 was focused on grants.
The second IMLS funded “Thinking Outside the Borders” library leadership institute
took place November 7-10, 2006, at Allerton Park Conference Center. This year’s
institute brought together 15 librarians from Canada, Mexico, and Latin America with 15
of their U.S. colleagues and 2 others from South Africa. The group had a wonderful
experience with lively discussions. The Mexican and Latin American librarians also
visited the Mortenson Center and the Illinois State Library for two weeks of technology
training prior to the program at Allerton Park. The technology training program included
a trip to Dublin, Ohio, to visit OCLC and OhioLINK. Preconferences at the American
Library Association and the Illinois Library Association conferences were part of the
grant, the goal of which is to bring together American and international librarians to
discuss library topics that have universal importance.
Mortenson Center staff continued projects in Africa with a Carnegie grant to work with
universities in Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda and a grant from MacArthur to
work with university libraries in Nigeria. Teams of librarians from UIUC made several
trips to 10 African university libraries to present professional development programs.
Several librarians from UIUC joined these teams and traveled to Africa with Mortenson
Center staff. Sixteen librarians from these universities spent April and May at the
Mortenson Center for technology training and three university library directors joined
them for two weeks to learn more about technology. A poster session about the grants
was presented at the American Library Association conference. Our work in Africa is
moving forward, and seven of the Carnegie and MacArthur grant university libraries in
Nigeria and Ghana have signed letters of intent to purchase and implement a major
vendor’s library management system. If all goes well, the implementation process will
begin in early 2007. Mortenson staff will be making trips to continue to assist these
libraries.
Education Programs
***Continue to provide quality educational programs for Mortenson Associates fall
program attendees and other groups
The fall Mortenson Associates program is one of the signature programs of the
Mortenson Center. The Mortenson Center welcomed 17 academic and public librarians
from Chile, Colombia, Japan, Nigeria, Russia, South Korea, and Vietnam this fall for the
annual Associates Program. Fourteen of the librarians were here for eight weeks, two
spent an additional month at the Center, and another is pursuing his research interests on
campus for a full year. Their schedule of seminars, tours, workshops, and conferences
included trips to the ILA Conference in Chicago; to OCLC in Dublin, Ohio; and to the
Illinois State Library in Springfield. Associates also spent several days at host libraries
around the state, where they gained valuable knowledge about how other Illinois libraries
serve their users. A big thank-you goes out to the colleagues who helped make this
year’s Associates Program a success. 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.
Ten academic librarians from Vietnam spent June and July at the Mortenson Center, after
attending classes as part of their program to receive a master’s degree from Simmons
College. They were joined by two library directors. The group was at the Center for
eight weeks. In addition to tours, seminars, and hands-on training, they attended the
ALA annual conference. These librarians are part of a program funded by grants from
Atlantic Philanthropies that provides master-level training for Vietnamese librarians. The
Mortenson Center portion of their training has been included to give them practical
experiences outside of the classroom.
Short Term International Visits
**Develop useful programs for short term visitors to UIUC
Short term visitors to the Mortenson Center included librarians from Belarus, China, Iraq,
Japan, and South Africa and the IFLA/OCLC fellows. These groups spent several days at
the Mortenson Center in programs that were developed for them.
During the 2006 fall semester, Mortenson Center staff met with many international
visitors and dignitaries to the UIUC campus, GSLIS, and the library. International
Programs and Studies hosted a number of consul generals from Chicago and invited the
Mortenson Center to attend some of these meetings, including South Africa, Mexico,
China, Uruguay, and the ambassador from Senegal. As a result, the South African
consulate in Chicago invited Barbara Ford to moderate a presentation by an author from
that country in November. Center staff also met briefly with visiting library school
faculty members from Australia and Thailand and, along with the 2006 Fall Associates,
met a delegation of Russian librarians at the Illinois Library Association conference in
Chicago.
Partnerships
***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 began in 2006 and complements the
partnership with Japan Association of Private University Libraries. Librarians from
several partner organizations were part of the fall Associates program, and one
participated in the IMLS grant institute as a trainer.
The Mortenson Center has established a strong partnership with OCLC. Working with
OCLC’s Vice President for Member Services, George Needham, and Program Officer for
Education and Professional Development, Nancy Lensenmayer, the Center has been able
to set up a working relationship that benefits both institutions. OCLC hosts the
Mortenson Associates and other visiting groups throughout the year and introduces them
to OCLC services. In return, the Mortenson Center hosts the IFLA-OCLC Fellows every
May.
Our partnership with the Illinois State Library continues as we work together on the
IMLS grant and the ISL develops programs for Mortenson Associates and sets up host
visits in libraries around the state.
Mortenson Distinguished Lecture
***Present an outstanding lecture
On October 16, 2006, Dr. Alex Byrne, president of the International Federation of
Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), presented the 16th Annual Mortenson
Distinguished Lecture, “Can International Organizations Deliver the Information
Society?” The lecture had a great turnout despite the rainy, windy weather, with many
follow-up questions from the interested audience. This year, both Mortenson sons and
their wives were able to attend the lecture and festivities. The text and audio of the
lecture are available on the Mortenson Center website:
http://www.library.uiuc.edu/mortenson/mc_06_byrne.htm.
Library and Campus Collaborations
***Work collaboratively with other library and campus units on international strategies
and provide input and leadership on international issues in the University Library
UIUC librarians provided valuable instructional sessions for visiting librarians and
several also traveled to Africa this year to share their expertise. Mortenson Associates
spent several days at host libraries around the state and presented well-received programs
at the Illinois Library Association and the Chicago Public Library All Staff Institute.
UIUC librarians and colleagues on the campus and around the state continue to be
important collaborators. Collaborative efforts with the University of Toronto were
narrowed and focused, and collaboration with the University of Pretoria got underway
with the signing of a memorandum of agreement. Staff from both institutions were
presenters at the “Thinking Outside the Borders” leadership institute.
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. Several UIUC librarians participate in the work of the Carnegie and MacArthur
grants in Africa.
Development and Promotion
***Continue to collaborate with library development office to identify and encourage
donors for the Mortenson Center and to continue to communicate about Center activities
with the library world
The award of the $300,000 MacArthur grant in January 2006 garnered some publicity in
the Daily Illini and the News Gazette as well as on several radio stations and in library
publications. Brief articles have also appeared in library related publications. Poster
sessions about the Center grants were presented at a number of library conferences.
Mortenson Center staff were pleased to have members of the Mortenson family at the
16th Annual Mortenson Distinguished Lecture.
Professional Activities
***Continue professional involvement and leadership in the American Library
Association and International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
I serve as an elected member of the IFLA Governing Board and continue 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.
Barbara J. Ford
Director, Mortenson Center for International Library Programs
Goals for 2007
Carnegie and MacArthur grants in Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda
Teams of librarians from UIUC will go to Africa several times to work with 10
university libraries on technological issues
IMLS grant, “Thinking Outside the Borders: Library Leadership in a World Community”
The third and fourth leadership institutes will be held in Arizona and Nebraska.
Modules will be developed for the final grant report.
Vietnamese academic librarians at Mortenson Center
A second group of librarians supported by Atlantic Philanthropies will spend
January and February at the Mortenson Center after attending classes as part of
their program to receive a master’s from Simmons College.
Fall Mortenson Associates program
Applications are being received for the fall Associates program.
Mortenson Distinguished Lecture
Ideas are welcome for the next lecturer.
Collaboration with library, campus units, and other organizations
UIUC librarians and colleagues on the campus and around the state continue to be
important collaborators. Collaborative efforts with the University of Toronto and
the University of Pretoria will be continued.
Promotion of the work of the Mortenson Center
Opportunities to support and promote the work of the Center will be sought as
will potential financial contributors.
Professional activities
I hope to be reelected to the IFLA Governing Board and will continue activities in
the American Library Association.
January 2007